The September/October issue’s cover feature examines how the success of COVID-19 vaccines has fueled a nucleotide-based therapy “big bang” – and what challenges lie ahead for analytical scientists in characterizing these complex molecules. In "Upfront," we spotlight a breakthrough in cancer diagnostics – a new electrokinetic sensor capable of diagnosing glioblastoma in under an hour using just 100 microliters of blood. Meanwhile, in "In My View," Isabelle Kohler shares personal insights on the realities of PhD life, offering tips on building resilience and support networks; and we also celebrate the 20th anniversary of electromembrane extraction (EME), with Stig Pedersen-Bjergaard reflecting on the technique’s evolution and its potential to transform green sample preparation. In our Core Topics, Joseph Loo explains why native mass spectrometry is now essential in biochemistry labs, especially for studying large protein complexes and viral assemblies. And finally, In "Sitting Down With..." we chat with Gary Patti, who reflects on how working across disciplines brings fresh perspectives to science, offering exciting new avenues for discovery. click here for more