近代史における最も重要な科学的進歩の多くは、ネイチャーで最初に発表されてきた。例えば、これまでにノーベル賞を受賞した研究業績の多くは、ネイチャーに掲載されてきた。以下は、ネイチャーで公開された科学的大発見の中から、いずれも重大な結果をもたらしたものを選び、掲載された論文の引用文を掲載したものである。

X線の発見 - ⇒Rontgen, W.C., "On a New Kind of Rays", Nature 53, 274-276 (1896).

粒子と波動の二重性 ? C.Davisson and L. H. Germer (1927). “The scattering of electrons by a single crystal of nickel”. Nature 119 (2998): 558?560. Bibcode: 1927Natur.119..558D. doi:10.1038/119558a0. "The scattering of electrons by a single crystal of nickel". Nature. 119 (2998): 558?560. Bibcode:1927Natur.119..558D. doi:10.1038/119558a0. S2CID 4104602.

中性子' ? J. Chadwick (1932). “Possible existence of a neutron”. Nature 129 (3252): 312. Bibcode: 1932Natur.129Q.312C. doi:10.1038/129312a0. "Possible existence of a neutron". Nature. 129 (3252): 312. Bibcode:1932Natur.129Q.312C. doi:10.1038/129312a0. S2CID 4076465.

核分裂反応 ? L. Meitner and O. R. Frisch (1939). “Disintegration of uranium by neutrons: a new type of nuclear reaction”. Nature 143 (3615): 239?240. Bibcode: 1939Natur.143..239M. doi:10.1038/143239a0. "Disintegration of uranium by neutrons: a new type of nuclear reaction". Nature. 143 (3615): 239?240. Bibcode:1939Natur.143..239M. doi:10.1038/143239a0. S2CID 4113262.

DNAの構造 ? J. D. Watson and F. H. C. Crick (1953). “Molecular structure of Nucleic Acids: A structure for deoxyribose nucleic acid”. Nature 171 (4356): 737?738. Bibcode: 1953Natur.171..737W. doi:10.1038/171737a0. .mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation.cs-ja1 q,.mw-parser-output .citation.cs-ja2 q{quotes:"「""」""『""』"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:#d33}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:#d33}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#3a3;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}PMID 13054692. "Molecular structure of Nucleic Acids: A structure for deoxyribose nucleic acid". Nature. 171 (4356): 737?738. Bibcode:1953Natur.171..737W. doi:10.1038/171737a0. PMID 13054692. S2CID 4253007.

初のタンパク質の分子構造（ミオグロビン）? J. C. Kendrew; G. Bodo; H. M. Dintzis; R. G. Parrish; H. Wyckoff; D. C. Phillips (1958). “A three-dimensional model of the myoglobin molecule obtained by X-ray analysis”. Nature 181 (4610): 662?666. Bibcode: 1958Natur.181..662K. doi:10.1038/181662a0. PMID 13517261. "A three-dimensional model of the myoglobin molecule obtained by X-ray analysis". Nature. 181 (4610): 662?666. Bibcode:1958Natur.181..662K. doi:10.1038/181662a0. PMID 13517261. S2CID 4162786.

プレートテクトニクス ? J. Tuzo Wilson (1966). “Did the Atlantic close and then re-open?”. Nature 211 (5050): 676?681. Bibcode: 1966Natur.211..676W. doi:10.1038/211676a0. "Did the Atlantic close and then re-open?". Nature. 211 (5050): 676?681. Bibcode:1966Natur.211..676W. doi:10.1038/211676a0. S2CID 4226266.

パルサー ? A. Hewish, S. J. Bell, J. D. H. Pilkington, P. F. Scott & R. A. Collins (1968). “Observation of a Rapidly Pulsating Radio Source”. Nature 217 (5130): 709?713. Bibcode: 1968Natur.217..709H. doi:10.1038/217709a0. "Observation of a Rapidly Pulsating Radio Source". Nature. 217 (5130): 709?713. Bibcode:1968Natur.217..709H. doi:10.1038/217709a0. S2CID 4277613.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

オゾンホールの発見 ? J. C. Farman, B. G. Gardiner and J. D. Shanklin (1985). “Large losses of total ozone in Antarctica reveal seasonal ClOx/NOx interaction”. Nature 315 (6016): 207?210. Bibcode: 1985Natur.315..207F. doi:10.1038/315207a0. "Large losses of total ozone in Antarctica reveal seasonal ClOx/NOx interaction". Nature. 315 (6016): 207?210. Bibcode:1985Natur.315..207F. doi:10.1038/315207a0. S2CID 4346468.

クローン羊ドリーの作成（ドリー (羊)）? I. Wilmut, A. E. Schnieke, J. McWhir, A. J. Kind and K. H. S. Campbell (1997). “Viable offspring derived from fetal and adult mammalian cells”. Nature 385 (6619): 810?813. Bibcode: 1997Natur.385..810W. doi:10.1038/385810a0. PMID 9039911. "Viable offspring derived from fetal and adult mammalian cells". Nature. 385 (6619): 810?813. Bibcode:1997Natur.385..810W. doi:10.1038/385810a0. PMID 9039911. S2CID 4260518.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

ヒトゲノム解読 ? International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium (2001). “Initial sequencing and analysis of the human genome”. Nature 409 (6822): 860?921. Bibcode: 2001Natur.409..860L. doi:10.1038/35057062. PMID 11237011. "Initial sequencing and analysis of the human genome". Nature. 409 (6822): 860?921. Bibcode:2001Natur.409..860L. doi:10.1038/35057062. hdl:2027.42/62798. PMID 11237011.

日本人のさきがけ的な寄稿

南方熊楠が1892 - 1900年のイギリス滞在中書いた、「極東の星座」を始めとする何点もの論文が『ネイチャー』に掲載された[47]。当時日本人の寄稿は、南方の論文を除けばせいぜい1点しかなかった、という[注釈 1][47]。