We at Nature were saddened to hear of the sudden death of our former colleague Mohammed Yahia at the age of 41. Mohammed joined what would become Nature Portfolio in 2010 and was the launch editor and latterly the executive editor of Nature Middle East. Besides spearheading the launch of Arabic-language editions of both Nature and Scientific American, he played a leading part in the inception of Nature Africa and Nature Italy. He left to take up a new position as editor-in-chief of Chemical & Engineering News this month. He will be remembered as a passionate and committed journalist and an outstanding and pioneering mentor and educator. Our thoughts are with his wife and young family.