The cell nucleus is a fascinating organelle. The myriad of fundamental processes that ensure that the genetic information is read correctly and faithfully transmitted provides a rich subject of research across time scales and model systems. Topics ranging from chromosome 'metascale' organization and division, enabled by molecular machineries like the kinetochore, to the organization of the genome that ensues cell division during interphase, which enables fine tuning of gene regulation, are subjects that we cover in the 'Cell Nucleus' issue of Current Opinion in Cell Biology.