CNS journals—Cell, Nature, and Science—serve as key indicators of the global landscape of basic research, with their publication patterns reflecting shifts in international scientific strength and frontier directions. Drawing on data from the Web of Science and InCites platforms, this study analyzes Article publications in CNS journals from 2015 to 2024 across multiple dimensions, including country and city contributions, disciplinary structure, research hotspots, international collaboration, and author characteristics. The results show that the United States maintains its leading position, though its share is declining; China exhibits rapid growth, with strong performance in materials science and physics, but continues to face structural weaknesses in life sciences and health-related fields. Emerging research hotspots are increasingly concentrated in artificial intelligence, virology, nucleic acid chemistry, and two dimensional materials, alongside expanding international collaboration networks. Based on these findings, the study proposes policy recommendations to strengthen original research capabilities, optimize support mechanisms for early-career researchers, and enhance cross-border and cross-sector collaboration.