Your News in Brief item 'Cancer forces Tasmanian devil onto endangered list' highlights the plight of this carnivorous marsupial (Sarcophilus harrisii), driven towards extinction by devil facial-tumour disease, which is contagious (Nature 453, 441; 2008). The animal will soon also be uplisted by the 2008 IUCN Red List from its category of Least Concern to Endangered. (Correspondence)

Your News story 'Sterile mosquitoes near take-off' (Nature 453, 435; 2008) discusses the likely release of genetically engineered mosquitoes to help contain dengue fever. It demonstrates just how close we are to a radically new set of strategies for managing a whole range of diseases and wildlife using genetically modified organisms (GMOs). But after assessing the risks and benefits, nations may reach different conclusions about their use. And that's quite a problem, considering that genetically modified bugs won't recognize national borders. (Correspondence)

A year after sending its first fully fledged expedition to the Arctic, India has established a research station in Svalbard, about 1,200 kilometres from the North Pole.