The flu virus mutates so rapidly that our immune systems can't keep up. But experimental vaccines could change all that

Influenza has the potential to infect many people quickly. Although the death rate for seasonal flu is probably only around 1% of those affected, when the numbers so affected run into millions, as they do in India, the number of people who die will also be large.

Galapagos finches could be among the first casualties of mosquitoes that stow away on aircraft, potentially bringing fatal viruses to the islands.

An exclusive New Scientist survey reveals what precautions flu experts have been taking, and if they think a more virulent strain will emerge.

As the northern hemisphere prepares for a second wave of swine flu, we need a global effort to find out more about the disease. (Editorial)

Microorganisms explain more about us and our world than we ever imagined. sumana narayanan courses through rodent brain, feline gut, and the human stomach This is not something you are likely to see in a Tom and Jerry animation. Imagine a cat readying itself to pounce on a mouse. The mouse notes the feline but does not budge. It grooms itself and looks away. Soon, it is cat food.

It could be the biggest breakthrough since the discovery of penicillin: a new generation of antivirals that work against a huge range of viruses, including ones that don't exist yet.