News in Brief

  1. Neuroscience

    Stress hormone kicks brain cells into gear

    Norepinephrine, a stress hormone, wakes up cells called astroglia, possibly shifting brain into vigilant state.

    By Laura Sanders
  2. Animals

    In emergencies, fire ants get lots of grips to form rafts

    First look inside fire ant architecture shows how lots of leg grips assemble rafts, bridges and balls.

    By Susan Milius
  3. Life

    Avian flu could strike Asian poultry markets outside China

    H7N9 influenza has a higher chance of spreading to humans in urban areas close to water, researchers predict.

    By Tina Hesman Saey
  4. Health & Medicine

    Ulcer microbe changes quickly to avoid immune attack

    During the initial weeks of infection, Helicobacter pylori, the bacterium that causes stomach ulcers, mutates at a high rate, apparently to evade the body’s defenses.