Happiness implant
A 鈥減acemaker for the brain鈥� has alleviated four patients鈥� severe depression. Adapting a technology used to treat Parkinson鈥檚 disease, researchers in Toronto, Canada, implanted electrodes into the subgenual cingulate region, which controls mood, sleep, appetite and behaviour. The electrodes reduce hyperactivity in the region.
Fighting off flu
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The UK is to stockpile 15 million courses of the antiviral drug Tamiflu over the next two years, to prepare for a possible human pandemic of bird flu, the government announced on 1 March. Unlike the US, France and Italy, the UK has no plans to buy in stocks of vaccine in advance.
Japan back in orbit
Japan re-entered the space race on 26 February when a redesigned version of its troubled H-2A heavy-lift rocket placed a 1.4-tonne satellite in orbit. An earlier version of the H-2A exploded shortly after launch 15 months ago.
Return of the babbler
An Indian bird seen just once in 1947 has been rediscovered in the wild, it was announced on 25 February. The rusty-throated wren-babbler, known only from one previously caught specimen, was found in the eastern Himalayas by a team from the American Museum of Natural History in New York.
Small is powerful
A thumb-sized direct methanol fuel cell has been certified as the world鈥檚 smallest by Guinness World Records. Toshiba鈥檚 diminutive device can supply 100 milliwatts of electricity, enough to power an MP3 player.
Australian mining deal
A landmark agreement signed on 25 February looks set to prevent further uranium mining in Australia鈥檚 iconic Kakadu national park. The agreement gives the Mirrar people, who own the land, the right to veto mining plans.