Storm Helene struck Britain last night, with strong winds across much of the country. The odd thing about Helene is that she started life not as a regular storm somewhere in the north Atlantic, but as a tropical hurricane off the coast of Senegal. Most hurricanes stick to the tropics but a few, like Helene or Hurricane Ophelia last year, instead turn north towards the UK and Ireland. Alexander Roberts wonders whether people there should get used to these rogue hurricanes.

A century after the Spanish flu pandemic, scientists have finally discovered what makes pandemic flu viruses so deadly. Aartjan te Velthuis explains that it’s all to do with how our immune system responds to faulty molecules called mini viral RNAs. In a different lab, Barbara Guinn has identified a protein that shows when someone has ovarian cancer. If it can be found in urine then it could lead to the long-held goal of producing a simple test for the cancer that could help catch the disease before it has time to spread.

As the UK government continues to argue over what Brexit will look like, it has also published more advice on how to prepare for a “no deal” scenario. Sally Everett looked through the latest tranche of documents to unpick what it might mean for British tourists travelling to the EU. Get ready for more paperwork and extra costs.

It’s freshers’ week, so we’ve asked the experts to offer some advice to those just starting university. Find out how to make a good impression and resist the inevitable pressure to down your pint. Stay tuned for more pieces over the coming days.

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