Dr Ron Fouchier, from the Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam, said his team had introduced a number of genetic variations - around five - which had enabled the virus to pass between ferrets - the best animal model we have for testing whether the virus will infect humans.

BBC: When should science be censored?

In 2011, Foldit players needed only 10 days to produce an accurate 3-D model of the Mason-Pfizer monkey virus, a protease whose structure had stumped scientists for 15 years.

CNN: People and computers need each other

Scientists had attempted to model a 3D structure of a protein associated with the HIV virus for 15 years and failed.

FORBES: Practical Implications

It seems that the old model of cyber-attacks, involving peer-to-peer virus infection, is becoming increasingly ineffective as anti-virus companies step up their game, causing nogoodniks to rely on search results, websites, and zero-day attacks.

ENGADGET: Report warns of the increased use of SEO Poisoning to spread malware