The News story ‘Major rethink for outbreak response’ (Nature 540, 494–495; 2016) stated that a funding shortfall pertained to EDCARN. But it is the overarching WHO health-emergencies programme that is currently underfunded. The News Feature ‘What’s killing the world’s shorebirds?’ (Nature 541, 16–20; 2017) misidentified a picture of a dunlin (Calidris alpina) as a red knot (Calidris canutus). And the graphic in the 2016 News Review (Nature 540, 496–499; 2016) erroneously said that the NIH was getting behind preprint publishing. It is in fact a consortium funded by the NIH that is mandating the practice.