The Guardian · 10 Aug, 05:30
The 2026 Australian Census will take place on August 11, with changes including new questions about gender and sexuality, and the ability to report up to four ancestries.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) will conduct the national census on August 11, 2026. The census is a compulsory survey that records details about each person in Australia to inform governments about the country's demographics. The 2026 census will include new questions about sexual orientation, sex recorded at birth, and gender. The census form can be completed online or on paper, and 30,000 field staff will be deployed to reach every person in Australia.
Why it matters: The census provides a comprehensive snapshot of Australia's economic, social, and cultural makeup, informing planning and strategy at all levels of government. The data has far-reaching implications for health, education, transport, infrastructure, and social services. The new questions aim to provide a more accurate and inclusive representation of the Australian population.
115 years (history of census), 66 questions, 30,000 field staff, 80% (online completion rate in 2021), $364 (daily fine for non-completion), $3,640 (fine for false or misleading answers), 2026, 2027
Imagine being born into a body or orientation that you have absolutely no control over and yet you are forced to put yourself in a box you simply don’t fit in.
The Guardian · 10 Aug, 04:55
Typhoon Dolphin made landfall in eastern China, prompting the evacuation of over a million people and causing record rainfall in Shanghai.
Typhoon Dolphin made landfall in eastern China, leading to the evacuation of over a million people across the region. Wenzhou in Zhejiang province relocated over 900,000 people, while 98,900 people were moved in neighbouring Fujian and 215,600 in Shanghai. The typhoon brought record rainfall to Shanghai, with a weather station recording nearly 313mm of rain in 24 hours, the highest in over 150 years of records.
Why it matters: The typhoon's impact is significant due to the large-scale evacuations and potential for widespread flooding and landslides. The storm's heavy rainfall has already caused disruptions to transportation and daily life in affected areas, with authorities maintaining an orange alert for heavy rain and warning of continued intense rain in the coming days.
1 million, 900,000, 98,900, 215,600, 30,300, 313mm, 400mm, 173mm, 150 years, 1,300, 36.9C, 50,000, 180, 6
The Guardian · 10 Aug, 05:50
The Victorian Liberals have promised to restore weekly rubbish collections if they win the state election in November. The current fortnightly system has been implemented in 33 councils, but the Liberals' leader, Jess Wilson, has described it as 'disgusting'.
The Victorian Liberals have vowed to restore weekly rubbish collections if they win the state election in November. Currently, 33 Victorian councils have switched to fortnightly general rubbish collections, including several in metropolitan Melbourne. The change has been made to encourage residents to place food scraps in green bins, which can then be turned into compost. Some councils have cited the state government's landfill levy as a reason for the change.
Why it matters: The decision to restore weekly rubbish collections is significant because it affects how households manage their waste. The current fortnightly system has been implemented to reduce waste sent to landfill and encourage recycling, but some residents have expressed concerns about overflowing bins. The Liberals' promise to restore weekly collections could impact the state's waste management strategy and household costs.
33, 16m, 80, 120, 40%, 19%, 2027
To be perfectly honest - it’s disgusting. The bins are overflowing. I have a toddler, we have nappies and we have many little kids on our street with large families
NPR News · 10 Aug, 04:01
A new generation of small nuclear reactors is being developed and is expected to come online in the next few years in Idaho, but public opinion on the technology remains divided.
A new generation of small nuclear reactors is poised to come online in the next few years. These reactors are being developed near Idaho National Laboratory in small towns such as Arco, Idaho, which has a decades-long nuclear energy legacy. The development of these reactors is underway, but there is still significant public debate about their implementation.
Why it matters: This development is significant because it could potentially provide a new source of clean energy, but it also raises concerns about safety and public acceptance. The nuclear energy industry is working to address these concerns and gain public support for the new technology. The outcome will have implications for the future of nuclear energy in the US.
NPR News · 9 Aug, 22:00
Demi Vollering of the Netherlands has won the Tour de France for the second time, following her first win in 2023.
Demi Vollering from the Netherlands won the Women's Tour de France cycling race. This is her second win, with the first being in 2023. She finished the final stage more than a minute ahead of the second-place rider, Spaniard Paula Blasi Cairol, and 2024 champion Polish rider Katarzyna Niewiadoma-Phinney. The race concluded in Nice, France, on Sunday, August 9, 2026.
Why it matters: This victory is significant as it marks Demi Vollering's second Tour de France win, solidifying her position as a top cyclist in the sport. Her consistent performance over the years and ability to secure another win highlight her skill and endurance.
NPR News · 9 Aug, 22:03
Wildfires are being battled in the western U.S. and Canada, with 183 new fires reported since Saturday.
According to the National Interagency Fire Center, 183 new wildfires have been reported across the U.S. since Saturday, including eight large ones. The wildfires are affecting the western U.S. and Canada. The National Interagency Fire Center reported this information on Sunday.
Why it matters: This is significant because wildfires can have devastating effects on the environment, wildlife, and human populations. The large number of new fires reported in a short period indicates an increased risk of wildfires in the region.
183 new wildfires, 8 large ones
Ars Technica · 9 Aug, 11:00
A massive volcanic eruption at Mount Toba 74,000 years ago may not have had as significant of an impact on human ancestors as previously thought. The eruption, which was the largest in 2.6 million years, caused less than 2 years of cooling, amounting to perhaps half a degree.
The Mount Toba eruption, which occurred 74,000 years ago, was the largest volcanic eruption in the last 2.6 million years. It released thousands of cubic kilometers of magma in about two weeks. Researchers studied sediment cores from a lake on the Kenya-Tanzania border and found that the eruption caused less than 2 years of cooling, amounting to perhaps half a degree. This is in contrast to previous suggestions that it may have caused massive cooling and threatened the survival of human ancestors.
Why it matters: The findings suggest that the impact of the Mount Toba eruption on human ancestors may have been less severe than previously thought. This changes our understanding of the potential effects of large volcanic eruptions on human populations. The study's results also provide new insights into the relationship between volcanic eruptions and climate cooling.
74,000 years ago, 2 weeks, 1000 times, 2 years, half a degree
Bigger sulfate aerosols settle quickly, because they are heavier