☕️ Male contraceptive pill breakthrough

You may have seen the online debate about whether or not it is appropriate to attend a job interview with an iced coffee in hand.

TDA’s take: Yes if it’s a job interview with TDA, because coffee is kind of our whole brand.

But it should be a hot coffee. And it should have extra chocolate on it.

The quote: “The search mission remains active and will resume when weather conditions allow operations to continue safely.”
The Mountain Rescue Association in Peru on search efforts to find missing Australian hiker Jordan Yap. The 30-year-old hasn’t contacted his family in days.

The stat: $6 billion. The reduction in the deficit from the Government’s projections in the Federal Budget in May, according to Treasurer Jim Chalmers. The 2025-26 deficit – how much more the Government spent than it received – was predicted to be $28.3 billion earlier this year.

The big question:

Yesterday’s results: 52% of you think data centres shouldn’t be built in Australia, 28% think they should, and 20% aren’t sure. Thanks for voting - your responses inform TDA's journalism and research. [2,330 votes].

Together with AAP.

Have you noticed more moths than usual lately? If you live in Victoria or NSW, there’s a reason for that.

Experts have said strong winds have pushed bogong moths off course in their annual spring migration, bringing them towards more populated areas, including Sydney.

The species is listed as endangered, and is a critical food source for other endangered native animals.

Bogong moths are native to Australia, and are named after Victoria’s Bogong High Plains.

While they can be found in every state and territory (except the NT), they are known for their migration to the Australian Alps each September.

They are a key food source for the endangered mountain pygmy-possum, which wake up from hibernation in time for their arrival.

It’s estimated 99.5% of the moth population was lost to drought and fire from 2018 to 2021. They were listed as endangered in 2021.

This year, the bogong moths have been capturing more attention than usual, with large numbers in heavily populated parts of NSW and Victoria.

In particular, Sydney and the NSW South Coast have received more bogong visitors than in previous years.

It’s recommended residents turn outdoor lights off where possible during the migration. The bogongs will pass through over the next few weeks.

Reporting by Emily Donohoe.

🎧 On today’s TDA podcast, co-founder Sam explains the next steps in male contraception. Listen or watch on Apple here, Spotify here, or YouTube here.

💶 The RBA hands down its latest rates decision today. Sign up to TDA Finance here to make sure the explainer is in your inbox on Wednesday morning.

⚡️ Going all-electric, explained like a mate. Rewiring Australia built Electric Saul, a free tool powered by Google AI that cuts out the fine print to reduce your energy bills. See how much you could save on our IG.

^{Transparency: This is a sponsored part of the newsletter - the best way to keep the newsletter free for you.}

New contraceptive options for men could be on the market within the next few years, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Several hormonal and non-hormonal methods are already being tested in clinical trials, with the WHO now setting out what it wants future products to look like.

Last week, the WHO released its first Target Product Profiles for male contraceptives.

They work like a checklist for developers, setting out the baseline and ideal standards a medication needs to meet.

The WHO said several hormonal and non-hormonal contraceptives for men are in advanced clinical trials.

It said new reversible male contraceptives “may be in the market within the next 5-10 years”.

About 48% of pregnancies worldwide are unplanned, and 60% of these unplanned pregnancies are terminated, according to the WHO.

The WHO says more contraceptive options, and better access to them, would help bring these numbers down.

About 30% of couples already rely on a male method of contraception, largely condoms.

Right now, men have two main options: condoms and vasectomies.

One advanced option currently being developed is NES/T, a hormonal gel applied daily to the shoulders and upper arms.

It stops sperm production without affecting testosterone levels.

Another option being trialled is an injectable hydrogel that blocks sperm from travelling.

There’s also YCT-529, the first non-hormonal daily pill for men, which is currently in clinical trials.

Male contraception has been talked about for decades, but progress has been slow.

Part of the problem is biology. Female birth control only has to stop one egg a month. A male contraceptive has to stop about 1,000 sperm being made every second.

Other hurdles in previous trials have included side effects, with participants in a 2016 trial of a male hormonal injection reporting acne, weight gain, and impacted mood.

Research suggests they do.

A recent survey by the WHO of more than 12,000 men and 9,000 women in six low- and middle-income countries found 61% of men would try a new male contraceptive within a year of it becoming available. The men said they’d prefer a daily gel, patch or pill over injections or implants.

A separate WHO survey found more than 85% of women would trust their male partner to use one consistently.

Reporting by Adella Beaini.

Feeling too tired to socialise today? You’re not alone.

In TAL’s Social Connection Survey, 50% of young Aussies (25–34) surveyed cancel plans from tiredness, and 40% because they need time to themselves. Real-world connection builds everyday resilience, but it shouldn't compete with recovery time.

Today’s Social Move: The Walk & Talk Reset. Swap a big night out for a 15-minute walk or a quick coffee - connection that restores rather than demands.

Translation: You don't have to sacrifice your energy to maintain your relationships. 

Follow @TAL_Australia on IG for daily forecasts & real-life resilience tips. 

^{For further information about the survey, visit @tal_australia on Instagram.}

The worldwide decline in bee populations has been partly driven by exposure to pesticides, which can poison or even kill them before they have a chance to pollinate other plants. To solve that problem, scientists at the University of California developed an AI-based method to create chemical compounds that will deter bees from plants treated with pesticides, without harming the bees. Lead researcher Professor Anandasankar Ray said the chemical compounds smell bad to bees, “safely and effectively” keeping them away from the plants.

Reporting by Lucy Tassell.

Imagine making such a big mistake at work that you force all your co-workers to start the whole day again.

That’s what happened to an English football referee last week, after he made a fundamental error in Woodford Town’s match against Mulbarton Wanderers (Mulbarton won 2-1).

The English Football Association agreed, and now the teams are meeting this week to replay the match.

Reporting by Lucy Tassell.