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It’s almost winter. Why is Australia still so hot?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> This year, for many Australians, it feels like summer never left. The sunny days and warm nights have continued well into autumn. Even now, in May, it’s still unusually warm. Much of the southern half of the continent is experiencing both unseasonable warmth and dry conditions. This is linked to persistent high atmospheric pressure (called “blocking”) to the south and southeast of Australia. While temperatures will fall across southern Australia as we approach the winter solstice, early indications are that this winter will be a warm one. Rainfall predictions are less certain. The extra warmth we’ve experienced raises obvious questions about the influence of human-caused climate change. The warming signal is clear and it’s a sign of things to come. <h2>A warm and dry autumn for many</h2> <a href="http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/awap/temp/index.jsp?colour=colour&time=latest&step=1&map=meananom&period=month&area=nat">March</a> and <a href="http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/awap/temp/index.jsp?colour=colour&time=latest&step=0&map=meananom&period=month&area=nat">April</a> brought unseasonal heat to much of Australia. March was widely hot, with temperatures several degrees above normal across much of the country. But April’s heat was largely restricted to the southeast. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/666591/original/file-20250507-68-vjvcb5.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/666591/original/file-20250507-68-vjvcb5.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/666591/original/file-20250507-68-vjvcb5.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/666591/original/file-20250507-68-vjvcb5.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/666591/original/file-20250507-68-vjvcb5.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/666591/original/file-20250507-68-vjvcb5.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/666591/original/file-20250507-68-vjvcb5.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/666591/original/file-20250507-68-vjvcb5.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="Graph of rising Australian-average temperatures in March from 1900-2025" /></a><figcaption>Australia had its hottest March on record and the heat has continued, especially in Victoria and parts of New South Wales. <a class="source" href="http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/climate/change/timeseries.cgi?graph=tmean&area=aus&season=03&ave_yr=0&ave_period=6190">Bureau of Meteorology</a></figcaption></figure> Victoria had its <a href="http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/climate/change/timeseries.cgi?graph=tmean&area=vic&season=04&ave_yr=0&ave_period=6190">warmest April</a> on record, and parts of the state experienced temperatures more than 3°C above normal across both March and April. Temperatures normally fall quite quickly over the southeast of Australia during April and May as the days shorten and the continent’s interior cools. But this year, southern Australia was unusually warm at the start of May. Some locations experienced days with maximum temperatures more than 10°C above normal for the time of year. Records were broken in <a href="https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/weather/hobart-parts-of-melbourne-sweat-through-hottest-may-night-on-record-as-warm-windy-weather-sweeps-across-australias-southeast/news-story/8b1c76fc40c7a84842a5aaf6a57eb038">Hobart</a> and <a href="https://7news.com.au/news/jane-bunn-weather-tuesdays-balmy-morning-in-melbourne-was-just-shy-of-all-time-record-c-18600201">parts of Melbourne</a>, which had their warmest May nights since observations began. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/666592/original/file-20250507-62-nf86bk.gif?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/666592/original/file-20250507-62-nf86bk.gif?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/666592/original/file-20250507-62-nf86bk.gif?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=412&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/666592/original/file-20250507-62-nf86bk.gif?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=412&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/666592/original/file-20250507-62-nf86bk.gif?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=412&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/666592/original/file-20250507-62-nf86bk.gif?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=518&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/666592/original/file-20250507-62-nf86bk.gif?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=518&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/666592/original/file-20250507-62-nf86bk.gif?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=518&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="GIF of Australian daily maximum temperature anomalies for 1st to 6th May" /></a><figcaption>The start of May saw daytime maximum temperatures across much of Australia well above average for the time of year. <a class="source" href="http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/awap/temp/index.jsp?colour=colour&time=history%2Fnat%2F2025050520250505&step=0&map=maxanom&period=daily&area=nat">Bureau of Meteorology</a></figcaption></figure> While Queensland and the New South Wales coast have had very wet spells, including downpours from Tropical Cyclone Alfred at the start of March, other parts of Australia have been quite dry. The area between Adelaide and Melbourne has been exceptionally dry. <a href="http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/maps/rainfall/?variable=rainfall&map=drought&period=3month&region=nat&year=2025&month=04&day=30">A drought is unfolding</a> in the region after a <a href="http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/maps/rainfall/?variable=rainfall&map=drought&period=12month&region=nat&year=2025&month=04&day=30">severe lack of rainfall</a>, with deficits stretching back over the past year or so. Western Tasmania is also suffering from a severe lack of rainfall since the start of autumn, although welcome rain fell in the past week. And it’s not just on land that unusual heat has been observed. The seas around Australia have been warmer than normal, causing severe coral bleaching to <a href="https://theconversation.com/synchronised-bleaching-ningaloo-and-the-great-barrier-reef-are-bleaching-in-unison-for-the-first-time-252906">the west and east</a> of the continent, <a href="https://www.epa.sa.gov.au/environmental_info/water_quality/harmful-algal-blooms">harmful algal blooms</a> and other ecosystem disruptions. <h2>Blocking highs largely to blame</h2> A high pressure system has dominated over the south and southeast of Australia over the past few months. High pressure in the Tasman Sea can sometimes get stuck there for a few days. This leads to what’s known as “blocking”, when the usual passage of weather systems moving from west to east is obstructed. This can lock in weather patterns for several days or even a week. Repeated blocking occurred this autumn. As winds move anticlockwise around high pressure systems in the Southern Hemisphere, blocking highs in the Tasman Sea can bring moist, onshore winds to the New South Wales and Queensland coasts, increasing rainfall. But such high pressure systems also bring drier conditions for the interior of the southeast and much of Victoria and South Australia. Often, these high pressure systems also bring northerly winds to Victoria, and this can cause warmer conditions across much of the state. High pressure systems also tend to bring more clear and sunny conditions, which increases daytime temperatures in particular. Air in high pressure systems moves down towards the surface and this process causes warming, too. Australia sits between the Pacific and Indian Oceans and is subject to their variability, so we often look there to help explain what’s happening with Australia’s climate. In autumn though, our climate influences, such as the El Niño-Southern Oscillation and the Indian Ocean Dipole, are less active and have weaker relationships with Australian climate than at other times of year. Neither of these climate influences is <a href="http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/outlooks/#/overview/influences">in a strong phase</a> at the moment. <h2>A warm winter on the cards</h2> One big question is how long the heat will last. In parts of southeast Australia, including <a href="http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/cdio/cvg/av?p_stn_num=086071&p_prim_element_index=0&p_display_type=statGraph&period_of_avg=ALL&normals_years=allYearOfData&staticPage=">Melbourne</a>, average temperatures drop quickly at this time of year as we approach the winter solstice. However, the seasonal outlook from the Bureau of Meteorology points to a high likelihood of a relatively <a href="http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/outlooks/#/temperature/maximum/median/seasonal/0">warm winter</a>. Australians rarely escape having a winter without any significant cold spells, but the long-range forecast suggests we should anticipate above-normal temperatures on average. Both daytime maximum temperatures and nighttime minimum temperatures are expected to be above average generally this winter. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Y5NIa7X2H-s?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption>Climate and water long-range forecast, issued 1 May 2025 (Bureau of Meteorology)</figcaption></figure> <h2>Global warming is here</h2> The elephant in the room is climate change. Human-caused climate change is increasing autumn temperatures and the frequency of late season heat events. As greenhouse gas emissions continue at a <a href="https://theconversation.com/global-carbon-emissions-inch-upwards-in-2024-despite-progress-on-evs-renewables-and-deforestation-243133">record pace</a>, expect continued warming and a greater chance of autumn heatwaves in future. The effect of climate change on rainfall is less clear though. For the vast majority of Australia, there is <a href="https://interactive-atlas.ipcc.ch/regional-information">high uncertainty</a> as to whether autumn will become wetter or drier as the world warms.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/256071/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> By <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/andrew-king-103126">Andrew King</a>, Associate Professor in Climate Science, ARC Centre of Excellence for 21st Century Weather, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/its-almost-winter-why-is-australia-still-so-hot-256071">original article</a>. Image: Supplied </div>

Travel Trouble

Pagan loaves, Christian bread, a secular treat: a brief history of hot cross buns

<div class="theconversation-article-body">Hot cross buns aren’t just a sweet snack that appears around Easter. They carry centuries of storytelling in their dough. From ancient gods to modern supermarkets, these sticky spiced buns have crossed many borders and beliefs. Today, you can buy them in all kinds of flavours. But their story is far richer than chocolate chips and salted caramel. <h2>Ancient beginnings</h2> In some ancient cultures, bread was more than just food. It was a symbol of faith. Ancient Greeks baked small round loaves marked with crosses to honour their gods. According to some historians, these marks could represent the four seasons or <a href="https://www.ravenhook.com/bread-blog/hot-cross-buns">four phases of the moon</a>. Jewish people have also shared special bread during holy times like Passover, and scholars have debated whether these customs influenced <a href="https://catholiccuisine.blogspot.com/2009/04/hot-cross-buns-history.html">early Christian bread traditions</a>. Pagan Saxons worshipped a spring goddess named <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C4%92ostre">Eostre</a>. They baked bread during springtime festivals to celebrate new life and longer days. The name “Eostre” is where we get the English word “Easter”. Over time, some of these springtime bread traditions blended with Christian customs. <h2>From Pagan loaves to Christian buns</h2> Early Christians started marking bread with a cross to show their devotion, and ate it throughout the year. They believed <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/goodfood/easter-2016-the-history-of-hot-cross-buns-and-where-to-find-the-best-20160314-gnc8od.html">the cross kept away evil spirits</a> and helped the dough rise. Over time, the Christian view of the bread marked with the cross shifted to focus on <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-roots-of-the-easter-story-where-did-christian-beliefs-about-jesus-resurrection-come-from-221071">Jesus’ crucifixion and became associated with Easter</a>. <figure class="align-right zoomable"><figcaption></figcaption></figure> By the Middle Ages, many bakers only kept the <a href="https://catholiccuisine.blogspot.com/2009/04/hot-cross-buns-history.html">cross on Good Friday bread</a>. According to popular tales, one 12th-century English monk made spiced buns marked with a cross on Good Friday, because that day is the “<a href="https://www.cathedralatl.org/goodfaithpostings/god-defeats-violence-at-the-cross/">Day of the Cross</a>”. Monks often used spices to show <a href="https://austenvariations.com/hot-cross-buns-a-good-friday-tradition/">the day was special</a>. These <a href="https://www.lavenderandlovage.com/2012/03/baking-for-easter-the-history-of-traditional-hot-cross-buns-and-hot-cross-bun-recipe.html">spiced buns</a> helped people remember the crucifixion of Christ and the <a href="https://biblestudylessons.net/articles/BurialSpices.html">spices used in his burial</a>. In 1592, Queen Elizabeth I restricted the sale of spiced bread and buns, perhaps because of religious tensions. England had broken away from the Catholic Church, and new Church of England officials worried that “holy” buns looked too much like <a href="https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/easter/a-history-of-hot-cross-buns/">Catholic superstition</a>. Others say it was an issue of bread prices and profits. Then again maybe they were just <a href="https://www.sandylanefarm.co.uk/c/bakery/easter-hot-cross-buns">too special</a> for just everyday. Under these laws, commercial bakers could only make spiced bread on Christmas, Easter and for funerals. <h2>Good Friday and magic buns</h2> By the 18th century, English street vendors sold “hot cross buns” on Good Friday. We even see an <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_Cross_Buns_(song)">old rhyme</a> about them in Poor Robin’s Almanac in 1733, which says: <blockquote> Good Friday comes this month, the old woman runs, With one a penny, two a penny, hot cross buns. </blockquote> Soon, people believed these Good Friday buns had <a href="https://anglicanfocus.org.au/2020/04/05/raisin-the-curtain-on-the-humble-hot-cross-bun/">magical powers</a>. Some hung them from kitchen rafters, believing they would never go mouldy. They kept them for protection against evil or illness. If someone felt sick, they <a href="https://food52.com/blog/19462-were-hot-cross-buns-the-first-food-fad-a-brief-and-fascinating-history?srsltid=AfmBOorsFIsP1cYUDsCRMIshNIU7Lh2Gq00L0OOgL-VwSAhw_O5Uc7I8">crumbled part of an old hot cross bun</a> into water, hoping it would cure them. Others placed buns in their grain stores to keep pests away. These beliefs might sound odd today, but they were part of daily life for many. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/657956/original/file-20250327-56-yehmhv.jpeg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/657956/original/file-20250327-56-yehmhv.jpeg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/657956/original/file-20250327-56-yehmhv.jpeg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=740&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/657956/original/file-20250327-56-yehmhv.jpeg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=740&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/657956/original/file-20250327-56-yehmhv.jpeg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=740&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/657956/original/file-20250327-56-yehmhv.jpeg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=930&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/657956/original/file-20250327-56-yehmhv.jpeg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=930&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/657956/original/file-20250327-56-yehmhv.jpeg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=930&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="Three children and their mother reach for buns in a basket." /></a><figcaption>This hand-coloured etching from 1799 shows a woman selling hot cross buns in London. <a class="source" href="https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/739498">The Metropolitan Museum of Art</a></figcaption></figure> In Victorian England, people <a href="https://blog.library.villanova.edu/2016/03/24/hot-cross-buns-a-lenten-treat/">exchanged hot cross buns with friends</a> on Good Friday and said, “Half for you and half for me, between us two good luck shall be”. Whatever ancient superstition the cross once warded off, today it’s the flavour roulette that keeps us coming back. Proof that tradition now serves taste, not fear. <h2>An enduring symbol</h2> Traditional buns contain dried fruit and spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, but many modern versions <a href="https://bakingwithgranny.co.uk/recipe/chocolate-chip-hot-cross-buns/">swap sultanas for chocolate chips</a> or add flavours like salted caramel, orange – or even <a href="https://vegemite.com.au/recipe/cheesy-vegemite-hot-cross-buns/#newsletter">Vegemite and cheese</a>. They have become a secular treat. Yet the crisscross pattern remains on top, hinting at the Christian origins. When you smell a fresh batch of these buns, you’re sharing an experience people enjoyed centuries ago. Ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Poles, Romans, Saxons, medieval monks and 18th-century street sellers all had their versions of spiced, crossed bread. Each group gave the buns its own meaning, from honouring gods to celebrating Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/659209/original/file-20250402-62-oa1v6d.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/659209/original/file-20250402-62-oa1v6d.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/659209/original/file-20250402-62-oa1v6d.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=603&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/659209/original/file-20250402-62-oa1v6d.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=603&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/659209/original/file-20250402-62-oa1v6d.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=603&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/659209/original/file-20250402-62-oa1v6d.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=758&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/659209/original/file-20250402-62-oa1v6d.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=758&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/659209/original/file-20250402-62-oa1v6d.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=758&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="Colour illustration." /></a><figcaption>A woman giving hot cross buns to two children, in an illustration from 1899. <a class="source" href="http://blogs.bl.uk/untoldlives/2015/04/hot-cross-buns.html">British Library</a></figcaption></figure> Eating hot cross buns at Easter also shows how traditions change with each generation. At first, they were hard to find outside Good Friday. Now, you might see them in shops just after New Year’s. They once symbolised pagan festivals, then moved into Christian rites, survived royal bans, and sailed through waves of superstition. Yet they remain a symbol of Easter in Australia and around the world.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/246782/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> By <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/darius-von-guttner-sporzynski-112147">Darius von Guttner Sporzynski</a>, Historian, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/australian-catholic-university-747">Australian Catholic University</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/pagan-loaves-christian-bread-a-secular-treat-a-brief-history-of-hot-cross-buns-246782">original article</a>. Image: Shutterstock </div>

Food & Wine

Bus crashes into suburban Sydney home

A bus carrying multiple passengers has crashed into a home in south-west Sydney. Emergency services were called to Aplin Road in Bonnyrigg heights on Tuesday morning following reports a bus had smashed into a house. Fortunately nobody was in the house at the time of the crash, according to NSW police. Six people were treated for minor injuries, with the bus driver, a man in his 50s, taken to Liverpool Hospital with minor injuries. The crash caused significant damage to the home, with a part of the roof caving in, however, NSW Fire and Rescue has confirmed that the structure of the home is safe. An investigation into the crash is still ongoing, with a tow truck extracting the bus from the house since the accident. Image: Nine News

Travel Trouble

Big change for new buses after Hunter Valley crash

Australian buses and coaches fitted with seatbelts will soon be required to have announcements reminding people to buckle up, following the tragic Hunter Valley bus crash that killed 10 people almost two years ago. On Tuesday, the federal government announced that the new rule will require these vehicles to include visual and audio alerts reminding passengers to buckle up, similar to those on airplanes. “Travelling by bus is one of the safest forms of transport in Australia, and these new audible and visual signage requirements will ensure this continues to be the case,” federal assistant Regional Development Minister Anthony Chisholm said. The government also announced it had closed a loophole where some buses with seats under 1m high were exempted from requiring seatbelts. Under the regulations, all new bus and coach models must comply by November 1, 2026, while existing models will need to make the changes by November 1, 2027. “These safety outcomes further improve what is generally regarded as the most stringent seatbelt rules for buses in the world,” Bus industry confederation chair Tony Hopkins said. “With seat belt usage currently as low as 7 per cent on some services, this provides a simple but powerful message that reminds bus passengers to fasten a seat belt. “After all, if a seat belt is provided in a bus it must be worn by law.” Image: Mino Surkala / Shutterstock.com

Domestic Travel

The anatomy of a hot flush – and whether it can really make your head steam

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/michelle-spear-172043">Michelle Spear</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-bristol-1211">University of Bristol</a> A hot flush is a phenomenon as disruptive as it is commonplace. One moment, life proceeds as usual. The next, a wave of heat rises, spreading from the chest to the face – leaving behind flushed skin and beads of sweat. For many, this sudden warmth is accompanied by an <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hot-flashes/symptoms-causes/syc-20352790">accelerated heartbeat and a faint sense of unease</a>. Though brief – typically lasting anywhere from 30 seconds to five minutes – its intensity can be startling and made worse by unpredictable timing. A recent viral video has brought attention to just how intense a hot flush can be. The video depicts a woman named Tracey Monique <a href="https://uk.style.yahoo.com/menopause-hot-flush-flash-symptoms-134536113.html?guccounter=1">experiencing a hot flush</a> while at an outdoor event. In the video, her head is literally steaming. The sight of wisps of vapour escaping her head highlighted the dramatic effects of this common <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/menopause/symptoms/">perimenopausal symptom</a>. Often misunderstood or trivialised, the image of a hot flush brings fresh attention to a phenomenon that affects an estimated <a href="https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/introduction-to-menopause">75% of people experiencing perimenopause</a>. The video has also sparked debate on social media – reflecting the complexity of hot flushes themselves. Some argue the steam escaping Monique’s head was caused by her removing her hat while being in the cold. But many women have commented, saying the video perfectly encapsulates what a hot flush feels like. Let’s take a look at what’s actually happening during a hot flush and why they can feel so severe. <h2>Hormonal instigators</h2> At the heart of a hot flush lies oestrogen – a hormone critical role in regulating body temperature in women. Oestrogen directly <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/22566-hypothalamus">influences the hypothalamus</a>, a small but essential structure in the brain often referred to as the <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6397692/">body’s thermostat</a>. The hypothalamus monitors and adjusts body temperature to maintain balance. Under normal circumstances, the hypothalamus keeps the body within a narrow temperature range – adjusting blood flow and sweat production as needed. But during perimenopause, <a href="https://www.rcog.org.uk/for-the-public/browse-our-patient-information/treatment-for-symptoms-of-the-menopause/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">oestrogen levels fluctuate</a> unpredictably and eventually decline. These hormonal shifts disrupt the hypothalamus’s ability to maintain its usual set temperature. Declining oestrogen levels also make the hypothalamus overly sensitive to small changes in body temperature – misinterpreting these as <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31001050/">signs of overheating</a>. This triggers an exaggerated response aimed at cooling the body down: a hot flush. The result is a sudden dilation of blood vessels, particularly in the skin of the upper body, to allow heat to radiate outward. Simultaneously, sweat glands activate – intensifying the sensation of heat. <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3956631/">Luteinising hormone</a>, which primarily regulates ovulation, also plays a secondary role in hot flushes. As oestrogen levels decline, the pituitary gland (which regulates key hormones that control growth, reproduction and metabolism) <a href="https://academic.oup.com/endo/article/163/2/bqab268/6490154">releases erratic surges</a> of lutenising hormone. These spikes appear to further heighten the hypothalamus’s sensitivity, amplifying its misinterpretation of normal body temperature as overheating. <h2>The cooling response</h2> During a hot flush the hypothalamus sends urgent signals to the autonomic nervous system, which governs involuntary functions such as heart rate, blood pressure and sweating. This prompts blood vessels near the skin to dilate – a <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557562/">process called vasodilation</a>. This allows more blood to flow to the surface to release heat. This is why the face, neck and chest can feel intensely warm and look visibly flushed during a hot flush. Almost simultaneously, the hypothalamus activates sweat glands in the upper body. Sweating is meant to <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6773238/">cool the body</a> through evaporation. In cold environments, this sweat may produce visible steam – as seen in Monique’s viral video. But once the hypothalamus realises the body isn’t actually overheated, vasodilation subsides and blood vessels return to their normal state. But the rapid cooling effect from sweating can leave women <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4612529/">feeling chilled</a>. This creates a rollercoaster of sensations during and after the hot flush. This sequence – heat, flush, sweat and chill – reflects the body’s struggle to regain equilibrium in response to a misfiring thermostat. <h2>The debate</h2> While the sensation of heat is undeniable, whether hot flushes significantly raise skin temperature remains debated. <a href="https://www.maturitas.org/article/0378-5122(79)90009-4/abstract">Thermographic studies</a>, which use infrared imaging to measure heat patterns and surface temperature, have demonstrated measurable skin temperature rises – particularly in the face, neck and chest. But other research has found only <a href="https://www.obgproject.com/2019/07/24/are-menopausal-hot-flushes-really-triggered-by-core-temperature/">minor or negligible changes</a> in skin temperature. This raises questions about whether the perception of heat correlates directly with physiological changes. Critics suggest that the sensation of heat stems more from the brain’s altered thermoregulation than from actual warming of the skin. Tools such as thermographic imaging may also miss subtle or transient temperature changes – or these changes may be masked by sweat evaporation. It may also be the case that <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4612529/">skin temperature changes</a>, like other perimenopausal symptoms, vary widely between people. The <a href="https://bmcwomenshealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1472-6874-9-13">variability in oestrogen levels</a> contributes significantly – with those experiencing more erratic hormonal changes often reporting more intense or frequent flushes. Factors such as <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/16/5/655">genetics, lifestyle and environmental triggers</a>, all add to the diversity of experiences and how intense symptoms might be. Hot flushes are a complex interplay of hormonal, neurological and vascular responses. While the scientific debate about skin temperature changes remains unresolved, the lived experience of heat and discomfort is undeniable. For many, these symptoms are disruptive and even debilitating, profoundly affecting daily life. Monique’s viral video, with the striking image of steam rising from her head, has resonated deeply with countless women – offering stark visual evidence of what they’ve felt but often struggled to articulate. Understanding the anatomy of a hot flush not only sheds light on its mechanisms but also underscores the importance of empathy and tailored approaches to managing this multifaceted symptom.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/244452/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/michelle-spear-172043">Michelle Spear</a>, Professor of Anatomy, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-bristol-1211">University of Bristol</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-anatomy-of-a-hot-flush-and-whether-it-can-really-make-your-head-steam-244452">original article</a>. </div>

Body

Bogus "rule" sees bus driver block Dad and daughter

A father from Sydney's inner west and his toddler have been denied entry onto a bus after a confrontation with the driver over an alleged "rule" about travelling with children. Graham Cooke and his daughter Katie had been commuting on the 370 bus from their home in Newtown to Katie's childcare every day for a year, until one morning when the pair were confronted with a problem. When trying to board the bus as normal, Graham recalled to <a href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/dad-refused-entry-on-public-bus-after-driver-enforces-little-known-child-rule-031938462.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yahoo News</a> that the bus driver "aggressively" asked the dad how old his daughter was. When he explained that she was two-and-a-half, the dad claims the driver told him it was against the rules to have a toddler ride the bus without being in a stroller, and refused to let them onboard. "He immediately goes, 'no', puts his hand up, and he's like, 'you need to get off the bus. Children under three need to be in a stroller'." Cooke explained to Yahoo News. "He kept kind of yelling 'you need to get off the bus, I'm not driving the bus with a two-and-a-half-year-old held in your arms'," Graham said, while he tried to explain to the driver that he's done it "every day". Cooke then quickly looked up if such a rule existed on Transport NSW, eventually finding no evidence that young Katie had to be in a stroller to board the bus. When he tried to once again confront the driver to let them on, the driver responded that Cooke was holding everybody on the bus up. "I'm entitled to get the bus with my toddler, I'm just trying to get to work," Cooke said. After the standoff, the dad and his daughter had no choice but to get off the bus and wait for the next one, where they had no issues getting on board. "It was a really unpleasant experience," he said, recalling how his daughter, who ordinarily loves getting the bus, was left "upset" and cuddling into her dad. "She loves saying hello to bus drivers. She tends to, kind of charm everybody around pretty, pretty lovely experience," he said. "It upset me, because I just wanted to get to work and to be rejected on public transport in such a way. So it was a very unpleasant start to the day, and he was very aggressive and dogmatic about his view." After contacting Transport for NSW, the authority apologised for the incident, as a spokesperson said passengers travelling on buses with young children and prams have the choice to seat children in their care on a seat next to them, on their lap or to have them strapped into a pram where there is space on board for it to be parked safely. "All of our accessible buses have specific areas for prams and wheelchairs near the front of the bus, which will allow children to remain in the pram while on board if required," they said. "In that case, the front of the pram must be facing towards the back of the bus and be in firm contact with the panel, or bar behind it. "You'll need to fold your pram or stroller and store it in the luggage rack if there is not enough space on board the bus to safely park the pram, or if the driver asks you to. "In that case, you’ll need to seat the children in your care with you as it is not safe to stand and carry a child while a bus is moving." Responding to the statement, Cooke said, "It looks like it's completely not a rule. Parents should be able to bring their kids to daycare. A lot of daycares don't allow you to bring a stroller and leave it there." While the dad admits that most bus drivers are "lovely", he wants to send a message to other parents that they should know their rights travelling around on public transport. "It's difficult enough getting around in NSW with a toddler," he said. "It makes having a child and exploring the city pretty difficult. If you're in this situation, know your rights and that you can't be kicked off a bus just because you don't have a stroller, if you're happy enough carrying or holding your toddler." Image credits: X (Twitter)

Legal

Hunter Valley bus driver learns his fate

The judge has handed down his sentence to Hunter Valley bus driver Brett Button, who was behind the wheel of one of Australia's deadliest crashes that killed 10 people and injured 25 others. After a three-day hearing, Button, 59, was sentenced before Judge Roy Ellis at Newcastle District Court on Wednesday afternoon to 32 years behind bars with a non-parole period of 24 years beginning May 8th. He will be eligible for release on parole on May 7th, 2048. When the judge read his sentence, gasps were heard within the courtroom from survivors of the crash, while many victims' families broke down in tears. In sentencing, Judge Ellis said Button was under the influence of the opioid-based painkiller tramadol and had “abandoned his responsibility” to his 35 passengers at the time of the crash. “Words cannot adequately express the pain, anger, and sadness that permeated the first two days of these proceedings as victim impact statement after victim impact statement was read by and for absolutely distraught, depressed, and devastated family members of the deceased and survivors," Judge Ellis said. Judge Ellis said that in his 50 years in the justice system he had never “dealt with, seen, or even read about a case that involved anywhere near the same extent of extraordinary devastation”. “Surviving passengers described the trauma of their injuries and scenes of the crash, with unwanted memory of the carnage still present and easily triggered,” Judge Ellis told the court. Outside the courtroom after the sentence had been handed down, Leoni Bowey, who lost her sister Nadene McBride and niece Kyah McBride in the crash, said the family was surprised by the result but she didn’t “think there was ever an end to this”. “I don’t think closure ever happens,” she said. “Listening to the stories, I realised many of the victims that were on the bus that night are all living with trauma, depression, and anxiety - all things that will be with us for the rest of our lives." “I was having an anxiety attack because it was taking so long to get the numbers, and I had no idea what it all meant... but I will say I didn’t think we would get that sentence. I am really surprised.” <p style="box-sizing: inherit; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 24px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Image credits: 7News

Legal

Hunter Valley bus driver finally speaks out over horror crash

The man who was behind the wheel of the deadly Hunter Valley bus crash in June 2023 has finally taken the stand, saying he is deeply sorry for the hurt he has caused the victims and their families. Brett Button, 59, was transporting wedding guests from the reception ceremony at the Wandin Valley Estate back to Singleton when the bus flipped, causing the deaths of 10 people and injuring 25 others. After pleading guilty to 19 charges, including dangerous driving occasioning death and grievous bodily harm, Button appeared before Newcastle District Court on Tuesday to hear emotional <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/health/caring/hunter-valley-crash-survivor-s-demands-of-killer-bus-driver" target="_blank" rel="noopener">victim statements</a> from survivors and family members of those who were killed. On Wednesday, Button finally broke his silence on the fatal crash, issuing an emotional apology to all those impacted by the devastating crash. "I've tried to figure out the words to say I'm sorry, but how do you say you're sorry for such a horrible tragic event that has ruined the lives of hundreds of people," he told the court. <div data-component="EmphasisedText"> "I can't forgive myself. I can't believe I caused this, I never meant to cause it and every single person that died and was injured and everyone involved in this, I truly wish it never happened and I could apologise where people actually believe me." </div> "I live with this every day and I hate myself. I've caused parents to have to bury their children, which has been my biggest nightmare all my life, and now I've done it to so many families." "I'm sorry to everyone involved, including the police and everyone, my family — I've shamed everyone." Button also shared with the court that he had been taking the opioid tramadol since 1994, and admitted on the day of the crash, he had taken “in excess” of his prescribed dose of painkillers. When asked by his barrister Paul Rosser KC if he felt he was addicted, Button said he was "certainly dependent", adding that a pain specialist warned Button one year before the crash that he was at risk of addiction. When further questioned, Mr Button said he had no perception on that night the drug had impaired his driving. "I take responsibility for the death and injuries, it was no way purposeful and I wasn't negligent," he told the court. "I didn't do it deliberately." Andrew Scott, 35, and wife Lynan Scott, 33, Nadene McBride, 52, daughter Kyah McBride, 22, and her partner, Kane Symons, 21, Darcy Bulman, 30, Rebecca Mullen, 26, Zachary Bray, 29, Tori Cowburn, 29, and Angus Craig, 28, were killed in the crash on June 11th 2023, with the crash now known as one of Australia's worst ever fatal road incidents. Judge Roy Ellis will consider 40 victim impact statements as part of his sentencing. Image credits: 7News

Legal

Hunter Valley crash survivor's demands of killer bus driver

A man who survived the devastating bus crash in the Hunter Valley in June 2023 that claimed the lives of 10 people has confronted the man who was behind the wheel with an emotional victim statement in court. On that fateful day, Brett Button was transporting wedding guests to the reception venue when the bus flipped at a roundabout at Greta, with the crash claiming the lives of 10 people and injuring another 25 passengers. As a result, Button, 59, has pleaded guilty to 19 charges, including dangerous driving occasioning death and grievous bodily harm, appearing before Newcastle District Court on Tuesday to hear emotional victim statements from survivors and family members of those who were killed. Taking the stand to deliver his impact statement following a day and a half of hearings, one survivor demanded Button look at him before telling him he'd trapped him in a “bus of hell”. “My friends didn’t deserve to die, the others didn’t deserve to die,” he said. “The families here don’t deserve to be here. My future has been destroyed because of your actions. I can no longer be the person I was. The intergenerational trauma you have caused is enormous.” Earlier on Tuesday, Steve Symons, whose son Kane died in the crash, fought back tears to tell Button about how his son had seized on a “second chance” after a childhood injury only to have it “cruelly” robbed from him. “Kane’s death has shattered our lives. It has left an unrepairable void. He was a vibrant and ambitious young man who had been given a rare second chance at life,” Mr Symons told the court. “He lived with an acute awareness of just how precious life is and embraced every moment of it. To lose him now after he was given that second chance at life is both cruel and unjust.” Zachary Bray was also given a “second chance” after a battle with stage-3 bowel cancer, as his mother, Jackie, said he “always chose the right path” in another emotional statement. “In many ways, Zac was the perfect child if there ever was one. He just wanted to please and did so his entire life, making his family, friends and colleagues proud in everything he did,” she said. “He and his friends did what they were told to do: have a plan B. They trusted the bus driver would get them home safely, but my son who did everything right still didn’t make it home." “Zac got a death sentence, and his family and friends got a life sentence.” At least 35 people are expected to provide witness impact statements to the court during a marathon three-day sentence hearing that began on Monday morning before Judge Roy Ellis, who is expected to hand down his sentence to Button on Wednesday. Andrew Scott, 35, and wife Lynan Scott, 33, Nadene McBride, 52, daughter Kyah McBride, 22, and her partner, Kane Symons, 21, Darcy Bulman, 30, Rebecca Mullen, 26, Zachary Bray, 29, Tori Cowburn, 29, and Angus Craig, 28, were killed in the crash on June 11th 2023, with the crash now known as one of Australia's worst ever fatal road incidents. Image credits: Getty Images

Caring

Manhunt after stranger pours scalding hot coffee on baby in public park

Queensland Police have released footage of the man they believe burned a baby with a scalding hot drink in a public park. On Wednesday, the unknown man approached the family at Hanlon Park in Brisbane and poured hot coffee on the nine-month-old baby boy. He was rushed to the Queensland Children’s Hospital with burns to his face, upper body and arms, with the burns covering 60 per cent of his body. Queensland Police have now released CCTV footage from the area, showing a man running from the park. He appears approximately 30 to 40 years old, with a proportionate build and tanned skin, and was wearing a black hat, glasses, a shirt and shorts. Anyone who recognises the man has been urged to contact the police with information. An off-duty nurse heard the commotion in the park from the balcony of her apartment, telling <a href="https://7news.com.au/news/footage-of-man-who-burnt-baby-with-hot-drink-at-hanlon-park-in-stones-corner-released-c-15856522" target="_blank" rel="noopener">7News</a> she went outside to investigate when she heard screaming. She said she heard the child’s mother yelling “my baby, my baby”. The nurse rushed down to the park to help the boy, taking him to her nearby apartment where he was placed under a cold shower before paramedics arrived. Locals told 7News the attack was “terrible” and they were shocked it had happened in their community. “It’s really scary when you think that we haven’t got a community that looks after our young and vulnerable,” one woman said. Image credits: Queensland Police

Legal

40°C in August? A climate expert explains why Australia is ridiculously hot right now

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/andrew-king-103126">Andrew King</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a> It’s winter in Australia, but as you’ve probably noticed, the weather is unusually warm. The top temperatures over large parts of the country this weekend were well above average for this time of year. The outback town of Oodnadatta in South Australia recorded 38.5°C on Friday and 39.4°C on Saturday – about 16°C above average. Both days were well above the state’s previous winter temperature record. In large parts of Australia, the heat is expected to persist into the coming week. A high pressure system is bringing this unusual heat – and it’s hanging around. So temperature records have already fallen and may continue to be broken for some towns in the next few days. It’s no secret the world is warming. In fact, 2024 is shaping up to be <a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/state-of-the-climate-2024-now-very-likely-to-be-warmest-year-on-record/">the hottest year on record</a>. Climate change is upon us. Historical averages are becoming just that: a thing of the past. That’s why this winter heat is concerning. The warming trend will continue for at least as long as we keep burning fossil fuels and polluting the atmosphere. Remember, this is only August. The heatwaves of spring and summer are only going to be hotter. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GmhMKjxEGQo?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption>Widespread heat forecast for Australia in August, 2024 (Bureau of Meteorology)</figcaption></figure> <h2>Records broken across Australia</h2> The Bureau of Meteorology was expecting many records to be broken over the weekend across several states. On Thursday, bureau meteorologist Angus Hines described: <blockquote> A scorching end to winter, with widespread heat around the country in coming days, including the chance of winter records across multiple states for maximum temperature. </blockquote> The amount of heat plunging into central Australia was particularly unusual, Hines said. On Friday, temperatures across northern South Australia and southern parts of the Northern Territory were as much as 15°C above average. Temperatures continued to soar across northern parts of Western Australia over the weekend, with over 40°C recorded at Fitzroy Crossing on Sunday. It has been 2–12°C above average from Townsville all the way down to Melbourne for several days in a row. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/615457/original/file-20240825-18-d8f6ho.gif?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/615457/original/file-20240825-18-d8f6ho.gif?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/615457/original/file-20240825-18-d8f6ho.gif?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=412&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/615457/original/file-20240825-18-d8f6ho.gif?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=412&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/615457/original/file-20240825-18-d8f6ho.gif?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=412&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/615457/original/file-20240825-18-d8f6ho.gif?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=518&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/615457/original/file-20240825-18-d8f6ho.gif?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=518&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/615457/original/file-20240825-18-d8f6ho.gif?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=518&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="Animated maximum temperature anomaly map showing heat building across central Australia" /></a><figcaption>Maximum temperature anomalies from August 19-24, showing heat building across Australia. Bureau of Meteorology, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY</a></figcaption></figure> Bear in mind, it’s only August. As Hines said, the fire weather season hasn’t yet hit most of Australia – but the current conditions – hot, dry and sometimes windy – are bringing moderate to high fire danger across Australia. It may also bring dusty conditions to central Australia. And for latitudes north of Sydney and Perth, most of the coming week will be warm. <h2>What’s causing the winter warmth?</h2> <a href="http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/charts/synoptic_col.shtml">In recent days</a> a stubborn high pressure system has sat over eastern Australia and the Tasman Sea. It has kept skies clear over much of the continent and brought northerly winds over many areas, transporting warm air to the south. High pressure promotes warm weather – both through clearer skies that bring more sunshine, and by promoting the descent of air which <a href="https://media.bom.gov.au/social/blog/2544/explainer-what-influences-air-temperature/">causes heating</a>. By late August, both the intensity of the sun and the length of the day has increased. So the centre of Australia can really warm up when under the right conditions. High pressure in June can be associated with cooler conditions, because more heat is lost from the surface during those long winter nights. But that’s already less of an issue by late August. This kind of weather setup has occurred in the past. Late-winter or early-spring heat does sometimes occur in Australia. However, this warm spell is exceptional, as highlighted by the broken temperature records across the country. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/615284/original/file-20240823-20-1mu7h0.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/615284/original/file-20240823-20-1mu7h0.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/615284/original/file-20240823-20-1mu7h0.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/615284/original/file-20240823-20-1mu7h0.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/615284/original/file-20240823-20-1mu7h0.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/615284/original/file-20240823-20-1mu7h0.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/615284/original/file-20240823-20-1mu7h0.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/615284/original/file-20240823-20-1mu7h0.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="Graph of August Australian-average temperatures increasing since 1910" /></a><figcaption>August temperatures have been rising over the past century. Bureau of Meteorology</figcaption></figure> <h2>Feeling the heat</h2> The consequences of humanity’s continued greenhouse gas emissions are clear. Australia’s winters are getting warmer overall. And winter “heatwaves” are becoming warmer. Australia’s three warmest Augusts on record have all occurred since 2000 – and <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-is-australia-having-such-a-warm-winter-a-climate-expert-explains-210693">last August was the second-warmest since 1910</a>. When the right weather conditions occur for winter warmth across Australia, the temperatures are higher than a century ago. The warmth we are experiencing now comes off the back of <a href="https://theconversation.com/earth-has-just-ended-a-13-month-streak-of-record-heat-heres-what-to-expect-next-236655">a recent run of global temperature records</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/extreme-heat-is-breaking-global-records-why-this-isnt-just-summer-and-what-climate-change-has-to-do-with-it-234249">extreme heat events across the Northern Hemisphere</a>. This warm spell is set to continue, with temperatures above 30°C forecast from Wednesday through to Sunday in Brisbane. The outlook for spring points to continued <a href="http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/outlooks/#/temperature/maximum/median/seasonal/0">above-normal temperatures</a> across the continent, but as always we will likely see both warm and cold spells at times. Such winter warmth is exceptional and already breaking records. Climate change is already increasing the frequency and intensity of this kind of winter heat – and future warm spells will be hotter still, if humanity’s greenhouse gas emissions continue.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/237398/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/andrew-king-103126">Andrew King</a>, Senior Lecturer in Climate Science, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/40-c-in-august-a-climate-expert-explains-why-australia-is-ridiculously-hot-right-now-237398">original article</a>. </div>

Domestic Travel

"Hero" teens steer bus to safety after driver has a heart attack

Two teenagers have worked together to steer a school bus to safety after the driver had a heart attack. The pair were among 20 other students from Aquinas College, who were on board the bus yesterday afternoon when the 70-year-old driver had the medical episode. A 15-year-old girl, not yet old enough to drive, and Daniel Knight, a year 12 student sprung to action to stop the bus. "We were only going like five [kilometres an hour], 10 k's, so I was like I better just stop the bus before it gets any worse," Knight said. "She opened the door up, she was calming everyone down." Bennet Rogers, a student on the bus recalled the moment the incident happened. "Us students on the bus, we didn't know what was happening and everyone was screaming," Rogers said. "She had to steer the bus so we didn't crash into a building," he added. Knight and the 15-year-old girl's actions have been commended by the school in a letter to their parents. The bus driver remains in hospital and is recovering from surgery, and the principal has said that there would be an investigation into what happened. Many are calling for the teen girl to be recognised with a bravery award, with Queensland Premier Steven Miles telling Nine News he would personally nominate her. "She's a hero for that, definitely," another fellow student, Brodie Wilkinson, said. "I really hope she gets an award or something." Image: Nine News

Travel Trouble

Elderly driver hailed a hero amid fatal bus tragedy

An elderly driver has been hailed a hero for saving lives after getting caught up in a horror crash between a Greyhound bus and a car towing a caravan. The accident left three women dead and 27 other passengers injured, after the coach allegedly veered onto the opposite side of the Bruce Highway at Gumlu, in north Queensland at around 11am on Sunday. The coach was travelling between Brisbane and Townsville, with 33 people onboard when it collided with a caravan towed by a 4WD. The elderly couple, who were in the 4WD were miraculously not injured. Witnesses have praised the elderly male driver for his quick-thinking skills, when he drove his vehicle out of the way of the oncoming bus - which saved the lives of people driving behind him. "He was a hero for his actions," Janice Beavis told the Daily Mail. “They [the elderly couple] were behaving safely. The bus hit the van, the driver [of the 4WD] was trying to get away. “He saved himself and his wife and the mum and three girls travelling behind him.” 56-year-old Townsville woman, Emma ‘Alli’ Sailor, and two German women aged in their 20s and 30s sadly passed away in the crash. Four people remain in hospital, including two men in their 20s who are fighting for their lives, and two other men, aged 27 and 51, who are in stable conditions. The bus was reportedly running behind schedule, leaving Rockhampton at 2am instead of the planned departure time at 12:45. The speed limit at the section of the highway where the accident occurred was 100km/h. Detectives are investigating whether fatigue could have played a role in the crash. “We haven’t determined any factors that have contributed to the crash at this stage, but certainly a crash of this nature, involving this many people, is a very significant, very tragic incident for us,” Police Superintendent Graeme Paine said at a press conference on Sunday. Anyone who may have seen the crash or have dashcam footage have been urged to contact police. On Monday morning, Police Superintendent Paine said that more witnesses will be interviewed to determine the cause of the crash. “We’ve collected a significant amount of evidence from the scene,” he said. “As we process that evidence and interview further witnesses, we anticipate getting a clearer picture of exactly how it occurred." Image: news.com.au

Travel Trouble

Charges dropped for Hunter Valley bus driver

The driver responsible for the Hunter Valley bus crash that claimed the lives of 10 people has had major charges dropped as he faced court. Brett Andrew Button, 59, faced Newcastle Local Court on Tuesday, as all 10 manslaughter charges were dropped as part of a deal struck with prosecutors. As part of the deal, Button pled guilty to a string of other charges, including 10 counts of dangerous driving causing death, nine counts of dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm and 16 counts of furious driving causing bodily harm. Another 25 charges of causing bodily harm by misconduct were also withdrawn. He was not yet required to enter pleas to back-up charges including negligent driving causing death. Since his first arrest, Button had been on bail after initially being granted release due to mental health and wellbeing concerns should he be kept in custody. However, he has now been remanded into custody on remand to await sentencing. The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) declined to comment on the reason for the manslaughter charges being withdrawn. Mr Button was arrested after allegedly losing control of a bus that was transporting 35 wedding guests to a reception in the NSW Hunter Valley. The bus rolled over at a roundabout near Greta, killing 10 people and injuring 25 others. Mother and daughter Nadene and Kyah McBride, Kyah’s boyfriend Kane Symons, husband and wife Andrew and Lynan Scott, Zach Bray, Angus Craig, Darcy Bulman, Tori Cowburn and Rebecca Mullen all died in the impact. Button has previously apologised for the incident, telling reporters outside court in March he was “devastated by what has occurred” and that he was “truly and deeply sorry”. Image credits: Getty Images

Legal

Awful new details emerge after man's fatal fall from hot air balloon

Warning: Disturbing details New details have emerged of the moments before a man tragically fell to his death from a <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/man-dies-after-falling-from-hot-air-balloon-over-melbourne" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hot air balloon</a>. The man was one of ten people onboard the hot air balloon ride, which took off at around 7am on Monday. A video obtained by 7News, shows the man, dressed in a brown jumper, taking in the view over the city alongside other guests. Witnesses have also reported that the man looked fine and was even chatting with the ride operator about politics as the balloon launched into the air. As the ride reached around 450metres, just ten minutes later, with no warning whatsoever he shockingly exited the basket in what was reported to be an act of self-harm and plunged to his death. The pilot immediately made a distressed may day call as horrified passengers and motorists witnessed him fall through the air. Passengers onboard another hot air balloon, which was launched at the same time, recalled hearing the distress calls over the radio approximately 15 minutes into their ride. Not long after emergency services arrived at the horrifying scene in Albert Street, Preston in the city's north-east, where his body was found in a front yard. One witness recalled the incident and told the Today show: "My brother heard like a loud bang, almost like something like a large item falling in your house. And it wasn’t until we heard all the sirens that we came out." Passengers onboard the hot air balloon have been offered counselling by the operator, with officers currently preparing a report for the coroner. Images: 7News/ Daily Mail

Legal

Man dies after falling from hot air balloon over Melbourne

An unidentified man lost his life early on Monday morning after falling from a hot-air balloon above Preston, Melbourne. The incident, which occurred around 7:30 am on Albert Road, has left the neighbourhood in disbelief. Paramedics swiftly responded to the scene following distress calls, only to find the lifeless body of the man on the street. According to authorities, the victim was riding in the hot air balloon when the tragic accident unfolded. The area quickly became a hive of activity, with dozens of police officers cordoning off the road in both directions. Eyewitnesses reported a scene of chaos, with power lines falling onto the road and emergency service crews rushing to the aid of the victim. One neighbour, speaking to reporters from the Today show, recounted the harrowing moments leading up to the discovery of the man's body. "My brother heard like a loud bang, almost like something like a large item falling in your house. And it wasn’t until we heard all the sirens that we came out," he said. Expressions of condolences and solidarity have poured in from the local community and beyond, as news of the tragedy spreads. More updates are expected as authorities work to unravel the events leading up to this heartbreaking incident. Images: The Today Show | ABC News

News

Hunter Valley bus driver breaks silence

Brett Andrew Button, 59, who allegedly caused a fatal bus crash that <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/hunter-valley-bus-driver-hit-with-new-charges" target="_blank" rel="noopener">killed 10 people</a> and injured 25 others has broken his silence over the incident for the first time. Button appeared before Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday as he faces almost 90 charges associated with the horror crash. In a statement read by his lawyer, Chris O’Brien, Button said that there was “not a day that goes by that I don’t think about what happened that night”. “There isn’t an hour that goes by that I’m not thinking of the families that have been affected by the crash. “I truly feel for anyone involved, including the emergency services. “I am devastated by what has occurred and I am truly deeply sorry.” Button was the bus driver in charge of driving wedding guests to a Hunter Valley venue when the vehicle allegedly lost control and crashed. Husband and wife Andrew and Lynan Scott were killed in the crash and farewelled in ceremonies weeks later. Nadene and Kyah McBride who were among the ten wedding guests killed in the crash, were also <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/a-moving-time-hunter-valley-bus-crash-victims-honoured-at-aflw-grand-final" target="_blank" rel="noopener">honoured with a tribute</a> at the AFLW grand final in December. Zach Bray, Angus Craig, Darcy Bulman, Tori Cowburn and Rebecca Mullen were the other victims of the horror crash. Button faces 89 charges including nine counts of negligent driving occasioning death and 16 counts of driving a motor vehicle furiously doing or causing harm. He has not entered any pleas. Image: Getty

Legal

"Cruel" shopper slammed for leaving dog in hot car

A woman has been slammed on social media for allegedly leaving her dog in an unattended car for 40 minutes on a hot day. The incident occurred at Warringah Mall in Sydney's north on Monday, when temperatures reached up to 28 degrees. Claire, claimed the dog-owner pulled up next to her in an undercover car park, and then watched the woman leave her pet locked in an unattended car while she shopped. "Myself and my mother waited till she got back," she told Yahoo News Australia. "It was around 3.15pm and she didn’t come back till just before 4pm". During that time, Claire said she called security, who attempted to contact the owner via a mobile number on the dog's harness. She also tried calling the RSPCA and police but claimed that not much could be done. When the owner finally returned, Claire questioned her about leaving the "panting and drooling" animal unattended, but the woman reportedly just "laughed and scoffed" before "driving away as quick as possible". Claire shared photos of the pup on Facebook and criticised the owner, for her "absolute irresponsibility and disgusting behaviour", calling her an "absolute d**khead". "People like you should not own animals," she wrote. While many agreed that the woman's actions were "absolutely awful," a few others argued the act was fine as the car was undercover and "the dog doesn't look hot and distressed at all." Another person who claimed to know the owner, said that the woman's car "has an aircon function which allows the air-conditioning to run when the engine is not running" and the pet is generally "very spoiled and happy". A few others disagreed, and said that the act was "cruel" and "simply disgusting" regardless. "Undercover or not you don't lock a baby in a car, you don't lock an animal in a car ... no excuse," one wrote. An RSPCA spokesperson has also spoken out and said that leaving a dog inside a car unattended is "always dangerous" no matter the location or the temperature outside. They said that even on mild days, temperatures in a car can "rapidly heat up" and can reach "double" the outside temperature. "When it’s 22 degrees Celsius outside, the inside of a car can reach a stifling 47 degrees and this is no environment for a dog," the spokesperson said. Image: Facebook

Family & Pets

Hunter Valley bus driver hit with new charges

The bus driver involved in the fatal crash that killed 10 people on the way to a wedding reception has been hit with new charges over the tragedy. In June 2023, Brett Andrew Button was driving the bus to a Hunter Valley venue when the vehicle allegedly lost control and crashed, killing 10 people onboard. The 59-year-old was initially charged last year, with his charges including 10 counts of dangerous driving occasioning death - driving in a dangerous manner and negligent driving occasioning death. On Tuesday morning, he was hit with 26 new offences, including 10 charges of manslaughter for each of the victims who died in the accident. The charges represent a significant upgrade in terms of legal severity, with Button facing a maximum of 25 years in prison for each manslaughter charge. He is also facing 16 counts of furious driving causing bodily harm, which relate to the manner in which Button was allegedly driving in the moments leading to the crash. Mr Button will now be facing a total of 89 charges over the incident when he returns to court on Wednesday, and is currently out on bail. In August last year, the court was told that it was clear Mr Button was “suffering” amid concerns about his mental health and wellbeing in custody. Mr Button has yet to enter pleas for the existing charges. The bus driver was taking wedding guests towards Singleton for the wedding reception of Mitchell Gaffney and Maddy Edsell, when he allegedly told bus passengers to “fasten your seatbelts” moments before losing control of the vehicle. Local husband and wife Andrew and Lynan Scott, Zachary Bray, Angus Craig, Darcy Bulman, Tori Cowburn, Rebecca Mullen, Kane Symons, and mother-and daughter Naden and Kyah McBride were all killed in the crash. Image credits: Getty Images

Legal

Jimmy Barnes' granddaughter's touching tribute at Red Hot Summer

With Jimmy Barnes currently recovering from <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/the-dose-of-magic-helping-jimmy-barnes-recover-after-surgery" target="_blank" rel="noopener">open heart surgery</a>, there was no way he could perform at the Red Hot Summer Tour, but his family and friends have come together to put on a show in honour of the star. The Barnes All-Stars, formed by none other than Jimmy's own daughter Mahalia, includes stars like Jon Stevens, Chris Cheney, and his legendary Cold Chisel bandmate, Ian Moss. The band have been headlining for the first three shows of the tour, and performed classic songs by Cold Chisel and Jimmy Barnes, which were compiled by the rock star himself. While the band put on a stellar show, Jimmy's granddaughter, Ruby Rogers' performance of the the Chisel classic Flame Trees, stole the hearts of fans. "In case you didn’t get to see this fantastic performance, this is granddaughter Ruby filling in for me on the weekend," Jimmy tweeted, gushing over her performance. "I love her so much. Thanks everyone. Full video on my FB page," he added. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> In case you didn’t get to see this fantastic performance, this is granddaughter Ruby filling in for me on the weekend. I love her so much. Thanks everyone. Full video on my FB page <a href="https://t.co/DgOApqBwnZ">pic.twitter.com/DgOApqBwnZ</a> — Jimmy Barnes (@JimmyBarnes) <a href="https://twitter.com/JimmyBarnes/status/1746809216399265998?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 15, 2024</a></blockquote> The clip shows Ruby singing an acoustic version of the song, and the crowd of over 8000 people can be heard singing along with her. Fans have taken to the comments to praise Ruby's talent. "Doing you proud Jimmy. What a beautiful voice Ruby has. Such a talented family you and Jane have," one wrote. "Absolutely stunning beautiful Ruby. You are so privileged Jimmy to have such a beautiful granddaughter," another added. "Wow how proud you guys must be. That was a wonderful tribute to you. Such a beautiful, talented girl ❤️" commented a third. Images: Facebook/ Instagram

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Man dies after falling from hot air balloon over Melbourne

Hunter Valley bus driver breaks silence

"Cruel" shopper slammed for leaving dog in hot car

Hunter Valley bus driver hit with new charges

Jimmy Barnes' granddaughter's touching tribute at Red Hot Summer

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