Alberto Alfarano, François Charton, Yongzheng Jia, Kristin Lauter, Cathy Li, Emily Wenger, are launching a challenge at SAIR on how efficiently neural networks can perform modular arithmetic: competition.sair.foundation/competitions... terrytao.wordpress.com/2026/06/08/m...

Modular Arithmetic Challenge | SAIR Foundation

The Modular Arithmetic Challenge asks a deceptively simple question — can a neural network learn to compute (a × b) mod p for integers hundreds of digits long...

competition.sair.foundation

John Jones, Jen Paulhus, David Roe, Andrew Sutherland, and I have launched the third SAIR challenge, this time aimed at attacking the notorious inverse Galois problem: competition.sair.foundation/competitions... terrytao.wordpress.com/2026/06/16/t... .

Discoveries | Inverse Galois Problem (IGP24) | SAIR Foundation

Read discoveries for Inverse Galois Problem (IGP24). IGP24, the Inverse Galois Problem in Degree 24. This is a mathematical discovery challenge: we are asking...

competition.sair.foundation

Government ‘doesn’t know where research capability lies’. Contractions in the university sector need to be understood, former government science adviser says. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...

Government ‘doesn’t know where research capability lies’ - Research Professional News

Contractions in the university sector need to be understood, former government science adviser says

researchprofessionalnews.com

www.smh.com.au/politics/fed... Thank goodness neg gearing is ending Life satisfaction among all age groups has dropped but most steeply for 25-34yos -reflecting the reality of our housing market. Property speculation for 2 decades has made Aust one of the least affordable places in the world to live

Every generation of Australians thinks life is worse than a decade ago

Australians, particularly those trying to get into their own home, are increasingly dissatisfied with their lives. And it’s hitting the political system.

smh.com.au

2026 Fields Medals go to four young mathematicians www.scientificamerican.com/article/2026...

Math’s latest Fields Medalists are the most diverse group yet

The 2026 Fields Medals recognize breakthroughs in the math of messy fluids, tangled knots, spinning pencils, and more

scientificamerican.com

I'm attending online event about a #NIH competition to develop a data-sharing index (S-Index), but am surprised that there aren't more people here (it's hybrid). www.nei.nih.gov/sindex Nice idea for NIH to have a competition for developing a S-index; we've just heard about the winners. 1/n

Warning to users of R studio. Don't upgrade to Version 2026.07.0+139 (2026.07.0+139). It has a known bug that adds an irritating error message 'Error in .rs.exprMutatesPackageLibrary(part) : argument "part" is missing, with no default'. Apparently it'll be fixed soon, so worth waiting. #Rstudio

Today, we’re wishing President George W. Bush a happy 80th birthday. On Inauguration Day in 2009, President Bush left President Obama a handwritten note in the Oval Office offering encouragement, faith, and support as President Obama began his presidency.

“The Bear” has often proved to be the opposite of a comfort watch—but the finale of its fifth season takes a break from stress, @shirklesxp.bsky.social argues. She examines what the show’s surprisingly gentle conclusion reveals about the legacy of “The Bear”:

‘The Bear’ Bids a Profoundly Warm Farewell

The series finale is a moving hour of much-needed stress relief.

bit.ly

📢 Dr Steve Stewart-Williams says women have always worked throughout history.

‘Trad wives’ are a myth as women have always worked, expert says

nzherald.co.nz

The Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG) met yesterday and was chaired by the British and German Defence Ministers. Within the framework of UDCG, 🇩🇪 and 🇺🇦 agreed on the joint production of TerMIT unmanned aerial vehicles and on the development of a new air defence system.

The Albanese Labor Government has now delivered every free Medicare Urgent Care Clinic we promised. The way they work is simple: ✅ Bulk billed ✅ Walk in ✅ Open extended hours, 7 days a week

The Infinite Twin Prime Problem Watch our latest video out now on YouTube! youtu.be/8HBDE-msUjw

The Infinite Twin Prime Problem

YouTube video by Veritasium

youtu.be

Physics teachers help shape Australia’s future, and now there’s a new way to connect with the national physics community. The AIP has launched a free Teacher Associate Membership, giving educators access to professional development, resources, events and networks. aip.org.au/News/1433901

EMBL is coordinating STARDAST, a new €8M Horizon Europe project to strengthen data stewardship careers, FAIR data practices, and open science across Europe. Read more: www.embl.org/news/connect... @cern.bsky.social @eurobioimaging.bsky.social @globalbioimaging.bsky.social @theul.bsky.social

Getting under the skin of atomic nuclei using #antimatter The AEgIS Collaboration lays the groundwork for a new tool to probe the outer periphery of atomic nuclei. Find out more: home.cern/getting-unde...

How Does Google Maps Actually Work? Our latest video, out now on YouTube! youtu.be/kS-CGkiPetQ

How Does Google Maps Actually Work?

YouTube video by Veritasium

youtu.be

The 2006 World Cup got underway in Germany 20 years ago today – and what a summer it was. 😍 Public viewings and an exciting team got millions of people caught up in World Cup fever, and would go down in German folklore as the 'summer fairytale' (Sommermärchen).

Wish someone had told me this 50 years ago www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFOh...

Use This Simple Trick to Put Your Duvet Cover On

YouTube video by Rachael Ray Show

youtube.com

Critics have taken aim at an Australian scheme meant to encourage forest regrowth. But independent assessments show the regeneration schemes are working.

Are Australia’s carbon farming schemes just hot air? Hardly – forests are regrowing almost everywhere

theconversation.com

Hear from JCU Professor Jan Strugnell as she talks all things climate-driven marine species distribution on the Word on the Reef Podcast 👇🎧🪸 shorturl.at/wjOa8

S3 E16: Fish out of their (Usual) Waters: Why Marine Life are Moving Poleward

Word on the Reef · Episode

shorturl.at

Congratulations, Glenwood Springs! “Holy Cross Energy in Glenwood Springs delivered 100% clean energy to its 45,000-plus members in March, a renewable power landmark for the Colorado cooperative” #Colorado #Energy #ClimateChange coloradosun.com/2026/06/03/h...

How one place in Colorado achieved 100% clean energy this spring

Holy Cross Energy in Glenwood Springs delivered 100% clean energy to its 45,000-plus members in March, a renewable power landmark for the cooperative.

coloradosun.com

Home batteries are being taken up so enthusiastically by Australian households with the Cheaper Home Batteries Program. I've championed this issue because cheaper home batteries = lower emissions and reduced household energy bills. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Australia’s surge in household battery installations is ‘off the charts’ as government subsidy program powers up

At current rate, households could have 10,000MW installed in five years – half the nation’s total coal power capacity, expert says

theguardian.com

They call it stupid hot for a reason: Heat muddles animal brains arstechnica.com/science/2026...

They call it stupid hot for a reason: Heat muddles animal brains

As temperatures rise, some creatures pick fights while others struggle to learn.

arstechnica.com

An Australian woman charged with joining the Islamic State group expressed views supporting terrorist acts and killing of non-believers, attempted to indoctrinate her children and recruited others to join her in Syria, according to allegations made in court.

Australian woman accused of joining Islamic State group has renounced jihad, her lawyer says

Police allege an Australian woman charged with joining the Islamic State group expressed views supporting terrorist acts and killing of non-believers, attempted to indoctrinate her children and recruited others to join her in Syria.

bit.ly

Sometimes you can’t wait wait until 9am or Monday morning to see a doctor. Here are your options.

Need a doctor or nurse after hours? How to get virtual or in-person care in Australia – including for free

theconversation.com

An absolute treat to discuss all things @womensprize.bsky.social judging with my fellow judge chair Julia Gillard - she chairs fiction, I’m chairing non-fiction - at @hayfestival.bsky.social this afternoon. Thanks to a great audience, with some fantastic questions.

A group of physicists claims that quantum physics is an unnecessary complication. I've had a look at the paper... www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1dd...

Quantum Physics Is An Unnecessary Complication, Physicists Say

YouTube video by Sabine Hossenfelder

youtube.com

Happy 10th anniversary to @seanmcarroll.bsky.social book, "The Big Picture."

To all members of Australia's Buddhist community, best wishes for a joyful Vesak.