Category: MIL-OSI

ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on February 26, 2026.

A cosmic explosion with the force of a billion Suns went unseen – until we caught its echo
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ashna Gulati, PhD Candidate, Radio Astronomy, University of Sydney Some of the universe’s most extreme explosions leave behind almost no trace. The original explosion is unseen, but our observations can capture the long-lived echo it leaves behind as the shock front ploughs into its surrounding environment. In

‘Buy it nice or buy it twice’: what the ‘frugal chic’ trend tells us about our clothing habits
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lorinda Cramer, Lecturer, Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies, Deakin University The “frugal chic” aesthetic is having its moment, however contradictory the concept may seem. “Frugal” suggests a focus on thriftiness, while “chic” oozes a sense of classic luxury. Coined by former model and content creator Mia McGrath

20 billion galaxies: new survey of the sky will reveal the universe in unprecedented detail
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anais Möller, Senior Lecturer and ARC DECRA Fellow, School of Science, Computing and Emerging Technologies, Swinburne University of Technology When you look up at the night sky, it appears unchanging. But if you look deep enough you will find that the sky is in fact constantly shifting.

A new space race could turn our atmosphere into a ‘crematorium for satellites’
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Laura Revell, Professor of Atmospheric Chemistry, University of Canterbury When we look up at the night sky and see a satellite glide past, we might not consider climate change or the ozone layer. Space may feel separate from the environmental systems that sustain life on Earth. But

There are more than 4.6 million food posts on TikTok alone. Why, then, do we still love cookbooks?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Garritt C. Van Dyk, Senior Lecturer in History, University of Waikato Two of Australia’s top ten bestsellers in 2025 were cookbooks, both by Nagi Maehashi of RecipeTin Eats. Other popular books include Brooke Bellamy’s Bake with Brooki and Steph De Sousa’s Easy Dinner Queen. Yet increasingly, people

Baftas racial slur controversy: what should the BBC have done?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Maxwell Modell, Research associate, Cardiff University At the 2026 Bafta awards, big wins for independent British film I Swear and American horror film Sinners were overshadowed by a regrettable moment. Activist John Davidson said the N-word – arguably the most offensive slur in the English language due

How Russia is intercepting communications from European satellites
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Aleix Nadal, Analyst, Defence, Security and Justice team, RAND Europe Officials recently sounded the alarm over Russia intercepting communications from European satellites. But this isn’t a new problem. Ever since the initial invasion of Ukraine in 2014, two Russian satellites have been secretly stalking European spacecraft. They

How Peter Mandelson went from US ambassador to arrested over misconduct claims
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sam Power, Lecturer in Politics, University of Bristol Peter Mandelson was released on bail this week after being arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. Coming just days after the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the images of the former US ambassador being led away by police

Why you can’t tie knots in four dimensions
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Zsuzsanna Dancso, Associate Professor of Mathematics, University of Sydney We all know we live in three-dimensional space. But what does it mean when people talk about four dimensions? Is it just a bigger kind of space? Is it “space-time”, the popular idea which emerged from Einstein’s theory

New global study: long after war, nearly 4 in 10 people injured by landmines and explosives die
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stacey Pizzino, Lecturer, School of Public Health, The University of Queensland When a war ends and peace agreements are signed, most people assume the danger is over. But for many communities around the world the danger remains in the ground, waiting. Landmines and other explosives left behind

One Nation has been on the fringes of Australian politics for 30 years. Why is its popularity soaring now?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Josh Sunman, Associate lecturer, Flinders University Since the 2025 federal election, poll after poll has shown surging support for right-wing populist party One Nation. The party, and its leader Pauline Hanson, have been on the Australian political scene for 30 years. Yet until recently, One Nation had

What Bridgerton’s ‘pinnacle’ tells us about sex talk today
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexandra James, Research Fellow, Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University Among the corsets and chemistry, the latest season of Bridgerton gets one thing right: the taboos around talking about sex and sexual pleasure. Newlywed Francesca asks in hushed confusion what it means

How Australia’s new fuel efficiency scheme quietly created a carbon currency for cars – and it’s working
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hussein Dia, Professor of Transport Technology and Sustainability, Swinburne University of Technology Australia’s new fuel efficiency scheme has been in place for just seven months. But the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard has already created a new, tradeable carbon currency applying just to cars and light commercial vehicles

Does ‘free’ shipping really exist? An expert shares the marketing tricks you need to know
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian R. Camilleri, Associate Professor of Marketing, University of Technology Sydney You’re scrolling through an online retailer, like Amazon, Shein or eBay, and spot a shirt on sale for $40. You add it to your cart, but at checkout, a $10 shipping fee suddenly appears. Frustrated, you

TikTokers are ‘becoming Chinese’ in a new trend that’s part parody and part politics
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Justine Poplin, Teaching Associate, Faculty of Education, Southern Cross University “Drink hot water” has become an unlikely life philosophy on TikTok, as countless users track their journey towards “being” or “becoming Chinese”. All of this is part of a broader social media trend dubbed “Chinamaxxing”. Out of

French Senate vote endorses New Caledonia’s future status
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk French Senators have endorsed a Constitutional amendment text regarding New Caledonia’s future political status. Two-hundred and fifteen senators (mostly an alliance between right and centre-right parties) voted in favour, and 41 voted against. The four-hour sitting was marked by a lengthy address by French Prime Minister

What is Shen Yun, the Chinese dance troupe connected to the bomb threat at the Lodge?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Haiqing Yu, Professor, School of Media and Communication, RMIT University Yesterday’s evacuation of the prime minister from the Lodge has been linked to the Chinese dance troupe Shen Yun. In a bomb threat emailed to the group, the sender said explosives would be detonated if Australian performances

Modern multicultural Australia must strengthen the ties that bind our diverse groups: Julian Hill
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Assistant Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs minister Julian Hill has warned Australia needs to strengthen the “bridging social capital” that holds our diverse society together, or risk further fragmentation. In a speech on Wednesday to the McKell Institute canvassing the challenges

Politics with Michelle Grattan: Geoffrey Watson calls for a royal commission on the CFMEU scandal
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Victorians faces a state election late this year, with the Labor government pitching for a fourth term. A key issue will be the government’s failure to deal with thuggery and corruption in the building industry, centred on the Construction, Forestry

More than 45,000 Indigenous households lack adequate housing. Here’s what must change
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vivienne Milligan, Honorary Professor of Housing Policy and Practice, City Futures Research Centre, UNSW Sydney Finding and affording adequate housing is a challenge many Australians face, but few more so than First Nations people. New national research shows unmet housing need among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

Evening Report: https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/26/er-report-a-roundup-of-significant-articles-on-eveningreport-nz-for-february-26-2026/

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bridgette Glover, Early-career Researcher, Media and Communications and Writing, University of New England

Viewers of Netflix’s hit series, Bridgerton (2020–) know the leading matriarch, Lady Violet Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell), as a widowed mother dedicated to finding “love matches” for her eight children.

However, in season four’s first instalment, we watched Violet – now about 50 years old – finally navigate her own romance. In a series known for its spicy sex scenes and heated entanglements, why is Violet’s romantic arc significant?

For decades, midlife female sexuality has been portrayed on screen as nonexistent, in decline, or subject to ridicule. But following the cultural reshaping of menopause in recent years, a growing number of shows and films are helping reframe what female sexuality can look like beyond age 40.

Violet’s garden in bloom

Adapted from the historical romance novels by Julia Quinn, each season of Bridgerton focuses on one of the children’s love stories. Viewers expect episodes brimming with equal parts drama and sexual tension.

Season four’s central romance, for instance, is between Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) and lady’s maid Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha). As anticipated, part one ended on a hot and heavy cliffhanger.

And yet, fans are also invested in Violet’s storyline this season, which sees her sexuality finally brought out of the margins.

We first saw Violet’s interest in pursuing romance in the spin-off series, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story (2023), when she awkwardly confesses to her friend, Lady Danbury, that her long-dormant libido is stirring. Using the metaphor of a garden, she explains that when her husband Edmund died, so too did her garden:

And I did not even think of the garden. I did not want the garden. But lately without warning, the garden has begun to bloom.

With the arrival of Lord Marcus Anderson (Daniel Francis) in season three, Violet’s “garden” was brought back into the conversation. And now, in season four, we find her ready to be tended to.

‘I am mature now’: an honest romance

When Violet arrives at Marcus’ home in episode three, she is determined to communicate her concerns and needs about moving towards a physical relationship.

Putting aside her anxieties, she asserts:

I am mature now. My body – well, I have had eight children with this body, and I am different now. All of me is different now. And how will that be? I want it. I want to be seen and touched. By you. [But] I am nervous.

Free of her usual metaphors and euphemisms, Violet’s honesty provides the scene with a groundedness rare to the period drama series.

When she invited Marcus over for “tea” in episode four, he finds her seductively leaning against the bed in Regency-inspired lingerie. In a now fan-favourite line, Violet explains “I am the tea that you are having”.

Written by executive producer Shonda Rhimes, this scene infuses the traditionally awkward Violet with a newfound sexual confidence. Paired with Rhimes’ direct dialogue – “I am the tea” – Violet’s empowerment is bolstered by a specific female gaze geared towards emphasising her enjoyment.

The facts of midlife sexual desire

Speaking on Bridgerton: The Official Podcast, showrunner Jess Brownell highlights how the media has historically focused on the male gaze and men’s pleasure.

With Bridgerton set during a time when women had severely limited agency, Brownell explains how crucial it is to balance the scale in terms of representation:

It’s very important in those intimacy scenes to let the women be the ones experiencing the most pleasure.

This prioritisation of the female gaze is especially critical for the representation of midlife female sexuality. With menopause traditionally tied to patriarchal notions of “decline and decay” – rather than a garden in bloom – 20th century screen media preferred that older women recede into the background.

The result of rarely seeing an older woman “yearning for sex” is that we assume it must be “far behind them”, says American scholar E. Ann Kaplan. Those who dare to desire after 40 are depicted as shameful or desperate.

In reality, studies show that post-menopausal women value sex and are still sexually active. Women over 65 do commonly report low libido, but these experiences are also found to be impacted by more than just hormonal changes. Psycho-social factors such as well-being, relationship quality, and Western ideas around youth and femininity, play a significant role in how women feel about sex at midlife and beyond.

Women of all ages are worthy of being seen

As more diverse conversations around menopause and sexuality continue within Hollywood and academia, screen media are also starting to take part. While film has room to improve, television has rapidly become the domain for bolder portrayals of midlife female sexuality.

Violet is the latest to reflect these conversations, following in the footsteps of characters such as Jean Milburn (Sex Education, 2019–23), Maud O’Hara (Rivals, 2024–), Sylvie Grateau (Emily in Paris, 2020–) and the characters of And Just Like That … (2021–25).

As 58-year-old Ruth Gemmell, who portrays Violet, argues:

People of all ages should have sex on screen. I mean, we are not dead yet.

Looking ahead to future seasons, let’s hope for more onscreen steaminess that isn’t limited to the younger cast.

– ref. ‘I am the tea’: how Violet Bridgerton is making us rethink female pleasure after 40 – https://theconversation.com/i-am-the-tea-how-violet-bridgerton-is-making-us-rethink-female-pleasure-after-40-276168

Evening Report: https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/26/i-am-the-tea-how-violet-bridgerton-is-making-us-rethink-female-pleasure-after-40-276168/