National weather forecast for Tuesday October 15.

The dark spheres ranging in size from golf to tennis balls could be “tar balls”, a mixture of oil and debris.

The environmental benefits of switching from gas to electric are well known. New research now shows it could help save your budget, as well as the planet.

Preliminary testing by Randwick City Council has identified the black balls that have washed up on Coogee, Maroubra and Gordons Bay beaches as “tar balls”, made from oil and debris.

National weather forecast for Wednesday October 16.

Grimy balls of oil and debris have been found on 11 eastern suburbs beaches, and authorities are still investigating whether the source is a ship or from the land.

Residents of the regional Victorian town of Casterton are cleaning up after a wild storm hit the state's south-west.

National weather forecast for Thursday October 17.

Bird flu has killed more than 30,000 South American sea lions, 17,000 southern elephant seals, numerous porpoises, dolphins and otters, and more than 650,000 native birds.

National weather forecast for Friday October 18.

National weather forecast for Saturday October 19.

Hundreds of homes and businesses in Victoria are without power, after severe thunderstorms swept through the state.

Many regional communities perceive the renewables rollout as something being done to them, not with them, but research suggests views are not fixed.

National weather forecast for Sunday October 20.

Animal activists have launched a Supreme Court challenge alleging 85 per cent of pigs are suffering unnecessary cruelty.

National weather forecast for Monday October 21.

Australia is finally to adopt world’s best-practice permitted levels for cancer-causing forever chemicals in drinking water.

National weather forecast for Tuesday October 22.

National weather forecast for Wednesday October 23.

Australia’s largest and richest wildlife rescue charity has introduced a structural change that lessens oversight of what remains of the $100 million raised during the Black Summer bushfires and curtails the rights of volunteers.

National weather forecast for Thursday October 24.

A civil war in the WIRES animal rescue service that attracted millions following the apocalyptic Black Summer puts the charity at risk of losing public goodwill.

National weather forecast for Friday October 25.

Australia has the highest uptake of rooftop solar in the world, but the growing number of apartment dwellers has been left behind. This is how to turn the tables.

National weather forecast for Saturday October 26.