You’re reading Significant Digits, a daily digest of the numbers tucked inside the news.
8 satellites
NASA is launching eight satellites today as part of the Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System mission. The satellites will track winds speeds using reflected GPS signals in an effort to monitor how hurricanes grow and improve our ability to forecast their intensity. [Space.com]
12 percent
Percentage of transgender Americans who reported being verbally harassed in a public restroom in the past year, according to a new survey of 27,715 respondents — the biggest poll of transgender Americans ever. Sixty percent have avoided using a public restroom all together out of worry a confrontation will happen. [Reuters]
29 percent
Percentage of Americans who regularly work weekends. Another 27 percent regularly work between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Hello, my compatriots. [Thrive Global]
52,404 deaths
U.S. deaths from drug overdoses were up 11 percent in 2015, claiming 52,404 lives, according to annual statistics compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The increase was driven by overdoses on heroin and prescription painkillers. Drug overdoses are involved in more deaths than car crashes and guns. [CBS News]
7.9 million downloads
Amazon recently launched “The Grand Tour,” a car show featuring former talent from “Top Gear.” And apparently a lot of people want to watch the show but aren’t willing to subscribe to Amazon Prime to do it. According to a firm that analyzes piracy data, the first episode was downloaded 7.9 million times, and “The Grand Tour” has become “the most illegally watched show ever.” [Jalopnik]
$11.6 million
Amount of money given to Donald Trump’s presidential campaign (including allied super PACs and the Republican National Committee) by six of his cabinet nominees and their families. [The Washington Post]
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