Latest news with #Ara
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
'Fighting dragons' light up little-known constellation in the Southern sky: Space photo of the week
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. QUICK FACTS What it is: NGC 6188, also known as the Fighting Dragons of Ara or the Firebird Nebula Where it is: 4,000 light-years away, in the constellation Ara ("the altar") When it was shared: July 9, 2025 From a cat's paw to a cosmic tadpole, humans love to see figures of animals in the night sky — but the "'Fighting Dragons of Ara" has to be one of the most dramatic. Astronomers using the Dark Energy Camera (DECam) in Chile have unveiled a mesmerizing new image that evokes a mythical duel of two celestial beasts. The striking image appears to show two dragon heads emerging from dense clouds of cosmic dust, seemingly locked in an eternal standoff. Their glowing, sinuous forms are shaped by powerful stellar winds emitted from bright young stars born within the nebula, most of which are only a few million years old. The mesmerizing shapes created by the interplay of radiation and dust are officially known as NGC 6188. It's an emission nebula, which forms when the intense radiation of stars energizes gas, causing it to emit light, according to NASA. It's in the little-known constellation Ara and is observable only from the Southern Hemisphere, where it's found just under the tail of Scorpius, "the scorpion." NGC 6188 is close to the edge of a massive molecular cloud, where stars form. Related: 42 jaw-dropping James Webb Space Telescope images The red in NGC 6188 comes from ionized hydrogen being illuminated by 27 very bright stars, which are barely a few million years old — newborns, on a cosmic scale — giving the image incredible depth. Ultraviolet radiation in the stellar winds coming from these stars have ignited, sculpted and shaped the gas and dust into the dragons' heads. According to NASA, this ultraviolet radiation floods the gas with so much energy that it strips electrons from the hydrogen atoms in the nebula. This is called ionization. As the atoms recombine, they emit energy in the form of photons, which makes the nebula's gas glow. DECam is mounted on the Victor M. Blanco 4-meter Telescope at the U.S. National Science Foundation's Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile. For more sublime space images, check out our Space Photo of the Week archives. Solve the daily Crossword
Scoop
01-07-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Māngere Youth Turn Derelict Houses Into Jobs
A South Auckland leader says local rangatahi are transforming derelict homes into real opportunities, cutting waste and gaining valuable skills along the way. Tauanuu Nick Bakulich, Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board chair, supports the work of the Ara Education Charitable Trust, which helps deliver local jobs, build youth skills and keep waste out of landfill. The trust receives seed funding from Auckland Council's Waste Minimisation and Innovation Fund (WMIF), which backs projects that help achieve the city's zero waste goals. Through the construction skills programme, rangatahi deconstruct run-down houses, salvage usable materials and fully restore each home in about six to eight months. Once refurbished, the houses are resold and the profits fund the next rebuild. Tauanuu says the project supports sustainability and shows how old houses that might have ended up in a landfill now create real opportunities for young people. 'It aligns very well with our priorities. It's a programme that's been around for a while, and we've seen good success with students here in Māngere who've participated in it,' Tauanuu says. 'The first part is employment, which is really important for our young people. But it's also the education piece, understanding how much waste goes to landfill and what can actually be saved. "Those houses could have gone to waste or not been used at all. Now you've got young people working in them and putting them to good use instead of sending them to landfill.' Construction and demolition waste makes up more than 40 per cent of Auckland's total landfill volume. The Māngere-based trust proves that what looks like rubbish can become a fresh start and give new life to old derelict homes. Christine O'Brien, Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board member, says the trust's work shows what local youth and council support can achieve together. 'I very much appreciate the Ara kaupapa and it's been great to see the Ara Rangatahi Pathways to Employment Programme on a firm footing in recent years,' O'Brien says. Through the home refurbishment programme, local rangatahi learn various skills hands-on under experienced tradespeople, she says. "I also love the fact that older houses are not demolished and added to our waste streams but are refurbished by the students. They then become great homes for people elsewhere in the country, sold on to them at no profit. Really a win-win-win.' Dr Sarah Redmond, Ara Education Charitable Trust General Manager, says council support has helped the trust invest in new tools and find ways to reuse tricky waste streams like outdated Hardie board cladding. 'Our young people become ambassadors for waste minimisation,' Redmond says. 'When something breaks down, whether here or at home, instead of thinking they'll chuck it in the bin and buy it new, they know with a bit of thought and effort they can probably fix it good as new.' Beyond houses, Ara's trainees get creative with every leftover scrap. Timber and materials are turned into furniture, plywood becomes letterboxes for community groups, and rimu and kauri are crafted into chopping boards and plaques for programme graduates. They even build weta motels for local environmental groups. Trainees de-nail timber for reuse and collect the nails for steel recycling, finding a use for almost everything that might otherwise go to waste. Mark Roberts, Auckland Council Senior Waste Planning Specialist, says the construction industry could recover far more resources with better practices. 'To make a dent in the enormous amounts of construction waste going to landfill, we need to support different ways of working and building,' Roberts says. As Auckland pushes towards its zero waste target, local leaders say community-led solutions like this show that young people can lead the way in changing the city's waste story, one rebuild at a time.
GMA Network
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- GMA Network
Nora Aunor, Pilita Corrales, Gloria Romero, Ricky Davao, Hajji Alejandro honored at Guillermo Mendoza Awards 2025
Nora Aunor, Pilita Corrales, Gloria Romero, Ricky Davao, and Hajji Alejandro were honored with posthumous recognition at the Guillermo Mendoza Awards 2025, also known as the Box Office Entertainment Awards. Ara, Ricky Davao's daughter and Pilita Corrales' granddaughter, shared photos from the awarding ceremony on Saturday in Makati City via Instagram. Among the photos she posted were ones of herself, sister Rikki Mae, and their mom Jackie Lou Blanco onstage with actress Lotlot de Leon, among others, as they received the awards on behalf of their loved ones. The Posthumous Awards as Entertainment Icons were awarded to Pilita, Nora, Gloria, Ricky, and Hajji, who all passed away this 2025. "Many thanks to the Guillermo Mendoza Foundation for a wonderful evening and most especially for honoring the icons we've recently lost in our industry, including my Papa and Mamita," Ara wrote in the caption. "It's been a difficult few months, but I find comfort in moments like these, surrounded by love and family." Kapuso stars were also recognized at the Guillermo Mendoza Awards 2025, including Marian Rivera as Film Actress of the Year for "Balota," an official entry to Cinemalaya 2024. Alden Richards, on the other hand, won the Phenomenal Box Office King award for the top-grossing Filipino film of all time, "Hello, Love, Again." Ruru Madrid also bagged Movie Supporting Actor of the Year for Metro Manila Film Festival 2024 Best Picture winner "Green Bones." Meanwhile, Jillian Ward won Daytime TV Actress of the Year and Raphael Landicho was named Most Popular Child Performer. GMA Pictures was also awarded as Most Popular Film Producer, "Abot-Kamay na Pangarap" as Popular TV Program (Daytime Drama), "24 Oras" as Most Popular TV Program-News & Public Affairs, and "Family Feud" as Popular TV Program-Talent Search/Reality/Game Show. —CDC, GMA Integrated News
Time of India
18-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Commercial taxes department unearths illegal cigarette unit in Nawada
Patna: The commercial taxes department has uncovered an unauthorised cigarette manufacturing unit in Hisuwa, Nawada, and its massive tax evasion during a statewide operation led by commissioner-cum-secretary Sanjay Kumar Singh. The discovery happened during a surprise vehicle inspection conducted by 40 teams across Bihar on Tuesday. According to a press release issued by the department, officials in Biharsharif intercepted a suspicious vehicle supposedly carrying match boxes. While the e-way bill showed transportation of goods from Hisuwa, Nawada, to Ranchi, the vehicle was found primarily loaded with cigarettes, with the match boxes arranged as a curtain to conceal the actual contents. The operation, monitored through the department's Command and Control Centre, led investigators to a deeper conspiracy. Further investigation revealed the involvement of a large syndicate operating an unauthorised cigarette manufacturing unit in Hisuwa. The factory was found to be using high-tech machinery for cigarette production. The case took a serious turn when officials discovered that the firm showed sales worth Rs 1.6 lakh for the entire year, while evidence suggested cigarette manufacturing worth crores of rupees. The business permit, issued from Ara, was traced to a non-existent company, indicating a well-planned tax evasion. Under the direction of the additional commissioner (administration), Magadh Division, local authorities are coordinating with the district administration in Nawada. The investigation has now expanded to Patna City, where the main operators are believed to be based. Officials are also examining other related licences and permits, the release said.
Techday NZ
11-06-2025
- Science
- Techday NZ
New book explores AI's transformative role in vocational learning
Researchers from Ara Institute of Canterbury have contributed to a new book examining the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in vocational education and training. The publication, titled AI in Vocational Education and Training , was released by Springer Nature and draws on the efforts of a group of educators and researchers from Ara Institute of Canterbury and Otago Polytechnic. Broader perspective Rather than focusing primarily on academic integrity concerns, the book examines how AI technologies, particularly generative AI tools, can be leveraged to improve student learning outcomes and educational practices. The editor of the collection, Dr Selena Chan, is an Education Developer at Ara and a recipient of the Ako Aotearoa Prime Minister's Supreme Award for excellence in tertiary teaching. Dr Chan stated that the work serves as a practical guide for vocational education and training (VET) providers interested in introducing AI in their teaching and learning. "It also addresses ethical concerns, ensuring AI supports learning rather than undermine academic integrity," she said. The widespread introduction of natural language AI chatbots, such as ChatGPT, has ignited public discussion about plagiarism risks in education. Dr Chan, however, argues that their book encourages a shift in focus. She noted that artificial intelligence has considerable value in promoting active learning, encouraging students to engage in critical thought, and supporting independent analysis. "While the arrival of AI-powered natural language chatbots such as ChatGPT have sparked widespread debate about plagiarism, Dr Chan said the book offers an alternative perspective - highlighting AI's enormous potential to support deeper engagement, critical thinking and independent analysis." Range of disciplines The contributors examine AI integration within a range of vocational subjects, including construction management, graphic design, nursing, and business. The publication also dedicates attention to a project focused on adapting AI to benefit neurodivergent learners. Dr Chan explained that educational developers, learning designers, tutors, and senior students collaborated to create AI-assisted learning activities aimed not only at engaging students but also at helping them become more independent in their analysis and improving their practical application skills. She acknowledged the significant role of students in this research, saying the work would not have been completed without their involvement. "I wanted to acknowledge the invaluable input of ākonga (students) in the research, without whom the work would not have been completed," Dr Chan said. She also recognised the contribution of Scott Klenner, who is both Ara's Research Manager and the Director of Rangahau, Research and Postgraduate Studies at Otago Polytechnic. "Scott's guidance on inclusivity, rangahau (Māori research) and the incorporation of mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) in research design was invaluable." Collaboration between institutes Scott Klenner commented on the joint effort between Ara and Otago Polytechnic, describing it as evidence of their leadership in applying AI to the local vocational education sector. "[The publication highlights] our academics' te hinengaro me te ringa mahi (thinking and work) for producing leading research, with an international publisher, exploring the most significant evolution of education this century." The editors describe the collection as a resource that offers case studies, practical frameworks and guidelines for both educators and policymakers seeking to adapt vocational education to contemporary demands in Aotearoa New Zealand. Dr Chan's background includes extensive publications in vocational education and technology-enhanced learning, and she serves as Academic Capability Leader and co-editor of the International Journal of Training Research.
