Latest news with #Hercules
Otago Daily Times
a day ago
- Science
- Otago Daily Times
Oh My God Centauri
Last weekend, after some intense strategic planning as part of my day job, I finally managed an entire night under the stars at my new observing site out in Middlemarch. No clouds. No wind. Just the hush of the Taieri and a sky so dark it felt like I'd stepped into space. I'd been itching to test my astronomy gear out there and I knew exactly what I wanted to photograph: Omega Centauri. Or, as I like to call it, Oh My God Centauri. You see, Omega isn't your run-of-the-mill deep sky object. It's a globular cluster — an enormous swarm of ancient stars bound together by gravity. More than 10 million suns packed into a ball about 150 light-years across, orbiting our Milky Way like a bee around a honeypot. It sits high in the southern sky early in the night, glittering like a celestial snow globe. Omega Centauri resides in the constellation Centaurus, a sprawling figure representing a wise centaur from Greek mythology — sometimes identified as Chiron, tutor to heroes like Hercules. It's a rich part of the sky, but few objects anywhere can compete with Omega's sheer majesty. I remember the first time I saw it, I actually gasped. My photograph from Middlemarch doesn't quite capture that gasp — but it comes close. In the image, you can see the subtle hues of the stars: some glowing blue-white with youth and energy, others tinged with orange and red, ancient and cooling. The colours tell stories of stellar lifetimes, of nuclear fire slowly fading across billions of years. Omega Centauri is about 16,000 light-years away. That means the light that hit my telescope last Saturday left the cluster shortly after our ancestors who I'm sure my fellow columnist Tom Higham would explain, were first shaping tools on the savannah. That's the magic of deep-sky photography — you're not just capturing light, you're catching time. There's something humbling about sitting alone on a cold paddock, camera clicking away, with a million stars staring back at you from the deep past. I packed up just before dawn, with the Milky Way arching overhead and a thermos of lukewarm tea in my hand, already planning my next night out under that Middlemarch sky.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The Funniest Posts From Parents This Week (May 22-29)
Kids may say the darndest things, but parentspost about them in the funniest ways. Every week, we round up the most hilarious quips from parents across social media platforms like X, Threads and Bluesky to spread the joy. Scroll down to read the latest batch: Imagine if the sun was a chinchilla.— my 6yo breaking me before I've finished my first cup of coffee @ @aparnarchi/Threads Mother's Law: The more ingredients used and time I spend on a meal, the less likely it is my kids will like and eat that meal. @ Day 2 of summer break and my kids are loudly attempting british accents @ A fun thing my 10 yo does now is instead of saying "minutes" he pronounces it like "my-nuts". Me: (is having a pleasant day) My Kid: Hey, Dad, if it's not winter, why is there snow in your hair?Me: (is no longer having a pleasant day) @ihidefrommykids/Threads @aparnarchi/Threads @milifeasdad/Threads @oneawkwardmom/Threads My kids are taking classes on how to use a landline at school, so that's money well spent. @ My 9yo learned how to make himself ramen, so he's ready for college You wouldn't think that one 30-minute practice a week would be enough to hone 50 novice elementary school musicians into a finely-tuned orchestra, and you would be right. @ You wouldn't think that one 30-minute practice a week would be enough to hone 50 novice elementary school musicians into a finely-tuned orchestra, and you would be right. 6yo: I HAVE ABS!Me: Sit down and eat your dinner, Hercules. @themarvelousmrsmom/Threads [With my toddler after school pick-up]Toddler: Can we go get monster trucks?Me: We just need to wait for these cars to Why? Because they're stupid?Me: That's a bad word, we don't say Toddler: Why? Because they're idiots? Have kids so instead of eating in peace, you can do it with a little person on your lap saying 'My turn, Mommy!' as he force feeds you the food on your plate with his bare hands. The Funniest Tweets From Couples To Get You Through This Week The Funniest Tweets From Parents This Week The Funniest Tweets From Parents This Week
Global News
2 days ago
- General
- Global News
‘It's very dangerous': Chief of Manitoba First Nation says some residents await evacuation
More than 700 people at a northern Manitoba First Nation were still waiting to be evacuated as of Thursday morning. Chief David Monias of Pimicikamak Cree Nation told Global Winnipeg many people have escaped the flames and are safe in Norway House. However, a number of others are still waiting to flee a nearby wildfire. Many of those who have fled Pimicikamak, Monias said, arrived at Norway House by car or bus, but there are limited escape routes from his community, so concerns remain for those who have yet to make the trip. The wildfire situation has left Pimicikamak's airport non-operational. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'We're very fortunate, and I thank Norway House chief and council and their staff for receiving our people and putting them up at their multiplex and having some of them billeted and feeding them the best way they can,' Monias said. Story continues below advertisement 'It's very dangerous … our escape route toward Highway 6 was cut off, so we only had the escape route to Norway House.' The area, however, is set to get a helping hand from the Canadian military, the chief said. 'We just got notified early this morning, that there will be a Hercules (aircraft) that's going to be landing in Norway House.' Pimicikimak and Mathias Colomb First Nations, along with the city of Flin Flon, were among the northern communities issued mandatory evacuation orders on Wednesday afternoon in what Premier Wab Kinew called 'the largest evacuation in many Manitobans' living memory.'
The Independent
2 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Pup patrol: The border collies preventing bird strikes at a busy airport
At West Virginia International Yeager Airport, Hercules and Ned patrol the mile-long airfield daily. The border collies have an important job: ensuring the safety of passengers and crew by keeping birds and wildlife away from planes. Chris Keyser, the airport's wildlife specialist and the dogs' handler, says preventing a bird from hitting a plane "can make a difference for someone's life." Since 2018, Yeager management has employed the services of border collies to mitigate collisions between wildlife and planes, a common issue at airports nationwide. Hercules, the chief ambassador, also spends time inside the terminal, calming nervous passengers and receiving affection. Prior to his arrival at Yeager, Hercules trained for 18 months at Flyaway Geese in Charlotte, North Carolina, learning to herd geese and sheep, preparing him for his vital role in maintaining airport safety. When Hercules stepped onto Charleston's airfield for the first time, 'I held my breath,' Flyaway Geese owner Rebecca Gibson said. 'But boy, he took hold of the reins. It was his place. "He's done an amazing job and has just been a great dog for them. We're very proud of him.' Along the way, Hercules became a local celebrity. He has his own Instagram and TikTok accounts and regularly hosts groups of schoolchildren. Now eight, Hercules has some help. Ned was two when he was welcomed into the fold last year from another kennel where he trained to herd goats and geese. Ned has shadowed Hercules, following commands from Keyser and learning safety issues such as not venturing onto the runway. 'Ned's ready to go,' Keyser said. 'He's picked up on all that. He's doing fantastic, running birds off.' Inside the airport operations center, Hercules is laid back until he's told it's time to work, barking at the door in anticipation. Ned, on the other hand, is always moving. When not outside, he'll bring his blue bouncy ball to anyone willing to play fetch. Charleston's airport is on top of a mountain and has a menagerie of wildlife, including Canada geese, hawks, ducks, songbirds and bats. After it rains, worms come to the surface and cause an increase in bird activity, Keyser said. In addition to taking the dogs on their regular rounds, Keyser is in constant contact with the airport tower, which looks for birds on the field or relays reports from airplanes that see wildlife nearby. 'We get plenty of exercise,' Keyser said. 'You don't gain no weight in this job. It's an all-day job. You're always got your eyes on the field, you've got your ears open listening to the radio." Border collies are among the most energetic dog breeds. They've been used for decades to shoo Canada geese off golf courses. They've also scared away birds at other airports, military bases, and locks and dams. The dogs' instincts are to herd, not to kill. 'But in the mind of the bird, they're no different than a coyote or a fox, which is a natural predator for the bird,' Gibson said. Bird strikes cause delays About 19,000 strikes involving planes and wildlife occurred at U.S. airports in 2023, of which 95 per cent involved birds, according to a Federal Aviation Administration database. From 1988 to 2023, wildlife collisions in the U.S. killed 76 people and destroyed 126 aircraft. Perhaps the most famous bird-plane strike occurred in January 2009 when a flight from New York's LaGuardia Airport almost immediately flew into a flock of Canada geese, knocking out both engines. Pilot Chesley 'Sully' Sullenberger guided the powerless jet into the frigid Hudson River. All 155 people on board survived the incident, which was captured in the 2016 movie Sully, starring Tom Hanks. At the Charleston airport, wildlife-plane incidents vary each year from a few to a couple dozen. 'Anytime a plane hits a bird, it has to be inspected, and it causes a delay in the flight,' Keyser said. 'And sometimes you don't make your connecting flights. So that's how important it is to keep everything going smooth.' In 2022 alone, there were five airplane strikes at the airport involving bats. In December 2000, a plane collided with two deer after landing. The tip of the right engine propeller blade separated and punctured the plane's fuselage, seriously injuring a passenger, according to the FAA. A comforting paw Inside the terminal, Hercules wags his tail as he moves about greeting passengers. Among them was Janet Spry, a Scott Depot, West Virginia, resident waiting to board a flight to visit her daughter and grandchildren in San Antonio. Spry needed a bit of cheering up. In addition to having a fear of flying, Spry's 15-year-old cat was euthanized the previous day after being diagnosed with an inoperable condition. An impromptu visit from Hercules brought a smile — and more. Hercules placed a paw on Spry's arm and delivered plenty of wet kisses. 'He's making my day better,' Spry said. She also joked whether the airport might want to let Hercules stay with her a while longer. 'I think there was an empty seat on the plane beside me,' Spry said.
Business Insider
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Amazon's sprawling warehouse robot factories offer a glimpse into modern US manufacturing
Business Insider recently toured two facilities where Amazon designs and manufactures its robots. Amazon has hundreds of thousands of robots working in its sortation and fulfillment centers. Its facilities give an inside peek at what modern manufacturing looks like. Inside an unassuming office park in North Reading, Massachusetts, Amazon employees are hard at work building robots to support its vast network of fulfillment centers. This facility, along with another about 50 miles away in Westborough, provides a modern view of US manufacturing. President Donald Trump has made his pledge to bring manufacturing back to the US a cornerstone of his administration. But there appears to be a growing appetite for reshoring among company CEOs, a recent annual survey from consulting firm Kearney found. While tariffs and geopolitical tensions provide extra incentive to do so, some obstacles remain, the Kearney analysts wrote. People also aren't necessarily clamoring to work in factories. A poll by the Cato Institute done last year found that while a majority of Americans believed that the US would be better off if more people worked in manufacturing, only a small percentage said they personally want to work on a factory floor. 'A good attitude' and the 'ability to problem solve' The 209,000-square-foot facility in North Reading was previously the home of Kiva Systems before Amazon acquired the mobile robotics company for $775 million in 2012. Elevated platforms look down on an open floor area where robot models named Hercules and Proteus come off a manufacturing line. They have their batteries charged and systems tested, and then file themselves away to be shipped to fulfillment centers in a process Amazon calls a "robot graduation." Both types of robots transport heavy pods of items around Amazon's fulfillment centers, but while Hercules follows a preordained path marked on the floor, Proteus can sense people and humans in its path and make its own decisions about where to go. There are four manufacturing lines in the facility, each with 10 stations. Lights above each station signal green when everything is in place and red when something is wrong. Tye Brady, chief technologist at Amazon Robotics, told Business Insider on a recent visit to the facilities that the company is proud of the fact that it manufactures its robots in Massachusetts. "We know that it can be done and we can do that very efficiently and employ the local workforce," Brady said. A recent Morgan Stanley report estimated that Amazon's investments in robotics could save the company as much as $10 billion a year. Amazon Robotics's facility in Westborough is even larger than the one in North Reading, stretching about 350,000 square feet. In that facility, Amazon workers manufacture robots that can sort, like one called Sequoia that combines several different robotic processes into one storage system. Rows upon rows of cables hang down above containerized robotic storage systems that are testing software updates behind chain-link fences, safely away from human workers. Both the North Reading and Westborough facilities also have corporate offices and research and development labs located directly off the manufacturing floor. Brady said the location is a "competitive advantage" because their engineers and manufacturing employees can work together from the start. "And we've created many, many jobs because of that," he said. Erica McClosky, director of manufacturing and technical operations at Amazon Robotics, said that about 300 people work on the more physical tasks involved in building and maintaining a fleet of robots that's more than 750,000 strong. The majority of workers are assemblers who work on the line itself. Another team is responsible for testing robots before they go out to fulfillment centers and for repairing them when they're experiencing issues. There are also employees who receive and ship out the materials needed to assemble the robots. Amazon sources mechanical parts from local suppliers as well as global ones. These employees typically don't need advanced technical knowledge to do their jobs. "Generally, the requirement for us is a good attitude, ability to problem solve, and be curious," McClosky said. In addition to those employees, about 150 engineers support and assist them. That includes process engineers who work alongside assemblers as they learn how to build a product, as well as test and quality engineers. Technical program managers bring the whole process together. 'There's no doubt that we're seeing jobs change' Brady said Amazon's work is just the beginning of what's possible in "physical AI," a term used to describe the process of bringing AI to robots that can perceive and react to the real world. "When I speak about physical AI, it would be like us talking about the computer in the '50s," he said. "I really foresee the future filled with physical AI systems that enable and augment a person's capability to do their job." He added that the team aims for the robots to be collaborative and always work in concert with humans. The work that happens in Amazon's Massachusetts facilities ultimately plays out in Amazon's sortation and fulfillment centers, where orders are picked, packed, and prepared for delivery. About 75% of the packages that Amazon processes touch at least one of its robotics systems. Julie Mitchell, director of robotic sortation technology at Amazon Robotics, said her design teams get direct feedback from operations teams at fulfillment centers so they know what tasks need to be automated and what may or may not be working. Mitchell and McClosky's overall goal is to optimize manufacturing and design so that robots arriving at a fulfillment center are ready to get to work. "We partner really early on to get their feedback at the very beginning of our designs so that we're always going in the right direction with our technology," Mitchell said. Amazon recently opened a next-generation fulfillment center in Shreveport, Louisiana, with 10 times the number of robots than older fulfillment centers. Brady said that 30% more of the jobs in the Shreveport fulfillment center are more technical in nature than in other locations. "There's no doubt that we're seeing jobs change," Brady said. But rather than have robots replace jobs, Brady said that Amazon is committing significant resources to upskilling its employees. That includes technical apprenticeship programs and paying for some employees' college tuition. "You need both people and machines to work together in order to achieve this task," he said. "If you can blend the best of both worlds — the common sense, the thinking at a higher level, the reasoning, understanding overall building flow, understanding the problems that need to get resolved — and then let the machines do the menial and mundane and repetitive, then you actually have created a more productive system."
