International Dark Sky Week is an annual event that aims to raise awareness about the impact of light pollution on the environment and our health. This week-long event, which takes place from April 15 to 22, is organized by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), a non-profit organization that is dedicated to protecting the night skies for present and future generations.
The IDA was founded in 1988 in Tucson, Arizona, and has since been working towards reducing light pollution by educating the public, promoting dark sky-friendly lighting, and advocating for the protection of the night skies. According to the IDA, light pollution is on the rise, and it is affecting the environment, wildlife, and human health in various ways.https://idsw.darksky.org/
During International Dark Sky Week, people are encouraged to turn off unnecessary exterior lights and to consider leaving them off permanently. This helps to reduce light pollution and to preserve the beauty of the night sky. The week also offers a great opportunity to learn about the importance of dark skies and to participate in events that promote dark sky awareness.
One of the main goals of International Dark Sky Week is to promote the use of dark sky-friendly lighting. This type of lighting is designed to minimize the amount of light that is directed upwards and outwards, where it can cause light pollution. Instead, it focuses the light downward, where it is needed, and reduces the amount of wasted light.
Another goal of International Dark Sky Week is to educate people about the impact of light pollution on wildlife. Many animals, including birds, insects, and sea turtles, rely on the natural light cycles for their survival. Light pollution can disrupt these cycles, leading to negative consequences for the animals.
Finally, International Dark Sky Week is also an opportunity to appreciate the beauty of the night sky. By reducing light pollution, we can create a better environment for stargazing and astronomy. The night sky is a source of wonder and inspiration for many people, and it is our responsibility to protect it for future generations.
In conclusion, International Dark Sky Week is an important event that raises awareness about the impact of light pollution on the environment and our health. By participating in this week-long event, we can learn about the importance of dark skies and take steps to reduce light pollution. Together, we can create a brighter future for ourselves and for the planet.
Rod: A creative force, blending words, images, and flavors. Blogger, writer, filmmaker, and photographer. Cooking enthusiast with a sci-fi vision. Passionate about his upcoming series and dedicated to TNC Network. Partnered with Rebecca Washington for a shared journey of love and art. View all posts
Rod: A creative force, blending words, images, and flavors. Blogger, writer, filmmaker, and photographer. Cooking enthusiast with a sci-fi vision. Passionate about his upcoming series and dedicated to TNC Network. Partnered with Rebecca Washington for a shared journey of love and art.
NASA’s “Flying Swordfish” Takes Flight: The X-59 QueSST Begins Its Quiet Supersonic Journey
NASA’s X-59 QueSST “flying swordfish” made its first test flight from Palmdale, California, marking a breakthrough in quiet supersonic technology designed to reduce the sonic boom and reshape the future of air travel.
NASA’s X-59 QueSST quiet supersonic research aircraft sits on the ramp at Lockheed Martin Skunk Works in Palmdale, California during sunrise, shortly after completion of painting. With its unique design, including a 38-foot-long nose, the X-59 was built to demonstrate the ability to fly supersonic, or faster than the speed of sound, while reducing the typically loud sonic boom produced by aircraft at such speeds to a quieter sonic “thump”. The X-59 is the centerpiece of NASA’s Quesst mission, which seeks to solve one of the major barriers to supersonic flight over land, currently banned in the United States, by making sonic booms quieter. Image Credit: NASA
NASA’s experimental X-59 QueSST, also known as the “flying swordfish,” has officially made its first test flight, marking a major milestone in the future of quiet supersonic travel. Developed in partnership with Lockheed Martin, the sleek, needle-nosed aircraft lifted off from Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California, on October 28, 2025, and safely landed at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center.
While the maiden flight was subsonic, reaching speeds of around 230 miles per hour at 12,000 feet, it successfully demonstrated the aircraft’s fundamental systems and stability. Future test flights will push the X-59 to supersonic speeds, where NASA will evaluate its ability to drastically reduce the loud “sonic boom” to a soft “sonic thump.” The ultimate goal of the Quesst program is to pave the way for regulations that could one day allow commercial supersonic flights over land, revolutionizing air travel as we know it.
The science section of our news blog STM Daily News provides readers with captivating and up-to-date information on the latest scientific discoveries, breakthroughs, and innovations across various fields. We offer engaging and accessible content, ensuring that readers with different levels of scientific knowledge can stay informed. Whether it’s exploring advancements in medicine, astronomy, technology, or environmental sciences, our science section strives to shed light on the intriguing world of scientific exploration and its profound impact on our daily lives. From thought-provoking articles to informative interviews with experts in the field, STM Daily News Science offers a harmonious blend of factual reporting, analysis, and exploration, making it a go-to source for science enthusiasts and curious minds alike. https://stmdailynews.com/category/science/
Gender is not an ideology – but conservative groups know learning about it empowers people to think for themselves
Victoria Pitts-Taylor, Wesleyan University and Elizabeth Anne Wood, Nassau Community College Political attacks on teaching about gender in colleges and universities are about more than just gender: They are part of agrander projectof eroding civil and human rights, limiting personal freedoms and undermining democracy in the name of “traditional” values. On the first day of his second term, President Donald Trump issued an executive order declaring there are two sexes determined solely by the kind of reproductive cells the body makes, and that the federal government would recognize nothing else. The order claims to protect the “freedom to express the binary nature of sex” and bans the use of federal funds to “promote gender ideology.” Legal experts have criticized the directive as unconstitutional and are challenging it in the courts. Yet the order has provided fuel for conservatives, right-wing politicians and activists trying to remove so-called gender ideology from many places in American society, including classrooms. Right-wing activists are pushing for censorship of educational curricula in K-12 schools and in colleges and universities, and they have succeeded in Texas, Florida and other red states. Why are conservative politicians so determined to control how Americans define sex and understand gender? As sociologistswho research and teach about gender, we know that gender across disciplines is understood to be a complex topic of study, not an ideology. The study of gender represents the kind of free inquiry that allows people to decide for themselves how to live, free of coercion or government control.
What is ‘gender ideology’?
“Gender ideology” is a catch-all term conservative Catholics initially promoted in the 1990s in response to the United Nations’ promotion of women’s equality. In 2004, pushing back on the global women’s and gay rights movements, the Vatican declared in a letter to bishops that men and women are different by nature “not only on the physical level, but also on the psychological and spiritual.” The letter stated that the idea of gender “inspired ideologies” that sanction alternatives to the traditional two-parent family headed by men and treated homosexuality on par with heterosexuality. Over the following decades, evangelical groups and far-right parties across the globe – from Hungary and Russia to Peru, Brazil and Ghana – have used the language of combating “gender ideology” to counter a host of social policies, including sex education in schools, the legalization of gay marriage and same-sex adoption, reproductive rights and transgender rights.Anti-gender protestors during a 2018 Equality March in Kraków, Poland.Silar/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA The anti-gender movement is no longer fringe but rather well funded, organized and transnational. For example, 40 countries have signed the Geneva Consensus Declaration, an international pact proposed by the first Trump administration and supported by anti-gender campaigners as a way to deny abortion rights internationally. In the U.S., where the majority of Americans support gay marriageand abortion rights, targeting trans rights has become one of the conservative movement’s galvanizing issues. A flood of state bills not only ban books and discussions of gender, sexuality and race in schools but also criminalize abortion, ban gender-affirming health care and legalize discrimination in housing and employment on religious grounds.
What we talk about when we talk about gender
How gender is researched and taught in universities has becomea key target of anti-gender campaigns across the globe, in part because the study of gender raises questions about the universality of traditional social roles and the inequalities that can result from them. Gender is a focus of inquiry not only in gender studies classes but in literature, sociology, law, government, history, anthropology and cultural geography, among many other fields. Anti-gender campaigners argue there is nothing to understand about it because gender is given by nature or God. For them, gender is equivalent to sex, which is taken to be straightforward and without exception male or female. Scientific evidence suggests, however, that sex is not always binary. In biology, sex refers to genes, reproductive organs, hormone systems and observable physical characteristics; different combinations of these lead to variations in sex. Far from straightforward, then, sex is complicated. And a person’s assigned sex at birth does not always align with their deeply held sense of self – their gender identity. Gender is both a feature of individual people and a mode of organizing social life. At the individual level, people have a subjective sense of and embody their gender by dressing and behaving in ways that encourage other people to see them as they want to be seen. A man might wear a tie at the office to convey masculinity. People will interact differently with a woman when she is wearing high heels and makeup than when she goes barefaced or dons a swimsuit. Someone who is gender fluid may appear more masculine or feminine at different times and experience prejudice and discrimination.Gender roles shape society and culture in both subtle and glaring ways. Gender shapes societies through norms and rules on everything from what you wear to how families operate, whom you are allowed to partner with and what jobs you are likely to hold. Whether in the spheres of culture, family, economic or civic life, gender roles and norms intersect with class, race and other social differences and shift across cultures and historical eras. Indigenous societies across the globe have long recognized more than two gender categories, and historical and contemporary examples of gender diversity abound. A ban on learning about gender would sweep aside all this variation in favor of a homogeneous worldview that deliberately ignores biology, history and lived experience. Denying the diversity of gender makes it easier to impose a conservative worldview and roll back rights.
Education as a political target
Anti-gender campaigners view education as a major battleground in the fight over societal values. In the U.S., conservative efforts to ban the study of gender and sexuality initially centered on K-12 education, exemplified in bills such as Florida’s 2022 “Don’t Say Gay” law. But the movement has also affected colleges and universities. Texas A&M’s president fired a professor in September 2025 after a student recorded her confrontation with her for discussing gender diversity in a literature course. The student alleged the course was “not legal” because it contradicted “our president’s laws” and her own religious beliefs. The university president also later resigned under pressure. The same month, the chancellor of the Texas Tech University system, citing Trump’s executive order on “gender ideology,” banned all faculty members across its five universities from recognizing “more than two sexes” in any course or classroom.Controlling thought is a means of repressing social movements.AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall As the Texas chapter of the American Association of University Professors reminds its members, faculty have a constitutional right to teach and discuss “all matters related to the subject matter of a class” without interference from administrators, politicians or government officials. Despite this, states led by conservative lawmakers have useda rangeof tacticsto eliminategender studies programs or curriculum from colleges. These attacks on universities are attempts to control thought, subdue social movements advocating for change and promote an orthodoxy that upholds those in power.Books on gender are among those conservatives are purging from libraries and classrooms.AP Photo/Rick Bowmer
Restricting rights, eroding democracy
These attacks on education are not only academic matters. They disempower women and marginalized groups that have achieved some legal protection or rights in recent decades. And they contribute to the erosion of democracy. Authoritarian approaches to governing rely on scapegoating people, policing thought and speech, and punishing dissent. This is true whether it’s Viktor Orban’s Hungary, Vladimir Putin’s Russia or Donald Trump’s United States. By prohibiting questions and challenges, autocrats gain the power to limit how people think and control their bodies.Victoria Pitts-Taylor, Professor of Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies; Sociology; Science and Technology Studies, Wesleyan University and Elizabeth Anne Wood, Professor of Sociology, Nassau Community College This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
STM Daily News is a multifaceted podcast that explores a wide range of topics, from life and consumer issues to the latest in food and beverage trends. Our discussions dive into the realms of science, covering everything from space and Earth to nature, artificial intelligence, and astronomy. We also celebrate the amateur sports scene, highlighting local athletes and events, including our special segment on senior Pickleball, where we report on the latest happenings in this exciting community. With our diverse content, STM Daily News aims to inform, entertain, and engage listeners, providing a comprehensive look at the issues that matter most in our daily lives. https://stories-this-moment.castos.com/
Leading with Purpose in the Age of AII: Cognizant guides organizations in AI adoption, addressing challenges like talent shortages and governance while empowering employees to transform business practices and achieve lasting impact.
(Family Features) In today’s AI-powered economy, transformation is no longer optional – it’s essential. Enterprises are eager to embrace generative and agentic AI, but many lack the clarity and confidence to scale it responsibly.
As a global leader in technology and consulting services, Cognizant is helping organizations bridge that gap – turning possibility into progress.
The Moment is Now
AI is reshaping industries, redefining roles, and revolutionizing decision-making. According to Cognizant Research, 61% of senior decision-makers expect AI to drive complete business transformation. Yet, 83% feel unprepared to embed AI into their organizations, citing gaps in talent, governance, and culture.
This disconnect presents a powerful opportunity.
“In the age of AI, transformation isn’t just about technology, it’s about trust, talent and the ability to turn possibility into progress,” said Shveta Arora, head of Cognizant Consulting. “The true impact of AI is delivered when organizations build trust, invest in adaptable talent and embrace bold ideas. By empowering people and embedding AI responsibly, leaders can bridge the gap between potential and progress, ensuring lasting value for business and society.”
A Trusted Voice in AI
As a recognized leader in AI strategy and enterprise transformation, Cognizant brings credibility and clarity to this evolving space. It has been named a Leader and Star Performer by Everest Group in their 2024 AI and Generative AI Services PEAK Matrix Assessment, underscoring its strategic vision and execution.
With thought leadership in AI strategy and enterprise transformation published across thousands of U.S. outlets, its position as a trusted voice in shaping the future of AI has been reinforced. It has also been recognized across the industry for excellence in client service and innovation.
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Its platforms – Neuro, Flowsource and the Data and Intelligence Toolkit – are driving real-world impact across industries. Furthermore, a strategic collaboration with a leading enterprise-grade generative AI provider enables secure and scalable deployment of agentic AI in regulated settings, ensuring adherence to compliance and data governance standards
Bridging the AI Adoption Gap
When a leading property intelligence provider’s IT systems were hampering progressing turnaround times, the company turned to Cognizant’s Gen AI-powered Data as a Service and Neuro Business Process (BP) platform. Driven by AI insights and learning, Neuro BP centralized business processing. It automated data collection, case reviews and decision-making to align with the client’s goals. Powered by the platform, the organization saw a reduction in processing time and errors and an increase in productivity.
Stories like these are still the exception.
Despite enthusiasm and investment – global businesses are spending an average of $47.5 million on generative AI this year – many feel they’re moving too slowly. The barriers include talent shortages, infrastructure gaps and unclear governance. These challenges can be overcome by moving from experimentation to execution. With clarity, credibility and conviction, organizations can scale AI responsibly and effectively.
Accelerating Enterprise AI Transformations
Unlike traditional software, AI models are contextual computing engines. They don’t require every path to be spelled out in advance but instead interpret broad instructions and intent, and adapt based on the context they are given. Agentic AI systems lacking business-specific knowledge can lead to generic or unreliable outputs.
To address this, enterprises need systems that can deliver the right information and tools to AI models – enabling accurate decisions, alignment with human goals, compliance with policy frameworks and adaptability to real-time challenges. This is the role of context engineering, an emerging discipline focused on delivering the right context at the right time to agentic systems. Context refers to the sum of a company’s institutional knowledge, including its operating models, roles, goals, metrics, processes, policies and governance – essential ingredients for effective AI.
To guide clients through their AI journey, Cognizant developed the Strategic Enterprise Agentification Framework, an end-to-end model designed to unlock productivity, market expansion and new business models.
At its core is the Agent Development Lifecycle (ADLC), which guides the development of enterprise agents and agentic AI systems across six distinct stages. Designed to align with real-world enterprise dynamics, ADLC supports seamless integration with business applications. This unique approach embeds context engineering into ADLC, ensuring agents are tailored to support real-world enterprise dynamics.
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To help bridge vision and execution, businesses can utilize the Neuro AI Multi-Agent Accelerator. This no-code framework allows rapid deployment of custom multi-agent systems.
People Power the Progress
Technology alone doesn’t transform enterprises – people do. With an AI-driven Workforce Transformation (WFT), Cognizant helps organizations reskill employees, redesign roles and build AI fluency. Integrated with the Agentification Framework, WFT is designed to accelerate transformation and support long-term resilience.
From Possibility to Progress
From strategic frameworks to enterprise platforms to workforce readiness, Cognizant equips organizations with the confidence to harness AI responsibly and at scale. In the age of AI, it’s not just about transformation – it’s about leading with purpose.
The science section of our news blog STM Daily News provides readers with captivating and up-to-date information on the latest scientific discoveries, breakthroughs, and innovations across various fields. We offer engaging and accessible content, ensuring that readers with different levels of scientific knowledge can stay informed. Whether it’s exploring advancements in medicine, astronomy, technology, or environmental sciences, our science section strives to shed light on the intriguing world of scientific exploration and its profound impact on our daily lives. From thought-provoking articles to informative interviews with experts in the field, STM Daily News Science offers a harmonious blend of factual reporting, analysis, and exploration, making it a go-to source for science enthusiasts and curious minds alike. https://stmdailynews.com/category/science/
Victoria Pitts-Taylor, Professor of Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies; Sociology; Science and Technology Studies, Wesleyan University and Elizabeth Anne Wood, Professor of Sociology, Nassau Community College This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
