Month: October 2025

Science says the real danger is in how we do it

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A very typical gesture in our daily lives is to reuse the bottles we use to drink water or any other beverage. Something that is usually done to reduce the carbon footprint that can be caused by using a bottle only once and throwing it away. But at a time when microplastics are the order of the day, the truth is that it makes us think If reusing a bottle is harmful to us. But we are not only talking about the plastic bottles that we buy in the supermarket with water or any other liquid such as a soft drink, but also the classic bottles that we are used to seeing in many places that They promise to keep you warm or cold inside.. Its plastic construction can set off alarm bells after seeing how microplastics have been found in the testiclesthe breast milk and other parts of the bodyit is logical to think that if we use the same bottle twenty or thirty times in the end we are consuming this type of substance. The fear of microplastics. Little by little they get to know each other details about the effect that the consumption of microplastics has about our health, especially fertility. This means that we basically have to question the containers from which we consume food in order to ‘protect ourselves’ from its bad effects, as can occur in these bottles in container containers. The problem. Popular belief states that reusing bottles could pose a significant risk due to the alleged accumulation of bisphenol A (BPA) and the proliferation of dangerous bacteria if they are not cleaned daily. However, current scientific evidence intensely qualifies these statements, distinguishing between real risk factors and unfounded precautions. The release of bisphenols. Several studies have evaluated the migration of BPA and phthalates from reused bottles. under real use conditions. A recent experiment from 2021 simulating daily use in more than 20 types of bottles concluded that no migration of bisphenol A was detected in the stored water, even after several weeks of reasonable reuse. And the most interesting thing is that the classic aluminum bottles used as thermoses were also included. Other scientific articles agree: the release of BPA depends fundamentally on the type of material, exposure to high temperatures and extreme wear, not on the mere fact of filling them with tap or refrigerator water. Bottles suitable for food use, well maintained and not subjected to excessive heatdo not dangerously increase exposure to BPA. This logically changes radically if liquids are poured at high temperatures, which can cause more microplastics to be released. This is why you must always take into account the temperature of the liquids that are stored, so that it is the same as the original liquid that was stored. But there are also different opinions. In this case, food technologist Luis Ribera, director of the Saia food safety consultancy, has warned of the risk of reusing bottles manufactured for single use, as reported by El Confidencial. ​Although he goes further by stating that the real danger lies in the microorganisms that can appear in these bottles. Bacteria and bottles. Precisely, it is also a recurring theme, since logically on the surface of the bottle you can accumulate different common microorganisms like for example Escherichia coli either Staphylococcus. This is something that can be common, especially when a sugary drink has been stored, which leaves a substrate on the plastic walls, as if it were a Petri dish. But the key in this case to avoid the accumulation of bacteria logically lies in hygiene. Recent studies show that regular cleaning Soap and water is enough to keep the bottles safe. In cases in which high levels of bacteria have been reported, the analyzes always point to the lack of frequent washing or the use of cracked containers, rather than the rational reuse for drinking water as many of us do at home to avoid having to buy more bottles. Is it dangerous to reuse bottles? With this evidence, we can have several clear conclusions. The first of them is that there is no health prohibition when it comes to using bottles that are reusable and that have been manufactured to contain water. The second is that the associated health risks are almost exclusively due to poor hygiene habits or extreme wear and tear of the packaging. And the third is that if a bottle has not been manufactured to give it more than one use, Yes, we must be careful with its reuse.. In this way, neither the migration of bisphenol A nor the “bacteriological danger” justify throwing away your bottle after a single use, as long as it is used sensibly and basic hygiene is maintained. Science supports responsible use and regular cleaning, debunking some of the alarmist discourse around reusing plastic bottles for tap water. Images | charlesdeluvio Nigel Msipa In Xataka | The true size of the microplastics that populate our lives, exposed in this disturbing graph ​

The first nest of Asian hornets in Andalusia was more than seven kilos and had thousands of larvae about to emerge. It’s not good news

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The 7.5 kilo nest, located 10 meters high in a pine tree in Alhaurín de la Torre. This mass full of thousands of larvae has the dubious honor of being the first Asian wasp nest detected in Andalusia. A species that, it is worth remembering has killed three people in Galicia in the last two weeks. “We caught it on time,” explained Alvaro Garciafrom the pest control company Lucanus. “If we had left it a few more days, hundreds of fertile queens would have emerged, and that would be unstoppable.” And yet, the relief of having stopped the expansion of the velutina throughout the most populated community in Spain has been followed by something else: the anxiety generated by knowing that we have found them by pure chance. What if by chance? The discovery It was due to Eduardo Sáezthe biologist who owns the farm where the nest was found. Sáez is not an expert on wasps, but upon seeing him he realized that it was not normal and raised the alarm. Given this, it seems inevitable to ask not only what would have happened if they had not “caught it in time”; but if it really has been like that. Is there not one but dozens of Asian wasp nests maturing in Andalusia without anyone noticing? What is the vespa velutina? The Vespa velutina nigrithoraxnative to Southeast Asia, is an invasive species that arrived in Europe in 2004. It is not difficult to identify itbut it is not something trivial either: it is larger than the common wasp (up to 3.5 cm), it is darker and has an almost completely black abdomen. After expanding from Cantabria, the Basque Country and Galicia throughout the north of the peninsula, it is growing at a rate of 80 kilometers per year. In addition, and if that were not enough, it feeds on fruit, bees and other pollinating animals. To this, of course, we must add that this type of wasps are especially aggressive. Didier Descouens And in response to that, Alhaurín has taken a desperate measure. The municipality of Malaga, recognizing that it is unable to trace its entire area to ensure that the velutina is not growing elsewhere, has requested citizen collaboration: Dozens of neighbors and volunteers have supported the call and are combing the Pinos de Alhaurín area. This obviously entails security risks (due to improper approach to the nests) and false positives (putting other species at risk). However, the situation is very complicated. We must not forget that Málaga has been fighting against Vespa orientalisadding the velutina would be a disaster for provincial beekeeping (and for another half dozen sectors). Why this urgency? Because, as its impact has shown in the north of the peninsula and endorses technical literatureOnce it enters an ecosystem, eradicating it is almost impossible. And the city councils do not have enough of their own equipment to deal with this type of threats. Above all, in a context in which both climate change and anarchic urbanization have made it incredibly easy. A problem that goes beyond beekeeping. And, as I said, in less than two weeks and in the middle of autumn, three men have lost their lives in Galicia due to stings from velutina wasps. It is true that these are deaths related to “severe allergic reactions”, but that does not make the situation any more reassuring. We must not forget that Galicia has been fighting this insect for 15 years with massive trapping and nest removal programs. Without any success. In fact, according to the Xuntawe are experiencing an “extraordinary increase” due to “enormous adaptability” and asks for “caution, especially in the case of allergic people.” Image | Francis ITHURBURU In Xataka | After centuries of disappearance, there are people releasing beavers into the Tagus and other rivers in Spain. The problem is that we don’t know who

We have been thinking all our lives that prices end in “.99” out of pure psychology. The reason was much more earthly

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The omnipresence of the price ending in .99 (today perceived as a consumer psychology) actually has a very different origin. Before the bias was studied and exploited, the figure was used by a machine to not only shield accounting, but also to found an entire culture of compliance, auditability and commercial discipline. The origin. In business at the end of the 19th century, the problem was not so much convincing the client, but preventing them from the money would disappear before reaching the owner. The cash passed through the hands of waiters and clerks without a trace, and the temptation to “keep some” was structural. The solution was not more human surveillance, but a luck of prosthesis mechanics: a machine that would require each sale to be recorded and that, when opened to make change, will leave an audible signal and a verifiable trail. The price at .99 made it inevitable to open the box to return the cent, forcing registration and eliminating the gap through which the money was lost. Trader with engineering instinct. The seed was born in Dayton from a tavern owner who already came from a family with a vocation to invent. James Rittyfed up with losses in his businesses, saw how a machine counted the revolutions of a propeller and suddenly understood that the same could be done with sales: if something can be counted mechanically, it can be audited. So, he returned to Dayton, worked with his brother John (an experienced mechanic) and built the first sales recorder: keys that represented amounts, a visible dial to check the figure and, later, a drawer with a bell and a scroll that left a physical mark of each transaction. Reproduction of Ritty Dial, an early example of a practical cash register NCR: from machine to industrial culture. Shortly after, when John H. Patterson buys the invention from the brothers and creates the National Cash Registerthe mechanism ceases to be an Ohio bar oddity and becomes a compliance standard in American commerce. The idea thus mutated in the industry. NCR not only manufactured boxes: manufactured method. It introduced a sales school, scripts, discipline, metrics, incentives and exported that corporate DNA via its graduates to other companies such as IBM and General Motors. The cash register It was not just a device: it was a way of governing the organization through material evidence rather than blind trust. National cash register from the late 19th century The .99 changes purpose. Decades later, when the reason anti-corruption was already solved by design, behavioral economics discovers that the .99 deforms the perception of value: anchors in the left figure, suggests a bargain, reduces psychological friction and stimulates impulsive buying. The same accounting gesture was now used for a very different war: it was no longer against theft, but against mental resistance of the buyer. The convention is stabilized because it generates economic margin even when the risk of theft has fallen due to digital processes. The .99 mutates from an anti-fraud technique to persuasion toolmaintaining its validity for a reason radically different from the one for which it was born. The device survives not because of tradition, but because it continues to generate economic advantage under a different paradigm. It survives because it works. The truth is that the .99 has lasted a century and a half because solved two problems different at two different times: first it prevented the seller rob the ownerand then helped the owner persuade the buyer. This double utility explains its persistence. If you will, it is proof of how in commerce what begins as compliance engineering ends as behavioral engineering. And every time today we see 4.99 or 9.99 in sales, we are actually reading (without knowing it) the fingerprint fossil of an invention originally created to close a hole economic before consumer psychologists existed. Codifying discipline. Thus, the box that was invented to catch petty theft It altered the physics of commerce: it introduced traceability, professionalized sales, and bequeathed a pricing convention that still programs how we read money in modern societies. A prosaic problem (a waiter who keeps some coins) inaugurated a causal chain that ended up shaping an entire century of business practice. And in reality, the bell that rang to warn the owner more than a century ago, now also rings, silently, in the consumer’s head every time he sees that .99 and decides that “it is less”…than it really is. Image | Enrique Íñiguez Rodríguez, National Cash Register Company, Wmpearl, Biser Todorov In Xataka | The psychology of pricing: a gigantic list of strategies In Xataka | Psychology has explained why it is so difficult for you to leave a job even if it is toxic: the sunk cost fallacy

become a for-profit company

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OpenAI has announced that has completed its desired restructuring. From a non-profit company now becomes a for-profit company Yes, it is still controlled by a non-profit parent company, The OpenAI Foundation. The announcement is in fact double, because this transition makes Microsoft’s situation now noticeably different… and profitable. Profit spirit, but with small print. The new for-profit company is called OpenAI Group PBC (Public Benefit Corporation). This acronym responds to a special type of company in the US in which lucrative purposes are combined with a social or ethical mission. Unlike a traditional corporation, a PBC has a legal duty to consider not only the interests of shareholders, but also the impact on society and the environment. But it is still under the umbrella of The OpenAI Foundation. The restructuring makes The OpenAI Foundation becomes the parent company of OpenAI Group PBC. Additionally, the non-profit corporation will have a stake in the PBC that is currently valued at about $130 billion. Of them, 25,000 will begin to be used to work on solutions and programs that accelerate development in the healthcare field and improve infrastructure while minimizing risk. A long and thorny process. The process takes more than a year in operation and is completed after getting the go-ahead from the attorney general’s offices in both California and Delaware. The legal battle with Elon Musk made things even more complicatedbut all those obstacles have finally been overcome and OpenAI achieves one of its great objectives for 2025. One that did not have to do directly with AI models, but with the financial part of a company that acted like a traditional corporation without being one. This avoids problems and legal obstacles and gives free rein to continue raising investment rounds, for example. In fact, if OpenAI had not announced this restructuring before the end of the year, it would have lost 10 billion of the investment he announced with SoftBank. Microsoft’s new role. In a separate advertisement But totally related to the news, those responsible for OpenAI were talking about how the alliance with Microsoft is now. The company, which became OpenAI’s great partner in 2019 with an investment that she ended up being a multimillionaire In 2023, it had a confirmed 32.5% stake. With the new structure it will have a 27% stake in the PBC, and that percentage is equivalent to about 135 billion dollars. Not bad, considering that Microsoft invested approximately 10 times less. What happens if OpenAI achieves an AGI. In that case, there will be several important consequences. A crucial first step will be for a panel of independent experts to verify that that AGI is effectively an AGI. Even with that achievement, Microsoft’s Intellectual Property (IP) rights on OpenAI models and products extend until 2032 and also include models developed after AGI is declared. Revenue sharing will remain in effect until the AGI is verified by the expert panel. Those Microsoft IP rights to the research (the confidential methods used in developing AI models) will end when the AGI is verified or in 2030, whichever comes first. Thus, the AGI is no longer an immediate “off button” on collaboration, but rather triggers a controlled and planned transition that reduces some Microsoft rights but maintains others until 2032. Greater flexibility for both parties. The new agreement gives more room for maneuver to both companies: Microsoft may pursue AGI independently or in partnership with third parties OpenAI may collaborate its products with third parties, although API products developed with third parties will remain exclusive to Azure On the other hand, OpenAI will be able to release models with open weights as long as they meet the required capacity criteria. Image | Wikipedia | Heisenberg Media In Xataka | OpenAI is already a binary bet: either get AGI, or everything blows up

New DJI ROMO, features, price and technical sheet

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For years, DJI has developed drones andcameras that define a good part of the sector. Now, the Chinese company lands in a very different scenario: that of robot vacuum cleaners. ROMO is the first step in a strategy that brings to the home the same precision that the company has been honing in the air for years. The movement is not surprising so much because of the technology, but because of the change in terrain. DJI leaves the sky for a moment to test if its engineering also works on the ground. Its new line is the result of a technical approach that DJI has mastered for years: obstacle detection and precise navigation. Instead of focusing on revolutionary features, the company has fine-tuned the elements it considers essential for error-free cleaning. Each model combines optical sensors and planning algorithms to cover more surface area and avoid collisions. The proposal is also supported by the DJI Home app, which adds specific modes (carpets, thresholds, pet areas) and alerts about the status of the tank or cloths. Flight technology to avoid socks and cables The ROMO detection system integrates optical sensors and LiDAR wide scope to generate detailed knowledge of the environment. DJI explains that data from both is combined using machine learning, allowing you to accurately recognize and avoid obstacles. Among the examples cited are thin cables or cards in a deck. This recognition also makes it easier to move under furniture and plan routes without blind areas. For DJI, the value of ROMO is not just in the sensors, but in how it interprets space. The company states that it has transferred part of the planning algorithms it uses in drones to these robots, with the aim of tracing more coherent routes and avoiding unnecessary movements. According to its description, the device can identify obstacles such as socks or cables and adjust its strategy without stopping. It also reduces speed when it detects loose debris. DJI’s stated suction power for the ROMO series reaches 25,000 pascals and an air flow of 20 liters per second, although the company does not specify whether these figures correspond to a specific model or the entire range. The system combines a “high-performance” motor with an internal flow-optimized design, and sensors automatically adjust the speed and movement of the side brush to prevent debris from being dispersed. According to the manufacturer, roller brushes with high-torque motors help collect hair without clogging. ROMO incorporates dual flexible arms that extend and retract based on available space, guided by real-time mapping and edge algorithms. This mechanism allows for deep cleaning along walls, corners and irregularly shaped furniture. In parallel, the mopping system has a 164 ml tank that keeps the cloths moist and adjusts the water flow when it detects stubborn stains. Sweeping always precedes scrubbing, which prevents dirt from moving before being removed. The ROMO base station is presented as an autonomous cleaning and emptying system. It combines high-pressure water jets with a 16mm chute to remove debris from cloths and a mechanism that applies 12 newtons of downward pressure to improve washing. The set is designed to operate during long periods without maintenancewith an estimated autonomy of up to 200 days. In addition, the base incorporates a sound suppression system with chambers and silencers that reduces suction noise by around 80%. All ROMO management is centralized in the DJI Home app, which includes different smart cleaning modes. These include options for rugs, thresholds or areas where pets are present, as well as the ability to customize the intensity and order of tasks. The system sends warnings when the water tanks or dust container are full and allows the robot’s activity to be monitored remotely. Access to the camera requires two-step authentication and videos are transmitted encrypted, in addition to being able to disable the video function completely. Within the range, the ROMO P incorporates a finish with transparent panels that reveal the internal structure both in the base and in the robot itself, and an additional compartment for deodorizer that can be dispensed along with the cleaning solution on the mop cloths. The ecosystem is completed with a official accessories linesuch as brushes, cloths, self-sealing bags, cleaning fluids and an auxiliary ramp. DJI does not detail other hardware differences between P, A and S. ROMO will debut in a segment where actors with solid proposals already coexist. iRobot stands out with the Roomba Max 705designed to manage pet hair. Roborock has gone one step further with the Saros Z70which incorporates an extendable robotic arm. And Dreame, with him Aqua10 Ultra Roller Completehas focused its commitment on the cleaning and maintenance of mops. DJI thus enters a category where innovation is not measured only in power, but in the ability to solve increasingly complex household tasks. Price and availability of the new DJI ROMO The ROMO series is now available through the DJI online store and authorized resellers, with shipments beginning today. The range is made up of three versions: ROMO P: from 1,899 euros ROMO A: from 1,599 euros ROMO S: from 1,299 euros. DJI has not detailed the exact hardware differences between them. Images | DJI In Xataka | Amazon’s new Echos do not compete against Google Home. They compete against indifference

accelerate the ‘Great Wealth Transfer’

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With the price of housing approaching to the peaks of the brick bubble and the savings capacity of households seriously limitedyounger Spaniards are opting for a key key to becoming owners of their own home: donations from parents to children. They show it clearly the latest data of the General Council of Notaries (CGN), which reflect that intergenerational transmissions of homes have skyrocketed in Spain. And it doesn’t look like the trend is going to stop. What has happened? That donations and inheritances are gaining weight in the Spanish real estate market. Nothing surprising if we take into account the aging of the country, the increase in housing prices and the difficulties with which (even despite the cheaper credit) are the youngest when they consider buying a house. In other words: the elderly choose to come to the aid of their children, nephews or grandchildren to clear their access to real estate agencies. It is not a new phenomenon (we have been talking about it for a long time). the ‘great transfer’ intergenerational wealth), but that does not stop it from being striking. Especially when data is published that helps to dimension it, something that the General Council of Notaries has just done in a report in which he reveals that housing donations have skyrocketed in recent years in our country. So much so that in his opinion they are already (along with inheritances) key levers for access to housing. Have they grown that much? The data from the General Council of Notaries (CGN) are clear. According to its latest sector report, in 2024, 54,735 homes were donated in Spain, 68% more than in 2017. In fact, if the series of the last eight years is analyzed, 2024 was the second largest record, only surpassed by 2021. And the trend seems to continue in 2025. During the first half of the year the group registered around 27,000 donated homes. In parallel, the number of house inheritances remains more or less stable. In 2024, 403,854 were counted, a very similar figure (with slight fluctuations) to that of recent years. Are they important figures? Yes. And it is better understood when put in the context of the real estate market, something that the notary school itself does. “The number of inherited homes in 2024 and the number of donated homes would together be equivalent to 64% of the home purchase and sale operations registered in that same year,” points out the CGNwhich emphasizes the drift of donations. “The number of inherited homes has remained fairly stable, while the number of donated homes almost doubled between 2017 and 2024.” Not only that. The notaries also emphasize that the stability in the flow of inheritances and the resounding increase in donations contrasts with a more oscillating pace of purchases and sales. And that general framework does not seem to be changing in the short term. “The most recent data for the first half of 2025 show that in this period 202,923 homes have been inherited and 26,923 donated. These two figures together would correspond to 60% of the number of sales between January and June of this year (380,144).” remember the General Council. How do notaries value it? The group does not limit itself to presenting figures. It also slips in the occasional interpretation that points in a clear direction: given the progressive rise in housing prices and the low saving capacity of young people, “intergenerational property transmissions” have been gaining weight. “In this framework, donations and inheritances are consolidated as instruments of access to housing and family redistribution of resources, and here the group of people over 65 years of age takes center stage,” reflects the CGN. After recalling that in general acts related to donations have skyrocketed by 127% between 2017 and 2024, the notaries explain that the growth is largely explained by donors between 55 and over 65 years old. “Inheritances and especially donations seem to show signs of becoming a key access channel for younger generations,” apostille. “Population aging predicts great wealth transmission in the coming decades, whether through donations or inheritances.” Is housing only donated/inherited? No. The notarial report reflects a general increase in donations, not just those involving houses. And that is an important nuance. As was already advancing in February The Countrythe volume of transmissions reached a record last year and a large part of them focused on cash, money that goes from the pockets of mothers and fathers to that of their children to make it easier for them to pay for a home or pay for a mortgage. “There is everything, from donations of 10,000 euros to others of 300,000, but the most common thing is to find figures close to 30,000 or 40,000, which can be used to pay for the entrance fee,” explained María Teresa Barea, spokesperson for the CGN. “We see that those parents who have some liquidity available donate part of the money to their children for the purchase or down payment of the house, but also to start a business.” Are there more factors? Yes. The increase in donations is explained by the increase in the price of residential m2 (it has shot up 15.3% in the last year according to Idealista), the low savings capacity of young people and the difficulties in accessing the real estate market; But another key factor also influences: taxation. In fact CGN data show variations between regions in the total number of homes donated that are not explained by population differences. Images | Ansar Naib (Unsplash) and General Council of Notaries In Xataka | Houses are so expensive in the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands that they are expelling even Germans and British people from the market.

Saudi Arabia has insisted on connecting its two seas by train. And to achieve this it has been placed in the hands of a Spanish company

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Saudi Arabia has launched one of the most ambitious railway projects in the Middle East: the “Landbridge” or “Land Bridge”, a $7 billion high-speed network that will connect the Red Sea to the Persian Gulf. The infrastructure will link Jeddah to Dammam via Riyadh, covering nearly 1,500 kilometers with the aim of completely transforming transport and commerce in the Arabian Peninsula. A strategic corridor for goods and passengers. The project will reduce travel time between Riyadh and Jeddah from around 12 hours by car to less than 4 hours by train. But the goal is for the project to go beyond just transporting passengers, as it is also designed to turn the kingdom into a key logistics hub in the region, connecting large industrial ports such as King Abdullah Port and Yanbu with urban centers and airports. According to Saudi authoritiesthe Landbridge could generate savings of $4.2 billion annually in transportation costs and create up to 200,000 jobs in related sectors. Vision 2030. This megaproject is a centerpiece of Vision 2030the strategic plan with which Saudi Arabia seeks to diversify its economy and reduce its dependence on oil. The Saudi Railways (SAR) company intends to expand the country’s railway network from the current 5,300 kilometers up to more than 8,000. As part of this modernization, SAR has ordered 15 new trains capable of reaching speeds of up to 200 kilometers per hour and even hydrogen-powered models. Spanish participation in the project. The Landbridge is being developed by the Saudi China Landbridge Consortium, a partnership between Saudi Arabia Railways and China Civil Engineering Construction Company, with local support from Al-Ayuni Contracting. Between the international companies involved The Spanish company Sener stands out, which was selected in December 2023 along with Hill International (USA) and Italferr (Italy) to provide project management services. Firms such as Systra, Thales, WSP and other specialized consulting firms also participate. A project with a long history and new Chinese momentum. Although the Landbridge It was initially announced in 2004 and paused in 2010, gained new momentum after the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2022, when both countries committed to accelerate its execution. Chinese investment in Saudi Arabia has grown significantly: in 2024, the stock of direct investment reached 8.2 billion dollarsup 29% from 2023. China has become the largest source of greenfield investment in the kingdom, with commitments worth $16.8 billion in energy, manufacturing and logistics. Railway enthusiasm. Only in the second quarter of 2025, more than 2.6 million passengers They used Saudi trains, according to Okaz media. After the completion of the Landbridge, Saudi Arabia will have made a qualitative leap in its railway network and logistics capacity, so it remains to be seen how the process ends up developing and if it really ends up being a ‘miracle of the desert’. Cover image | Maximilian Dörrbecker (Chumwa), Railway Supply In Xataka | In 2018 it was a countryside on the outskirts of Chongqing. In 2025 it will be the largest train station in the world

It is the canary in the mine of the theater crisis

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The Spanish box office is in crisis. However, we pack the theaters to see re-releases of classics. Is one of the many contradictions that populate the current theaters, an industry on the tightrope during this season. The re-release of ‘Back to the Future’, if it succeeds at the box office (which it will) will serve to corroborate a series of possible solutions to this seemingly hopeless situation. And without the need for a Delorean. ‘Back to the Future’ returns. The film directed and co-written by Robert Zemeckis and produced by Steven Spielberg in 1985 returns to theaters around the world for its 40th anniversary. Marty McFly’s journeys through the (apparently) happy fifties to get his parents to fall in love so he can be conceived retain the same charm as the day it premiered. For this reason, starting October 31, Universal is re-releasing the classic in theaters throughout Spain, which will allow more than one generation of viewers to discover it on the big screen. Why we still like it. First of all, It’s still a perfect adventure: Its alchemical mix of comedy and science fiction is absolutely canonical and has a script taken care of down to the smallest detail, full of nuances that, even after having been revised dozens of times, continue to provide surprises to the viewer. And above all, it is not a film that the film industry has worn out: after the original trilogy, which works compactly as a single narrative, there have been no sequels (more or less) no remakes (nor will there be any as long as their original managers can prevent it). Unlike most hits of the eighties, ‘Back to the Future’ remains untouched in a bubble that, significantly, prevents it from aging. The situation. This re-release arrives in a crisis situation at the Spanish box office. The domination of streaming has led us to a peculiar and paradoxical panorama: we watch more movies than ever, we go to the movies less than ever. According to the Statistical Yearbook According to the SGAE, 60.7% of the Spanish population watches at least one movie a week, while a significant 15% watch it daily. Howeverand here comes the dark side of the issue, in 2024 attendance fell 5% compared to 2023, with 71 million viewers and 477 million euros in income, 2.2% less than the previous year, stagnating at pre-pandemic figures. The platforms have transformed traditional habitsoffering the possibility of watching movies and series on multiple devices (TV, computer, mobile), at any time and place, apart from being much more economical. We need events. These are signs that point to a “crisis of spaces”: people do not want to stop watching movies, but rather turn a visit to the cinema into something special. That is why re-releases of classics and the return to the big screen of all kinds of hits from the past work so well. For example, this past summer we had the 50th anniversary re-release of ‘Shark‘, a film that worked wonderfully at the US box office and also in Spanish. The beautiful nostalgia. Obviously, no matter how much you have managed to escape from fashions and trends of the mainstream of Hollywood and not giving in to sequels or remakes, the re-release of ‘Back to the Future’ is the result of another of the trends that mark the agenda of international cinema: nostalgia. It is thanks to her that these cinema re-releases are working just as well or even better than conventional releases: in 2022 we had the 50th anniversary of ‘The Godfather’in 2018 a restored version of ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’, the classic installments of ‘Star Wars’ return again and again to theaters, in the same way that ‘Harry Potter’ or ‘The Lord of the Rings’ do… Good proof that venues need to find new formulas. And perhaps turning to classics and revivals is one that also needs to be reviewed before it, like the rest of the box office, ends up singed. In Xataka | The remake of ‘Agárralo como puede’ has performed very well at the box office. Excellent news for an almost dead genre: comedy

science believes it has an explanation

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Walking down the street and seeing someone walking with their eyes downward can make us instantly think that something is happening to that person emotionally, such as being sad. But the reality is that walking down has many meanings and that have been proven through sciencewhich go far beyond the field of psychology and makes us rethink the thoughts we have when we see someone in this situation. The body language. One of the letters of introduction we have to the world is undoubtedly the gestures we make. It is not the same to be with them all the time. crossed arms which may indicate a more closed attitudeto be much more open in front of another person. And the look is another fundamental letter of introduction that we can understand perfectly. What psychology says. The most widespread interpretation of looking down while walking is attributed to the insecurity, shyness, sadness or low self-esteem. It is a fact that avoiding eye contact can seem evasive and, in a society like ours, is often considered a sign of vulnerability or emotional processing. This is something that has been collected in different studies focused on non-verbal communication where they reinforce this idea: the hunched posture, the gaze towards the ground and the absence of eye contact can indicate internal states such as introspection, emotional stress or the need for protection from the environment. However, the field of psychology warns that this overly simple or ‘generalist’ interpretation is inaccurate. To understand it we can go to other cultures such as the Japanese, where looking at the ground is a sign of respect or modesty, or can even be interpreted as a form of concentration or reflection. In this way, the social context, personality and frequency of the gesture make the difference between a ‘good clinical indication’ and perfectly normal behavior. Neuroscience. But beyond psychology, Neuroscience also has a lot to say in this field to thoroughly study why, in many situations, looking down is a very useful strategy. Studies published in journals such as Nature demonstrate That directing your gaze toward the ground helps adjust your balance and reduces the risk of tripping. Within these studies, brain activity and movement patterns have been specifically measured in people walking in different environments. And the conclusion is quite clear: looking down provides the brain with critical information about the terrain and allows you to adjust your step, especially if there are obstacles or the ground is uneven. In this way, if you go in the middle of the field for example, the normal thing is to look down to avoid tripping or ending up on the ground. The same occurs with a work published in 2021 that observed that this position improves stability in older people and also when the cognitive load increases, for example, when we are distracted. Thus, far from being just an emotional symptom, it is also a rational and functional response. facing physical and mental challenges. Mental health. Should every gesture of looking at the ground worry us? The clinical literature clarifies: if the gesture appears in isolation, it does not imply problems. But if it is combined with other signs such as social isolation, apathy or mood changes, it can be part of a picture of depression, anxiety or stress. The problem is that a simple look down the street is not enough to know this, but you must know that person much more. But the evidence is quite clear in this sense: ​there is a relationship between emotions and posture, but it is never a single indicator. Beyond the myth. In this way, every time we see a person with their gaze downcast, we don’t always have to think about the most negative thing, but we don’t always have to think about the most positive thing either. The reality is that if we are walking down a street Looking at the ground serves to avoid obstacles, process information while walking or adopt multitasking strategies (or even if you are lucky to find a ticket). Images | Caspar Rae In Xataka | The psychology of doomscrolling: the trap our brain is programmed to fall into again and again

Your VPN comes with three extra months and does not reach 2 euros

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Nowadays, we all spend many hours of the day on the Internet. Obviously, nothing has to happen to us, but it is undeniable that it also Cyber ​​attacks are becoming more common or the presence of certain spyware. Among all the tools that we can use to protect ourselves while browsing the Internet, one of the most useful and effective is a VPN. If we are looking for an economical and quality one, Surfshark offers for Black Friday may interest us: we can get one of your plans from 1.99 euros per month. Surfshark Starter Subscription – monthly The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Surfshark is not only a VPN: it has antivirus and many more tools A VPN is one of those tools that is always good to have installed on your PC or mobile. It is true that there are free options that can get us out of trouble, but the reality is that they are not recommended at all. for two very specific reasons: they are usually slower and, above all, They are not as safe as they promise. That is exactly why it is so interesting to have a paid one like Surfshark, which in addition to working great, will allow us to level up our Internet security. So what does Surfshark Black Friday offer? The best thing about this promotion, available until the first days of December, is that put all your plans on offer. The cheapest plan of all is called Surfshark Starter and its 24-month subscription costs 1.99 euros per month. It includes two tools (VPN and Alternative ID), it can help us prevent Spam and it also comes with three extra months. What do we want to have even more tools? So perhaps it is more interesting that we jump to Surfshark One. This subscription, whose 24-month plan is priced at 2.19 euros per month right now, includes everything that the Starter plan has, but it goes much further (also including 3 extra months, of course). This is all it brings: VPN. Antivirus. Real-time alerts on email breaches, credit card and ID data theft. Private search tools. Personal data security reports. Webcam protection. Anti-spyware and malware protection. Surfshark One Subscription – monthly The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Finally, we have the latest of this company’s plans: Surfshark One+. This, in essence, is an improved version of the previous one. It includes exactly the same thing to which we must add Incogni, a solution designed to eliminate our data from databases. Its price for the 24-month plan is 4.19 euros per month and, as with the previous ones, it also comes with 3 extra months. Some of the links in this article are affiliated and may provide a benefit to Xataka. In case of non-availability, offers may vary. Images | surfshark In Xataka | Why it is dangerous to connect to public Wi-Fi and what you should do to protect yourself In Xataka | The best solutions to protect your data and your company’s IT equipment

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