Month: October 2025

Big tech companies are fleeing China like the plague. Their future depends on it

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The growing tension between China and the United States is causing a stampede among big technology companies. Apple already made a move at the beginning of the year and now Microsoft and Amazon follow. They are not the first companies that They move from China to manufacture in other Asian countriesbut this migration is different as they are trying to eliminate China from the entire supply chain down to the smallest component level. What is happening. They count in Nikkei Asia that Microsoft wants to manufacture most of its products outside of China and has set a limit of 2026. This movement would affect the production of Microsoft Surfaces and especially data centers, since it is a much more sensitive product. In fact, they have already managed to move a large part of the production of server components because it is a more sensitive product, but their goal is for at least 80% of the components to come from outside China. They also want to move some Xbox production out of China, although in this case they are not being as strict. Why is it important. This move by Microsoft consolidates the trend of big technology companies moving towards independent supply chains from China. It is not a question of patriotism, it is an attempt to ensure their survival and minimize risks derived from the increasingly tense trade warsuch as interruptions in supply and price increases. Besides, in the middle of the AI ​​raceindependence becomes even more necessary. Something has changed. As we said, this is not the first time that technology companies have tried to become independent from China. The improvement in working conditions has made it not so cheap to produce there (although have found ways to retain manufacturing), so its status as the “factory of the world” has been lost in favor of other Southeast Asian countries. However, this time it is a broad movement that covers everything from assembly to materials and components such as PCBs, connectors, cables and fibers. The challenge. Moving the assembly is the easy part, but moving the entire production to the last component is a huge challenge. The date that Microsoft has set does not seem very realistic, especially considering that we are talking about a large production volume. According to Omdiadistribute about 4 million Surfaces per year. amazon. AWS is also moving towards ‘non-Chinese’ production for its AI data centers. They were considering reducing the presence of SYE, their printed circuit board supplier, but realized that it was not so easy to replace them. They are companies with which they have a relationship for decades and offer good prices, as well as quality and great production capacity. Google. Those in Mountain View are also embarking on a similar path. According to Nikkei, they are asking their suppliers to expand server production in Thailand. At the end of 2024 we learned that They planned to invest 1 billion dollars and it seems to have paid off because they have managed to double their production capacity with four new facilities. Image | Flickredited In Xataka | The problem is not that Europe has “expropriated” Nexperia from a Chinese company: it is that it approved its sale just a year ago

What if we have made a mistake with the orientation of the panels? Two projects in the Valencian Community are testing it

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For decades, solar panels have looked to the sky with an almost religious inclination. But, what if the error was precisely that? What if the future of solar energy lies in putting them on their feet? Position is everything. The Norwegian company Over Easy Solar and its Spanish partner Albricias Energía have installed the first two vertical solar systems in the Valencian Community: one in the Elche business park and another on the roof of a residential building in Bétera. The idea of ​​raising the panels is not only aesthetic: it responds to a practical need. In cities there are more and more flat roofs and fewer sloping roofs, and in the countryside, agrivoltaics seeks to free up soil for crops. In this context, verticality is becoming a solution that is as logical as it is efficient. The logic behind the vertical panel. Its promise is as simple as it is disruptive: assembly in 15 minutes per kWp, without tools or ballasts, and with a design that does not pierce the roof or alter its tightness. The panels, manufactured with heterojunction (HJT) cellsreach an efficiency of 22% and a bifaciality of 92%, that is, they capture solar radiation on both sides. In addition, being in a vertical position, they dissipate heat better, which translates into better thermal performance. At the Elche facilitythe modules were placed with an east-west orientation, so that one side receives the morning sun and the other the evening sun. That generates two daily production peaks —one around 10:00 and another around 8:00 p.m.—, just when domestic electricity demand is usually highest. While traditional panels reach their maximum at noon and fall when more energy is needed, the vertical ones fill those production “valleys”, reducing dependence on batteries or the electrical grid. Production curves of the Elche facility Source: Over Easy Solar Beyond the angle. Furthermore, their shape and geometry make them almost immune to dirt, hail or wind, and as they do not require screws or ballasts, they can be easily dismantled if the roof requires maintenance. The Fraunhofer ISE Institute has endorsed that this configuration does not compromise structural stability, which reinforces its technical feasibility. According to Over Easy itselfvertical solar installations are becoming a value option for both urban rooftops and large-scale or agrivoltaic projects, and offer competitive capture rates and payback periods compared to conventional photovoltaics. The vertical spin expands. It is not an isolated idea. In California, the Sunstall company has developed Sunzauna system of vertical bifacial panels designed to combine agriculture and energy. The project, installed in a vineyard in Somerset, uses modules that generate electricity on both sides and allow cultivation under partial shade, reducing UV stress on the plants and taking advantage of the land for both uses. The principle is the same: more usable surface area, less heat, less maintenance and a more stable production curve. And, furthermore, with added value: keeping the land available to produce food. In urban environments, verticality also makes its way. The Canadian Mitrex SolarRail has launcheda bifacial solar railing system that turns balconies into small energy generators. With transparent and opaque versions, these modules integrate photovoltaics into the architecture without altering the design of the building or taking up additional space. The technology that makes it possible. With twist or without it, all recent proposals point in the same direction: bifaciality. HJT (heterojunction) cells combine crystalline and amorphous silicon to make better use of reflected light and reduce temperature losses. This symmetrical structure allows energy to be generated from both the front and rear of the panel, something essential for vertical systems or systems integrated into facades. And it doesn’t stop there. New advances, such as bifacial perovskite panels developed by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Dharwad, could make these solutions even cheaper and better. Will the future be vertical? Verticality does not seek to replace traditional photovoltaics, but rather to complement it. It allows energy to be produced when it is needed most, reduces the visual footprint and increases generation on already saturated roofs or in buildings without inclination. In the words of Pablo Sánchez-Roblesfounder of Albricias Energía: “Over Easy systems can complement already executed installations, increasing generation without changing the inverter.” Maybe in a few years we will look at the sloping roofs and think that the panels always wanted to be standing. After all, the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. Image | Over Easy Solar Xataka | Quantum find in Cambridge points to solar ‘Holy Grail’: single-material solar panels

That the US Air Force flies its three B-52 bombers is normal. That he does it against Venezuela not so much

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At the beginning of September the southern Caribbean became in a hybrid war board where anti-drug operations, financial sanctions and military deployments mixed together. Then we learned that the United States had decided to open a base that had been closed for 20 years and had not been open since. F-35 have stopped arriving. Three have been added to the fighter jets monsters looking at Venezuela. The roar. In recent days, the Caribbean has once again been the scene of a military deployment reminiscent of the most tense years of the Cold War. Up to three strategic bombers American B-52 were spotted orbiting for hours off the coasts of Venezuelaescorted by F-35 fighters and supported by tankers and reconnaissance drones. The maneuver, carried out in international airspace, was all less discreet: a deliberate display of force a few kilometers from Caracas, in a context in which Washington intensifies the pressure against the regime of Nicolás Maduro and in which rumors about a possible direct action They begin to sound with increasing verisimilitude. Echo of the giants. The B-52s, based in Louisiana, sailed the Caribbean sky with the unequivocal purpose to be seen. His mere presence has a strategic meaning: each of these colossi can carry dozens of long range cruise missilescapable of hitting land or sea targets without having to fly over enemy territory. The United States assures that the patrols They are part of anti-drug operations, but the simultaneity with Trump’s threats and the recent attacks to vessels suspected of drug trafficking point to a clearer political message: warn Maduro that Washington’s reach extends from the air to the waters of the Caribbean and, if it deems necessary, beyond. The fence In just two months, the Pentagon has deployed in the region a naval and air device that includes three destroyers, a missile cruiser, a nuclear submarine and an amphibious group with more than 2,000 marines. TO they add up Reaper drones, C-17 transport planes and the feared AC-130J Ghostrider, specialized in interdiction operations and surgical strikes. The structure is more reminiscent of a preparation force for a limited campaign than a mere anti-drug operation. Washington has also confirmed the creation of a new force regional task force under the command of the II Marine Expeditionary Force, while reports of lethal attacks on suspicious boats in international waters accumulate: at least five in recent weeks, with 27 dead. Open threat. The turning point has arrived when Trump himself openly declared who studies “striking on Venezuelan land” after having “controlled the sea almost completely.” He said it with the naturalness of someone describing a logical extension of an operation in progress. He also acknowledged having authorized to the CIA to develop covert operations in Venezuelan territory, in a decision that marks a qualitative leap with respect to traditional diplomatic pressure. Although he avoided confirming whether this authorization includes the figure of Maduro, the hint was enough for him toturn on all alarms in the region. In Washington, sources from the Department of Defense maintain that these would be actions aimed at “disrupting drug trafficking networks,” but Trump himself has described the Venezuelan president as “head of a cartel,” blurring the line between anti-drug war and regime change operation. Venezuela on alert. From Caracas, the response It was immediate. Maduro accused the United States of preparing an invasion and denounced to the United Nations what qualified as “a very serious violation of international law.” His government maintains that the military movements seek to “legitimize a regime change operation to seize Venezuelan oil reserves.” In a televised speech, supported by his military leadership, evoked the blows sponsored by the CIA during the Cold War in Latin America and cried: “Down with coups d’état! Latin America neither wants nor needs them.” At the same time, he announced that 4.5 million civilian militiamen would be ready to defend the country, although the actual enlistment figures were far from his rhetoric. Meanwhile, the opposition, led by María Corina Machado (recently awarded with the Nobel Peace Prize), celebrated American support and dedicated his award “to Trump, for his decisive support of our cause.” Fuzzy red line. The situation has become a dangerous choreography of power. On the one hand, Washington insists that its mission is stop drug trafficking and irregular migration, on the other, their actions increasingly resemble the preparatory phase of a military operation. Trump’s rhetoric, direct and unfiltered, evokes the old ghosts of North American interventions in Latin America, while his deployment in the Caribbean resembles a modern reissue of the big stick politics. Venezuela, with a weakened armysuffocating sanctions and a perpetual internal crisis, thus becomes a board and excuse: the place where the United States’ ambition for regional control and the need for an external enemy to maintain the cohesion of Chavismo intersect. A prelude? He flight of the B-52 off the Venezuelan coast it was not a routine maneuver. It was a sign. A demonstration that pressure is no longer measured in sanctions or communications, but in long-range missions, combat escorts and submarines that silently patrol a few kilometers from the continental shelf of a sovereign State. Trump has found in Maduro the perfect antagonist: an isolated dictator, converted into a symbol of Latin American collapse and a justification of his new hemispheric doctrine. If you will, also a warning to sailors: it could become the first salvo of a selective intervention. Image | USAF In Xataka | The US can spend months attacking boats in the Caribbean. A base closed for 20 years has just opened and F-35s keep arriving In Xataka | Venezuela has found proof that the video of the US missile pulverizing a boat was made with AI: Google AI

Red Eléctrica asked for calm. Immediately afterwards, thousands of Spaniards flocked to buy generators and camping gas.

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“The ghost of the great blackout has once again haunted Spain,” This is how my partner summed it up after learning that Red Eléctrica Española had detected new “sudden voltage variations” in the peninsular network. The news was enough to reactivate a recent fear: being left in the dark again. And with that fear, the fever for forecasts also ignited. In search of forecasts. Demand for products related to energy supply and survival has increased by 76%, according to data from the European price comparator Idealo. Among which stand out stoves and camping gas, with an increase of 253%, followed by power stations at 87%, radios at 56% and portable batteries at 49%. Interest in products such as water purification tablets has also skyrocketed by 20% and flashlights by 14%. An alert that set off the alarms. The alert issued by Red Eléctrica Española October 7 was enough to put the population on guard. Although the company assured that the voltage fluctuations “do not pose an imminent risk of a blackout,” the population reacted quickly. Many households, still with fresh memories of the April 28 blackout, began to reinforce their domestic emergency kits, as recommended the European Commission at the beginning of the year. The great precedent. The current prudence is not accidental. Half a year ago, the peninsula suffered a blackout that left the entire country without power for more than twelve hours. During that day, the chaos moved to the stores: endless lines and empty shelves in hardware stores and large stores. Servimedia data they confirm it: The demand for electric generators shot up by 639% and that for gas camping stoves by 547% in just 24 hours. Mass hysteria or rational prevention? The figures may suggest an emotional reaction, but the data rather points to a new culture of foresight. Before the blackout, only 5% of Spaniards had an emergency kit prepared. After the event, the figure doubled to 10%, and the intention to prepare for it went from 32% to 58%. as detailed on YouGov. The CIS adds that 78% of citizens did not feel afraid during the blackout, although 53.5% acknowledged that they remembered the kit recommended by the EU. Furthermore, 88.2% positively valued the civic and supportive behavior of their neighbors during those hours of darkness. The phenomenon has revived the debate: are we facing a “collective energy hysteria” or a modern form of domestic resilience? The business of self-supply. In a matter of months, concern about a possible power outage has created a new market niche: that of energy self-sufficiency. Sales of generators, solar panels and stoves they multiplied by five after the blackout in April. Large chains such as Leroy Merlin or Decathlon sold out their stocks in hours, while neighborhood hardware stores had their own special August selling flashlights, radios and batteries. The trend has not stopped. From Idealo confirm that the searches of these products continue to rise. In parallel, interest has grown in so-called portable power stations, small devices capable of charging everything from mobile phones to basic appliances, and which are already among the most consulted articles on the internet. “Prepper” culture is normalized. Added to this fever of prevention is the rise of the so-called prepperspeople who prepare for emergencies. In fact, two of them described how the blackout tested their preparedness: Their kits allowed them to cook and stay informed when most people lost power. A phenomenon that, far from eccentricity, reflects a growing search for domestic autonomy. A new energy consciousness? Electrical Network insists that “There is no imminent risk of a blackout,” but citizens—and the market—think differently. The culture of self-sufficiency is no longer a rarity and has become established in the collective mentality. There is no blackout in sight, but there is a change: many prefer to rely on their generator before the electrical system. In times of uncertainty, energy is no longer only measured in kilowatts, but also in peace of mind. Image | FreePik and FreePik Xataka | A ghost haunts Spain: the ghost of another massive blackout caused by network tension problems

A 1,500-ton tunnel boring machine is already traveling to Madrid to drill the new Line 11

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“Notify when you leave and when you arrive” Mayrit has already done the first. The second will be in more or less a month when all the pieces are already on Spanish soil. Mayrit is not the youngest son of a family. Mayrit has many fathers and mothers. Many. Those necessary to give life to a 1,500 ton tunnel boring machine. That tunnel boring machine that will directly expand line 11 of the Madrid Metro. A line that, until now, has been excavated with much more traditional means and that of course will take a huge leap forward in its future projection with this gigantic and enormous artifact. What’s coming, what’s coming Connecting Cuatro Vientos, southwest of the capital, with Valedebebas, northeast of it, Line 11 wants to become in one of those star connections in Madrid. Tracing a diagonal, the intention is to convert what is currently just seven stations into one of Madrid’s great corridors. The qualitative and quantitative leap in the progress of the works will be made by Mayrit. This gigantic tunnel boring machine weighs 1,500 tons and is 98 meters long. It is expected that each day about 15 meters can be advanced on the land, key in a line that will have stations 33 meters below ground from Madrid. My colleague Javier Márquez explained a few months ago that the transfer is not easy. The machine is built by Herrenknecht AGa German company that has assembled the entire gigantic puzzle of pieces, screws and components in its country. Once assembled, the machine is cut into pieces to be sent to our country. Of course, “it won’t be quick or easy,” as my partner explained. Now we know that the powerful tunnel boring machine has already set out on its way to Spain. It comes by land and sea. And the bulk of its pieces will arrive in Santander by boat where they will board land transport to reach the capital. Another good package of these pieces will arrive at the port of Valencia, originating in Venice. Map of the new Line 11 Once the pieces arrive, they must be transported to Carabanchel. There, next to Plaza Elpítica, this monster will drill into the ground at a rate of 500 meters per month to connect with Conde de Casal, about six kilometers from the point of origin. This stage is considered one of the most problematic and complex. Until now, the connection between Parque de Comillas (which will have a new station) and Plaza Elíptica is being done by hand. However, the transfer and assembly is so delicate and complex that it will not be until March 2026 when everything is expected to be ready in the Madrid neighborhood to begin drilling the ground. The system is so complex because the tunnel boring machine is not only responsible for excavating the earth and disposing of what is found there. While working advancing into the subsoil, an auger transports the excavated material with a conveyor belt. This material can be washed if it encounters mud but it can also affect the stability of the ground with injections of bentonite, water or foam. All while sensors control the pressure the machine experiences to control how fast it can work. If everything happens according to the planned deadlines, the last piece from Mayrit should arrive in December and, as we said, it is not expected to come into operation until March 2026. For now, it’s time to pull the shovel and pneumatic hammer. Photo | Madrid Metro In Xataka | Faced with daily collapses, the Madrid Metro could increase frequencies or put in “pushers.” He has chosen the second

import “capsule houses” from China

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Spain needs affordable housing. A lot. Hundreds of thousands, according the estimates of the experts who have calculated the hole that the country would need to cover to get out of the housing crisis in which it has been immersed. That is why it is not surprising that solutions like the one that has just been launched a company of Pontevedra generate expectation inside and outside the sector. Their bet consists of neither more nor less than importing small “capsule houses” Chinese that can be installed in just a few months and are available for a few tens of thousands of euros. The question is… Will they help solve the problem? What has happened? That the Spanish real estate market adds a new residential solution. That is news in itself in a context marked by pronounced imbalance between supply and demand and escalation of prices. However, in this case there is another reason why the advertisement has aroused interest: what it offers Caslua Importa company located in O Grove (Galicia), is a solution that stands out for its costs and times. In fact they use a quite descriptive term. What they sell is neither more nor less than “capsule houses”. Capsule houses? Exact. To be more precise, “modular capsule houses”a term that gives a fairly precise idea of ​​what this Galician company offers. His online catalog It is divided into two categories: houses and modules. All prefabricated and with a range of sizes ranging from 5.8 meters long by 2.2 wide and 2.4 high (it even has smaller modules for offices) to structures of more than 11 meters and almost 40 m2 with a living room, bathroom, bedroom and terrace. Shapes, sizes and features change between some models and others, but philosophy is always the same: “Compact, efficient housing solutions ready to respond to the needs of housing, work or entrepreneurship.” In fact, those in charge usually emphasize two ideas: costs and times. The price range moves between 25,000 and 80,000 euros and the house would be ready in a few months. “In less than three you can have a fully assembled house to live in,” assures one of the founders of the firm, Antonio Luaña. “Manufacturing periods are around 30 days and then 60 days of transportation.” What are they like? It depends a lot on the model, but the company insist in that the capsules are modular, sustainable and can be adapted to be “self-sufficient”. After presenting its offer in media such as The Sixth, Antenna 3 either The Voice of Galiciathis week the signing showed to a hundred businessmen, politicians and neighbors a 38 m2 capsule home installed in O Grove and that includes a bathroom with a jacuzzi, a small kitchen with an oven and hob, a living room and a double bed. “It is around 85,000 euros. If you take away things from what it has, it can be around 73,000. Prices vary, but the structure is the same,” Luaña points out. Who makes capsule houses? The news shared by Caslúa assure that these are homes manufactured in China and that the Galician firm is dedicated to marketing them in Spain and Portugal. “When I went to China and saw them, I thought: How is this not in Spain? We have to take it,” Antonio tells. A quick search shows that in the Asian giant they work this type of small format residential solutions. Glamini includes different modelsalthough it is also dedicated to the manufacture of floating houses or cabins. Is it something new? Yes. And no. To start the concept of “capsule house” can be traced in foreign markets and in recent months there has been talk about them in other regions of Spain, such as Navarre. In China it is also possible to find several manufacturers. Even AliExpress they have launched its marketing. The undeniable thing is that the concept has aroused interest and joins a wave that goes beyond the “livable capsule” concept: that of the search for new forms of construction that make it possible to meet the high demand for housing. In recent years it has been gaining strength, for example prefabricated housingindustrialized and modular, which speeds up construction times without the owner having to give up configuring his residence. It is no longer just a matter of individuals betting on that formula. In recent months in Spain we have also seen businessmen resorting to that same solution to raise a multi-story hotel (it happened in Zaragoza) or even to institutions getting interested for her. Are they all advantages? The important thing is to know the characteristics of each option. And assess issues such as costs. For example, if we talk about a 38 m2 capsule that costs 73,000 euros, the square meter costs 1,900 euros, which (even assuming that this price includes the equipment) is noticeably above of the prices that are handled in some markets in Spain. Not to mention that to install a capsule it is necessary to have land that meets all urban planning requirements. The TVG network remember For example, even though they are modular houses, they cannot be installed on rustic land, unless they are linked to an agricultural operation. Images | Caslua Import In Xataka | Prefabricated houses have always been substandard housing. Now many governments are promoting them in the face of the crisis

create 3,000 jobs to modernize the army

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International pressure for Spain invest more in defense had never been so remarkable. NATO has made it clear that member countries must achieve spending goals much more ambitious, and the Spanish Government has responded with concrete measures and heavy investments. Just as the war in Ukraine and other tensions have led Europe to beef up its security, key opportunities are emerging for domestic industry, and a wave of hiring is coming. Rain of millions for Indra. The latest agreement between the allies sets as a goal dedicate 5% of GDP to defense in 2035, although Spain already meets the previous minimum objective of 2% in 2025. Compared to 2024, the country has increased military spending by 43.11%, raising the budget from 22,693 million to 33,123 million euros, according to official data from the Atlantic Alliance published by The World. In a new step towards this investment objective, the Government announced this week the granting of 6,890 million euros in credits for companies involved in the development of new technologies and equipment for Defense. Among all these companies there is a great beneficiary: Indrawhich will attract 6,582 million euros in investment. Investing does not mean buying. The Government has insisted on its approach of using this increase in defense spending not simply to modernize the Armed Forces with better equipment, but its commitment is to turn Spain into a producer of new technology. that can be sold to other countries. In this context of investments in Defense, Indra just announced through a statement that will generate 3,000 direct jobs related to the development of technologies and tools for military modernization. This represents a relevant opportunity for young people who are thinking about directing their training towards technology or engineering in areas of application in military defense and cybersecurity. A commitment to technological employment. Indra, one of the defense contractors most benefited for rearmament in Spain and Europe. Ángel Escribano, executive president of Indra Group, has confirmed that “we will generate wealth throughout the national territory through high added value jobs, an industry that is as self-sufficient as possible and completely national advanced technology”, making clear its commitment to young technological talent in Spain. According to sources of Indra, currently its supplier network is already made up of an ecosystem of companies in which more than 65% of its national supply network is made up of SMEs, startups and technological or research centers based in Spain. Around 77% of Indra’s subcontracting already benefits the national industry, and the company estimates that the current value chain, made up of approximately 1,000 employees, will add another 200 partners and suppliers in the coming years. There are already 2,400 open vacancies. Indra’s intention to expand its workforce with new additions of engineers and technical personnel was seen even before the Government made official the granting of the credits approved by the Council of Ministers, and already before the summer opened the vacancies to attract 2,400 new qualified professionals. With an eye on FP. To make talent attraction more efficient, Indra has signed agreements with 346 vocational training centers and plans to incorporate 75% of the interns into its workforce this year in 2025. A third of Indra’s staff in Spain are graduates in some vocational training branch. Escribano has pointed out that “we are convinced that Vocational Training not only trains thousands of young people each year, but is a lever of transformation for our society. A country that wants to develop a solid industrial capacity and real technological autonomy must decisively bet on vocational training, as Spain does.” In Xataka | Italy has activated “rearmament” in Europe: the longest suspension bridge in the world will connect Sicily for the passage of tanks Image | Indra, Unsplash (ThisisEngineering)

the hands of humans came before humans

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For decades, the image of Paranthropus boisei has been dominated by his skull. His robust jaw, enormous molars and a prominent sagittal crest on the head to anchor powerful muscles, chewers defined him as the “Nutcracker Man”, a specialized hominid on a diet of hard, fibrous vegetables. But a fundamental part of your biology, your hands, It was still a complete mystery.a key missing piece in the puzzle of human evolution. Until now. The discovery. The study published in Nature presents the discovery that changes the rules with which we were playing: the first hand and foot bones unambiguously associated with a Paranthropus boisei. These fossils are not new, but were discovered between 2019 and 2021 on the shores of Lake Turkana, in Kenya, and have an estimated age of just over 1.52 million years. Now, in addition to completing the skeleton of this ancient relative, it also completely redefines what we thought we knew about its capabilities. A tooth as a key. The team of paleoanthropologists, led by Carrie S. Mongle of Stony Brook University, found the remains after a researcher detected the sheen of tooth enamel on the surface. When excavating, a finger bone appeared so large that they doubted whether it belonged to a hominid. The unequivocal association of the bones of the hand with dental and cranial remains diagnostic of P. boisei It was the key that confirmed the identity of the fossil. “In some ways, it was surprising how many aspects of this hand were similar to ours,” Mongle says. The analysis reveals a fascinating combination of features that until now had not been considered in this case. On the one hand, the hand of KNM-ER 101000 It had intrinsic proportions similar to those of modern humans: a long and robust thumb in relation to the other fingers to be able to act as a pincer. This anatomy would have allowed him to make precision grips, opposing the pads of the fingers with that of the thumb, a fundamental skill for complex manipulation. And this is something that today is really important for us as humans, trying to preserve this movement at all times when there is a problem with our hands. The uses they gave it. In this case, the hand also shows great extraordinary robustness and characteristics that remind us many of those we see in gorillas. Something especially present in the region of the little finger and also the palm. And this is where the key to this research comes: the researchers suggest that this morphology was not just for climbing, although it would facilitate a powerful grip for this. In fact, the curvature of the phalanges is less than that of other climbing hominids, indicating that it was not their main mode of locomotion. The main hypothesis is that these strong hands were an adaptation for handling and processing food. As paleontologist Almudena Estalrrich, from the National Museum of Natural Sciences, points out, the muscle marks “indicate that he used them intensely, both to move and to obtain food. For example, he could have used a stone to break large seeds.” Tools. This ability opens the door to the most important question: If he had such a dexterous and strong hand, did he make tools? For a long time, the manufacture of stone tools was considered a hallmark of the genre Homo. However, the KNM-ER 101000 demonstrates that P. boisei had the anatomical ability to do it, and now it remains to be seen if they actually did it. Samar Syeda, a researcher at the American Museum of Natural History, believes that the human proportions suggest that it had some ability to make grips that would have allowed the use of tools. However, he cautiously adds that the morphology “primarily reflects locomotor use: a very strong type of grip.” New scenario. This discovery now forces us to rethink the evolutionary panorama of the Pleistocene. Far from being a secondary and “unskillful” relative, the Paranthropus boisei was a right-handed hominid that coexisted with the first species of Homo. The fossil KNM-ER 101000 proposes that while the lineage Homo was evolving towards greater dependence on lithic technology, Paranthropus he could have followed a different strategy, developing a powerful hand for the intensive exploitation of plant resources without the need for such refined technology (always in the context of that time). In constant evolution. As Estalrrich concludes, the relevance of the discovery is immense, since this fossil not only lends a hand to an ancient relative, but also reminds us that the history of human evolution is constantly being rewritten, with each new discovery that we unearth. Images | Wikipedia roger vaughan In Xataka | Eating your neighbor is not illegal, technically. Unless you live in Idaho

is that it is preventing you from finding one now

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One of the areas in which the use of AI has had the greatest impact has been in the ATS automatic filtering systems of candidates (Applicant Tracking System) of the personnel selection processes, and in general throughout the process including interviews. When AI began to be integrated into these processes, it was done thinking that this technology would streamline screening and selection of the best candidates. However, the use of this technology has led to the collapse of the entire process: neither those selected are the most suitable, nor should those discarded be. As technology journalist Tim Rogers laments in an article published in Slate: the hiring system “is broken.” Sending resume is a waste of time. Rogers said that looking for a job is no longer just a matter of updating your resume and sending it to companies looking to fill their vacancies: automatic systems and artificial intelligence have created an invisible wall that makes it even more difficult to get a real opportunity. The problem is that ATS systems, which in theory should make the selection of candidates easier, now filter and discard hundreds of resumes with rules so strict that many candidates never get to be reviewed by a real person and, therefore, a factor that many CEOs of large companies are missing they are claiming as priorities: attitude and commitment. A system blocked by saturation. According to data According to the World Economic Forum, 80% of companies use some AI system in their recruitment processes. The direct consequence of this automation, which occurs both from the human resources departments and from the candidates themselves, is the saturation of applications and the opposite effect that was expected to be obtained: the selection processes are becoming increasingly longer and recruiters can’t cope to review so many profiles. According to report figures ‘Huntr Q2 2025’, the average time elapsed from the beginning of a job search to receiving the first offer has increased by 22% in just three months, going from 56 days to 68.5 days. The data indicates that the main employment platforms, such as LinkedIn or Indeed, concentrate around 80% of the applications and, even so, their response rate is around 3.3%, which shows that the vast majority of applications do not even manage to attract the attention of a human recruiter. AI plays both sides. Faced with the use of AI in their application filtering systems by recruitment platforms, job seekers have not stood idly by and have also They have used AI to optimize your requests. So they told it from Manfred, who published on their blog that, until recently, they received between 20 and 50 applications for each vacancy they opened. Currently, the same job posting can return 500 applications in the first 24 hours, with most of them generated by AI. As they point out, this avalanche of requests is not due to the fact that there has suddenly been a fivefold increase the talent availableit has only been automated. You hire a profile, not a person. Rogers lamented that automated candidate filtering left out of the process profiles that, in human hands, could be a perfect fit and provide value. “Quality is lost among thousands of documents generated by machines,” the journalist wrote. “We are sold the idea that AI can fix the mess it has created,” warning that this strategy only intensifies the problem and further triggers the digital noise that makes it difficult to really be seen by an employer. Amid frustration over the lack of human treatment, the journalist maintains that “in-person contact continues to be the most effective way to get an interview. The few opportunities I have gotten did not come from algorithms, but from people,” a literal statement based on his own experience. The data proves him right. According to the data collected According to the INE in the 2nd quarter of 2023, 57.5% of people search for employment through their network of contacts. According to Eurostat data As of 2020, Spain does so in 72.6% of cases and Italy in 77.5%. Our neighbors in France use their network of contacts in 63.5% of cases and Portugal in 65.7%. An infinite circle that leads nowhere. Rogers points out that the reliance on AI-automated processes has led to a vicious cycle where “machines write resumes and other machines evaluate them,” reducing the job search to a kind of profile puzzle in which the best fit does not necessarily have to be the most suitable for the position or the team with which you will work. The last experiences with hiring of this type have shown that one of the few reliable avenues for recruitment remains the face to face interview between the candidate and the recruiters. In fact, companies like Google and Amazon are already demanding that their new candidates have a face to face interview to prevent AI distort real capabilities of the candidates. In Xataka | The latest trend to ace job interviews: training with ChatGPT as a recruiter In Xataka | If your chair limps during a job interview, it’s no coincidence: they’re evaluating more than just your resume. Image | Unsplash (charlesdeluvio, Emiliano Vittoriosi)

A Russian submarine has appeared off the coast of France. And Europe’s reaction has been surprising: have a laugh

by

August 2025. After learning through satellite images that the Russian nuclear submarine base had been was damaged After an earthquake, Ukraine leaked all the secrets of Moscow’s most advanced submarine, including its failures. Now, two months later, one of them has appeared off the coast of France. And, instead of fear, Europe has been amused. The silence broken. For days, NATO radars followed the strange figure of a Russian submarine that, instead of slipping secretly under the sea, clumsily advanced on the surface. Was Novorossiyska Kilo-class diesel-electric of the Black Sea Fleet, one of the few assets that still maintained Moscow’s flag in the Mediterranean. His march was slow and visible, accompanied by French, British and Dutch ships that escorted him with the same mix of caution and curiosity with which an injured animal is observed. For the Atlantic Alliance, that voyage was more than just a naval anomaly: it was a exhaustion signa reflection of what remains of Russian maritime power after three and a half years of war, sanctions and irreparable losses. Adrift. The official Moscow version It was immediate. According to the Black Sea Fleet, the Novorossiysk was sailing on the surface simply to comply with international standards when crossing the English Channel. But allied intelligence reports and leaks on Russian security channels painted a different picture: a damaged submarine, with a possible fuel leak, forced to surface repeatedly and, according to some reportseven to empty flooded compartments. The presence of a tugboat, he Yakov Grebelskiyreinforced that suspicion. For NATO commanders, the image of an attack ship “limping” toward its base was not only a metaphor for a technical breakdown, but the demonstration how Russian naval machinery is rusting in the eyes of the world. From Tartus to the Mediterranean. Until a few years ago, Russia maintained a permanent force in the Mediterranean, anchored in the Syrian base of Tartusits strategic bastion in the region. From there it projected power towards the Middle East and North Africa, protecting energy routes and monitoring Western transit. But the fall of the regime of Bashar al Assad in 2024 erased that balance in one fell swoop. With the new Syrian government, Moscow lost its last platform safe outside the Black Sea. Today, how he ironized NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, “there is hardly any Russian presence left in the Mediterranean: just a lonely, broken submarine returning from patrol.” The decline is not measured in the number of sunken ships, but in the disappearance of an entire naval projection doctrine. The laughs. In his speech at the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Slovenia, Rutte was so precise as biting. “What a change from Tom Clancy’s novel The Hunt for Red October, he said. Today, more like the hunt for the nearest mechanic.” The phrase, celebrated among the attendees, synthesized the new allied narrative: humor and joke as a language of power. Making fun of your opponent, taking away the mystique of their strength, is also a way of undermining their influence. Behind the irony, however, there was a geopolitical calculation. Rutte remembered the multiple Russian provocations in the last few months (drones over Europe, sabotage of underwater cables, failed plots, cyber attacks and instability in Finland and Poland), and warned that Moscow retains the capacity to inconvenience, although its military muscle has been reduced to symbolic gestures and worn-out threats. The invisible collapse. The Novorossiysk debacle It is not an isolated case. Since 2022, Ukraine has managed to destroy or disable more than thirty of Russian vessels with anti-ship missiles and marine drones. The losses have forced the Kremlin to withdraw a large part of its fleet from Sevastopol and move it to Novorossiysk, on the eastern coast of the sea, to avoid new attacks. That strategic refuge, paradoxically, bears the same name as the damaged submarine that is now trying to reach it. What was a symbol of supremacy in the Soviet era has become a floating cemetery of incomplete projects and demoralized crews. Mirror of war. If you like, the episode from Novorossiysk transcends the anecdotal. It represents the convergence of all fronts where Russia is wasting away: the military, the economic, the technological and the symbolic. Its fleet, once the second in the world, now depends on units that they age without spare partsas Ukraine innovates with drones that cost a fraction of its missiles. And NATO, aware of this, has learned to transform its silent victories in public stories that erode the perception of Russian invulnerability. The image of Novorossiysk advancing in the sight of everyone, towed and watched, it is the perfect image if you want to degrade an empire that can no longer hide its weaknesses. From shadow to emptiness. In the years of the Cold War, Soviet submarines were the silent terror of the Atlantic. Today, his most visible heir is a damaged ship that sails with the flag raised so as not to sink. This passage from shadow to void explains better than any report the real state of the Russian navy. What was previously feared, is now observed even with sarcasm, and what previously inspired respect, now provokes a mocking headline. In this transit we measure, according to Europe, the decline of a power and the rise of a Western communication strategy that no longer needs to confront directly to win. It is enough to unintentionally let the enemy show his shipwreck. And have a few laughs. Image | BORN In Xataka | Russia’s most advanced nuclear submarine was a secret. Until Ukraine has revealed everything, including its failures In Xataka | A ghost fleet has mapped the entire underwater structure of the EU. The question is what Moscow is going to do with that information.

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