Month: October 2025

Speaking in English to a baby still in the womb seems like an absurd idea. Science has just discovered that it is effective

by

We have long known that Babies recognize their mother’s voice from the womb and who show a preference for their mother tongue a few days after birth. However, now we know a little more thanks to studies neuroimaging studies that have confirmed something we intuited: the brain of a newborn is prepared to recognize foreign languages ​​if it has heard them in the womb during gestation. The experiment. To reach this conclusion, a team from Sainte-Justine University Hospital in Montreal recruited 60 pregnant women from monolingual French-speaking families. From here they did two different phases: prenatal exposure and brain analysis after birth. Prenatal exposure. In this case, a group of 39 fetuses was selected and exposed to recordings of a story during the last month of gestation. To do so, the mothers placed headphones on their abdomen so that the fetus could hear the story in its native language, which was French, and also in a foreign language, which was German or Hebrew. These languages ​​were chosen specifically because their rhythmic and phonological properties are very different from those of French. The second group, of 21 fetuses, acted as a control and did not receive any experimental exposure, hearing only the French of their natural environment, which is what happens in any type of normal pregnancy. Brain analysis. A few days after birth (between 10 and 78 hours), the brain activity of all these newborns began to be monitored while they listened to the same story in three languages: French, German and Hebrew. To do this, they used functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), a non-invasive technique that measures changes in blood oxygenation in the brain to see which areas are activated. The results. They were certainly surprising. The brains of newborns reacted almost identically to their native language and the foreign language they had been hearing in the womb. In both cases, an increase in activity was observed in the temporal regions of the left hemisphere, which is a key area for language processing with Broca’s area, among others. In contrast, when these babies heard the completely new foreign language (the one they had not heard before), their brains showed a different response, with less activation in language areas and more activity in general sound-processing regions. The conclusion. This finding suggests that the fetal brain not only hears, but “learns” to recognize the patterns of a language, which causes a specialization of the left hemisphere. One of the authors point specifically that “Our results provide evidence that even brief prenatal exposure to a foreign language could make it recognizable to neonates, leading to brain activation patterns similar to those observed when listening to their native language.” Anne Gallagher, a neuropsychologist at the University of Montreal and lead author of the study, qualifies the concept of “learning”: “We cannot say that babies ‘learn’ a language prenatally. What we can say is that neonates develop a familiarity with one or more languages ​​during gestation, which shapes their brain networks at birth.” Understand development. These findings reinforce the idea that a newborn’s brain is not a ‘blank slate’, but that the gestational environment contributes a lot to its brain development, since its brain processing begins here to be shaped before birth. However, experts caution that this study should not be interpreted as a guide for parents to expose their babies to multiple languages ​​in order to make them more intelligent or multilingual. But it does give us an idea of ​​how this important characteristic is developing. Limitations. The study, while revealing, also has its limitations, such as a relatively small sample size that prevented, for example, directly comparing responses to German versus Hebrew. Still, it shows that even brief, repeated exposure to linguistic stimuli can modify a newborn’s language brain networks, laying the foundation for future development. Images | Volodymyr Hryshchenko In Xataka | When the first meal is not porridge, but a chop: the rise of carnivorous babies

14 audio servers to host your music collection and listen to it wherever you want

by

We bring you a small collection of 14 applications to set up a music server on your computer. With them, you can configure a server on your main computer, and then you can listen to the music you have on it from other devices through official websites or applications. With this, what you are going to get is create your own Spotify with the music files you have on your computer. This way, you can choose to buy digital music directly from the artists so that they get more benefits than with Spotify and then manage it without fees and with more privacy, although you can also use your own files after ripping a CD. And as we always say at Xataka Basics, these are the proposals that we have chosen, but perhaps you know others that also deserve to be on the list. If so, we invite you to Leave us your proposals in the comments sectionand so that all readers can benefit from the knowledge of our xatakeros. Plex We can only start with this application, because you can also set up your own Spotify with Plex. You have the server application for your computer, and then clients to watch movies, music and more on any other device. Plex It is very versatile, and very well known. It has some specific functions like an exclusive player for music and others that are paid, although you can make a single payment of just 120 euros and have it for life. Swing Music An open source self-hosted streaming service, which stands out for having a magnificent design maximum care. It has functions such as separating different versions of a disc, showing related artists or albums, or being able to navigate between your music files. The client works through the browserso you can use it anywhere. You also have a search engine, handle duplicate files, and more options that keep coming. You can install the server on Windows, macOS or GNU/Linux. koel This alternative is open source, has a modern design, and is feature-rich. It’s free, although you also have a paid version that allows you to store your files in the cloud or share music with friends. Its modern and colorful design makes it catch the eye, very clean and simplified, but it also stands out for its optimization and speed. All of this being a great player with all the options, including metadata editing or genre categorization. In addition, it integrates with Last.fm, Spotify or YouTube among others. Jellyfin Jellyfin is one of the main Plex alternatives, and in fact also has a specific music app in developmentalthough it may not work as well yet. However, you can also use its general app to find the music section. The main characteristics of this tool compared to Plex is that It is totally freeand at the moment it does not have a paid version. In short, it’s like setting up your own Spotify and Netflix all together. Emby Emby is another of the great alternatives to Plex, and although It does not have a specific application to listen to musicin the complete app of the tool you have a section to access the songs from the folders on your computer that you have chosen. Like Plex, this tool also offers most of its free options, although it also has several others that are with the paid version. Navidrome Free and open source, it allows you to stream from your computer. virtually any audio format. It has good support for multi-artist compilations, and makes use of all the metadata you’ve been editing in the files. Uses very few resourcesand can be used on both macOS, Linux and WIndows, even for Raspberry Pi. The client is web, for use in any browser, although it is also compatible with service clients such as Subsonic, Madsonic or Airsonic. mStream A fairly simple, self-hosted music streaming service that can work on any operating system with server applications for Windows, macOS, GNU/Linux and Raspberry Pi. You also have clients to listen to your music for Android and iOS, as well as for the browser. Playback is almost perfect with a good sound viewer and playlist sharing features. You can also easily drag files to upload to the server, all with an open source project. funkwhale This is a community-led projectin which there are different pods or servers created by other users where music is hosted and you can upload yours. You also have the opportunity to create your own pod, although it is somewhat more complex. In the end, the idea is to be able to enjoy your music or podcasts wherever you want. Ampache A veteran project but constantly updated, focused on being able to create your own music streaming service. All this with an open source tool that has been developing since 2001, and with which you will be able to install third-party clients for mobile, tablet or television. It has a web interface with which you will be able to configure the local and remote file synchronizationall in a single consistent collection. And then, you can access your music from any device, whether with an app or an HTML5 player. Gonic A recent and lightweight alternative, compatible with Subsonic client appswith simple management of your folders and support for podcasts. Gonic is especially recommended for those looking for a minimalist, modular and easy-to-install alternative. It stands out for its scanning speed, and for also being compatible with scrobbling applications such as listenbrainz or last.fm, to have your listening statistics. Perhaps its only drawback is a simpler and more schematic interface, but in exchange it is very easy to use. Subsonic This is a powerful streaming service where your computer also becomes a server. It is used to stream video and music. It is also a base for many third party clientsso if you don’t like their applications you can always turn to others. The price of this server is $1 per month, … Read more

In 1901, Russian explorers found the corpse of a frozen mammoth. What happened to his meat is a mystery

by

Although we are trying to bring them backthousands of years ago mammoths disappeared from the face of the Earth. However, for centuries, humans fed on its flesh, created tools with their bones and were protagonists in the stories that were drawn on the walls. Now, although they disappeared about 4,000 years ago, there are stories that claim that less than 100 years ago, there were those who ate mammoth meat. Its flavor? Like a sirloin of the time. Of course, there is quite a bit of ‘sauce’ that masks this culinary story. The Berezovka mammoth. Otto Ferdinandovich Harz was a Russian-German naturalist who, at the beginning of the 20th century, participated in the famous Siberian excavation of 1901 in which the Berezovka mammoth. It is about one of the best preserved specimensif not the best, because he died when he was between 45 and 50 years old in the Permafrost, more than 44,000 years ago. That’s how they found it. The most superficial part, the skull, had been gnawed by wolves, but look at the state of the buried paw The peculiarity. This exposure to extreme temperatures allowed researchers to find a piece in enviable conditions. The wolves had eaten some of the meat, but the carcass was complete and even herbs in its mouth and 12 kilos of food in its stomach were recovered. The conditions allowed us to determine that the skin was a reddish brown color, with curly hair about 50 centimeters long, a 35 centimeter tail, a penis in good condition and a layer of fat nine centimeters thick, key to withstanding low temperatures. The size? 2.8 meters high by just over four meters long. Reconstruction of the mammoth at the time of its death “Appetizing“Unearthing the animal was not quick. The researchers set up a tent at the excavation point and got to work. Here we entered turbulent terrain because legends begin. Nobody was there on those cold Siberian nights to see what was being cooked, but there are those who point out that there was mammoth meat in that casserole. Due to the good conservation of the meat, the rumor was that the members of the expedition ate part of the mammoth to last the nights. But there’s a twist: it turns out that although it didn’t look bad, when it thawed, the smell could be nauseating. Even seasoned, it was too much for the human nose and, although jokingly they dared to try it (after a story which points to alcohol consumption as a trigger), it seems that in the end they gave it to the dogs at the camp. The Explorers Club. Another story goes in the opposite direction: after arriving at St. Petersburg Zoological Museumwhere you can see both the remains and a faithful representation of the mammoth at the time of its death, Otto began to sort through the remains and realized that the meat was of no use. Therefore, he organized a dinner for colleagues. The requirement? That these also carried something from prehistory. Evidence that they ate mammoth meat from 44,000 years ago? None, but the story is good. Same as that of New York Explorers Club. It turns out that, according to legends, the explorers of 1901 were not the only recent humans to have tasted mammoth meat. Founded in 1904, the Explorers Club of New York is a society dedicated to the exploration of land, sea, air and space (more recently, of course). It was created to support exploration exploits and has notable and honored members such as Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, Jane Goodall, Richard Garriott either James Cameronamong many others. Part of a room at the ‘Explorers CLub’. Humble. Myth. Anyone who makes a documented and outstanding contribution to scientific knowledge through field expeditions can be a member. Aside from that adventurous spirit, what its members share are annual banquets in which the menu is… exotic. has been eaten polar bear or seal babies (to comment on this), but also crocodile tail, caramelized yak and a large number of insects fried, in quesadillas, baked, or in dessert form. What if they didn’t eat dodo? It’s because there wasn’t, wow. Dinner at the club What they are said to have eaten was mammoth: woolly mammoth discovered in Alaska. Supposedly, it was Roosevelt and Armstrong who, at the 1951 dinner, tasted this ancient meat. They were going to eat meat megatheriumwhich was a kind of enormous sloth, but it seems that a misinterpretation by a magazine that covered the dinner led them to think that “megaterium” was another term for “mammoth”, so it went down in history as, that day, they ate mammoth at the prestigious event. The turn. It turns out, and here comes the twist, that a member of the club was not going to be able to attend and asked that they give him his portion in a jar so he could keep it. He put “megatherium meat” and took it to the Bruce Museum in Greenwich. He left it there, but fate wanted it to end up at the Peabody Museum of Natural History and, in 2014, some researchers performed DNA tests to see what the hell it was. It didn’t matter if it was a mammoth: the fact that in 1951 they had had megatherium for dinner would still be just as impressive. Well, neither a mammoth… nor a giant sloth: the analysis showed that it was turtle meat. And not a Pleistocene turtle, but a green sea turtle that, yes, is protected and in danger of extinction, but not extinct. The mammoth meatball. Legend pointed to this similarity between the modern sirloin and mammoth meat, but in the absence of documents, it seems that any consumption of mammoth in the last 4,000 years is difficult to believe. What is known is that, in 1979, a paleontologist who discovered a bison from 50,000 years ago He couldn’t resist the temptation of making a good stew with its meat. It wouldn’t smell … Read more

A Japanese city has had enough of its neighbors spending the day on their cell phones. So he has set a limit: two hours

by

“When you get on a train in Japan, most passengers are looking at their phones. They don’t do anything else.” Speaks Masafumi Kouiki, mayor Toyoake (Japan) and probably the country’s most recognizable face in the fight against addiction to smartphonesthe sleep hygiene and life away from the screens. The reason is very simple: despite the suspicion on the part of his neighbors, Kouiki has promoted an ordinance that limits the use of cell phones and tablets to two hours a day. The measure was launched October 1 and for now it has served one of the objectives that Kouiki pursued: to move consciences and generate debate. What has happened? That October has arrived with a curious legislative novelty in Toyoakea city of almost 70,000 inhabitants in Aichi Prefecture that in practice functions as a dormitory city for Nagoya. On Wednesday the 1st, a new rule came into force that restricts the time that your neighbors can spend in front of a screen for recreational reasons: maximum two hours. 120 minutes. Not one more. The measure was announced months ago, in Augustwhen it was still a proposal, and despite the huge stir that it generated has managed to move forward: in September it received the endorsement of the municipal assembly with 12 votes in favor and seven against. What does the standard say exactly? Roughly speaking, the ordinance, 2,400 charactersestablishes a limit on the recreational use of smartphones, tablets, consoles and computers. The rule applies to Toyoake residents and sets that limit at two hours a day, not counting time spent studying or working. There is an important nuance, of course: although it is an ordinance endorsed by the municipal assembly, in reality what it offers is a guidelinenot a mandatory rule. No one will check whether the residents of Toyoake conform to that standard or not. No sanctions are foreseen either. This is just a recommendation. Is it wet paper then? At all. To begin with, because Japanese culture exerts strong social pressure to follow official guidelines. Beyond its real impact, the rule has also served to open the debate on the excessive use of screens and its influence on aspects such as sleep. In fact, the same ordinance advises that younger children stop using their devices at 9:00 p.m. and those in secondary school and those under 18 should not drive them after 10:00 p.m. The objective: guarantee your correct rest. That’s all? No. On October 1, coinciding with the entry into force of the rule, the Toyoake Government sent emails to young people and parents in the city to insist on the same message. Primary and secondary school students were in fact urged to “take care of their rest and health hours” and agree with their families how much time they would dedicate to their devices. “The main objective of the ordinance is to guarantee sufficient hours of sleep,” underlines the organism. The City Council has also carried out a survey among 250 residents registered in its monitoring system and wants to find out the real scope of the guideline: whether the use of smartphones during free time, the duration of sleep or the hours of family conversation changes. TO beginning of next yearIn fact, the authorities want to do a new survey among their students. Why have they done it? To change habits. “It’s very sad to end the day looking at your phone all the time at home,” explained a few days ago Kouki a The New York Times. “I hope citizens change their behavior.” Rather than strictly limiting the recreational use of screens to 120 minutes a day, its purpose is to invite “reflection and debate” and make people think about how much time they spend on screens and until what time they do it. In 2024, a state study revealed that, on average, younger Japanese (those in primary or secondary school) invest about five hours up to date on their mobile phones. And not only that. More than 80% of Japanese people between 15 and 24 years old consider themselves “dependent” on smartphones and 14% already show symptoms of addiction. How have people responded? Depends. Not everyone has reacted equally well to Kouki’s attempts to restrict screen use. Although it is not a mandatory rule nor are there fines for breaking it, there are those who believe that the mere existence of the ordinance means an intrusion in the lives of the people of Toyoake.”In one sentence: it’s none of your business”, claims Mariko Fujie, one of the local politicians who voted against. In his opinion, there is no “scientific evidence” to support a norm that, he warns, also does not take into account the perspective of young people. “Many of my supporters find it condescending. This ordinance is complete nonsense.” Is Toyoake a unique case? Yes. And no. The Town Hall assures that theirs is the first standard of its kind in Japan. This is also presented by media such as The Japan Times either The Mainichiwhich have highlighted its pioneering nature. Whether or not this is the case, the truth is that it is not the first attempt by a Japanese public institution to put limits on the use of screens among the population. Especially among young people. A few years ago Kagawa promoted another ordinance that aimed to restrict young people’s access to video games. Their objective: that minors do not dedicate themselves to them more than one hour daily during the week, a margin that the authorities were willing to extend to 90 minutes on holidays. In Yamato, another town, they also prohibited use mobile to pedestrians while they walk. Images | Yifei Wong (Unsplash) and Launde Morel (Unsplash) In Xataka | In Europe we have a problem: we are becoming the Japan of the 21st century

the new and unexpected solution against baldness

by

Androgenic alopecia, better known as male or female pattern baldness, is one of the most common causes of hair loss all over the world. The most common treatment is the use of topical minoxidilbut it is not a great miracle either because its effectiveness is limited by many factors. Now a group of researchers they have found a solution quite unexpected in the sweeteners that we use on a daily basis to make the treatment more effective. The problem. As we say, topical minoxidil can be affected by the simple fact of have a low solubility in water, making it very difficult for it to pass through the skin. This means that alcohol has to be used as an excipient in the treatment, which generates other side effects such as itching. That is why the study published in the prestigious magazine Advanced Healthcare Materials reveals that the stevioside (STV), a natural compound extracted from the plant stevianot only dramatically improves the absorption of minoxidil, but can be used to create a much more effective delivery system. A sweetener. The scientists’ idea was to use stevioside for its dual function. On the one hand, as a powerful agent to dissolve minoxidil (MXD) and, on the other, as the main material to manufacture an innovative microneedle patch that can later be used in the presentation of the medicine. As. Stevioside is an amphipathic molecule, which means that it has a part that attracts water and another that repels it. This property is very important to be able to create small spheres that are called micelles in an aqueous solution, creating a core where poorly soluble drugs such as minoxidil can comfortably lodge. To understand it, it acts as the ‘vehicle’ that minoxidil uses to cross customs, which are our biological membranes. And the results of the research have been quite good. The study found that stevioside increased the solubility of minoxidil by up to 47 mg/ml, which is approximately 18 times higher than that of minoxidil alone. Microneedling. To overcome the skin barrier, the researchers designed a patch with soluble microneedles made from the mixture of stevioside and minoxidil itself. These microneedles, invisible to the naked eye, painlessly penetrate the outermost layer of the skin and dissolve, releasing the drug directly into the area where the hair follicles are located. This is much better than using it topically with a spray where we have that problem of it not penetrating. Applying. In this way, we have a much more precise application method that also avoids the effects of having to use a metal microneedle. In the laboratory, it has been seen that a release of 85% of the drug and a retention in the skin of 18% is achieved in 24 hours. These numbers far exceed the results achieved with a traditional topical application with an alcohol solution where retention is only 2%. And this is the key for the drug to act in the hair follicle for a longer amount of time before it is metabolized. Put to the test. To see the potential of this new application of the treatment, the test was done on animals in the laboratory. To do this, the animals induced alopecia in the mice and received treatment with the microneedle patch compared to the standard minoxidil solution and a control group. As days passed, the group treated with the stevioside and minoxidil patch showed significantly more hair growth. Specifically, after 35 days of treatment, the area treated with the patch had 67.5% new hair coverage. In comparison, the conventional minoxidil solution only achieved 25.7% coverage in the same period. But it doesn’t stop there, since it was also clearly seen that the patch was much more effective in reactivating the hair follicles to quickly move into the growth phase. A new way. Although human studies are still needed to confirm these findings, this research opens a completely new avenue to combat alopecia. A natural, safe sweetener already approved for consumption could be the key to developing a new generation of hair treatments that are more effective, comfortable and with fewer side effects. Images | Gustavo Sanchez In Xataka | The great promise of science to end baldness is not a transplant or a medicine: it is a vaccine

now it has to be “functional”, “conscious” and, of course, instagrammable

by

Two years ago, social networks they were filled of giant glasses of water of all colors and flavoring powders. That effervescent fashion was called WaterTok: a digital community that transformed hydration into likes. Now, the phenomenon has returned with another name and a more sophisticated air: loaded water, or water loaded with ingredients that promise energy, balance and digestive health. The difference is not so much aesthetic as speech: less glitter, more “functionality.” The functional era of water? Between Generation Z and the wellness-loving public has arisen he loaded water, that unlike the WaterTokis presented as a “conscious” evolution. For many, it is a way to give up soda and drink more water: “It helps me consume much more water than I normally consume per day,” said a creator on TikTok. He loaded water reappears this year as a “functional” version: water to which electrolytes, fruits or prebiotics are added to improve the flavor and promote adherence to hydration. However, like the experts remember Water alone is still sufficient for most people, except in cases of prolonged exercise or exposure to extreme heat. So, this new trend would be an evolution of traditional infused water, with a discourse that mixes nutrition and wellness aesthetics. “If flavored water displaces sugary drinks, it is healthier,” summarizes dietitian Fiorella DiCarloalthough with an important nuance: “Dehydration can cause fatigue, slow down metabolism and increase sugar cravings, which can lead to weight gain.” From that logic, the loaded water It becomes a tool for those looking to hydrate better without adding sugar. Is it so hard to drink water? There is no viralization without an uncomfortable truth behind it: many people do not reach the daily hydration recommendations. According to Mayo Clinicrecommends 15.5 cups of liquids a day for men and 11.5 for women, remembering that not only water counts, but also fruits and other foods with high water content. Additionally, the Cleveland Clinic medical portal relates the lack of water with cravings for sweets, something that loaded water promises to combat by offering flavor without sugar. With or without flavor? It is not a fixed recipe, since it can include electrolytes, prebiotics, sparkling water, fruits, herbs or vitamins, depending on the needs or taste of each person. In short, as a Fitness portal explainsis a creative and functional way to hydrate, which allows you to customize the drink according to your goals: energy, digestion or simply flavor. Regular water is still enough for most people, except those who engage in intense physical activity or are exposed to extreme heat. The rest, recalls nutritionist Helen Tieuyou can get the same minerals through a balanced diet with fruits, vegetables, nuts and dairy. Healthy fashion or profitable business? The border between well-being and business is easily blurred. In a report for the New York Times documented as the #WaterTok phenomenon skyrocketed sales of syrups and flavoring mixes: brands like Jordan’s Skinny Mixes sold out and doubled their revenue. Many of the creators who popularized the movement included affiliate links to the products they used. Under the same prism, loaded water falls within the “liquid aesthetics of well-being”, where translucent, colorful and photogenic drinks triumph —like clear protein—. The visual is sold as synonymous with health, even though there are ultra-processed products behind it. And there lies the slightest difference with a more sober and “scientific” tone, but ultimately it responds to the same commercial logic: converting water into a product that can be labeled, promoted and sold. Back to the essentials. Not all experts join the wave of functional powders. Nutritionist Ángela Quintas defends the return to nature and shares simple recipes for waters flavored with cucumber, mint, lemon or red fruits. “Hydration is not just drinking water, it is taking care of your metabolism, your skin, your energy and your health from within,” remembers in statements to La Vanguardia. To avoid confusion, nutritionists match on some basic principles: prioritize fresh fruits, herbs or coconut water over industrial powders, limit sodium and artificial flavorings if consumed several times a day, and adjust hydration to individual needs. In situations of prolonged effort or extreme heat, electrolytes may make sense, but it is always advisable to consult a professional if there are kidney or cardiovascular problems. The water is no longer invisible. Under the guise of health, the loaded water It is also an example of how far wellness marketing can go. If in 2023 the WaterTok turned hydration into a spectacle, in 2025 the loaded water He has transformed it into a business. What started as a reminder to drink more water is today an industry of dyes, powders and promises. The trend passes, the thirst remains. Image | FreePik Xataka | You don’t sweat as much, but you drink like you’re running a marathon: the new obsession with electrolytes

The North Koreans are hungry, so they have started hunting tigers. It’s just the tip of the iceberg

by

North Korea It is a unique country. so unique as airtight and, therefore, fascinating. Know What is an ordinary day in Pyongyang like?the capital, is tremendously complicated. On the one hand, we have the official speech of prosperity and normality. On the other hand, the stories from people who have been within its borders. But sometimes there are accidents and information is leaked, such as the systematic hunting of any animal that weighs more than 500 grams in order to survive another day. And the problem is so brutal that there are already those who point to a strong risk of “defaunation” of North Korea. In short. Joshua Elves-Powell is a researcher who, a few weeks ago, presented a study which analyzed North Korea’s wildlife trade. Obviously, obtaining first-hand information in the country seemed complicated, but Powell had an ace up his sleeve: the testimonies of 42 North Korean defectors. During 2021 and 2022, participants spoke in both South Korea and the United Kingdom and their testimony was devastating: North Korea has been hunting animals for decades to trade with them… and to eat them. In a serious study, these sources should have a first and last name, but due to the unique conditions of this studyit must be noted that the research was reviewed by the UCL Research Ethics Committee. The sample was large: all were over 18 years old and had left the country between 1950 and 2020. black market. Some context. In the 1990s, North Korea’s economy collapsed. In a period of famine, people do whatever it takes to survive, and the humanitarian crisis transformed the country’s relationship with its wildlife. According to testimonies, professional hunters, but also soldiers, black market regulars and wildlife consumers, set out to hunt animals like tigers and other species. The objective was not only to eat them (that too), but to sell them. One of the participants commented that he had been involved in the illegal trade of tiger bones from the Pyongyang Zoo in 2020 and had been able to obtain bones from professional hunters between 2014 and 2020. The hunted is not only sold on the local black market, but also in countries such as Chona or Russia. This clearly violates international conservation obligations and is supported by the seizure of products from time to time, such as the shipment of more than 100 bottles of tiger bone wine at the border between the two countries. Goals. What do they hunt? The research shows that virtually all native mammals weighing more than 500 grams are a viable target. Apart from Siberian tigers (of which part of their hunting is mentioned for food) and Amur leopards (food too), found in a tremendously sensitive moment Due to their scarcity, the prey are the following: Deer: for their meat and pieces such as antlers. Wild boars: for their meat. Asian black bears: get meat, bile, paws and skin. Asian badgers: to create medicinal oil. Porcupines: for their quills. Otters: for fur and trade. Red fox: skin. Gray wolf: fur. Raccoon: for its meat and for trafficking. Defaunation. This hunting is not usually done with firearms, but with an extensive network of traps that add a problem to the list: being an indiscriminate capture, non-target species fall, such as the Bengal cat (Prionailurus bengalensis). This massive hunt is causing what they have qualified as a “defaunation” process that implies that a scenario is occurring in North Korean forests in which there is no longer any fauna. It is something that affects both North Korea and the neighboring areas of China, Russia and South Korea. The Amur Lepartum And the State? in the garlicaccording to these informants. The problem is that we are talking about a market to, above all, create products focused on traditional medicine. For example, deer antlers are the essential ingredient for producing ointments with healing properties and Asian badger oil is used to treat skin conditions. In fact, there are hunters authorized by the State who must present pieces as a tribute and it is ensured that the country itself raises certain animals (such as bears for their bile) to obtain resources that are export to neighboring markets. They do so in facilities that operate under a façade of legality, but supposedly feeding the black market. Someone do something. Powell’s study presented the information and those defectors allowed us to know that side of North Korea. But of course, doing something is complex. Animal organizations consider that the country is a “black hole” for the recovery of fauna because there are no efforts to protect biodiversity. They denounce that it is a market that violates efforts to recover endangered species and, in addition, is a risk to public health. They call for international pressure, using these refugee testimonies as evidence, and specifically allude to China, asking to tighten monitoring of illegal imports. Finally, there is a call for North Korea to join the CITESthe treaty that regulates international trade in endangered species. And this, unfortunately, sounds quite complicated. Images | Uwe Brodrecht, Ltshears In Xataka | This rocket-shaped skyscraper is the “worst building in the world.” And it’s in North Korea, obviously.

The French Revolution proposed dividing the day into ten hours. It didn’t catch on, but an artist has created watches that respect that idea

by

Apparently it is a normal clock: its division by hours, its two hands (yes, we already know that if you are from Generation Z it is very possible that you do not know how to read time in this device, but let’s start from the fact that it seems to all of us that this looks like a traditional watch)… However, as soon as you look closely you will see that there is an extraordinary difference: the dial is divided into ten spaces instead of the usual twelve. In the name of Lewis Carroll, what the hell is this. Ruth Evans, provoking. The clock is the work of artist Ruth Ewan and is part of a series of similar creations, called ‘We Could Have Been Anything That We Wanted To Be’, originally presented at Folkestone Artworks in 2011. It is a triennial of urban art works that, in its latest edition, includes 91 works by 52 artists. Ewan, a Scottish artist whose works always contain a social message, has retouched for the occasion some of the watches she created almost fifteen years ago for the contest. How they work. The strange arrangement of the numbers is not an aesthetic decision, but rather we are looking at clocks that divide each day into ten hours, each hour into one hundred minutes and each minute into one hundred seconds. Midnight takes place at ten and noon at five. Currently, you already know: a day has 24 hours, each of which has 60 minutes, each with 60 seconds. From there we also use decimals: a second has ten tenths of a second, one hundred hundredths or one thousand thousandths. But Ewan’s is an absolutely rational division of time that is not capricious: it has a historical basis. Making history. As we already said in its day, The ten-hour system was officially implemented in 1793 as part of the radical reforms spurred by the French Revolution. This decimal system was intended to simplify calculations and break with the past, aligning itself with other revolutionary aspects such as the republican calendar that divided the year into 12 identical months, of 30 days each and 10 days per week. The use of decimal time was mandatory from the end of 1793 until April 1795, when its use was suspended after only 500 days, due to great popular resistance and the difficulty of adapting daily life and existing clocks to this new system. Some watchmakers attempted to create watches with dual numbering (decimal and traditional) to help the transition, but the change clashed with customs and business needs that depended on the traditional system. What does it mean? Ewan’s intention with this watch is to show how changes in the organization of time can also symbolize profound social transformations, and proposes a new way of perceiving the world and questioning current systems. Let us remember that revolutionary France sought to introduce reason, equality and efficiency in all aspects of social life, including the measurement of time. With something as simple as reminding us that time can be perceived very differently with a simple change in the artifacts with which we measure it, Ewan proposes a possible new social order, and an invitation to imagine alternative futures. The work questions the rigidity of capitalist chronological time, and that is why Ewan prepared and distributed some pamphlets that spoke of the utopian concept of time in the Revolution. In Xataka | Physicists do not know precisely what time is. Still, they suspect it’s just an illusion.

We are becoming the Japan of the 21st century

by

Let’s start with the facts: Europe ages faster than any other developed regionespecially in the south. middle age is over 44 years oldand going up. The big technology companies that define our era are American or Chinese, with permission for South Korean or Taiwanese exceptions. Our industrial glories (Nokia, Siemens, Ericsson, Alcatel…) are today B2B suppliers or corporate zombies, invisible to the consumers who once loved them. We host two of the most important technology events in the world (MWC and IFA) but we are spectators of a spectacle that others dominate. And in the meantime, we regulate: GDPR, AI ActDMA, DSA. We legislate about innovations we don’t lead and impose rules on games we don’t play. There is an uncomfortable but quite precise parallel: post-bubble Japan. In the 1980s, Japan seemed destined to dominate the 21st century. Sony, Panasonic, Toshiba, Nintendo… Japan defined some of the technologies that dominated the world at the end of the 20th century: The game boy and the desktop Nintendo. The walkman and the discman. The Trinitron teles. The VHS that won the format war. The Canons and Nikons that captured our memories. The iconic Casio watches. The Toyotas and Hondas that redefined the word “reliability.” Even the word kaizen (continuous improvement) became a mantra for companies around the world. Japan, in addition to manufacturing great products, exported methodologieswork philosophies and visions of the technological future. Then came the bust, the stagnation, the deflation. And the worst: institutional nostalgia. Japan did not collapse, but began to stop creating the future. And it became a museum of how things were done, of when we were relevant. Europe is taking that same path, but faster. What is worrying is not so much the absence of large European technology companies with honorable exceptions, is the response to that absence: instead of creating conditions for them to emerge, we focus on aggressively regulating those that exist.. We act as if power resides in controlling other people’s platforms, not in building our own. It’s the mentality of someone who no longer plays: if I can’t win, at least I set the rules. But setting rules without the ability to enforce them is simply irrelevance disguised as principles. Japan took solace in its culture, its refined aesthetics, its exceptionalism. In Europe we console ourselves with our “values”. Data protection, sustainability, digital rights. Everything correct, everything noble. But insufficient. Because in the meantime, the technological architecture of the 21st century—the one that defines what is possible to do, think, create—is being built in California and Shenzhen. We set limits on systems that others design. The underlying problem is that Europe has internalized a narrative of managed decline. We no longer aspire to lead, but to “preserve our model.” Translation: manage decay with dignity. It took decades for Japan to accept its new role. Europe seems to have accepted it on the fast track. In Xataka | I increasingly like technology that doesn’t want anything from me: the one that has a purpose and leaves you alone Featured image | Tianshu Liu, Il Vagabiondo

So you can get Movistar Plus+ from 3.25 euros per month to watch series, movies and even football

by

Given so much increase in the price of subscriptions to streaming platforms, it is appreciated that from time to time some of them launch promotions that we can take advantage of to pay less monthly or annually. Movistar Plus+ It is one of the platforms that usually has the most offers and now, with the Young Cultural Bonusthe service can be accessed for an entire year for 39 euros (which would be 3.25 euros per month). Of course, there is also another offer for those who do not have the Young Cultural Bonus. Movistar Plus+, annual subscription The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Series, movies and sports with good promotion As can be read in the Movistar Plus+ pagethe streaming platform right now has a promotion for those people who have the Young Cultural Bonus. By 39 euros (3.25 euros per month) the service can be accessed for a whole year and includes a good variety of movies, series and football. Among what we can find on the platform, we have a movie premiere every daythe original Movistar Plus+ series and also other international series — there is a lot of content on the platform, whether it is premiere content or not. In addition, every day the Movistar Plus+ match is broadcast LaLiga EA Sportsthe best in the Champions League and the Premier League and the entire LaLiga HyperMotion. You can also access the best match of each day of the US Open and Winbledonthe 12 Masters 1,000 tournaments and the most important matches at Roland Garros. In addition, it also includes the two best matches per day of the Euroleague and the best matches and moments of ruby, golf and padel. Not everyone has access to the Young Cultural Bonus, but that does not mean that we cannot access an offer from the streaming platform. If we subscribe month by month, the price is 9.99 euros, but if we do it monthly we pay 99.90 eurosor what is the same Approximately 8.32 euros or two months free. It is a good way to access all its content at a discount, something that not all platforms offer. In addition, it is worth mentioning that beyond the content that we can access with the subscription (through the Young Cultural Bonus, the annual or month-by-month offer), The service can be contracted regardless of whether we are the operator or not and without permanence. 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 | Movistar Plus+ In Xataka | Movistar Plus+ for non-Movistar customers: what it is, how much it costs, channels, additional services and how to contract it In Xataka | Best televisions in quality price: which one to buy and seven recommended 4K smart TVs

Log In

Forgot password?

Forgot password?

Enter your account data and we will send you a link to reset your password.

Your password reset link appears to be invalid or expired.

Log in

Privacy Policy

Add to Collection

No Collections

Here you'll find all collections you've created before.