Month: December 2025

We believed that drones would dominate any war. The Arctic is proving just the opposite

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For decades, drones occupied a secondary place in armed conflicts. They existed, they were used in very specific operations and almost always under centralized control, but they did not define the rhythm of a war. That changed with Ukraine. There, unmanned systems became an everyday, cheap and ubiquitous tool.integrated into the way of fighting. That experience has reinforced the idea that modern warfare will inevitably be a drone war. The problem is that this conclusion only works in certain scenarios. And the Arctic is beginning to demonstrate, quite forcefully, that not all battlefields accept the same technological rules. The growing interest in the Arctic does not respond to a technological fad, but to a profound change in the geopolitical situation. The melting ice is opening sea routesfacilitating access to resources and altering natural barriers that for decades made it difficult to operate in that region. In that context, NATO military forces have intensified exercises and deployments in the High North, aware that Russia has a clear advantage in the region. Cold that changes everything. The extreme temperatures of the Arctic impose different rules than other military scenarios. Components designed to function normally fail when the cold changes their physical properties. Rubber loses elasticity, aluminum and other metals become more brittle, and lubricants thicken to compromise the movement of key parts. It only takes one system freeze to knock out an entire platform or immobilize a convoy. It is not a specific problem, but a chain of effects that begins with the thermometer and ends with operation. The sky also gets in the way. Added to the problems on land is another less visible, but equally decisive, factor. At extreme latitudes, magnetic storms and auroras interfere with radio signals and satellite navigation systems. It is not just about losing precision, but about seeing the positioning and synchronization data that support communications, sensors and modern weapons altered. In an environment where visual orientation is already complicated by snow and lack of landmarks, any additional distortion makes navigation an unstable task and, in some cases, directly impracticable. When they are also bothering your signal. Added to this natural degradation is an additional problem: jamming and other interferences that are not always directed at the target that ends up suffering them. In the Arctic, the planet’s own geometry works against it, since from high latitudes there are fewer satellites available as part of them are hidden by the curvature of the Earth. That makes any interference have a greater impact. In northern Norway, regulator Nkom registered six GPS failures in 2019 and 122 in 2022, and since the end of 2024 it has stopped counting them due to their frequency. These limitations are not theoretical. On a polar exercise in CanadaUS Army Arctic off-road vehicles broke down after 30 minutes because the hydraulic fluids had solidified in the cold. Under these same conditions, Swedish soldiers received night vision devices valued at $20,000 that failed because they could not withstand temperatures of -40°C. The lesson for planners is an uncomfortable one. Operating in the High North requires assuming sudden failures and that logistics, more than technology on paper, ends up setting the real pace of any deployment. Rethink technology and procedures. Faced with this scenario, the response is not only to manufacture more resistant equipment, but to distinguish between technological limits and operational limits, a common separation in analyzes of the use of UAS in Arctic environments. Some problems can be mitigated with redesigns, from materials and power sources to more robust navigation alternatives. Others require changes in the way we operate: planning missions assuming signal losses, reducing external dependencies and training to work with incomplete information. All of this explains why the Arctic does not support simple translations from other recent war theaters. In Ukraine, small and cheap drones, supported by constant digital linkshave shown their usefulness in an environment with infrastructure, human density and many more references. In the High North, that ecosystem does not exist. According to the approach included in the tests described, the drones there would have to incorporate de-icing systems, a more robust propulsion for the wind and operate with another type of fuel. Far from being a perfect laboratory for digital warfare, the Arctic is forcing us to rediscover physical limits that are not negotiated. Images | Xataka with Gemini 3 Pro | US Navy In Xataka | Satellite images have revealed that China has gathered its most important aircraft carriers. And that can only mean one thing

We thought that Elon Musk was going to be the most influential millionaire in the US. Someone has discreetly overtaken him: Larry Ellison

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The Spanish proverb is full of wisdom that not even AI is capable of surpassing. One that comes in handy to describe the situation of some of the greatest fortunes in the world is: “it doesn’t matter how you start, it matters how you finish.” The year began with Donald Trump taking office for the first time and with a euphoric Elon Musk after donating about 280 million dollars to Trump’s re-election campaign, who came to consider it “First Buddy“. That placed the millionaire in a position of influence about the president. The relationship between them It didn’t take long for it to twist. On the other hand, another millionaire, much more cautious in his public displays and statements, has discreetly taken over from Musk as the president’s go-to millionaire: Larry Ellison. The discreet Ellison. Larry Ellison, founder of Oracle, has managed to keep a low profile while his fortune has grown during 2025 thanks to being present in all technological investment projects that the Trump government has promoted. In September, in fact, Ellison arrived at briefly surpass Elon Musk as the richest person in the world thanks to the coincidence of a rebound in the price of his company’s shares and a downturn in Musk’s. However, with the waters back in their coursethe South African millionaire has taken distance with a fortune above $735 billion, while Ellison remains in third place behind Larry Pagewith a fortune of 247.8 billion dollars. Stargate Project. Given the unstoppable advance of AI developed in China, with deepseek As the main standard bearer, the US began a project of 500 billion in AI for “ensure American leadership in AI.” What hardware infrastructure was this entire project going to be based on? About that of Oracle, of course. Unlike Musk, who showed very belligerent With the proposal, Ellison has remained one of the main pillars of the proposal, especially for being one of the most interested parties in the advancement of the multimillion-dollar project that includes the construction of huge data centers in Texas. In addition to being cooperative with the Trump Administration, this initiative positions Oracle as a key company in the race for technological supremacy under the current government. ​TikTok won’t close. The Trump Administration has also relied on Ellison to put an end to the soap opera about the purchase of TikTok in which Trump himself came to take action. Oracle is part of a consortium that acquired part of the American entity of TikTok, and with Ellison at control of data and algorithm adapted for US users. Thanks to that millionaire’s cape, Trump avoided the closure of the social network in the US, keeping an important active electoral communication channel. The wayward CNN. Ellison’s influence in the White House is not limited to the person of the data center magnate. Something that seemed so far from their negotiation as the offer to purchase Warner by Paramounthas ended up with no less than two Ellisons involved in the case: David Ellison, CEO of Paramount and son of Larry Ellison. In this case, the billionaire had to go to the investors of Warner Bros. To give your personal guarantee of $40.4 billion for Paramount’s bid, led by his son David, to buy Warner for $108.4 billion. Netflix was in the running to take over the streaming platform, but with that deal, an uncomfortable piece for Trump remained up in the air: CNN. So the entry on the scene of the Ellisons (father and son) ensured the control of a CNN which has historically been shown very critical with the decisions of the Trump governments. In Xataka | Larry Ellison wanted to feed the world by growing lettuce on his private island: he irrigated it with 500 million dollars Image | Flickr (Oracle, Gage Skidmore)

Japan had dominated total car sales for more than 20 years, until China knocked on the door

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Projections for 2025 anticipate a historic change in the global automobile industry. And as they point out data According to Nikkei China, Chinese manufacturers expect to reach approximately 27 million vehicles sold globally, surpassing the almost 25 million expected from Japanese brands. It is the first time in more than two decades that Japan has lost absolute leadership in total automobile sales. Why is it important. For more than 20 years, Japanese manufacturers have dominated global vehicle sales figures. Toyota, Honda, Nissan and company have become a global reference in sales volume and efficiency over all these years. That China is going to overtake them reflects the mammoth change that is happening in the automobile industry, with the Asian giant conquering every possible corner at a speed that is difficult for the rest of the competitors to digest. In detail. According to data from Nikkei China based on information from manufacturers and figures from S&P Global Mobility until November 2025, China’s growth in this sector will be 17% year-on-year. The figures include both passenger and commercial vehicles, and include both domestic sales and exports. The Chinese domestic market represents around 70% of these total sales, where new energy vehicles (pure electric and plug-in hybrids) already account for almost 60% of passenger cars sold. Brands such as BYD and Geely have entered the global top 10 manufacturers by sales this year, while Chery has consolidated as one of the largest exporters in the country. Exports support growth. The domestic market in China is a jungle. Overcapacity and increasingly fierce price competition They are making a dent in the country, which is why Chinese manufacturers have intensified their international expansion. In Southeast Asia, traditionally dominated by Japanese brands, Chinese sales will grow by 49% to reach around 500,000 units, according to data from the report. In Europe, despite the tariffs imposed Regarding electric vehicles, it is expected that there will be sales of about 2.3 million vehicles, benefiting from the fact that many plug-in hybrids are exempt from additional taxes. Emerging markets also joinand the figures indicate that Africa will register 230,000 vehicles sold (32% more) and Latin America will reach 540,000 units (33% more). A turning point. Japan reached its peak sales in 2018 with almost 30 million units. In just three years, the eight million vehicle lead it had over China in 2022 has completely evaporated. Japanese brands have lost market share in key Asian markets and are struggling to adapt to the electric transition, where they have arrived late. Toyota maintains its strength in segments such as pickups and is committed to carbon-neutral combustion engines (via renewable fuels) and hybrid technology, but in China, the largest market in the world and capital of the electric car, that approach is costing them dearly. Not even Honda, Nissan and Mitsubishi, which now they collaborate on software and electrical infrastructure, can withstand the storm coming from China, a country that has specialized above all in batteries, software and production speed. And now what. Japan has a great challenge ahead if it wants to recover ground in electrification and stop the erosion in markets where until recently they dominated strongly. China does not have a bed of roses either, since its challenge will be to maintain the pace in a context of growing protectionism, with the United States and Canada Tariffs of more than 100% already apply to Chinese electric companies, and those of the European Union of up to 45.3%. Things are going to be interesting. Cover image | BYD and Xiaomi In Xataka | Ferdinand Porsche devised the first car with an electric motor in each wheel. Today a Chinese manufacturer is going to make it possible

Exynos had been the ugly duckling of chips for years. BMW thinks the opposite.

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When choosing a high-end Samsung, the dilemma between betting on the Exynos version or the Qualcomm version has always been clear. In fact, until just a generation ago Samsung reserved its chips Exynos for the “non-Ultra” models, and provided its flagship with Snapdragon Elite on duty. Its chip division has been in crisis for almost a yearbut the latest leaks point to the comeback being close. Meanwhile, the company has a plan to revitalize the income of this business area: bet on the automotive industry. bmw. According to Korean sourcesBMW has chosen the Samsung Exynos Auto V720 to give life to a very important vehicle for the German brand: the next iX3. It will be the first electric car to use this platform. One of the current wars in the automotive sector is precisely to lead in infotainment systems, and there the processor plays a fundamental role. The Exynos Auto V720. This processor will be manufactured in a five nanometer process, and its announcement will be imminent according to the source. It is not the first time that BMW has opted for the Korean company, since flagship vehicles such as those of the Series 7 of the company have been betting on platforms such as the Exynos Auto V920 since 2023. Why is it important. Samsung’s Samsung LSI (Large Scale Integration) division is responsible for the design and development of chips and solutions for semiconductors. It is not only responsible for manufacturing Exynos processors, but also ISOCELL image sensors or the 5G modems themselves. Without a detailed shock plan, the data on the table tells us of estimated losses of 1 trillion won in 2024, a result that was partly due to the inability to integrate the processor Exynos 2500 in the Galaxy S25 series. Beyond smartphones, a crucial division for Samsung, fully entering the automotive world is an important step to clean up its accounts. In fact, Samsung’s move goes beyond simply supplying the Exynos Auto. Recently, Harman (Samsung subsidiary) agreed to purchase ZF Friedrichshafen’s ADAS unit to reinforce its presence in advanced assistance systems (cameras, radars, critical computing, etc.). Interior of the BMW 7 Series The software war. The current war in the automotive world is not about the engine, It’s in the software and the screens. It’s getting to that pointthat manufacturers such as Volkswagen have come to declare that “they are not phones, they are cars”, as an argument to reintroduce the haptic buttons that their customers missed so much. The European Union itself has had to take action on the matter, and the new Euro NCAP will be valued very positively the return of physical buttons. Despite this, screens are here to stay. Image | bmw

The clash between a polar front and the Atlantic threatens Twelfth Night

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Just a few hours away from closing 2025, all eyes are already on the weather at the beginning of January and especially on Three Kings Day. after seeing that New Year’s Eve will be quiet. And although there is still room for change, current models already suggest a drastic change in weather with a general drop in temperatures and a large amount of snow spread across the peninsula. The model. The last installment that we have the European model of the ECMWF proposes a scenario of great instability for January 4 and 5, 2026, with snowfall that could reach unusual levels and affect a large part of the center and northeast of the peninsula. Something that is already being shared on social networks by accounts specialized in meteorology. A situation of great instability that would respond to the entry of a cold front of polar origin and the arrival of Atlantic storms loaded with humidity. Two factors that when they collide are the perfect ingredient for widespread snowfall. Although there is still room for this to change, since reliability is low for periods longer than five days. The position of the AEMET. The State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) maintains a much more conservative position. In its special prediction for this Christmas, the agency confirms that the beginning of 2026 will be colder than normal, especially due to the arrival of the storm Francis. This will leave rain starting on January 1 in the Canary Islands and starting on Friday the 2nd it will affect the west of the peninsula. From here, what is expected is that on January 4 there will be strong northerly winds and a generalized thermal drop. But from day 5 there is a “high uncertainty.” Although the models indicate persistent low temperatures, the agency does not currently confirm snowfall at low levels that could turn Three Kings Night white. Fifth anniversary. It is impossible to ignore the psychological component of this forecast, since this coming January marks five years of Filomena. That is why at this time it is easy to look at the maps with a little more disbelief in case there are signs of something similar, although at the moment nothing similar is confirmed. For now wait. With all this, the most prudent thing is to wait until this Twelfth Night approaches to have clear conclusions, especially in view of the different parades that leave in different parts of Spain that can be threatened by adverse weather, but that can always change up to at least 48-72 hours before. Images | TheWeather In Xataka | La Niña is going to be meteorologically “less intense” than we expected. And that actually hides a problem.

a 15-minute “truce”

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Whether 2026 is going to be a good or bad year is something that nobody knows, what is clear is how it will start: at the rhythm of twelve bells, with grapespending (more or less) the ‘La Pedroche’ dress and among fireworks, the peculiar “pack” with which Spain has celebrated every New Year’s Eve for years. Of those ingredients, there is one, however, that takes time. on the tightrope: pyrotechnics. Maybe we like to welcome the new year with fireworks and firecrackers, but… Does that justify the risk they pose or the inconvenience they cause to people who are sensitive to noise and pets? In Vitoria-Gasteiz they have chosen a Solomonic solution. New Year’s Eve between fireworks. Christmas has certain traditions that are inherent to the holidays. Here and in most of the West. There are the trees, the LED lights in the streets, the tinsel, the nougats, the gifts, Santa Claus, the after-dinner debates…and the firecrackers and fireworks with which every New Year’s Eve the cities say goodbye to the outgoing year and welcome the incoming one. The problem is that pyrotechnics are not seen with the same eyes now as they were a few decades ago. As the world has become aware of the impact it has on noise-sensitive people and pets, a series of questions have arisen: Is it worth it? Is the use of an article that is ultimately purely recreational justified if it causes discomfort to part of the population? There are those who believe not. And he is so convinced of this that he has even launched campaigns to ban or restrict fireworks during certain celebrations, something we have seen in Swiss, Chili or (also) Spain. The debate of debates. It is not a simple topic. In general the use of firecrackers is regulated by regulations that establish limits, but the law also leaves some room for maneuver to city councils. And that, at times like Christmas, when pyrotechnics are so ingrained, is a problem. A quick Google search shows that there are cities who bet on great showspromoted by the city councils, while others have chosen to emphasize in recent days the prohibition of its neighbors from using fireworks, firecrackers, rockets and other pyrotechnics in the streets without permission. One of the most notable cases is that of Vigo, which two weeks ago launched a side in which it emphasizes that it will not allow “the use of pyrotechnic devices on roads and public spaces, unless express municipal authorization is available.” The measure angered the sectoralthough in reality Vigo It is not the only location that a bill has been published to regulate the use of firecrackers on the 31st. The Solomonic solution of Vitoria. With that background it is interesting the solution which Vitoria-Gasteiz has opted for. There the authorities will allow the launching of firecrackers to welcome the new year, although with an important “but.” Whoever wants to say goodbye to 2025 in style should do so by looking at the clock, between the exact moment when 12 bells ring and a quarter past twelve in the morning. If you get carried away with your enthusiasm and continue setting off firecrackers after those 15 minutes, you will risk a fine. Why’s that? Because the Consistory has published a side in which a 15-minute window opens (the first in 2026) to celebrate the change of year with pyrotechnics. Once this brief ‘truce’ is over, people will no longer be able to go out into the streets and squares to set off firecrackers. What’s more, the City Council warns that starting at 12:15 a.m. on January 1, police officers can apply article 30 of the municipal ordinance against Noise and Vibrations, which contemplates the possibility of filing complaints and opening disciplinary proceedings. The side in question, published on Friday the 26thclarifies that its objective is to “combine” two apparently opposite realities: the “legitimate celebration of the New Year” and the prohibition of causing excessive noise in the streets. For this reason, the City Council warns that it will “tolerate” the use of firecrackers, fireworks, rockets and flares on public roads “coinciding with the beginning of the New Year.” And in case there are any doubts, clarify that this margin will be limited between 00:00 and 00:15 h. A rule, a request. The City Council does not stop there. Although it gives carte blanche to use fireworks in public spaces for a quarter of an hour, the side asks also to neighbors to act responsibly and try to take their celebrations away from hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, centers where there are animals and of course gas stations, gas and fuel depots or certain public facilities, such as police stations. Another thing is that the measure works. Gasteiz Today remember that the truce of the first 15 minutes of the year is not exactly new. It has been in use for some time now, which has not prevented noises from being heard all night. Images | Alberto Cabello (Flickr), AFA Hirigintza / DFA Urbanismo (Flickr) and Shaury Nash (Flickr) In Xataka | Faced with the debate about fireworks yes or no, more and more towns are choosing no. Galicia has begun to cancel them

With the “late” eating into the Christmas holidays, a new phenomenon gains weight in Spain: the Australian New Year’s Eve

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The year changes with the twelve bells midnight on December 31st. That has no discussion. What is questionable is that the New Year has to be celebrated at night. If you are more of a daytime person than a night person, if you don’t want to go to bed in the wee hours of the morning, hungover and resigned to spending the first morning of 2026 tossing and turning in bed… Why not bring the party forward a few hours? What if instead of gathering our family and friends for dinner we meet at noon? What if we ring in 2026 (or any other New Year) when they do it in Sydney, where the 12 bells ring when we are having lunch? What has happened? Bells, grapes, firecrackers, the first advertisement of the year, the trappings of the star presenter on duty, whether the layer of Ramonchu either the dress of the Pedroche… In Spain, New Year’s Eve has its traditions (apparently immutable), but that does not mean that more and more people choose to rethink how and especially when they celebrate the change of year. In fact, for a long time there has been a way to celebrate it that has gained followers: “Australian New Year’s Eve”. And what does it mean? It sounds exotic, but it’s actually very simple. The “Australian New Year’s Eve” consists of nothing more nor less than bringing forward the celebration of the New Year by a few hours. There is a 10-hour lag between Madrid and Sydney, which means that while in mainland Spain we sit at the table to eat in the most populated city in Oceania, there are in full transition of year. It is a simple geographical curiosity, but there are those who have seen in it a perfect hook to rethink when we celebrate the New Year in this corner of the planet. Instead of doing it at midnight, after an extensive dinner, they join the “Australian New Year’s Eve” and uncork the cava when the residents of Sydney or other regions of Australia, where they govern, do so. multiple time zones. One celebration does not have to exclude the other (a Spaniard can celebrate the New Year at 2:00 p.m. and 12:00 a.m.), but it does help to shift the focus away from the night. It is similar to the “pre-grapes” that have been celebrated for years, but in a somewhat different way: with food, parties and using Australian time as a pretext. But… Is it successful? Yes. At least in certain regions of Spain, where the concept of “Australian New Year’s Eve” seems to have caught on. A quick search shows chronicles about early celebrations in Teruel, Castellon, Valencia, The Palm…but if there is a place where the ‘Australian-style’ party has found fertile ground, it is Alicante. It has been organized there for a long time a few years and has expanded to several municipalities. The celebration has become so profound, in fact, that it moves so many people in restaurants and at night parties. So many people? The newspaper recently Information asked that same question to hoteliers and found a surprising response. According to the president of the Alicante Restaurant Association (ARA) reservations for lunch and dinner on December 31 are already practically equal in number, which shows that more and more people are bringing forward the celebration of the New Year. What’s more, part of the nighttime demand appears to be shifting to midday, when customers find more diversity in exchange for cheaper rates. “In the evening pack, the normal thing is set menus, which are somewhat more expensive,” says the hotelier. Prices are around 100 or 110 euros, practically double that of lunch, which is also usually served without a set menu and includes a drink. At first glance it may seem that restaurants are losing, but the reality is that if the daily clientele and the dinner clientele are added, businesses gain demand. Furthermore, New Year’s Eve menus may be more expensive, but they also entail more expenses for the establishments, which reduces their final profitability. From another association of hoteliers in the province of Alicante, Apeha, confirm There are starting to be more reservations at midday than at night. Is it just business? No. The phenomenon is not only seen in bars and restaurants. Daytime celebrations, including symbolic grapes, music and “chimes” are also celebrated with institutional support of the town councils. In Senija they present them for example as “Bells in the Sun” and in Crevillent the City Council advertises both the “Australian Chimes” as the “New Year’s Eve Party”. They are not unique or isolated cases. In Alicante you can find other towns that have taken their festivals beyond nighttime hours. Why this success? The big question. Costs aside, Apeha provides a key piece of information: the regular customer who books a restaurant on the 31st at noon is usually, clarifypeople of a certain age or with small children. “It’s not so much young people who go to clubs as people who prefer to go out at noon to get home at a productive time.” The truth is that the “Australian New Year’s Eve” is not an isolated phenomenon. It coincides with two others that are going in the same direction. The first is the afternoon boom. As the supply (and demand) of leisure diversifies and is no longer monopolized at night, more and more people choose to visit bars and clubs earlier. Instead of going out at night he does it in the afternoon, which is felt at Christmas itself. “Australian New Year’s Eve” may be expanding, but so is the “Good Afternoon” and “New Year’s Afternoon”advanced versions of Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. More partying, less cooking. The other trend has to do with how we organize our Christmases and our habits in the kitchen. We start enjoying before December 24 or 31 because we are less willing to spend hours in the kitchen to prepare … Read more

why the specimens of the 21st century no longer look anything like those of a thousand years ago

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In recent decades, the image of the unchanging bear of wild nature has given way to a different reality. Science is now watching as the bears They are changing their physiognomytheir DNA and their way of interacting with the world in order to survive two great pressures: the persecution of humans and the climate change. The Italian experiment. The most surprising case is that of Apennine brown bear in Italy. For centuries, this animal has lived on a biological island surrounded by the civilization that has managed change the animal both physically and genetically. This is something that science itself has collected and that has been seen in the weight of the animal, since this animal weighs an average of between 140 and 210 kiloswhile their closest relatives usually weigh 350 kilos. And this was not a conscious selection, because for generations humans systematically eliminated the largest, boldest and most conflictive specimens. Those that remained in the ecosystem were the smallest and also the most docile specimens that began to reproduce. Selection of the shy ones. This reality connects with the theories of Alejandro Martínez-Abraín on “shy-selected” populations or selected for their shyness. According to this concept, historical hunting not only reduced the number of predators, but acted as a psychological filter. We have pruned the personality of the species, eliminating the brave and leaving behind a lineage of animals whose main characteristic is the extreme avoidance of human beings. with the aim of not giving us problems. Also in the Cantabrian Sea. While the character of the bear changes in Italy, if we come to Spain it is easy to see how we are breaking the calendar of our own species. In the north of the peninsula, climate change has begun to dismantle hibernationone of the most sacred biological processes of the species. Data collected since the mid-1990s shows a clear trend: females are leaving their nests earlier and earlier due to rising spring temperatures. In this way, what once represented an awakening regulated by biology and food availability at the end of April or May, is now an uncertain exit conditioned by shorter winters. The hidden biological cost. By leaving the burrow early, mothers with babies face a mountain that has not yet fully awakened because spring has not arrived. In this way, the bear cubs, vulnerable and with a developing immune system, are exposed to pathogens and also to the attack of adult males that also activate early. In this way, climate change is not only warming the air, it is forcing the bear to live in a time lag with its own ecosystem. Something that also adds to the scarcity of resources that can compromise their survival. In the Arctic. Here the situation has reached an almost science fiction level of genomic complexitysince the subpopulation of polar bears in southeastern Greenland has become the living laboratory of adaptation to global warming. These animals live in an environment that no longer has the sea ice necessary to hunt seals for much of the year, but they have found an emergency solution: using the glacial ice that breaks off from the fjords. Inside. The deepest adaptation they are undergoing is within their cells, as researchers point out that they have identified more than 1,500 specific fragments that are active specifically in this population. These elements seem to be altering fat metabolism, since they cannot depend on seal fat as they have until now. That is why they have to look for other sources of fat such as eggs, poultry or reindeer. To do this, their genetic profile is changing to allow them to process terrestrial energy sources, a metabolic transformation that could be the species’ last line of defense against an ice-free Arctic. Which is what is being achieved with the increase in the Earth’s temperature. A new coexistence. This global metamorphosis poses a management dilemma for the 21st century, since with the abandonment of rural areas and the boom in nature tourism Encounters between humans and bears are more frequent than ever. But this is a problem, since although the ‘shy’ ones have remained in nature, the lack of fear they have can reverse the trend of security that we have before them. That is why the key to the future is not only in protecting the animal, but in managing its behavior. The goal is to achieve what they call “zero habituated bears,” which implies the use of more aggressive measures: from the use of firecrackers and rubber bullets to reinforce fear of humans, to surgical waste management to prevent bears from seeing towns as easy food. Great plasticity. This is a great characteristic of bears as we have seen, since they have reduced their size in Italy, they come out of hibernation earlier in Spain and they are more omnivorous in the Arctic. But this “redesign” is also a reminder of our omnipotence: even when we try to save species, we end up altering their very essence so that they can survive on a planet we have made in our image. Images | Mark Basarab In Xataka | Faced with the largest flood of wild bears in memory, Japan has taken a measure: emergency hunts

whoever controls the fuel will control the AI

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In the deep mines of Kazakhstan and the data centers of Northern Virginia, two worlds that should never have touched are colliding. The digital speed of Artificial Intelligence faces the heavy inertia of nuclear physics. We have discovered, the hard way, that AI does not live in “the cloud” but on the ground. It has a ravenous hunger of a material that the world ignored for decades: uranium. The end of the myth of efficiency. For years, the official Silicon Valley narrative was that chip efficiency would offset energy consumption. However, cHow an OilPrice analysis explainsthis idea has died because of the “Jevons paradox“Basically, the more efficient we make a chip, the more units we deploy and the more complex the models become. AI not only consumes data, but incinerates energy to create them. This reality has forced a paradigm shift. According to a global survey to more than 600 investors, 63% already consider that AI electricity demand is a structural change in nuclear planning. It is not a temporary peak, it is the foundation on which the economy of the 21st century will be built. The gap between the code and the steel. The fundamental problem is that software is moving at the speed of light, while the uranium supply remains “stuck in the mud” of 20th century industrial timelines. This temporary disconnection reveals an uncomfortable reality: the world has run out of room to maneuver. For two decades, humanity survived thanks to secondary supplies —reusing old Cold War warheads and surplus inventories—, but these strategic warehouses are practically exhausted today. This shortage is a deep structural deficit. Uranium.io data reflect an alarming gap where the uranium coming out of the mines will cover less than 75% of what the reactors will need in the short term. This is what Sprott Asset Management define as a market that lives at “two speeds”: a superficial volatility that hides a deficit that widens like a canyon. “AND“The silence of the electric companies”. On the Sprott Radio podcastexpert John Ciampaglia explains that, although 2025 seemed like a stagnant year for the price of physical uranium—anchored between $77 and $80—mining stocks rose 40%. This disconnection reveals that, while investors are already betting heavily on what is to come, electricity companies (utilities) are at a “stalemate”. They are delaying signing new contracts and burning down their last reserves in the hope that prices don’t skyrocket, but the pressure from AI is such that sooner or later someone will have to blink first. Uranium as a strategic asset. If the semiconductors were the battlefield of the last decade, nuclear fuel is that of the next. Whoever controls the uranium will control the computing capacity. On the one hand, how the analyst describes for Oilpricewhen a tech giant signs a 20-year power agreement (PPA) with a nuclear plant, it is “locking up” the best clean electrons for private profit. The risk is the socialization of the cost, the companies take the clean energy, but the citizen pays to update the electrical network. On the other hand, “Atoms for Algorithms”. The Director General of the IAEA describe this union as a “structural alliance”. AI doesn’t just need nuclear; The nuclear industry needs AI for the predictive maintenance of reactors, the design of new materials and the improvement of safety. The strategy of the giants. The hyperscalers (Google, Microsoft, Amazon) have understood that to dominate AI they must secure the atoms before the competition. Vertical Integration: Google took a turn of the rudder by acquiring Intersect Power for $4.75 billion. The objective is to control the availability and cost of supply near your data centers, without depending on the public network. Modular Reactors (SMR): The International Atomic Energy Agency bet on SMRsmall reactors that allow a technology company to add nuclear power as it adds servers. It is literally bringing scalability from software to power. Sovereign AI: Companies like VivoPower they are redirecting capital towards markets such as Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates. There, where the electrical grid is a bottleneck, the solution is to create computing infrastructures with its own energy generated “behind the meter.” China: the provisional winner. While the West debates, China pours concrete. The Asian giant build reactors at a rate that no one else reaches, between ten and eleven per year. In fact, half of all the reactors being built in the world are in Chinese territory. According to the CNEAthe country will surpass France in nuclear capacity in 2026 and the United States in 2030. Beijing not only seeks firm energy to sustain its renewables, but also total technological independence. It already produces 100% of its nuclear equipment and leads the fourth generation with high-temperature modular reactors. They are even “fishing” uranium from the sea with new absorption technologies to ensure centuries of autonomy. China has understood that nuclear energy is both a tool of decarbonization and energy diplomacy. The wall of reality. In the software world, problems are solved by injecting capital or code; In the world of atoms, money cannot buy time. There are three physical obstacles that Silicon Valley capital will not be able to solve immediately: The bottleneck of enrichment. There is no point in extracting the mineral if you cannot convert it into fuel, and that industrial capacity in the West is at its limit. As they warn in the podcastmuch of this vital process remains tied to Russian state interests, making AI power a national security issue. The talent crisis. For an entire generation, the global message was that nuclear power was a dead technology. The result it’s a shortage criticism from engineers and specialists; There are simply no qualified “hands” to operate the new mines or manage the reactors. We have lost the know-how industrial while we were distracted with the digital world. The “asking price.” Although uranium aims for the range of $100-120/lb by 2026, the figure of $135 is the one that it really marks desperation of the sector. That … Read more

Two V16 beacons with more than 100 candles to have better visibility if we have an emergency with the car

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Now that the V16 beacons are going to replace the triangles, we should pay attention to some of their characteristics to have better visibility in case of an emergency —continuing carrying the triangles in the car is also recommended. Therefore, in this article we are going to review two of the V16 beacons with the most candles that are available right now in stores like Amazon or PcComponentes. Help Flash IoT+ One of the V16 beacons with the most candles is the Help Flash IoT+from Netun Solutions, which is also manufactured in Spain. Do not confuse it with Help Flash IoTwhich usually has a similar price, but has worse specifications, especially in the candles. The Help Flash IoT+ offers, according to the brand itself, more than 290 candlesa fairly high figure considering that the mandatory minimum is between 40 and 80 candles. This beacon can also be connected to myIncidencean app with which we can notify emergency services and insurance. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links LEDOne Maybe the LEDOne It may not have the best number in candles, but it does have the most differential format: incorporates a support to raise the beaconsomething that may be interesting in certain vehicles. However, we are still talking about a V16 beacon that far exceeds 100 candles. In this sense, the LEDOne offers, according to the brand itself, 120 effective candles. It does not reach the same figure as that of Netun Solutions, but it is still a fairly high figure. In addition, it is also manufactured in Spain and allows you to connect to your own app to call emergency services and insurance. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links You may also be interested OTTOCAST Mini Pot 2026, 2 in 1 wireless adapter for CarPlay and Android Auto, Compatible iOS 10+/Android 11+ and Cars with Carplay Since 2016, Plug & Play, USB-A/Type C, OTA Update, Black The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Xiaomi Portable Electric Air Compressor 2 – Portable air compressor (0.2 10.3 bar/3-150 psi, 6 modes, 2000mAh battery, 14.4Wh, USB-C charging, LED display), black (ES Version) The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Some of the links in this article are affiliated and may provide a benefit to Xataka. In case of non-availability, offers may vary. Image | Netun Solutions, LEDOne In Xataka | Safety, organization and entertainment gadgets and accessories for cars on long trips In Xataka | Clarifying all the mess that the DGT has on its hands: the V-16 light, the V-27 signal and the emergency triangles

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