Month: January 2026

A YouTuber has gutted all the consoles to create the definitive machine: the Ningtendo PXBOX 5

by

Although the PC is the almost perfect cross-platform machineuntil not so long ago, if you wanted to enjoy all the video games you had to have a PS5a Switch 2 and one Xbox Series. The problem, apart from many others, is space: they take up an awful lot and They are not the most “aesthetic” machines.. A Chinese YouTuber has the solution: the Ningtendo PXBOX 5. It is the perfect fusion between the three, and the secret of how it works is in a 2013 Mac. As Jack the Ripper said. Let’s go in parts. We have seen many projects that change the functionality of a console or even turn a PC into a coffee makerbut what the YouTuber has proposed is much more ambitious. To address the space problem, it has united the three consoles into a single tower that, on top of that, is no more bulky than a small PC case. And the first thing is to gut the machines. Image | 小宁子 XNZ At this point, the YouTuber realized the most important thing: without the case, the key parts of the three machines are the fan, the power supply, the aluminum and copper heatsink… and the board, obviously. All components are soldered on the board, so you don’t have to worry about GPU, CPU or RAM memory. Switch 2 is on the sidelines for the moment. For PS5 and Xbox Series X, the essential thing is each one’s board and the rest can be shared. A single supply for both, a single heatsink and a single fan. But… how? The key? Apple. Well, precisely, one of Apple’s most famous computers has the answer. The Mac Pro ‘Trash’ is the 2013 model that has gone down in history for being a complete disaster. I still find its design beautiful, but Apple went overboard with a triple PCB and dual GPU configuration. Precisely, it is the idea he has in his head, so it comes in handy. Inspiration in the Apple heatsink Because? Because Apple designed a double PCB system on a central aluminum heatsink. This way, you can inject fresh air through the heatsink, expelling heat through the top and keeping the plates cool. The question now is how to make an aluminum heatsink that cannot be bought on the market and that would not be viable to print directly on metal (due to costs). Ancient 3D printing technique. Inspired by a wax casting technique from hundreds of years ago, the YouTuber created a heatsink model on a 3D printer. To do this, he used a material called PLA that vaporizes when it reaches a certain temperature. With the PLA “sink” in hand, he wrapped it in plaster and burned it in a 700-degree oven. The PLA mold. Image | 小宁子 XNZ Thus, the plaster remains while the PLA dissolves, allowing an internal structure to remain that can be filled with aluminum. It sounds simple, but he had to remove the air from the plaster with a vacuum machine, melt the aluminum and have an oven that carries out a complex process of dehydration, pyrolysis and combustion for 12 hours to achieve the result. The first attempt at a heatsink turned out okay. Image | 小宁子 XNZ The heatsink already polished. Image | 小宁子 XNZ Then, he “simply” added the aluminum and… the first try didn’t work. Unlike Chinese artisans centuries ago who if they lost a piece they had to re-carve the wax mold, here they simply 3D printed another one and repeated the process. After filing the aluminum, the heatsink was ready. Switch 2 not so much. Place the PS5 Pro and Xbox Series Wi-Fi and Bluetooth of each one (for Internet and connection with accessories) and you connect the only power supply that gives life to both consoles in the base. Switch 2 is a little more complicated. It doesn’t need as much food, so opt for a USB-Cbut also for printing a module that does not sacrifice the mobility of the console. The dock of the new Switch 2 dock. Image | 小宁子 XNZ Here the challenge is to provide connection HDMI for a TV (so the dock hardware is also included inside the console), but also allows you to easily grab the console in case you want to play away from the TV. To do this, he devised a module similar to the dock, but to be placed vertically. The button that ejects the Switch 2. Image | 小宁子 XNZ After trying several conventional springs, the YouTuber printed some in 3D to ensure that, by pressing a button, the console slides as if it were toast so that it appears from the side. It sounds dangerous, but seeing the result, the truth is that the movement is quite smooth. Arduino to the rescue. With all the machines connected to the power, the most important thing remained: program a brain to control the HDMI output and the power. To do this, he used a plate Arduino Conveniently programmed so that, by pressing a button on the top, the signal switches between platforms in less than five seconds. The aluminum heatsink and the copper ones that go directly to the APU of the two consoles with the thermal paste. Image | 小宁子 XNZ Mounting the plates on the heatsink. Image | 小宁子 XNZ It’s not the only thing it does: it also has a front LED connected that changes color (red, blue and green) depending on the console it is running (Switch 2, PS5 or Xbox Series X). Connecting the Arduino board and the Image LED strip. | 小宁子 XNZ THE console. And that’s it, let’s play. The speed at which it changes between the HDMIs is impressive and the creator herself is surprised by the heat it expels through the upper area. Obviously, there are two ‘large’ consoles dissipating the heat and having an aluminum heatsink that, no matter how apparent it may be, has somewhat thick tabs for what is usually … Read more

I was wasting half my TV

by

Until not long ago, it was one of those that connected the play or the device that went to the TV without looking at which port HDMI I didn’t do it or what cable I was using; Whatever I had lying around the house was fine. Over time I discovered that there are many details to take into account and also configurations with which you can get the most out of your HDMI. Not all HDMI ports are the same Let’s start with the most obvious. If you look at the back of your TV, next to each HDMI port a legend appears that tells you what type of port is it. Typically you will have several “normal” HDMI ports, one or more ARC ports, and at least one higher bandwidth port. ARC stands for ‘Audio Return Channel’, so if what you want to connect is a sound bar, You will have to do it in one of these ports no matter what. In the case of eARC, it is the improved version of the standard. In the case of the port with the highest bandwidth, it may be identified as HDMI 2.1 or 2.2, which are the versions that support more resolution and refresh rate. It is also possible that it directly tells you the details, as in the case of my TV that is marked ‘4K, 120Hz’. If you are going to connect a console or a gaming PC, this is the port you should choose. Regular HDMI ports may be marked HDMI 2.0 or simply HDMI. In these you can connect devices like Chromecast or Fire Stick, TV decoders or any older device. The cables don’t either Be very careful with the cables. If it is a current cable there should be no problem, but if you have been using the same cable for many years, it almost certainly does not support the most current versions, so you will not be seeing the image with the appropriate quality. Each HDMI version supports certain resolutions and refresh rates, so when choosing it, take into account the use you are going to give it. The characteristics of the most current versions are the following: HDMI 2.0: supports 4K up to 60Hz. It is the most common cable and is sufficient for most uses. HDMI 2.1: Go up to 8K resolution and 120Hz. Ideal if you want a high refresh rate, for example for video games. HDMI 2.2: 12K at 120Hz or 4K at 480Hz. They are cables that are designed primarily for professional use, and they are also more expensive. Set the signal format for each port It is very likely that the HDMI ports on your TV come configured in the standard format, which prioritizes compatibility over image quality. This implies that you are not enjoying the best quality nor functions like HDR. Enter the menus of your TV and look for the channels and inputs section to configure it. On Android TV, the path is Settings – Channels and inputs – External inputs – HDMI signal format. For the ARC and HDMI 2.1 ports we have more options, including Dolby Vision and the improved VRR format for devices with variable refresh rate such as consoles. Set the picture mode for each input Most modern televisions include the option to adjust the picture mode for each input. For example, we can make it so that when we choose the input where we have a Blu-ray player connected, the cinema mode is automatically activated, or the game mode when we are playing the console. Not only can you choose the modes, you can also configure it to your liking. On Android TV, just open the image menu within the HDMI that we want to configure, for example the PS5. In the case of Samsung TVs with Tizen, you can do it in Settings-Settings for experts. If your TV has HDMI 2.1 ports then it means it has ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode). This activates game mode automatically when we connect the console. Take advantage of the CEC standard CEC stands for ‘Consumer Electronics Control’a standard that allows you to control multiple devices with a single remote control. Each manufacturer includes this standard under a different name, For example, in the case of Sony they call it BRAVIA Sync, Samsung calls it Anynet+ and LG calls it SimpLink. With this activated we can make the TV turn on when we connect another device, such as a console or a Chromecast-type dongle. It also allows us to control aspects such as volume or power off. This way everything works in an integrated way and we avoid having to use multiple controls. Images | Amparo Babiloni, Xataka In Xataka | TCL has entered the television market by doing what seemed impossible: democratizing the Mini-LED

Madrid and Catalonia are losing national population while gaining foreign population

by

The latest data of the INE on population flows show a curious phenomenon (almost contradictory) in two of the most populated regions of the country: Community of Madrid and Catalonia. Although both maintain their capacity to attract emigrants from other countries, they have been losing already resident populations for some time. in favor of other autonomieswhich translates into an “internal” migratory balance in the red. In short: your migratory motor has two speeds. The big question is to what extent it is the result of housing cost. What has happened? that the latest data from the INE confirm that Madrid and Catalonia remain the favorite destinations for immigrants who decide to move to Spain, but at the same time both communities see how many of their own neighbors pack their bags to move to other regions neighbors, such as Castilla-La Mancha (case of Madrid) or the Valencian Community (case of Catalonia). The data is especially interesting if we take into account that they arrive with a residential market with skyrocketing prices. Community Total immigration balance SM Exterior indoor SM Andalusia 61,912 67,770 -5,858 Aragon 18,024 17,048 976 Asturias 14,225 10,340 3,885 Balearics 17,118 15,735 1,383 Canary Islands 27,770 27,331 439 Cantabria 5,977 5,051 926 Castile and León 26,407 24,316 2,091 Castile-La Mancha 27,746 23,819 3,927 Catalonia 122,593 129,030 -6,437 Valencian Community 115,742 104,776 10,966 Estremadura 4,008 5,096 -1,088 Galicia 30,325 27,730 2,595 Community of Madrid 100,971 113,964 -12,993 Murcia region 17,531 18,704 -1,173 Navarre 6,976 7,264 -288 The Basque Country 24,190 23,420 770 Rioja 3,906 2,998 908 Ceuta 217 416 -199 Melilla 630 1,460 -830 Is the trend so clear? Yes. It comes with taking a look at the tables of INE immigration balances to verify it. If we look at the balance of foreign migration (the difference between the population from other countries that moved to Spain and the Spanish population that settled in other nations), in 2034 the Catalan community registered a clearly positive result: +129,030 people. Things change when we talk about “internal migration”, which reflects population movements between the different Spanish communities, always within the country. In that case the balance left a negative result: -6,437. That is, there were 53,585 people from other regions who settled in Catalonia, but 60,022 Catalans who packed their bags to go to other autonomies. And in Madrid? The ‘photo’ It’s not very different. Its external migration balance showed a positive result of 113,964 people, but that of “internal migration” left a negative balance, with the loss of 12,993 residents. In 2024 there were 100,342 people from other communities who registered in one of the municipalities of Madrid, but 113,335 did exactly the opposite: they decided to pack their bags and change the capital for other regions. In fact, the Community of Madrid shows the worst internal migration balance (at least in net terms) in the country. Only Catalonia (-6,437) and Andalusia, which showed a negative balance of -5,858, come close (and by far). It’s not really a surprise. In May we told you how there are people from Madrid moving to Valladolid and taking the AVE every day to continue working in the capital. Can it go further? Yes. The INE allows you to go beyond the autonomous communities and obtain data at the municipal or even submunicipal level, by neighborhood. It is an interesting tool because it confirms how this double phenomenon is exacerbated in the two main cities of the country: Madrid and Barcelona. In the first (Madrid) the external migration balance was 73,959 people and the internal one was -18,722. In Barcelona these indicators marked +46,974 and -17,020, respectively. Valencia also presents a positive external balance and a negative internal balance, despite the fact that the community as a whole gained migration. Why is it interesting? Because population flows are not isolated phenomena. They occur in a context marked by multiple factors, among which is (especially if we talk about recent years) the increase in price of housing and an increase in ‘overcrowded homes’those in which people reside in overcrowded conditions. There are also another clear trend: the increase in certain migratory flows, such as those of Venezuelan origin, a phenomenon that is being felt in neighborhoods of all types of income. A recent study from Idealista confirms that Madrid and Barcelona are two of the most expensive cities in Spain. And he is not the only one. Photohouse calculate that Madrid and Catalonia are two of the regions with the most expensive second-hand housing in Spain, only surpassed by the Balearic Islands and (in the case of Catalonia) the Canary Islands and Euskadi. Does housing have that much influence? The INE study suggests this, especially because it appreciates differences within the municipalities themselves. “In some of the main cities it is observed that the most central districts are losing population, while the most remote ones are gaining it,” comments the organizationwhich cites several specific cases already confirm the trend: “In 2024 in Madrid, the subdistricts on the southeastern periphery were the ones that had the highest balance. In Barcelona and Valencia, those in the south were the ones that gained the most.” Of course more factors come into play. The Canary Islands or Balearic Islands, two regions very marked by rising housing prices and tourism, closed 2024 with a positive balance in both external and internal migration, just like the Basque Country. Castilla-La Mancha and Castilla y León also grew, receivers of a good part of the population that decided to leave the capital, and the Valencian Community, also a destination for internal migration from Barcelona. Images | Joshua Aguilar (Unsplash) and INE In Xataka | The silent surprise of Venezuelans: the number of immigrants has skyrocketed in Madrid, eclipsing Romanians and Moroccans

more human intervention, not less

by

The ‘dry’ advances through the pastures of western Spain. And it is normal, not only is it a serious disease that causes the death of holm oaks and cork oaks; It is the consequence of decades of bad forestry practices that have undermined the ecosystem from within. But that is not new. We have known for many years that the Iberian pasture has an expiration date. The news now is that Iberian ham producers have begun to realize the consequences of the problem and some of them have decided to take action on the matter. This is how acorn-fed ham wants to save one of the most characteristic forests of the Iberian Peninsula. What do we talk about when we talk about the pasture? Let’s start with the latter: despite what many may think from the top of the Vía de la Plata, the pasture is not “virgin nature”, or anything similar. It is about a very complex agro-silvo-pastoral system the result of centuries of forest clearing, extensive grazing and human uses of all kinds. We are used to ecosystems that are maintained despite economic activity, but in this case the example is the opposite: we are talking about a unique productive structure of four million hectares on which pastures, cork, game, honey and, of course, ham depend. If the pasture falls, the acorn falls and, with it, the ham falls. A nightmare called ‘Seca’. That is, at least, its popular name. It is a pathogen (Phytophthora cinnamomi), linked directly to the decay and death of these forests. The CICYTEX describes it as a major threat to the Iberian pasture. And, anyway, he is right. It is true that the fungus is, to some extent, opportunistic: requires water stress and alternating dry and wet periods to spread and infect trees. However, once it appears, it activates a whole series of functional changes (from defoliation and dieback of shoots and branches to necrosis of the root system) that lead to the death of the tree. That is why, little by little, the nightmare of the drought has become more terrible and distant. Intervention. To the point where the ham companies have taken action on the matter. The Joselito group, for example, has invested more than 6 million euros in R&D. Their bet is to change the focus, stop focusing on getting better fungicides and bet on the regeneration of ecosystems that can confront diseases. According to company datamore than 2,700 hectares have been intervened (Badajoz, Cáceres, Seville and Portugal) and, for the moment, an improvement of 7.5% has been achieved in vegetation indices in treated areas. It is not the only project and the truth is that, a priori, it is good news. It’s a drop in the ocean; but it is the beginning of what may be a new paradigm. And that, at least, allows us to face the situation with a little more hope. Whose pasture is it? Beyond marketing, the need for companies to maintain the pasture and the change in concept compared to Seca, the initiative generates many uncertainties. The main one has to do with the privatization of countryside conservation. It is good news that agricultural industries are beginning to show solidarity with the environment in which they carry out their activity. As we have learned in recent years, the trend is just the opposite. The risk. However, supporting the maintenance and management of four million hectares on the shoulders of the ham industry (or on the rest of those who “take advantage” of the productive infrastructure of the dehesa) is a risky decision. We have already seen how depopulation has destroyed the ecosystems of half the country: do we really want to leave it in the hands of such a fragile industry How does agriculture our natural heritage? Image | Miguel Angel Masegosa | Jose Antonio Rivero Forne In Xataka | In California, the funds discovered that there is no investment more profitable than farmland. Now it’s Spain’s turn

For years we have seen dolphins swim towards orcas without fear. Now technology has found out why

by

Until very recently, marine biology had an unwritten rule about the North Pacific: the orcas are the queens and dolphins, at best, a nuisance; and at worst, food for the orcas. However, science suggests that we were really wrongsince orcas and white dolphins have been caught collaborating with each other. It’s not a casual interaction.. It is a coordinated hunting strategy to catch the elusive Chinook salmon, documented for the first time thanks to a technological arsenal that includes drones and subjective cameras attached to the animals themselves. This is something that has been demonstrated in the study Led by Sarah Fortune, it focuses on northern resident killer whales, a subspecies that feeds exclusively on fish. For five years, researchers were seeing something that didn’t add up: the dolphins weren’t running away from the orcas, but rather deliberately swimming toward them. A collaboration with meaning. And these two species, which in theory should be far apart, do not collaborate just for the sake of it, but for a common good: the food. Dolphins, faster and more agile, act as scouts, locating schools of salmon. The orcas, with their brute strength and size, are responsible for the final capture of the largest specimens, impossible for a dolphin to hunt alone. The result? A shared feast. The orcas have been observed dividing the prey and allowing the dolphins to feed on the scraps and pieces that come off, in a kind of food “non-aggression pact.” Something that escapes everything we knew until now. How they discovered it. Observing this from a boat is really complicated, since seeing what happens underwater is almost impossible. To achieve this, the Fortune team used CATS tags. Some devices adhere to the orcas using suction cups and are like biological black boxes. They have the ability to record high-definition video in the deep sea, capture the acoustics around them and also have accelerometers and magnetometers to record depth and movement. A complete technological set that allowed us to obtain 258 documented events of dolphins interacting near the heads of the orcas. A silent mode. The acoustic analysis revealed the most fascinating fact about the intelligent behavior of these cetaceans. the orcasfamous for their complex use of echolocation for huntingreduced their own clicks and whistles when dolphins were present. The researchers’ hypothesis is clear: the orcas are outsourcing the sonar. They let the dolphins do the noisy work of finding the fish and they just listen and follow their marine “hunting dogs.” It is a brutal energy optimization. The orcas are saved the metabolic cost of searching and the dolphins gain protection and access to giant salmon that their jaws couldn’t process alone. The salmon crisis. This alliance may not be entirely natural, but rather a forced adaptation to a situation of food scarcity. Something that has meant that two predators have to learn to tolerate each other and cooperate to survive. Images | Vidar Nordli-Mathisen In Xataka | Sharks are disappearing off the southwest coast of South Africa. Scientists have a theory: killer whales

five accessories with which to hit the nail on the head during the Three Wise Men

by

The nintendo switch 2 It arrived in stores with a wide catalog of accessories available from the first minute. Some are official and many others from other brands. Therefore, in this article we are going to review what they are five of the best and most useful accessories that we can find for the console, and that are used as a gift or as a self-gift for Three Kings Day. Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controllera controller that has a function that others do not have. Tomtoc Shoulder Bagan ideal accessory to carry the console, and controllers, games or chargers, anywhere. Joy-Con 2 Supportan accessory to take advantage of the Joy-Con and be able to charge them while we play. MicroSD Expressideal for not constantly deleting games. Chargera charger like the one that comes with the console, but which can be ideal if we want to keep it in our suitcase or backpack to take it on a trip. Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller The official console controller has a very useful function: the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller Allows you to turn on the console when it is in rest mode in the dock. It seems silly, but it’s quite practical. Furthermore, it is a fairly complete command, with back buttons and impeccable construction. Yes, it is expensive, but also one of the best purchase options for the console. Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Tomtoc Shoulder Bag If you want to take advantage of the portability of the Nintendo Switch 2, one of the most important accessories is a carrying case or backpack. The Tomtoc shoulder bag It is ideal because it comes with plenty of pockets, allows you to store video game cartridges, and is quite compact. Besides, a lot of things fit: mobile phones, eReaders, chargers, controllers, the console, video games and more. Tomtoc Shoulder Bag – Nintendo Switch 2 The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Joy-Con 2 Support If you don’t want to buy a controller for the Nintendo Switch 2 and are looking to make the most of the Joy-Con 2, the official Nintendo adapter It is very useful. It is not the one that comes with the console, it includes some additional features, such as back buttons (like the Switch 2 Pro Controller) or the possibility of being able charge the Joy-Con 2 battery. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links MicroSD Express Although the storage of the Nintendo Switch 2 has grown compared to the previous generation, as soon as we want to install a few games we can stay a little short of space. For this, nothing like the SanDisk microSD Express 256GBwhich allows you to add another batch of digital video games, update files or save data. Sandisk MicroSD Express (256GB) The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Charger It is not that having a second charger is something very important, but if we usually travel it can be practical for prevent us from having to constantly disconnect the charger from the electrical outlet or power strip where we have the console, thus allowing the second charger to always be stored in the suitcase or backpack. Luckily, the official charger It is found in several stores and is usually not very expensive. Nintendo Switch 2 AC Adapter 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 | Alejandro AlcoleaNintendo, Tomtoc, SanDisk In Xataka | The second pack of the Nintendo Switch 2 arrives with the new Pokémon: you can now reserve it in these stores In Xataka | The best accessories for your Switch: cases, carrying bags, batteries, and more

There are people stealing spoons, napkins or glasses in restaurants. And for many it has become an economic drain

by

Those of us who have lived in student flats know that there are objects that appear without anyone remembering very well how they got there. A jug of 100 Montaditos, for example. Be careful, I’m not accusing anyone, I found her in the kitchen when I lived sharing a flat in Barcelona. The fact is that stealing—not stealing—utensils from bars, restaurants or hotels is not something new. What is new is the standardization with which it is done and the real cost it is beginning to have for the sector. Because taking a “cute” spoon, a nice glass or a towel with a logo is not an isolated anecdote or a cute prank. It is a widespread, systematic phenomenon and, according to national media and internationalincreasingly expensive. When it affects the budget. The problem is no longer anecdotal. According to data provided to The Spanish by the gastronomic agency Foodie Love, the constant disappearance of objects forces many bars and restaurants to reserve a specific replacement item. In the province of Alicante, one of them – distinguished with a Michelin star – allocates around 2,000 euros annually solely to replacing what customers take away. The phenomenon has been described in this environment as “posh thefts”: thefts committed not out of necessity, but for fun, collecting or simple impulse. However, the label is as striking as it is questionable. Because, more than sophisticated, these thefts are repetitive, predictable and, in many cases, quite shabby. There is no epic or transgression: there is economic wear and tear and a progressive loss of quality in the premises. The impulse to take something “just because.” The objects that disappear are repeated with an almost industrial regularity: tableware, consumer products and bathroom items. On tables, what flies the most are coffee spoons, especially if they have a special design, color or texture. While a basic one can cost one euro, a designer one costs four. Saucers, cups, oil bowls, sugar bowls or sweetener jars they follow the same path. Some restaurants they recognize having to buy dozens every month. The bathroom is another key focus. As waiters report in testimonies collected by Diario Vasco Following a query launched by the profile @soycamarero, soap dishes, toilet paper, air fresheners, plugs, toilet seats, push buttons or even tiles disappear. Irony abounds among workers, but the problem is serious. Furthermore, as detailed in the specialized media Food & Wineit is not necessity, it is sentimentalization of the object, attractive design, alcohol, disinhibition and, above all, a feeling of impunity. The client does not perceive himself as a thief; He tells himself that it is a souvenir. The theft assumed in hotels. If the phenomenon is worrying in bars and restaurants, in hotels it is directly massive. According to a Hosteltur survey87% of guests admit to having taken something from a room at least once in their lives. Towels, soap dishes, mini pillows and tissue boxes top the ranking. The president of AC Hoteles, Antonio Catalán, acknowledged on the Nude Project podcast that his chain loses more than 80,000 towels a year, both in Spain and Italy. All with a logo, which do not go unnoticed at all. Some establishments have chosen to take it on as part of the business: tolerating certain losses such as involuntary advertising, selling the objects or charging them directly on the invoice. Others have explored more creative avenues. This is the case of the Swedish chain BWH Hotels, which launched the campaign The Hotel Theft Rewardinviting people to return stolen objects—from lamps to mannequins—in exchange for hotel nights or breakfasts. What if they catch me? The legal reminder. It is important not to lose sight of the fact that, no matter how normalized it may be, taking an object without permission is theft. As criminal law experts explain cited by RRYP Globalthe Spanish Penal Code clearly distinguishes between theft and robbery, but both are crimes. If the value of what was stolen does not exceed 400 euros, it is considered a minor crime, punishable by a fine. If it exceeds that amount, it can lead to prison sentences. And not only the isolated object is valued, but the total amount and the circumstances. “I accidentally took it” doesn’t always work as an excuse. The souvenir that we all pay for. Maybe that jug of 100 Montaditos is still on that floor, turned into a recurring joke. But multiplied by thousands, that same logic empties bars, restaurants and hotels of personality and quality. And it has a direct consequence: more expensive menus or cheaper products, as hoteliers recognize. cited in El Español. It is not an elegant or rebellious robbery. It is a small, repeated and assumed gesture that ends up having a big effect. And in the end, as almost always, we all end up paying for the souvenir. Image | freepik Xataka | The hoteliers promised them happy times in a summer of record tourism. Until the ghost reserves arrived

There are more and more people convinced that we are wrong about Pompeii. And they have more and more compelling arguments

by

“It was daytime anywhere in the world, but there the darkness was darker and thicker than any other night.” Those words of Pliny the Youngerremain almost 2,000 years later the best description of the hell on Earth that was, according to traditional historiography, the days of August 24 and 25 on the slopes of Vesuvius. Preserved under thick layers of volcanic ash and pumice, Pompeii has given us many surprises since 1748 when Charles III ordered the systematic exporation of the city. But what no one could have expected is that on August 24, 79, the Pompeians would dress in wool. With wool? These are the conclusions of the latest work by the tropos group of the University of Valencia: after analyzing 14 tracings of different victims of Pompeii, the researchers they came to the conclusion that the majority of the victims were wearing two layers (tunic and cape) and that both were made of wool. Furthermore, it was a very heavy wool. That is, with a very dense plot. The cold of Pompeii… in August? As I’m sure you have noticed, at the beginning of the article, just when I was about to say the date of the eruption, I added “according to traditional historiography.” And it is not a rhetorical device. Traditionally, following the letters that Pliny the Younger sent to Tacitus explaining the death of his uncle, Pliny the Elder, it has been assumed that the eruption took place on August 24. However, in recent years evidence of a possible autumn eruption has been accumulating. The last one was a charcoal inscription with the date October 17. In that sense, the discovery that the Pompeians were dressed in wool could be understood as an argument in favor of the autumn eruption. Although it doesn’t have to. And yes, it is true that it sounds strange to be dressed in two layers of wool in a normal August in the Gulf of Naples. However, the authors do not agree. In Live Science, without going any further, several experts explained that “they wore wool because it was what was worn.” It is a common, resistant and, above all, fashionable textile. In fact, the same UV hastened to add that it is well possible that wool was used as “protection” against a “harmful environment” (ash, gas, heat) and not only against the cold. So we don’t know when Vesuvius erupted, right? The truth is that no and that, if you allow me, is very interesting. Pompeii is, without a doubt, the most studied Roman site in the world and, despite everything, there are many things that escape us. That fascinating combination between knowing or not knowing is exactly what attracts us most to the tragic city that in two nights in the year 79 ceased to be so. Image | University of Valencia In Xataka | 2,000 years later, Pompeii continues to reveal fascinating things: the latest is a blue room for unknown uses

There is a startup that turns the ashes of your dead into stones. And he is charging more than 2,000 euros for it

by

Cremation is an increasingly common practice after a death and it is not uncommon for many families to keep the ashes or spread in special places. There is a company that has had an idea to turn the remains of our loved ones into a new object: stones. Parting Stone. It is the name of a startup founded in San Francisco that is dedicated to solidifying the ashes of dead people and shaping them into soft, rounded stones. Justin Crowe, the founder, told in a interview with the Wall Street Journal that people usually keep ashes in any closet because it is not something we feel comfortable with, but when transformed into these stones they become a kind of amulet without that negative connotation. “Some families travel with the stones, share them with friends and loved ones, children paint on them; some people keep them in their pockets and even sleep with them under their pillow,” he says. First tableware. that the idea was born after his grandfather’s funeral, a traditional ceremony that made him feel uncomfortable at such a vulnerable moment. After the experience, Crowe began to think about how he could create something new for the grieving process and first came up with an idea: mixing ashes with ceramic glazes. He created tableware with this technique and began to receive orders, the problem was that to make it he only used a small amount of the ashes and he wanted to create something using more. Solidification. The process to turn ashes into stones is quite simple: refine them to a fine powder, mix them with water, shape the stones and cook. Normally about 40-80 stones come out of the ashes of an adult person and they warn that the color depends on each person. The service costs $2,495 for people and $1,195 for cats and dogs, so that’s nothing. The business of ashes. Cremation is a practice increasing around the world. According to Crossing World Group data, This year in Spain, cremation has surpassed burial for the first time, so these types of initiatives are increasingly common. In Spain there is a company called Omneo that turns ashes into a block of wax with an NFC tag. There are also companies that convert ashes in diamondsin trees and even in coral reefs. The most striking proposal of all is that of the Barcelona company Giem Sportswhich proposed the management of spaces within football stadiums to store the ashes of fans. Betis inaugurated a space of this type and they charged 3,000 euros to keep the ashes for a period of 99 years. Image | Pexels In Xataka | More than 300 people have been cryogenized hoping to be resurrected in the future, but no one has proven that this serves any purpose.

If the question is why today’s songs are so simple, science has the answer: because we are.

by

I belong to a generation that screamed singing Queen songsLast in line or Extrememoduro that they sounded on a cassette. Therefore, it has not gone unnoticed by me that, in the last five decades, music has changed. The letters they have become simplermore repetitive and loaded with negative emotions or stress. This shows it a data analysis about more than 20,000 songs that occupied the Billboard Hot 100 between 1973 and 2023 published in the magazine Scientific Reports. This phenomenon does not just happen. In reality, it is our own reflection, and the result of profound social transformations, of how we feel, consume and live our lives. A study that traces an underlying trend. He study Conducted by researchers at the University of Vienna, it has analyzed the lyrics of popular American songs over a period of five decades, measuring three key variables: presence of stress-related vocabulary, general emotional tone (positivity or negativity) and lyrical complexity based on repetition metrics and word variety. The result has led researchers to be able to affirm that, from the seventies to today, the use of words associated with stress has increased, the proportion of positive expressions has fallen and the structures of the letters have been simplified. What does it mean that they are “simpler”? According what was published by Forbesthis pattern is also seen in other investigations that compare songs from different genres over the years and their conclusions are the same: the lyrics of current songs tend to repeat more simple phrases, express intense emotions (such as anger or sadness) directly, and use fewer metaphors or complex images than in the past. Saying that the songs are simpler does not only mean that they are easy to remember, but that their lexicon and structure have been losing richness and complexity. Bob Dylan won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2016 “for having created new poetic expressions within the great tradition of American song.” With all the respects to Bad Bunnybut I don’t see him as a candidate for the 2026 Nobel Prize due to the depth of his lyrics. The algorithm enjoys it. In technical terms, letters that are repeated frequently and use less distinctive vocabulary are more “comprehensible” for algorithms that measure textual complexity. Not only does this make it easier for them to stick in the listener’s head (raise your hand if you’ve never woken up with a catchy song in your head), but it also responds to how we consume music today. In times of streaming and algorithmic listscatchy and repetitive themes compete better for attention. The change in music has occurred in parallel with the rise of rapid consumption platforms and more fragmented forms of listening. The artists they don’t even play it anymore releasing a good album. Not even with a single, but they compete in a context where the first chorus decides whether the listener continues or skips to the next song. That competition for attention It explains the rise of simple structures and quick hooks, but it also influences the type of emotions that predominate in the lyrics. A mirror of our collective anxiety. According to the conclusions of the University of Vienna study, the greater presence of terms associated with stress, anxiety or conflict is correlated with emotional state of society. As diagnoses of anxiety and depression increased in the population, an increase in negative language in cultural works has also been detected. This does not mean that music causes these states, but rather that it turns them into a space of expression. As and as I emphasized Patricia L. Sabbatella, professor of music at the University of Cádiz, “Music is part of everyday life, fulfilling different uses and functions ranging from entertainment, social cohesion, communication, emotional expression and regulation to learning, relaxation or entertainment.” Therefore, this transformation responds to the function of music as a barometer and emotional regulator of society. It is his reflection and at the same time his therapy.. “Surprisingly, social shocks like COVID-19 coincided with attenuations rather than amplifications of these trends, indicating a preference for emotion-incongruent music,” the researchers noted. What music tells us about ourselves. Although the average negativity and stress has increased, it does not mean that all music is gloomy or empty of meaning. There are artists and songs that challenge these trends. What the study indicates is the dominant pattern, not that all music is like this. One of the conclusions of the study is that if popular songs are now, in general, simpler, negative and stressful, it is because this phenomenon appears as a reflection of societies with accelerated rhythms, high levels of anxiety and a relationship with digital culture that favors the immediate and emotionally intense. Music is not the cause, but it is a sensitive mirror of how we feel and how we communicate. In that sense, understanding these changes not only helps explain why a hit from the seventies sounds different from the current onebut also what kind of roles music plays today. In Xataka | Angie Corine has made a name for herself in the Spanish rap scene with an unexpected commercial twist: she is right-wing Image | Unsplash (Eric Nopanen)

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.