Month: April 2026

TCL democratized the MiniLED and has now improved it to make it premium

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A few years ago, if you wanted to see first-hand the features that were included in the new televisions you had than go to Japan or South Korea. CurrentlyShenzhen has become the R&D laboratory from which the technologies that will reach living rooms around the world emerge. In this context, we have gone to China to see first-hand what has turned TCL in one of the rivals more serious for traditional brands. Its 2026 flagship, TCL at a much lower cost than other manufacturers. This is our first contact with the top television in the TCL catalog. 98-inch TCL X11L panel SQD MiniLED 4K UHD, 144 Hz, 16:9 and 100% BT.2020 color space coverage resolution 3,840 x 2,160 points sizes available 75, 85 and 98 inches hdr Dolby Vision IQ, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10 and HLG backlight WHVA 2.0 Ultra with 20,736 independent local dimming zones maximum brightness 10,000 nits (peak) operating system Google TV sound 4.2.2 channels Dolby Atmos DTS Virtual X Calibrated by Bang & Olufsen gaming technologies VRR, ALLM, Game Master connectivity 4 x HDMI 2.1 wireless connectivity Wi-Fi 6 Bluetooth 5.4 dimensions 2,168 × 1,313 × 420 mm (with stand) 2,168 × 1,267 × 21 (without stand) weight 67.5 kg (with feet) (98 inches) price 4,299 euros for the 75″ 6,499 euros for the 85″ 8,999 euros for the 98″ Its design does not go unnoticed It cannot be denied that the TCL X11L does not go unnoticed in a room. Its imposing size and the depth of the colors it displays captured all eyes in a room full of TCL screens and devices. No wonder, it was a pantalette with a diagonal of 98″ Not suitable for all salons in Spain. Three things catch your eye when you get closer. The first is that, to be a television with MiniLED technology with backlighting, they have managed to reduce the thickness of the television to only 20 mm. In addition, its rear is completely flat, giving it a monolithic appearance. The exposed unit rested on inverted V-shaped legs to facilitate its mobility and display without the need to install it on a piece of furniture, but the version that reaches homes will have smaller legs. On the other hand, the absence of frames on the screen is striking. That is, the pixels reach almost from edge to edge of the panel, without leaving the narrow 6 mm black frame usual on these screens. Ultimately, the X11L is TCL’s high-end and he doesn’t bother to hide it. The unit we had access to was the 98″ one, with an impressive presence. It is also available in 75- and 85-inch versions. The undisputed star: the SQD MiniLED panel The biggest argument of this television is, without a doubt, that of the new SQD MiniLED screen that debuts with several technologies that make it the first of a new generation of MiniLED technologytogether with the development of a new formulation for nanocrystals Quantum Dots. On the one hand, the array of MiniLEDs that backlight this panel have reduced their size compared to the previous generation and a new encapsulation designed in silicone instead of polycarbonate has also been developed that acts as a “mini lens” that prevents the dispersion of light and concentrates it on the LCD panel. Thanks to this new design, TCL has managed to raise the brightness above 10,000 nits of peak brightness. That is to say, although the screen is one of the brightest that I have had in front of me, it does not reach that brightness on the entire screen all the time, but those levels are only reached at specific moments and only in flashes or specular brightness. The construction of the panel itself has been improved to reduce the optical distance between the MiniLEDs and the panel, so that not only is the concentration of the light improved, but it is closer to make the most of it. This reduction is also one of the reasons why TCL has been able to manufacture a television MiniLED with a thickness of only 20 mm. It doesn’t reach the levels of thinness of OLEDs, but it’s not bad at all for a backlit TV. Parallel to this improvement in brightness, the new panel receives its name from the SQDs (Super Quantum Dots), a reformulation of the nanocrystals with which better results are achieved in terms of power new chemical formulation of the Quantum Dot nanocrystals which improves color representation and enhances its intensity. This new formulation patented exclusively by TCL allows the color volume, that is, the number of different shades of the same color that the panel can represent, to also grow, reaching 100% of the BT.2020 color space used in cinematographic environments. The sum of one large format screencrazy brightness and a greater volume of color results in one of the best visual experiences offered by the current market. The greater richness of color makes the images acquire greater depth and realism, with vivid colors and maintaining control of the highlights to avoid what is called “clipping” or excess lighting in the brightest areas, preventing them from becoming a white spot on the screen and continuing to show details and vivid colors. The miniaturization of LED diodes and their encapsulation has made it possible to increase the density of light points, thereby increasing the attenuation areas. Depending on the diagonal of the screen, the number of zones varies between 20,736 local dimming zones of the 98-inch model, to the 14,400 of the 85-inch televisions or the 11,520 zones of the 75-inch model. Something that also surprised me, and even more so on such a large screen, were the viewing angles. Typically, screens based on VA technology tend to wash out colors and lose contrast as the viewing angle is tilted. However, the X11L has managed to maintain the type and no changes in intensity are seen until practically 90° is reached. Still, the loss is not significant either. A control … Read more

PcComponentes knocks down the price (to reach a historic low) of this Samsung OLED TV

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Until a few years ago, if you wanted to enjoy Samsung’s best panel technology (OLED) you had to buy a 55-inch TV or larger. This left anyone looking for a screen for a smaller room out of the game. But this has been until the arrival of the Samsung QE48S90F that you can now get at the lowest historical price in PcComponentes: 816.57 euros compared to the 1,699 euros that it has as a recommended RRP. Samsung 48″ S90F OLED TV – 4K The price could vary. We earn commission from these links A TV with Pantone certification and great for gaming The S90F series is not an entry range. We are talking about an OLED panel that stands out for offering us a infinite contrast. This means that each pixel is completely turned off, eliminating the annoying grayish halo in dark scenes that other cheaper technologies offer. Another thing that this TV stands out for is having Pantone certificationthus guaranteeing that the colors you see are exactly what the film director (or the creator of the game, since it is also a good TV for gaming) imagined. Its refresh rate is 100Hzalthough if you choose gaming mode, the refresh rate increases to 144 Hz, so you can enjoy greater fluidity in more demanding games. As far as games are concerned, it can also be noted that it incorporates four ports HDMI 2.1 and VRR and ALLM technologies, as well as Gaming Hub, so you have direct access to cloud games without the need for a console. This TV is compatible with HDR10+ (in image) and Dolby Atmos (in audio). Its speakers offer a power of 40 W, which is more than the average of TVs on the market, although to maximize this section, the ideal is that you connect a sound bar. ⚡ IN SUMMARY: offer for the Samsung QE48S90FAEXXH smart TV today ✅ THE BEST Unbeatable image quality: The contrast of the Samsung OLED is excellent. The colors are more vivid than in traditional OLED panels from the competition. Versatile size: 48 inches is the perfect size for those who want a cinema experience in small living rooms (or even the bedroom) or a giant monitor for productivity and gaming. ❌ THE WORST Brightness in brightly lit rooms… Although they have improved a lot, OLED panels still suffer a little more than MiniLED if you have a window with direct sun right in front of you. Without Dolby Vision… As is usual with Samsung, they are betting on HDR10+, leaving out the Dolby standard, although for most users it is a subtle difference. 💡 BUY IT IF… You are a movie buff with limited space, since if you have a bedroom or a small living room where a 55-inch TV would be overkill, but you don’t want to give up watching movies with the black quality of a movie theater, this TV is a good investment. ⛔ DON’T BUY IT IF… You are a Dolby Vision purist and you have a huge collection of Blu-rays in this format and you are very demanding about it, this is not your TV. Samsung will disappoint you because it only supports HDR10+. Some sound bars that may interest you for this TV LG DS60T – Sound Bar, Bluetooth, 340W, 3.1 Channels The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Hisense HS2100 – Sound Bar 2.1, 240W 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. Images | Webedia and Samsung In Xataka | Best televisions in quality price. Which one to buy and seven recommended 4K smart TVs In Xataka | Best sound bars in quality price. Which one to buy and seven recommended models from 140 euros

is that Claude looks like GPT and GPT looks like Claude

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OpenAI launched yesterday its new foundational model, GPT-5.5. It did so just a week after Anthropic released Opus 4.7, and that confirms that frenetic cadence that several AI companies are involved in: there is not a week that does not have at least one important release. Each model is better than the previous one in the benchmarks, but the surprise is the sensation that the latest OpenAI and Anthropic models convey. It’s as if the roles had been exchanged. The sea of ​​good… GPT-5.5 is “our smartest and most intuitive yet.” At OpenAI they say that this version understands what you really need faster, and it is not necessary to give it so many details to “intuit” what you want. It is now available for subscribers of the Plus, Pro, Business and Enterprise plans. …and expensive. Access for API users will arrive “very soon” according to AI engineers, but be careful, because it will not be a cheap model. In fact, it will cost $5 per million tokens in and $30 per million tokens out. It is double what GPT-5.4 cost, but OpenAI seems to be sure that it is worth paying that price. And they may be right. There is an even more expensive version: GPT-5.5 Pro costs $30 per million input tokens and $180 for output tokens. It is the highest price we have seen in AI models, although in OpenAI the model is more efficient in tokens, which if met reduces the real cost per task. Agentic by design. The new GPT-5.5 is positioned as a model designed to complete tasks, and not so much to answer questions. The distinction is very intentional: previous versions required detailed prompts and constant monitoring, GPT-5.5 is intended for long agentic tasks where the model has to make autonomous decisions over multiple steps. The model uses algorithms designed by itself and which according to OpenAI allow generating tokens 20% faster than GPT-5.4, and some users seem have noticed that change. Benchmarks with nuances. The test comparison table published by OpenAI shows how GPT-5.5 wins in 14 of those benchmarks, compared to 4 for Opus 4.7 and 2 for Gemini 3.1 Pro. As always, they are internal tests and will have to be validated independently, but there are curious data. GPT-5.5 dominates in TerminalBenh, FrontierMath and ARC-AGI-2, while Opus 4.7 dominates in SWE-Bench Pro (programming), although according to OpenAI it does so with a “memorization” technique that could influence the results. Those responsible for the Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index they are clear that GPT-5.5 is currently the most powerful model on the market, and the leap with respect to its predecessor is notable. GPT now looks like Claude (and vice versa). The reactions of the user community have drawn attention not to the power of these models, but to their behavior. In The Neuron newsletter they explain that Opus 4.7 now seems more like a GPT because it consumes more tokens, writes more and does not respond with that tone so characteristic of Anthropic models. Just the opposite happens to GPT-5.5, and it seems to give the feeling that one is using Claude. He writes concisely, doesn’t seem as clumsy when he reasons quickly, and is more direct. Dan Shiper, CEO of Every, Indian that Opus 4.7 seems slow compared to GPT-5.5. For analysts like Dylan Patel, from Semianalysis, the reason is that Opus 4.7 is deliberately compute-intensive. OpenAI has an advantage. Here appears an interesting advantage for OpenAI, which has always trying to guarantee future computing capacity. It may not have achieved it because demand continues to grow, but here it seems to have room for maneuver and that allows its most advanced models not to have the infrastructure problems that Anthropic has. It’s as if Anthropic were a Ferrari with rationed fuel, and as if OpenAI had just bought the gas station and had (more or less) plenty for its models. Minipoint for OpenAI? It’s early to say, but the reception of Claude 4.7 has not been as good as we would have hoped, and if GPT-5.5 indeed confirms expectations, we could have a surprising change of leadership here. It seemed that Anthropic I had everything under control with Claude Code and Claude Opus 4.6, but the recent criticism of Opus 4.7 and the apparent virtues of GPT-5.5 could mean a battle won for OpenAI, which certainly needs them for its IPO. While, of course, There are other rivals lurking. In Xataka | Someone has had a simple idea so that data centers do not collapse in Spain: “unplug them” 18 days a year

rises 20% because the markets are rewarding its future, not its present

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On Thursday night, Intel released its financial results of the first quarter of 2026: the company has had net losses of 3.7 billion dollars on revenues of 13.6 billion. It seems like a dire outcome, but investors caused the stock to rise 20% in the hours after markets closed. The paradox is just an illusion, because this surprising response from the markets is a sign of the confidence that investors now have. they have in Intel. Bad numbers, but less than it seems. Analysts expected Intel to earn $2.5 billion this quarter, but the end result was just the opposite. In fact, it was $6.2 billion short of that hope. However, much of these losses are due to two separate factors: Mobileye: Intel bought this company in 2017 and when Mobileye went public in 2022, it was given an acquisition value. This quarter Mobileye’s capitalization fell and that has been reflected in Intel’s global losses. US Government: when the American government bought 10% of Intel via the Chips Act, part of that agreement included shares, and that financial asset has also lost value. In both cases, in reality the losses have not been money that Intel has paid, but rather an accounting variation in the value of those assets. But the real business is another story. Without those accounting charges, we are looking at the sixth consecutive quarter in which Intel beats its own revenue estimates. Not only that: the forecast for the second quarter is between 13,800 and 14,800 million in revenue, which clearly exceeds the 13,000 that the market expected. If Wall Street was optimistic, Intel is even more so, and that caused that 20% rise ““aftermarket” on the stock market: investors were not celebrating past results, but rather they bet on the futures. The numbers that matter. The PC chip division brought in $7.7 billion, 1% in a flat market. Data centers and AI grew 22% year-on-year thanks to demand for Xeon chips for inference: there Intel is still relevant and may become even more so. And then there’s Intel Foundry, the third-party manufacturing business that is the company’s riskiest and most strategic bet, and which grew 16% even though most of its revenue came from manufacturing its own chips. The ongoing transformation is there, but it’s still green, so hopes are high that both AI and Foundry will go further soon. The Yahoo! chart Finance makes it clear: from yesterday’s $66, today the stock will suddenly rise to around $85, a brutal rise. Waiting for node 18A. Optimism is also very focused on manufacturing node 18Awhich is technically comparable to TSMC’s 2nm process. The new Arizona factory is already up and running and the yields —the ratio of valid chips per wafer— is managing to be above Intel’s internal forecasts. There is a catch here: the only client of this node for now is Intel itself, and no large external company has signed contracts to manufacture with said technology. The evolution of that node is node 14A, and here there is good news for Intel, because Tesla has already placed orders. It is expected that this node will be able to attract more contracts in the second half of 2026 and that this will mean accelerated growth by 2027. But it is just that: a hope. Alliances help. In recent months we have seen how Intel has been gaining strength thanks to various alliances. NVIDIA bought about 4% of Intel in September 2025, and Google too advertisement a multi-year collaboration. Intel is also one of the partners in Elon Musk’s new megaproject, Terafab. The strategy of Lip-Bu Tan, the CEO of Intel, involves using capacity both internal and external to meet the demand. It’s an important message that shows the company is no longer insisting it can do everything alone. The geopolitical argument. There is a reason why the US government has 10% of Intel and why the Chips Act “funneled” billions of dollars to its factories. AMD designs cutting-edge chips but relies on TSMC to manufacture them. GlobalFoundries, the company that was born from the spin-off of AMD factories in 2009, has facilities in New York and Vermont but has specialized in mature nodes, those that go into cars, industrial equipment and defense chips, not in the frontier processors that AI needs. TSMC is building factories in Arizonabut it is still a Taiwanese company with its engineering concentrated in Taiwan American hope. These are the reasons why Intel has become the only US-based company that can manufacture chips in the most advanced nodes on American soil. If tensions between the US and China continue to escalate, Intel would be the only option to avoid Asian dependence. This does not guarantee that the business will work, but it does guarantee political and institutional support while this transformation lasts. But. All those hopes have to face current realities. The manufacturing plant business lost $2.4 billion (annualized it would be $10 billion). 18A yields are better than expected, but They are not without problems. and they are only being used by Intel itself. The company also faces AMD in the data center segment (not to mention NVIDIA and hyperscaler chips), and therefore still has enormous challenges to overcome. Image | Intel In Xataka | Bill Gates has X-rayed Intel. And his diagnosis is overwhelmingly accurate.

In November, Spain is supposed to force stores to charge an amount for each bottle and can sold. It is supposed

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Something ticks inside every yellow recycling bin and the noise perfectly reaches newsrooms across the country. Hence the articles, pieces and reports that They say that “starting in November the stores will charge” for each plastic bottle. The good news is that yes, the law says that. The bad news is that where the ticking does not reach is the power centers of Madrid capital. What’s happening? Indeed, the Waste Law of 2022 obliges Spain to have a Deposit, Return and Return System (SDDR) for plastic bottles, cans and beverage bricks operational as of November 22, 2026. And the reason is simple: the country had to recycle 70% of everything introduced into the market by 2023 and we did not achieve it. Faced with this possibility, the legislator was clear: the current system had to be abandoned and the packaging return system adopted (the one that charges a deposit for each container and returns it later). Portugal found itself in a similar situation and just introduced the European system. So? What is the problem? The truth is that we have no shortage of problems. To begin with, measuring how we really recycle. For years, stakeholders claimed that recycling rates were close to 80%; However, in 2024, the General Subdirectorate of Waste prepared a report relating to the calculation of the separate collection of SUP bottles for beverages that lowered that figure to 41.3% (well below the 70% required). The second problem is regulation. Following the Law, in May 2025, four organizations (Ecoembes, AECOC, Procircular and CorePET) They asked the Community of Madrid that authorized them as Collective Systems of Extended Producer Responsibility in charge of managing the SDDR. The Community is the competent one since the organizations have their headquarters there. And then? Then nothing. Madrid legally had six months to resolve the request; but it granted itself an extension of another six months that would end next month. However, the Ministry of the Environment has already explained that they have no intention of doing anything because of the “legal uncertainty (that it entails), since adequate and sufficient regulations have not been developed at the state level.” MITECO, for its part, responds that there is no insecurity and that they are not going to do anything more. Meanwhile, the clock keeps ticking. Nobody knows anything. While the CAM runs out of its extension, there are less than seven months left before we begin to break the Law and all scenarios are on the table: from a quick solution to a blockade that delayed everything two or three more years (most likely). What is out of the question is that there is no political will to implement this and nothing suggests that this will change. If you had to bet and taking into account that Spain is the country with the most cases of infractions for not transposing community regulationsit would be surprising if the SDDR started in November of this year. Image | James Lo In Xataka | Europe decided to regulate how garbage should be disposed of. We will pay it with a new mandatory rate in 2025

Germany already has its first military plan since World War II. And it’s going to take thousands of soldiers to carry it out.

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For decades, Germany avoided any gesture that recalled its military past, to the point that even talking about its own strategy generated political discomfort. That reflection had deep roots: on September 1, 1939, the invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany marked the beginning of the Second World War and left a mark that conditioned for generations the way in which the country understood the use of force. Almost a century later, that silence begins to be broken, but in a radically different context. A historic turn. Germany has taken a step that breaks decades of strategic caution by presenting its first comprehensive military strategy in the modern era, a 35 page document which bluntly assumes that the European security environment has changed irreversibly. In that sense, the invasion of ukraine has acted as a catalyst for a profound change in German mentality, forcing Berlin to move from a contained role within NATO to a much more active and defining one. For the first time since World War II, Germany not only talks about contributing, but to leadleaving behind his traditional discomfort with military protagonism. Except Washington. Although the official discourse continues to describe the United States as an indispensable pillar, the substance of the strategy points in another direction: Europe must learn to stand on its own. Washington is increasingly looking towards the Indo-Pacific and demands that its European allies greater involvementwhich has led Berlin to prepare for scenarios in which American support is not as automatic or immediate, at the very least. Without saying it openly, Germany is beginning to design a European defense framework where its role does not depend so much on North American coverage, but on your own ability to organize, coordinate and sustain the defense of the continent. The most powerful army in Europe. That’s the idea. The German plan is clear in its ambition: to convert the Bundeswehr into the conventional army strongest on the continent. To this end, a significant increase in troops is proposed, going from about 185,000 soldiers to figures that, adding active forces and reservists, could approach or exceed the 460,000 troops in the coming decades. This growth is not only numerical, but also structural, with a special emphasis on reinforce reserveswhich become a central element of national defense. The idea that emerges is forceful, one in which, if Europe wants to defend itself without depending entirely from the United States, will need a much larger military mass, and Germany is willing to lead that effort. A construction in phases. German rearmament is not considered as an immediate leap, but as a step process which will extend for more than a decade. In a first phase, the objective is to maximize readiness and rapid response capacity, ensuring that forces can operate at any time. Subsequently, it seeks to systematically expand capabilities in all domains, aligning with NATO objectives but with greater operational autonomy. Finally and finally, the horizon points to a deep technological transformationone where innovation, artificial intelligence and new forms of war define military superiority. Beyond the numbers. Yes, because the German strategy also reflects a more complex understanding of modern conflict, where the borders between military, civil and economic are increasingly blurred. Hybrid warfare, autonomous systems and the importance of information control force us to rethink not only how many soldiers or tanks are needed, but what effects they should be able to generate. In this context, the German strategy recognizes key shortcomings in Europesuch as intelligence, surveillance or long-range attack capacity, and proposes correcting them quickly so as not to be at a disadvantage against powers such as Russia. Europe as its own military pillar. The underlying message is difficult to ignore: the defense of the continent is already can’t rest exclusively in the traditional NATO structure as it was understood in recent decades. In this way, Germany wants to position itself like the axis on which a more militarily autonomous Europe could be articulated, capable of deterring and, if necessary, fight for herself. There is no doubt, the approach implies assuming a responsibility that was avoided for a long time, and that now appears inevitable in the face of a more unstable environment and a US ally. less focused on Europe. Human muscle. It is the last of the legs to analyze, because the entire German approach converges on a central idea that is beginning to take shape: if Europe wants to sustain a credible defense without completely depending from the United Statesyou will need mobilize hundreds of thousands of soldiers and rebuild a military base that had been reduced for years. Viewed this way, Germany is not only increasing its own forces, but is leading the way for what could be a continental effort much older. In that scenario, the question may no longer be just whether Europe can defend itself, but rather how much time, resources and personnel it is willing to devote to achieving this. Image | 7th Army Training Command, Pexels In Xataka | Germany was a sleeping military giant: now it has been awakened and it is already surpassing the US in bullets produced per year In Xataka | Germany is experiencing a new “industrial miracle” that it already experienced 90 years ago: that of weapons

Madrid has the key mineral underground so that Europe does not depend on China. The problem is that there is a gap above

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Under the soil of Madrid lies a strategic resource that Europe desperately needs to reduce its technological dependence on China. To ensure this supply, the regional government has decided to make a move and protect the future of the Tolsadeco mine. The plan. As they progress in Europe Pressthe Community of Madrid finalizes the procedures to extend until 2037 the mining concession located between the districts of Vicálvaro and San Blas-Canillejas. It is about reactivating an open-air exploitation that has been paralyzed since 2007, with the aim of not losing access to the last reserves of a material critical for the industrial autonomy of the continent. A simple absorber or the future of the electric car? Although it is traditionally known for its domestic use as an absorbent material—especially in pet litter—sepiolite is today a very high-tech mineral. According to Europa Press citing the Elcano Royal InstituteSpain is the only European producer of this material, placing it as an extractive singularity of the country. In fact, the processing factory located in Vallecas transforms about 400,000 tons per year out of a global production estimated at 600,000. The strategic importance. High purity sepiolite is the basis of flame retardant additives essential for the cable, pipe, automotive and construction industries. These components allow Europe to replace antimony oxide, a raw material that is today imported almost exclusively from China. Furthermore, the mineral is the core of the project MADBATa Madrid initiative to develop high-performance electrodes for electric vehicle batteries. The economic impact projected by the concessionaire company, Tolsa, is ambitious: a turnover of 113 million euros, with more than 53 million destined for international export. The emptying of the water and the promise for 2037. To resume extraction, the first step will be to evacuate the water accumulated during two decades of inactivity. The Ministry of Economy defends this intervention under an argument that transcends the industry: citizen safety. The regional administration emphasizes that it is not a natural lagoon, but rather a deep mining hole with clay soils that, as they warn in their reports, act like “quicksand.” Despite the fences and signage, the place has become a recurring clandestine bathing point. Tragedy has struck this enclave on several occasions: since 2012, three people have lost their lives due to drowning in these waters, including the death of a minor in June 2021, according to the files of Europa Press. Given this danger, the Community of Madrid promises that, upon completion of exploitation in 2037, the area will be restored through a “safe and planned reconfiguration” that will create new controlled lagoons. The clash with the neighbors: the destruction of an ecosystem. However, the reactivation plan clashes head-on with neighborhood and environmental opposition. The Regional Federation of Neighborhood Associations of Madrid (FRAVM) and various groups have denounced, in statements spread by Europa Pressthat the work will mean the “destruction of the Laguna Grande.” The associations deny the official version about the origin of the water, ensuring that it has a phreatic character and is connected to a deep aquifer. In addition, they warn about the impact on biodiversity—especially in breeding colonies of the sapper planea protected bird—and about the proximity of mining activity to homes, sports facilities and educational centers. For organizations like Ecologistas en Acción and SEO/BirdLife, This extension is a bucket of cold water: postpone sine die the long-awaited project of converting the Ambroz environment into a large “Eastern Country House”, integrated into the Metropolitan Forest. The groups have not been slow to react: they are already preparing allegations and keeping open the possibility of taking legal action. The price of European autonomy. The Ambroz lagoons conflict perfectly illustrates one of the great industrial and environmental crossroads of the present. On the one hand, the undeniable geopolitical need for Europe to secure strategic materials to lead the energy transition and stop the Asian monopoly. On the other hand, the high ecological cost that this strategy requires at the local level. Madrid has decided to shield its sepiolite mine in favor of the technology industry, but the price to pay will be to empty – at least for the next decade – the oasis that nature had silently claimed in the southeast of the capital. Image | freepik Xataka | From devouring diesel to being 100% electric: the incredible transformation of a 650-ton mining excavator in India

We have been believing for years that yogurt was the best probiotic. Science is now crowning kefir

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In recent months there is a dairy product that has begun to become very popular, causing traditional yogurt to begin to falter from its ‘reign’ on supermarket shelves. We are talking about kefir, a product that is increasingly you are listening much more and which is registering a boom that is driven above all by social networks that have promoted some of the benefits it can have for the digestive system. A battle. For decades, yogurt has been the undisputed leader in taking care of our intestinal flora due to the ‘good’ bacteria it has in its composition. However, at a microscopic level, the battle is completely unequal, since, while conventional yogurt usually contains between 2 and 5 bacterial strains whose effects on the intestine are transitory, kefir is a massive symbiotic consortium and offers a better long-term result. We are talking about an ecosystem that houses between 30 and 50 strains of bacteria and yeast, and here the published reviews highlight that this overwhelming microbiological diversity allows kefir to survive stomach acids and ‘settle’ in the intestine in a persistent way. In this way, the bacteria are not passing through as can happen with yogurt, but rather kefir settles and transforms the bacterial flora. And more benefits. Its level of residual lactose here is significantly lower, so the bacteria and yeast in kefir “eat” much of the sugar in the milk during its fermentation, which explains why there are clinical trials showing that lactose intolerant They digest it without having as much reflux and also with less bloating. What does science say? Here there are different sources that can be consulted that suggest that the consumption of kefir reduces some of the bacteria that colonize our mouth producing cavities and is also a proven ally in the eradication of the dreaded bacteria. Helicobacter pylori (although strict antibiotic treatment is required to eliminate it). A recent meta-analysis published in 2025 indicates that kefir also reduces markers of general inflammation and oxidative stress, which are two of the great enemies we face when we talk about harmful agents for the body if they are maintained over time. Furthermore, its ability to reduce the fasting glucose and insulin resistancemaking it a food of interest for the control of type 2 diabetes. The small print. Like everything in nutritional science, the “how much” and the “what” are critical. Here studies indicate that to obtain these metabolic and anti-inflammatory benefits, doses of between 400 and 600 milliliters daily are required, maintained constantly for periods of 4 to 12 weeks. If taken in a ‘jumping’ manner and without consistency, no results should be expected. Which one to choose. Although it may seem like it, not all kefirs are the samesince a pilot trial in healthy men showed that traditional kefir (made from real nodules) reduces LDL cholesterol and inflammatory cytokines much more than hyper-processed commercial versions. The reason is quite simple: industrialization tends to simplify microbial diversity to sterilize the product, losing along the way part of this microbiological ‘magic’ that we appreciate so much. Images | freepik In Xataka | We have been assuming for decades that “skimmed” or “0% fat” yogurt is healthier. It’s time to rethink it

Someone with a hairdryer “broke” Polymarket weather forecasts and pocketed $34,000

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On April 5, a Polymarket user with the name “xX25Xx” bet $119 that the temperature in Paris would exceed 18ºC that day. Shortly afterwards the temperature recorded by the Metéo-France network sensor at Charles de Gaulle airport unexpectedly rose several degrees. That caused xX25Xx to cash out $21,398 for profits. Then something even more striking happened: no other sensor in Paris recorded that rise, and the user had already deleted his account. French police are investigating whether someone physically manipulated the sensor to win the bet. As? Easy. The “crime” weapon according to the forums. In Polymarket’s Discord channels, the “traders” themselves began to share theories of all kinds after hearing the news. AI-generated images were also shared on Twitter showing how someone with a hair dryer could have modified the sensor located near Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris. Multiple users They aimed for the “cordless hair dryer trick”, although it would have also been possible to achieve the same thing with a lighter. There’s the bet: from $119 to more than $21,000. Source:Polymarket The temperature did not rise. The analysis of the French company Bubblemaps revealed that no other meteorological sensor in Paris recorded the temperature rise that the Charles de Gaulle sensor recorded. The anomaly was therefore perfectly located, and the French national meteorological service, Metéo-France, announced that had filed a lawsuit due to manipulation of its data processing sensors. Both the sensor analysis and the data led to a clear conclusion and the French police are now investigating the matter. The Bubblemaps analysis revealed that this temperature peak experienced in a specific sensor was not experienced in the rest of the weather sensors in Paris. Source: Bubblemaps. It was not an isolated incidenteither. What happened on that occasion had actually happened other times. On April 6, the Charles de Gaulle sensor recorded a rise of four degrees Celsius in 12 minutes despite other sensors showing lower figures. A Polymarket user who had bet on higher than normal temperatures on that specific day won almost 30,000 euros. The pattern repeated itself on April 19. Three different Polymarket wallets won more than $280,000 in total by betting that the temperature in Paris would reach 19ºC on April 15. The real problem. The most striking thing about this event is not being able to use a hairdryer to win $20,000, but the fact that Polymarket has a single physical sensor in Paris as a data source for those temperatures. This means that anyone with physical access to said sensor – knowing it is the right one – can manipulate it without problems. There is no verification or redundancy in data sources, and here Polymarket has a notable underlying problem with bets that can be manipulated really easily. A more worrying pattern. The dryer case is a clear example of a new category of crime that these “prediction” markets have created. In recent months we have discovered how there have been investors in Polymarket who have managed to win large sums of money by betting on events in which there was a clear suspicion of insider information. It happened with the pardons that Biden granted before leaving the presidency, with the capture of Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela and with the moment in which would announce ceasefire in Iran. In all of those moments, someone knew something before the market and took advantage of it. Polymarket as oracle of the financial world. The disturbing thing is that Polymarket is becoming a tool that is being used by financial and investment companies like the prestigious Goldman Sachs. She and several investors use Polymarket data for their own operations, but if the platform’s data is as manipulable as it seems, that information is contaminated from start to finish. Image | Sunny River generated by AI In Xataka | If you think you can beat a betting house in the long term, we have bad news: they have you in from the beginning.

This space company has designed the suit for astronauts that you would also want to wear on the street

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The private space company Vast has presented at the 46th Space Symposium the suits that its team will wear both in training on Earth and in missions in space. These are aesthetically appealing clothes, but above all they have been manufactured with careful consideration of the needs of astronauts. on the International Space Station. Thus, the aim is to facilitate both their movements and their ability to work. Both with and without gravity. As explained in a Vast statement former astronaut and company advisor Megan McArthur, in space the body takes on positions that it does not take on Earth. Additionally, when working in microgravity, it is necessary to always have your hands free and tools within reach. They may be necessary at any time. For this reason, spacesuits must put comfort and operability above all things. Pockets, zippers and hooks. Vast’s spacesuit consists of two pieces, which can be worn separately or as a jumpsuit, joining both parts with a zipper. It has a multitude of pockets, like cargo pants. The main difference with any garment with pockets that can be worn on Earth is that each of them is intentionally placed to squeeze out their use in microgravity. They are right where they are needed. On the other hand, astronauts may need to access tools quickly, so opening and closing the zipper of the pocket takes up too much of their time. That’s why spacesuits also have hook-and-loop closures on the pants legs. Mobility comes first. The suits are made from a lightweight, breathable and flexible material with rear vents and shoulder gussets, allowing full range of motion. In addition, it is tailored to each astronaut, so that the fit is completely personalized. Many tests ahead. Vast has just signed its first contract with NASA to take its astronauts to the International Space Station in 2027. During all that time, just as the hardware necessary for the mission is thoroughly tested, the relevant tests will be carried out on the spacesuit. Above all, it must be confirmed that the materials are safe, durable and compatible with the space station environment. There is no washing machine in space. Both the Vast suit and the rest of the uniforms used by astronauts on the International Space Station, They must be dirt resistant and quick drying. Thus, crew members can wear the same clothes for several days without problem. Clothes that get dirty faster, such as underwear, are changed more often. They are placed in airtight bags and, when enough accumulates, they are added along with other waste in a cargo vehicle that is sent to Earth, so that all of these waste products are burned as they pass through the atmosphere. Not to be confused with the extravehicular suit. What Vast has just presented is the uniform of its astronauts. This should not be confused with the extravehicular suit, which is used on flights and spacewalks to protect astronauts from radiation, fire, or extreme temperatures. The uniforms They are something much simplerwhich can even be worn on Earth to attend events. Still, these are not random garments. There is also a lot of technology behind it. Vast Seasons. Vast’s goal is to support continued human presence in space in the future, with an eye toward space research, industry and tourism. To this end, this company has several space station projects, both single module and multimodular. They also plan to build a station with artificial gravity in the future, something that has not yet been achieved. But first they must gain experience and hours in space. Therefore, the first step will be to take its astronauts to the International Space Station. Now, thanks to NASAhave their first private mission in these facilities on the horizon. If all goes well, the launch window will open in summer 2027. Images | Vast In Xataka | This woman has been accused for years of committing the only crime that has taken place in space. It was all a lie

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