Month: May 2026

James Webb just broke what we thought was the established order of the Universe

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Even an instrument as powerful as the James Webb Space Telescope can detect puzzling phenomena at times. It is the case of the multiple red dots that has been found throughout the Universe in recent years. Many of them are a mystery that is difficult to decipher with the technology available. However, thanks to a very propitious physics phenomenon, James Webb himself has managed to enter on one of these little red dots, to find something fascinating. A black hole that goes against known physics, for having formed before the galaxy that houses it. The data. The black hole in question is enormous, with a mass 50 million times that of the Sun. It is located within a tiny galaxy, called Abell 2744-QSO1, with a diameter of 1,300 light years. To give us an idea, our Milky Way has a diameter of more than 100,000 light years. It is estimated that this galaxy formed 700 million years after the Big Bang, making it very old. However, according to the calculations According to a team of scientists from the Universities of Cambridge and Florence, the black hole could have formed one second after the explosion that gave rise to the Universe. What came first, the chicken or the egg? If we change the chicken and the egg for the galaxy and the black hole, the answer until now was more or less clear. Not all galaxies have a black hole at their center, but most of them do. Traditionally it has been thought that the black hole was formed when some of the galaxy’s stars ran out of fuel and collapsed. Such a concentration of mass was formed that its gravity began to attract everything that was at a specific distance (the one within its event horizon) and, thus, it fed itself, becoming larger and larger. That is what was believed, but it is a hypothesis that sometimes does not completely add up. A little red dot with a trick. The system formed by a tiny galaxy and an immense black hole inside makes up one of the red dots detected by James Webb. Most of them are very difficult to analyze, but this one has an advantage that makes it easier to observe. And, between the galaxy and James Webb, there is a galaxy cluster called Abell 2744 (Pandora cluster) that acts as a lens. It is so massive that it bends space-time around it and forms a kind of lens which allows us to see the QSO1 galaxy in a larger size. In very simplified terms, it acts like a magnifying glass. Furthermore, thanks to this same effect, a triplicate image is formed that can be analyzed in more detail. Primitive black holes. By being able to see these images with a magnifying glass, a tiny galaxy and a huge black hole have been observed, both very old. Generally, the mass of black holes cannot be measured. The calculations are made using assumptions extrapolated from what we know about black holes in the local Universe. Thus, it was calculated that the QSO1 black hole had a mass equivalent to 40 million times that of the Sun. But it did not add up much for such a small galaxy. How could it have become so large by “feeding” only on material from the galaxy itself? All this has been able to be answered, again, thanks to James Webb. Beyond the magnifying glass. In order to better measure this black hole, the Integral Field Unit (IFU) of the James Webb near-infrared spectrograph. This instrument, instead of focusing on a single point, has the ability to make a 2D map of a region of the sky. Thus, you can track the effects of gravity on the gas that occupies that specific region and even analyze the distribution of different elements in that same gas. With all this, something interesting has been seen. That the gas rotates around a center in a similar way to how the planets do around the Sun. According to Kepler’s laws, the further away from the center an object orbits, the slower it does so. This is true with the planets, but also with gas. Therefore, the black hole must be very very massive. So far so good. We had already assumed that, but what is its mass? The calculations of truth. By knowing how fast a gas orbits at a certain distance, you can know the mass of its center. Since the center was the black hole, these scientists only had to do the calculations to know that its mass is equivalent to 50 million suns. Guesses pointed to 40 million, so they were relatively close in astronomical terms. But it is strange, since its mass is equal to two thirds that of the galaxy. It’s too big for that galaxy. Another interesting fact. Since this James Webb instrument also allows the composition of the gas to be determined, it has been seen that the black hole consists mainly of hydrogen and helium. There is very little oxygen, as would be expected if it had formed solely from the stars of its galaxy. In fact, its metallicity is less than 0.5% that of the Sun. All this data does not fit with a black hole that formed from its galaxy. He had to train before. The hypotheses. All this points to the fact that the black hole was formed by a direct collapse. But when? That is not so clear, although there are two hypotheses. For one thing, it could have been formed by a heavy seed that originated in the first second of the Big Bang. Or perhaps it was formed a little later, by the collapse of a gas cloud. Either way, this is a great find, since it is about of the first direct measurement of the mass of a black hole within the first billion years after the Big Bang. And the good thing is that it agrees with the assumptions that … Read more

“Whoever contributes 40 years at the maximum does not reach 50% of what they contribute”

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The Spanish pension system works, in theory, under a simple principle: the more you contribute during your working life, the greater the pension you have when you reach contribution. That’s the theory that works in most cases. However, Alfonso Muñoz Cuenca, an official specializing in pensions, has published a video in which a paradox is revealed within a system that prioritizes the principle of solidarity, compared to that of contribution that should reward those who contribute the most with higher pensions. The limits that change everything The Order PJC/297/2026 which came into force in March 2026 has set the maximum contribution base to the General Regime sets in its article 2 at 5,101.20 euros per month for 2026. In parallel, the maximum pension that a retiree can collect that same year is 3,359.60 euros. That is to say, between what a worker can contribute in his monthly contributions and what he can receive when he retires there is a difference of almost 1,742 euros per month. Muñoz explains that the contributory principle applied by Social Security establishes a relationship of proportionality between what a person contributes to the system and what they receive as a benefit. Whoever contributes more, in terms of amount and duration, effectively tends to receive a higher pension. However, the legal limit conditions the entire calculation, and this limit leads some contributors in the highest percentile to wonder if they are really interested in contributing for the maximum base. As the official himself points out, answering that question “is very complex and has many nuances.” Everything is better understood with examples To explain that contributing for the maximum base is not always “giving money away,” Muñoz explains three assumptions with different conditions that can occur throughout a working life. The expert points out that this career can be very stable and for many years in the highest range of contributions, but life is inexorable and there may be periods with lower salaries, intermittent unemployment, etc. The first of the cases that Muñoz exposes is that of a retiring worker at 65 years old with 40 years of contributions, practically all of them contributing at the maximum of the contribution base. By law, that worker would be entitled to 100% of the regulatory base, which is equivalent to a theoretical pension of about 5,100 euros per month. The problem is that, by applying the limit that the last legal reform, the worker “will be able to collect the maximum pension, which is 3,359.60 euros,” says Muñoz. That is, in this case, the case is observed an imbalance of almost 2,000 euros between the base for which you have contributed for a good part of your working life and the pension you receive when you retire. The second assumption uses that same worker with 40 years of contributions, but in this case, he has had periods with lower salaries, part-time work, contribution gaps or years receiving unemployment benefits, contributing for the maximum base while he has been able to fulfills the function of a buffer for those ups and downs. That is, it contributes to raising the regulatory base on which the pension is calculated because the periods with “excess” contributions compensate for those with “deficits.” When contributing more does not pay off: early retirement For the third assumption that the expert explained, which is the one that most highlights the anomaly that can most discourage those who contribute the most, Muñoz simulates the work life of two workers with different contribution files. In the simulation of the first worker, an employee is shown who has accumulated 40 years of contributions with the maximum contribution base, and poses a early retirement at 63 years old. For retiring two years early, Social Security applies reducing coefficients (unless you belong to one of the exempt unions). In this case, a 19% reduction is applied, which would leave you with a theoretical pension of 4,132 euros. However, when the maximum pension allowed is exceeded, these coefficients are not applied to the theoretical pension, but are applied directly to the established limit (3,359.60 euros), so the final pension would be about 2,721 euros. By applying the 20.42% personal income tax withholding that corresponds to the income, the resulting pension is 2,165.59 euros. That is, a difference of 2,935.61 euros with respect to the contribution base that you have been paying during your working life. Worker two in this simulation, on the other hand, has only contributed part-time for 15 years and does so for a base of 1,100 euros per month. However, he retires at 65 and has a dependent spouse. For your years of contributions, you are entitled to 50% of the regulatory base, that is, 550 euros. By not reaching the minimum pension, Social Security recognizes the corresponding supplements for receiving a retirement for below the minimum amount. so your resulting pension is 1,127 euros per monthand is not subject to personal income tax withholding. The expert’s conclusions are devastating: “The first worker has contributed to the system for 40 years with very high contribution bases and does not receive even 50% of what he contributes.” On the other hand, the second, having contributed for only 15 years and for a much smaller amount, receives more than 100% of what he has contributed. In Xataka | What is the regulatory base: how it is calculated in 2026 with examples Image | Unsplash (Matt Bennett, Jordy Muñoz), Social Security

When traveling to a hotel, I always go with a VPN. And this is the one I have on all my devices

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It’s almost time for summer vacation. If we go away from home, it is more than likely that let’s end up using some public WiFiwhether at the airport, at the hotel or in a cafeteria. Simply connecting to these can be dangerous, but there are several ways to protect ourselves. Using a VPN is the simplest and safest way, both on your mobile and on any of your devices. The problem here is that there are many VPNs that allow a limited number of installations per account, which can leave you having to choose between all your devices. If you don’t want this, then Surfshark may be a great fit for you, allowing unlimited devices: comes out 1.99 euros per month. Surfshark Starter Subscription – monthly The price could vary. We earn commission from these links A VPN that can take you to the movies on your next vacation We know that there are free VPNs. These, for very specific use, may be fine. However, in the long run, They are not recommended at all. The reason is simple: They are not as safe as they promise to be.. In that sense, it is worth investing a little in a paid VPN that gives us security, a good connection speed and, in the case of Surfshark, unlimited devices. Let’s now talk about how a VPN can help us in these types of situations. Public or unknown WiFi networks may seem secure, but the reality is that we don’t know if anyone is taking advantage of this. to intercept our data. This is something we do not want under any circumstances, especially when there is important data at stake (imagine, for example, that you order an Uber and you have your card in the app). In that sense, a VPN saves us from the problem. By activating it, we pass our data through an encrypted tunnel, so it remains safe even on one of these networks. This is the main use, but it can also be great if, for example, You are abroad and want to see your DAZN account to watch the World Cup. For all this, you may be interested in carrying the VPN on your mobile phone, but also on your tablet or laptop. Without device limitations, you can install Surfshark with your account on all of them without problems. And, as we said above, its price is quite attractive: it costs 1.99 euros per month in its two-year modality that, in addition, includes three extra months. So, if you do the numbers, you will pay a total of 53.73 euros for 27 months. 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 | KaleidicSurfshark In Xataka | Best VPNs: guide with the 17 best services to protect your online privacy In Xataka | Why it is dangerous to connect to public Wi-Fi and what you should do to protect yourself

the crazy ideas of Real Madrid’s crazy elections

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On June 7, Real Madrid will hold its first presidential elections with more than one candidate since 2006. The club’s Electoral Board validated on May 24 the candidacy of Enrique Riquelme, a 37-year-old businessman from Alicante and president of the Cox energy group. Florentino Pérez will compete for the presidency for the first time since he won in the second round against Ramón Calderón two decades ago. If there are already things that sound strange in these lines alone, wait until you know the details. You have to be rich. The statutes of Real Madrid have a series of requirements to qualify for the presidency of the club: being Spanish, proving at least twenty years as a member and, above all, presenting a bank guarantee equivalent to fifteen percent of the club’s annual budget. When Florentino was re-elected without opposition in 2021, the limit already required mobilizing more than 150 million in guarantees. Since then, the budget has grown steadily. In fact, Pérez was proclaimed president in 2009, 2013, 2017 and 2021 without any other candidate passing that procedure. Four consecutive terms, four re-elections without rival. Riquelme got it. Riquelme obtained the requirement of 180 million that was requested this year, but just barely: he gathered the guarantee just a few hours before the deadline closed. In an open letter prior to the process, the candidate had asked to extend the period for submitting candidatures and proposed “a broader process that encourages the real participation of partners.” Florentino’s response it was direct: “I don’t know that man. When they called them in 2000, I didn’t ask for more time, I showed up and won.” Riquelme, by the way, already had tried to run in the 2021 elections and withdrew his candidacy, alleging exactly the same thing, that the summer electoral calendar prevented him from preparing a worthy campaign. The 85 hectares. The true core of these elections is on an 85-hectare plot of land north of Madrid, in Valdebebas, which the club has owned since it gave up its old sports city in the Cinco Torres area so that the City Council could build other types of infrastructure. The ground is currently qualified for sports use only and is worth around five times more than it was worth before the requalification was put on the table. What Florentino wants to do. In May 2025, Florentino Pérez presented his project for that land: the Madrid Innovation District. He did it in the board room of the sports city, with the president of the Community, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, and the mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida sitting next to him. None of the three answered questions from the media. The club published a presentation video about which little more is known than what Ayuso mentioned in his speech: 8.5 billion euros of private investment, 25,000 jobs and the ambition to turn the enclave into “one of the main technological poles in southern Europe.” The project plans to attract artificial intelligence companies, big databiotechnology, audiovisual production and e-sports, and university areas will be built in the space. You have to requalify. The municipal reclassification necessary to make the project possible was planned for approval during the first half of 2026. But the early elections for the club’s presidency, called before that process was completed, also served to allow Florentino to reach the decisive moment of the urban negotiation with the renewed mandate and without internal dissension. And then Riquelme landed. Other ideas for that floor. This May 27, Riquelme presented his project for those same hectares: the City of the Partner. The plan consists of three spaces: first, a social and sports campus with preferential access for members and clubs; then, a premium category hotel with reduced rates for traveling fans; finally, a multipurpose pavilion with 15,000 seats for basketball and concerts, which the candidate justifies as an alternative to the Canceled events at the Santiago Bernabéu. The project figures are striking. More than 745,000 square meters of total surface area, with more than 100,000 square meters built and more than 350,000 of outdoor spaces. 11 soccer fields, 41 paddle tennis and tennis courts, 6 basketball courts, an aquatic center, a central club of 22,000 square meters, an auditorium and an agora for 25,000 people. Riquelme also proposes expanding the Alfredo Di Stéfano stadium to 20,000 spectators for the women’s team. Other measures. Not everything is going to be bricks: other proposals from Riquelme are to reduce the membership fees by half as long as the team does not win a Champions League and to raffle 10,000 new season tickets among current members before a notary. There is also an original proposal that the member who gives up his seat at a match will receive 70% of the sale price in cash within seven days, instead of the deferred discount on the annual fee that currently applies. Money doesn’t grow on trees. What Riquelme has not clarified is where the money comes from to raise all this. The Madison Innovation District of Florentino depends on the investment of large private companies that have not yet signed anything public, but the City of the Partner depends on something equally imprecise. Riquelme says he has been developing the project since 2021, although financing details have not been made public until now. Florentino unleashed. The day Florentino called the elections, last May 12, he also gave the most talked about press conference of the season. Pérez accused journalists of acting “in the shadows” to provoke a change in the board, assured that Barcelona had stolen seven league titles from him and ruled out having considered resignation while simultaneously calling for early elections. By presenting his own candidacy days later, was more specific regarding Riquelme: He stated that the businessman’s candidacy “is orchestrated by those who made the most sinister stage of the club.” On June 7, the conflict is resolved at the polls. The reclassification of Valdebebas, meanwhile, has no date. Whoever wins the elections will inherit … Read more

SEPE has a message for them

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One of the concepts that are deducted from the payroll of all employees every month is the unemployment benefit that entitles to collect unemployment when the company fires you. However, accessing that benefit it’s not that simple as it may seem and the SEPE (State Public Employment Service) can deny you unemployment if a series of requirements are not met. Condition for collecting unemployment: being fired It may sound like a truism, but the right to collect unemployment benefits in Spain is conditioned to a fundamental requirement: that the worker who being able and wanting to work lose your job by causes beyond their control. This means that if an employee voluntarily resigns In his position, in principle, he will not be able to access this benefit, unless certain conditions are met. As and as specified SEPE, by quitting a job, the worker loses the immediate right to collect unemployment benefits. However, if after resigning you find a job and are fired for legal reasons (end of contract, dismissal, ERE, etc.), then you will be able to apply for unemployment benefits accumulated in previous jobs. The regulations in this case contemplate that, even if the contracts after the voluntary resignation are of short duration because they have not passed the trial periodthe worker can recover his right to unemployment as long as together add up to a period of more than three months from the resignation. For example, if an employee resigns from his or her job and begins working in a temporary job and does not pass the two-week trial period, he or she will not be able to access unemployment benefits, but he or she will be entitled to unemployment benefits if he or she is fired or his or her contract ends without renewal. However, if you chain several jobs without passing the trial period, you will not be able to apply for unemployment until you exceed the three months established by the SEPE. Only then could he apply for it and access unemployment with the contributions he had accumulated in the job he resigned from. Again, the condition will always be that the reason for the termination of those jobs whether by ordinary dismissal, end of contract, not having passed trial periods or being affected by an ERE. In any of the cases, they are causes beyond the control of the employee. Another condition is that, to have access to that unemployment benefit has been previously quoted the time necessary. Depending on the time quoted, the benefit may be received for more or less time, as detailed in this SEPE table. For example, with 360 days of contributions, you have the right to 120 days of unemployment. From 2,160 days of contributions (about six years) you are entitled to 720 days (about two years) of unemployment benefit, this being the maximum limit of the benefit. “You fix my unemployment and I’ll leave” When the employee resigns, the employer is not obligated to compensate the workerand you should only settle your situation with the settlement to compensate for vacations not taken, salary pending collection, extra pay, etc. That is why, sometimes, both parties can agree to simulate a disciplinary dismissal. In that case, the company is not obliged to pay no compensation (only settle the settlement) and the employee would be entitled to unemployment benefits. However, this very sweet formula has an important drawback: It is a fraud and, therefore, totally illegal. As and how they detail At Capmany Abogados, if the SEPE or the Labor Inspection detects that a dismissal has been agreed, both parties would be committing a crime of fraud and will face the legal consequences. The employee would be required to return the benefits you have received and you would lose your right to receive them. For the company, the consequences were not going to be very different. If it is proven that a disciplinary dismissal has been agreed for fraudulent purposes, the company may lose all incentives and tax benefits for a period of up to six years as stated in the Law on Violations and Sanctions of the Social Order (LISOS). In addition, both company and employee would face serious sanctions with amounts ranging from 7,501 euros to several million euros depending on the amount and number of people affected. Exceptions in which you can resign and be unemployed He Workers Statute contemplates some specific situations in which voluntary withdrawal yes it gives the right to collect unemployment. According what was published by Ancla Abogados, among these causes are unilateral changes in the location of the job, substantial modifications in working conditions, workplace harassment or repeated delays in salary payment. Furthermore, this exception also applies in situations of gender violence that force the worker to change jobs, a situation covered by the Law on Comprehensive Protection Measures against Gender Violence. In that way, the reform from the article 50.1 of the Workers’ Statute of April 2025 delimits the assumptions and deadlines for non-payment of salaries that justify the voluntary withdrawal of the employee, acquiring the same consideration as an unfair dismissal. That is, the right to compensation and recognition of unemployment benefits if applicable, as long as the causes are documented and adjusted to current regulations. A version of this article was published in September 2025 In Xataka | A layoff is a traumatic experience. The best way to pad it is to become a “preper” Image | Unsplash (TECNIC Bioprocess Solutions, Jeriden Villegas), SEPE

five things that are much better than using WiFi 6

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We have been hearing about it for months Wi-Fi 7 –under the technical name of version 802.11be–, but it was not until just a few weeks ago when giants like Movistar began to implement its new routers compatible with this technology. The promises are clear: greater traffic capacity, lower latency, better coverage… Let’s try to put some order and explain in plain language what exactly do we win when moving to a WiFi 7 router. Speed. WiFi 7 is a noticeably faster technology than Wi-Fi 6. Specifically, it has a theoretical speed up to 4.8 times faster under ideal conditions. For example, if we have a compatible smartphone, we can reach speeds of up to 5 Gbps. In other words, if you have contracted 10 Gbps fibera WiFi 7 router is an essential ally. Latency. A fact closely linked to speed is latency: A fast connection is of no use if the latency is high. WiFi 7 is capable of combining the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands under the name MLO (Multi-Link Operation). In other words, WiFi 7 opens up multiple lanes on the highway instead of just one: both bands can be used at the same time, immediately relieving congestion. Coverage. Having this dual path not only allows you to reduce latency, WiFi 7 also allows you to enjoy better coverage. The 2.4 GHz band allows you to go further, but is slower than the 5 GHz band. The latter is especially fast, but loses strength with distance and physical obstacles. With WiFi 7, the device can switch between both without you noticing the change, so you will notice that you always have the best network coverage available. Stability. The same principle applies to network stability. In a traditional router, we choose which band to connect to. Generally, we tend to connect to the faster 5 GHz band. It is the ideal band for playing games, downloading files and performing tasks that require maximum speed, but it is not as stable as 2.4 GHz. When working with MLO, we will notice a much more stable connection, something that will be especially noticeable in multi-story homes, rooms far from the router, busy buildings, and at times when the 5 GHz band does not provide the necessary stability. Usage scenarios. The last point has to do with the general summary of WiFi 7 routers: they are simply better at everything. They allow us to take advantage of the operators’ new rates, improve home coverage, increase bandwidth significantly, and allow us to enjoy the maximum contracted speed even in rooms where we may have previously had limitations. WiFi 7 allows playing online, downloading files, uploading files, or performing any type of high-demand task to be done anywhere in the house. Go deeper. 2026 is going to be the year of XGS-PON technology, with 10 GBps fiber beginning to be included in large operators. A standard in which we have been working for more than ten yearsand in which Movistar, Orange and Digi are beginning to lead. Orange still installs WiFi 6E routers, Digi allows installing the WiFi 7 router starting at 750 MBps, but Movistar will always include the WiFi 7 router. A war that will begin to intensify when the rest of the operators begin to compete to offer WiFi 7, and that will mark a before and after in our network connection. In Xataka | Bridge mode of the Movistar Smart WiFi 7 router: how to configure it to use a neutral router with it

New Oura Ring 5, features, price and technical sheet

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Why would you buy a smart ring? The most immediate answer is simple: because it can measure sleep, activity, heart rate and other health data without forcing us to carry another screen with us. But there is a second, equally important reason: if it is well thought out, it can be done without taking up the wrist, without replacing a traditional watch and without reminding us every moment that we carry technology on our bodies. The problem appears when that balance is broken and the product begins to look less like a conventional ring and more like a small piece of technology accepted on the finger. That’s where the Oura Ring 5 wants to make a move: not only does it promise to measure better, it also wants to be noticed less. Oura’s movement is going right in that direction. According to the companythe Oura Ring 5 has 40% less volume than the Oura Ring 4 and measures 6.09 mm wide and 2.28 mm thick. According to the information available, its weight ranges between 2 and 2.69 grams, depending on size. On paper, the difference may seem small because we are still talking about millimeters and grams, but in a product designed to be worn during the day, at night and during training, everything indicates that this cut should be noticeable. You’ll have to check it with the ring on your hand and on your finger, because that’s where you really decide if miniaturization changes the experience. A smaller ring, but not simpler This reduction does not come, at least according to the firm, from simply squeezing the same components into a thinner casing. The company assures that the Ring 5 has been redesigned from the inside, with an architecture designed to fit sensors, battery and electronics in a much more limited space. In his technical explanation, Oura talks about a domino effect: by modifying one part in such a small product, the rest of the design has to change too. The most delicate part of this redesign is in the sensors. Oura assures that the Ring 5 incorporates low-profile sensors to improve contact with the skin, more efficient LEDs and 12 signal paths designed to obtain more consistent readings on different fingers and skin tones. The company also claims that this generation can obtain a pulse signal up to 100 times stronger than that of wrist wearables, a fact that should be read as a brand argument, but that helps to understand why the finger continues to be an interesting territory to measure constants. Compared to the Oura Ring 4, Oura speaks of 12% more accuracy in nighttime HRV and 19% more accuracy in measuring heart rate during activities such as running, walking or cycling. All of this would be left half-done if the ring was not prepared to survive everyday use. The Ring 5 is made of titanium, a material Oura says it chose for its strength-to-weight ratio, and features a more scratch-resistant PVD coating than previous generations. Oura also presents it as water resistant up to 100 meters and with IP68 certification, so the brand proposes it as a device to sleep, train, swim or wear during the day without having to treat it as a fragile piece. Autonomy accompanies this approach of continuous use. Oura speaks of between 6 and 9 days of battery life on a charge, depending on size, and an optional case, sold separately, capable of providing up to five full charges. But the Ring 5 doesn’t just arrive with hardware changes: the company also announces new features such as Health Radar, GLP-1 Insights and AI-assisted personalized medical guidance in collaboration with Counsel Health. Price and availability In Spain, the Oura Ring 5 can be reserved from May 28, 2026 and reserved orders will begin to ship from June 4, 2026, according to Oura information for our market. Entry to the new generation starts at 429 euros, but goes up to 529 euros in various finishes. It is a relevant point because it is advisable to add the subscription to the price of the ring if we want to access the advanced functions of the platform. Silver: 429 euros Black: 429 euros Stealth: 529 euros Brushed Silver: 529 euros Gold: 529 euros Deep Rose: 529 euros It will be available in six finishes: Silver, Black, Stealth, Brushed Silver, Gold and Deep Rose. Images | Oura Ring In Xataka | No bracelet could connect to an Android and an iPhone at the same time. The Xiaomi Smart Band 10 Pro: hold my cubata

Walking 20 minutes a day after age 55 is very good. The secret of healthy maturity is to do it much earlier

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An increasingly repeated idea is that, to have a quality retirementyou have to keep moving throughout maturity and with adequate physical activity. The problem is that many times people wait until they are 55 years old to start taking care of themselves and in many cases because they already have a metabolic disease. And this should make us aware that the sooner we start taking care of ourselves, the better. Walk It has been crowned as the star exercise for older adults, and the scientific evidence that supports it is overwhelming. A study from the year 2023 points out that walking 30 minutes a day for 5 days a week reduces the risk of age-related diseases, although it is especially emphasized that it must be done at a high speed and that requires some effort for the body and not as a simple walk. If this is done, we will be significantly reducing the risk of suffering from cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes, but also protects against dementia. And if that were not enough, a review conducted this year with 180,000 participants demonstrated an 18% to 30% reduction in mortality from all causes with moderate levels of physical activity. In figures. It’s not that Olympic records need to be broken, but simply taking 5,694 steps a day is associated with a 13% lower risk of mortality from all causes. And as we have said before, if it is done a speed high, a greater benefit is achieved. When to start. If the benefits in middle age are so incredible, why does science demand that we start much earlier? The answer lies in sarcopenia, which is the process of loss of muscle mass that we face when we begin to age without doing any type of strength exercise. And that is why the deadline of 30 years is set to begin to remedy it. Because? From this age onwards, it has been seen that between 3% and 5% of muscle mass is lost per decade. according to the NIHand other studies suggest that this figure can be between 3% and 8% per decade after age 30. AND from 60 years old the rate of decline becomes even greater. With all this information, it is estimated that right now between 10% and 20% of older adults suffer from sarcopenia, and lack of exercise is the main factor that worsens this progressive muscle loss. The recipe. The WHO here is very clear in its guidelines and, curiously, it does not make reductions upon reaching retirement, so it does not understand a specific age from which you must exercise no matter what, but rather it points out that you should always do it. That is why their recommendations are exactly the same for adults from 18 to 64 years old as for those over 65 years old: relativize. Between 150 and 300 minutes a week of moderate aerobic activity (such as walking), or between 75 and 150 minutes of vigorous intensity. Furthermore, the WHO asks to incorporate muscle group strengthening exercises at least two days a week for all adults. In the specific case of adults over 65 years of age, the only difference is that activities that improve balance must be added to the general recommendations three or more days per week to avoid fatal falls. Images | Emma Simpson In Xataka | There’s a reason why working out for an hour a day at the gym doesn’t give you results. And that reason is evolution In Trends | The trainers agree: “From the age of 55, you should walk every day for at least 20 minutes, preferring stairs, doing gentle stretches and working on balance.”

Brussels has just fined Temu the largest fine in its history with the Digital Services Law: 200 million euros

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This Thursday, the European Commission sanctioned the Chinese e-commerce platform with the largest fine imposed so far under the Digital Services Law. Brussels considers that Temu has not been able to detect or stop the sale of dangerous items reaching European consumers, from chargers to baby toys. What exactly happened. Brussels accuses Temu of “not having identified, analyzed or evaluated with due diligence the systemic risks” derived from offering illegal products on its website, ensuring that this practice entails “potential harm” to EU users. This violates the Digital Services Act (DSA), the European regulation that forces large platforms to monitor what circulates through their services. The 200 million exceed the 120 that prevailed over the social network last December, so far the highest penalty under this regulation. No filters. The Commission maintains that this is not a specific case of defective products, but rather a failure in the platform’s own security system. In the words of the Executive“the evidence collected indicates that European consumers are very likely to encounter illegal items in Temu.” The problem, therefore, would not be in a specific seller, but in the company’s inability to filter what it sells. In detail. The research has been supported by several sources. The main one was a “secret shopping” exercise commissioned from an independent contractor, who has carried out laboratory tests on items chosen at random. The results, according to Brusselswere worrying in three categories: Electric chargers: a very high percentage did not pass basic safety tests, with the risk of short circuits and burns. Toys and objects for babies: Many presented medium or high severity hazards, either because they contained chemicals above legal limits or because of the risk of suffocation due to detached parts. Jeweler’s: Irregularities were also detected. According to the statement, these data were compared with customs controls of the Member States and with the European market surveillance database (ICSMS). The three routes, according to the Commission, showed “high or very high” percentages of non-compliant products, although the organization has decided not to publish the exact figures. Product bombing. In addition to the products, Brussels focuses on the technology of the platform. The Commission criticizes that Temu did not evaluate how the design of its own service (recommendation systems and promotional campaigns run by affiliated influencers) could be amplifying the dissemination of these articles. Furthermore, according to the agency, the company based its 2024 risk assessment on generic information from the sector and not on evidence on its own website, ignoring external studies (such as reports from consumer associations in Denmark and Finland) that already warned of the problem. What Brussels says. “Temu’s risk assessment underestimates specific risks, lacks detail, is not based on solid evidence and is not comprehensive,” counted the vice president of the Commission responsible for Technological Sovereignty, Henna Virkkunen. The Finnish commissioner insists that these analyzes “are not mere bureaucratic procedures”, but the backbone of the DSA. How much does the fine weigh? Although the figure is relatively large, represents only 0.38% of Temu’s estimated turnover for 2025 (calculated at around €53 billion), very far from the 6% limit allowed by regulations. The Commission justifies this moderation because the sanction is “proportionate” to other aspects that remain under investigation. The situation has been brewing since 2024based on complaints from the European Consumer Organization (BEUC) and 17 of its national associations. And now what. Temu has three months to pay and until August 28 of this year to submit a “corrective action plan.” That document will then be reviewed by the European Committee for Digital Services, which will have one month to issue a response. After that, the Commission will have another month to set the final decision and on what date the fine will be applied. If the company does not correct course, it is exposed to periodic fines (daily, weekly or monthly) until it complies. The company can appeal to the European courts, but Brussels has already warned that the fine is final and does not intend to lower it even if the company corrects its behavior. Cover image | François Genon and own assembly In Xataka | Europe is already cherishing what was always a dream: the industrial manufacturing of qubits for quantum machines

Jony Ive, iPhone designer, explains why the Ferrari Luce rejects touch screens

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You either love him or hate him, but he Ferrari Luce It has not left almost anyone indifferent. The firm’s first 100% electric car is a statement of intent. A commitment to the future that, to do so, gets rid of a good part of its past. And in that setting there is a unique element: the prominence of physical controls and the reduction in the relevance of screens in cars. Why bad design can be lethal. Leo Abrams was publishing these days a video interview in which he asked Jony Ive because of something he had said in the past: “people are dying because of bad design.” What did that mean? In the case of the car, the answer for him was clear: “Multitouch technology is wonderful for a mobile phone, because when you’re using a phone, you’re looking at that phone. But multitouch technology shouldn’t be in a car, I think, because if you have to do basic things, it requires by definition that you don’t look at where you’re going in the car, and that you look at the screen.” Stop looking at the screen so much. For Ive the danger is obvious: if you don’t look at the road, you have a good chance of having an accident. It is a discourse already known in the automotive segment, and since touch screens they became fashionable the debate has always been there. Replacing traditional physical controls with controls that were more typical of a mobile phone or tablet seemed like a recipe for disaster. The Euro NCAP certification body took this into account for your tests: five stars can only be achieved if some functions (turn signals, hazard lights, horn, windshield wipers) ensure the use of physical controls. muscle memory. The problem is not the screen itself, which is tremendously useful for things like GPS navigation, but rather that “touch blindness” that these touch screens impose. Physical buttons allow you to use muscle memory: you can operate them without looking. Touch screens force you to look where you press, which we insist, introduces serious risks while driving. Multitouch technology is not for everyone or everything. Ive also reflected on how any tool has the potential to be used for good and evil “in unpredictable and unexpected ways”, and that is one of the reasons why for him the role of touch technology in the Ferrari Luce had to be almost anecdotal. “I was very fortunate to be involved in the development of multitouch technology. It’s a fantastic technology that makes some new user interfaces possible, but it has to be used appropriately, thoughtfully and carefully.” Result: fewer screens, more touch. The interior of the Ferrari Luce It was the first thing we were able to know about this carand it was already clear at that moment that this was going to be a Ferrari very different from the rest of the Ferraris but that retained that love of touch: the Luce uses physical controls, rotary dials, switches and buttons everywhere. The screens are also present, yes, but touch is clearly a priority over sight, at least when it comes to controlling the vehicle’s options. This is about being better. At the beginning of the interview, Ive made a point: “just because the power source is electrical, one seems to assume that the interface should be digital and that is a big leap and I think that thinking that is presumptuous.” It seems evident that from the beginning Ive and the Ferrari designers and engineers were clear that this car was going to be differentand Ive himself confirms it: “We are trying to solve problems in new ways. Not to be different or new, but to be better.” In Xataka | The new Ferrari Luce is much more than Ferrari’s first electric car. It is a desperate cry to find a new audience

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