usatoday24

Spain, white brand. Landowner and company are about to dethrone traditional brands

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Distributor brands have silently conquered Spanish baskets, from 20% in 2003 to 44% in 2024 without pause or truce, according to a Kantar study published in Expansion. This increase has been unstoppable, without distinguishing between years of economic crises and years of growth. Why is it important. This commercial third change transcends the typical flight to the cheap during crises. The White brand has evolved towards a premium differentiation strategy that has broken the traditional monopoly of the big brands. The context. The ascent has been unstoppable during these more than two decades, growing both in years of crisis (2008-2014, pandemia) and economic bonanza. Neither post-crisis recovery Recent inflation They have stopped their progress, dismantling the myth that they are temporary products. In figures: Lidl leads with 82.1% share. Mercadona follows with 74.5%. Carrefour seeks to move from 33% to 40% before 2026. Day already reaches 57%. In fact, Dia has redesigned more than 2,000 products to “enlorate raw materials” and create “own formulas.” Its purchasing director is clear: “We do not want to be the quality C, but the A”. It is the definitive jump of imitation to your own innovation. The trend. There are several phases in this growth: From 2003 to 2019, constant but moderate growth, around the annual point. From 2020 to 2022, brutal acceleration: +4.1 points in two years. Since 2022, rhythm consolidation, +2.7 points in two years. If the recent growth rate is maintained (1,3-1.4 annual points), the white brand would reach 50% between 2028 and 2029. And would overcome traditional brands in quota. Yes, but. The data suggest that we are close to a natural plateau. Few developed economies exceed 55-60% value share of the white brand, because there are always premium niches and categories where traditional brands maintain advantage (luxury, technological innovation, very specialized products). The money trail. The chains control the entire value chain: from the recipe to the linear, without intermediaries. This allows them to achieve higher margins while they offer quite competitive prices, a much more complicated equation for traditional brands. Spain approaches the German model, where The white brand has gone very much in the market Regarding other countries. Traditional brands will face their greatest existential threat: compete against those who control both the product and the sales channel. In Xataka | Mercadona is more profitable than ever and is also closing stores for the first time in years. It is a calculated strategy Outstanding image | Mercadona

France and Italy are passing over Renfe. Your income and benefits are huge thanks to a liberalization to the letter

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Forced by the European Union in a process that began in the 90s and that ended up consolidating in 2005, Renfe and Adif separated their paths. 20 years ago the separation that divided the management of trains and passengers (Renfe competition) of infrastructure maintenance (Adif competition), with the aim of fulfilling European obligations to liberalize the rail transport of people and goods on Spanish soil. That liberalization of passenger transport did not have consolidated until 2021 when Ouigo started operating On Spanish roads. Shortly after more competition with Iro would arrive. Along the way, Renfe launched his avlohigh speed Low Cost of the Spanish company. Since then, the four companies (and their three operators) They have fought their particular battle to conquer the public … inside and outside Spain. And it is where, everything indicates, France and Italy are passing over Renfe. France, far ahead of any competitor The data of the unequal result that Spain is obtaining in front of the Italian FS Italiane and, above all, the French SNCF brings them electionomista.eswhere they echo the income and, above all, the financial result they are obtaining and those that are noticed in the future. Analyzing the financial results presented by companies, the sum of Renfe and Adif (Then we will see why this is important) have generated benefits of 280.15 million euros in 2024. However, they do not compensate for the losses of almost 353 million euros they signed in 2023. Among the big European companies, Spain and France are the only ones that have had benefits in 2024 but it must be taken into account that the figure of FS Italiane in 2023 was extraordinarily good. And it is that its 208 million euros of losses are well compensated with the 1,100 million euros that obtained as a benefit in 2023. That is, between 2023 and 2024, Renfe and Adif lost around 73 million euros. In that period, Italy won almost 900 million euros with its company for the exploitation of rail services. Although the true winner is the French SNCF. The 1,310 million euros that they won in 2023 fell short if we take as a reference 2024 when the company accumulated a benefit of 1,557 million euros. The gap It can be even greater if we take into account the volume of income. Spain adds with Renfe and Adif 5,526.45 million euros. Compared to any other country of competition is a very small figure. Germany added with DB 26,211 million euros in revenue (although it is by far the country that loses more money, with 1.8 billion spatched in 2024). Italy stayed at 16,529 million euros but, as we have seen, the balance in the last two exercises is very positive. And France breaks the graph with 43,354 million euros of income. A liberalization to the letter that is decisive Although European liberalization was aimed at being talking about companies here and not countries … the truth is that we do not have to. As we said, in Spain Renfe and Adif took separate roads in 2005. We have already seen, a company in charge of infrastructure management and another of trains and trips because, in theory, they could not be the same company to guarantee competition. However, in Germany, France and Italy Companies that manage each type of business They have stayed together in the same group Business, which facilitates operations within the same country and serves as a barrier to entry to foreign competitors. A way of acting that, in fact, has been criticized by the European Union but has remained standing despite everything. Among those investigations is the one that The European Commission opened To determine if the state aid received by SNCF in 2007 and 2019 comply with the legislation. The verdicts are important because Spain (which did comply by separating Renfe and Adif from root) has accused France and SNCF from dumping. According to the government, it is the French aid that allows Ouigo to operate in Spain despite collecting losses what would reaffirm his complaint against Europe. From ouigo they have reiterated that These results are the usual in a company that is entering a new market. This way of working has also been key to putting all possible brakes at the Spanish entrance to the French market. Renfe assures that from the Gallic country The deadlines have been dilated as possible And they have squeezed the regulations to certify that the Talgo trains with which they want to operate are not valid to reach Paris, where the great business of the French railways is located. The obstacles are so many that Renfe, as he collects The avant -gardehe would be evaluating the neighboring country. Paloma Baena, general director of Renfe Operadora Global Strategy, arrived at demand in the French Senate equal treatment and pointed out that they did not expect to function normally until 2029 if everything followed. In 2024, Renfe demanded To the French transport regulator the same and SNCF took a pull of ears by its compatriots. However, nothing has changed. In Germany, Italy and France, the operators of services and railway lines are working under the same business group. This, according to electionomista.esfacilitates its expansion to other areas related to public transport and other countries. Keolis is a SNCF subsidiary and receives income abroad for services in urban and interurban transport. Eurostar squeeze the European monopoly. At this time, 38% of SNCF income They arrive from abroad. France plans to take ouigo to Italy, plan to operate in Canada and have a high speed line in Morocco. Italy, on the other hand, has managed to enter the Lyon-Paris route and stay in the Milan-París. He intends to connect the gala capital with London and Brussels while his expansion for Germany, in Munich and Berlin is scheduled. In addition, it already has services in Spain, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands and operates four subway lines in Riad (Saudi Arabia). For its part, Spain barely receives income that … Read more

How to save Google space quickly photos with the new function of managing storage

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Let’s explain How to save space in Google Photos quickly using a new function of managing storage. This function allows you to release space by undoing photos and videos not necessary, such as screenshots, unfocused photos, large photos and videos and the contents of other applications. Keep in mind that the free space offered by Google both in Drive and in photos and your whole account is only 15 GB, so if you keep photos in the specific application immediately you will take you. This option has begun to free itself for all users, so it is just a matter of time that you can use it too. Quickly clean space in Google photos What you have to do to use this function is to update the Google APP photos to its latest version. Now, click on your profile image on the right, and you will enter a window with several options. In this window, you have to click on the option of Manage storage that will appear in the menu. The option appears under the indicator that tells you the amount of space you have occupied. This will take you to a screen where you will see the section Check and delete elements. In it, you can click on each of the sections To see the content of screen catches, photos and large videos, unfocused and the images saved by other apps. Inside you can select in each category all the photos you want to delete, reviewing them first if necessary. Here, you must remember that these options They delete the photos of the cloud but not from your deviceso they will still be on your phone. This gives you flexibility to save, for example the large files, on an external hard drive or disk so as not to lose them. In Xataka Basics | 61 European alternatives to Google, X, Gmail, Chrome, Maps, Dropbox, Google Drive, WhatsApp and other popular services

7 out of 10 spectators were last weekend to see ‘Lilo and Stitch to the cinema. It is not as good news as it seems

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There is no possible discussion: the absolute queen of the box office this past weekend was ‘Lilo and Stitch’, the remake in real image of the animated Disney classic of 2002. In just a couple of days he raised more than Disney had invested in it, and in countries like Spain he has been completely imposed at the box office. Raising, incidentally, doubts about the convenience that there are premieres that dominate the rest with so many clarity. The numbers sing. This first weekend, ‘Lilo and Stitch’ has collected worldwide 341 million dollars. In an unusual but very significant note, practically half of that amount, 157.8 million, has been in international markets. In this way it becomes the second best premiere of the year, just behind ‘A Minecraft movie‘. With a budget of only 100 million dollars to which you have to add up to others in marketing (absolutely key in this case), the business has been round for Disney. In Spain, even more. In our box office, According to Comscorethe thing has been even more triumphant: more than 750,000 spectators have seen it, entering about 5.7 million euros in 1107 screens, that is, the best premiere of the year. Thanks to Disney, the box office receives a welcome oxygen ball, becoming the best weekend of 2025. For comparing, the general box office has been 205% higher than the previous weekend. Without rival. In total, this weekend 8.3 million euros and almost 1.1 million viewers have been raised in all movie theaters. From there, the accounts are simple: 70% of the weekend market share corresponds to titles distributed by Disney in Spain (remember that films such as ‘Thunderbolts’ are still running). That is, the collection of ‘Lilo and Stitch’ is 67% of the Spanish total box office. Or in other words: 750,000 spectators against 1.1 million. 7 out of 10 spectators have seen the Disney movie. La Puntilla: ‘Mission Impossible’. The eighth delivery of the adventures of Ethan Hunt de Tom Cruise has finished rounding a weekend absolutely marked by the blockbusters: the film has entered 190 million worldwide, of which 1.55 million euros have been in Spain. Here is the fifth best premiere of 2025 and they are not absolutely spectacular figures, but we take this into account: of those 3 out of 10 spectators who did not enter ‘Lilo and Stitch’, As the box office expert Pau Brunet saysmore than half saw Tom Cruise’s movie. Short -travel nostalgia. ‘Lilo and Stitch’, regardless of their box office or its limited creative interest, is an interesting exhibition of the state of things: the nostalgia of generation X and millennials, exploited, of millennials, exploited, It is the turn of generation Z. This film is the first to go to the memories of such a young generation: the original film represents the sunset of Disney’s Golden Age, with the advent of Pixar and primed by the last VHS copes, where the sequelae of the film were released. A twilight environment for animation cinema that is now remembered with love. The teddy business. That is why that investment of 100 million euros in marketing makes sense. Stitch’s stuffed animals and dolls have been the great surprise triumph of merchandising of Disney products in recent years: since 2019, annual sales of character -related products have gone from 200 million dollars to exceed 2.6 billion dollars in the last yearaccording to ‘The Wall Street Journal’. And that is just the most visible part of the business: Stitch has become one of the undisputed stars in Disney attractions parks, and the products with the alien face They multiply without rest. The danger of success. Although all this are excellent news for Disney, to the box office (especially Spanish) leaves it in a complicated situation: hypertaquillea films such as ‘Lilo and Stitch’ or ‘Impossible mission 8’ are magnets that attract viewers … to the detriment of the rest of the movies. Although the box office has shot thanks to Disney, 16 titles are distributed Collection crumbs: 474,000 euros. Insufficient to lift a box office that needs the crutch of a couple of Blockbusters To take oxygen, which undoubtedly does not give too many hope about the good health of movie theaters. Header | Disney In Xataka | Ozores was a day the most important person in Spain. To the point of delaying the premiere of ‘The Empire Contraataca’

TSMC will open a chip design center in Germany. It will not be enough to avoid the failure of Europe

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Just a few hours ago Paul de Bot, the president of the European subsidiary of TSMC, has announced that your company will build a semiconductor design center in Munich (Germany). This installation will be ready in a record time: During the third quarter of 2025. In fact, this Taiwanese integrated circuit manufacturer, The Major on the Planettrust that this installation starts its operations in just three months. The construction and tuning of a avant -garde chips factory requires investing at least four years in these processes before starting large -scale production, but the installation that TSMC will be tuned is not a factory: it is a design center. This is the reason why it is credible that may be ready in just three months. In fact, as its purpose is not to manufacture semiconductors does not need Nor lithography equipment No wafering processing machines. Paul de Bot has confirmed That this center will be dedicated to helping European customers from TSMC to design integrated high density, high performance and high efficiency circuits. These chips can be used by automobile industries, telecommunications or artificial intelligence (AI), among others. However, this project runs in parallel to the semiconductor production plant that TSMC is already building in Dresde (Germany). This factory is underway, but presumably will not start the operation until the end of 2027. This integrated circuit design center does nothing for Europe The arrival in Germany of this TSMC installation is good news, there is no doubt about that. However, his contribution to the aspirations of the old continent in the matter of chips production is irrelevant. On February 8, 2022 Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, announced that Europe wants to be a fundamental actor in The semiconductor industryand the first step to achieve this requires manufacturing 20% ​​of the planet chips in 2030. The new TSMC Chips Design Center will not produce semiconductors, so it will not quantitatively contribute to European aspirations It is evident that in the delicate current geopolitical situation Europe needs to be ambitious if it wants to increase its relevance in the semiconductor industry. Have ASML and Intel, Globalfoundries and TSMC facilities within its borders plays in its favor. However, The speech of European leaders It seems to be focused on quantity, and is not enough. The quality understood as the capacity of a chip to deliver added value is also fundamental. The new integrated circuit design center of TSMC presumably will deliver value to European companies, but, as we have seen, it will not produce semiconductors, so it will not quantitatively contribute to the aspirations of the old continent. It is better to have it than not to have it, there is no doubt about that, but its role in the objective of which we have spoken two paragraphs above will be inconsequential. In fact, it is very unlikely that Europe achieves its purpose. We do not say it, although we share it; The European Court of Accounts holds itwhich is nothing other than “the financial guardian” of the European Union. In The report that published At the end of last April he defends that the objective of achieving a fee of 20% in the world market for integrated circuits in 2030 It seems unattainable Because Europe is very far from the rhythm of production necessary to fill its ambitions. To achieve this production capacity, it would have to be four times higher in less than five years and is far from achieving those figures at the current development speed. Image | TSMC More information | Digitimes Asia | SCMP In Xataka | We already know what the chips that will arrive until 2039 will be. The machine that will manufacture them is close

Ukraine knocked a Russian Shahed drone and opened it. A hidden message has revealed Moscow’s advantage in electronic warfare

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In Ukraine, the capture of enemy artillery has become a box of surprises. In November last year, a Dron Parody revealed to what the United States this In the conflict (without being physically). A few weeks ago, the interception of a Russian cruise missile by Ukraine was shocking: they had it Made the “Allies”. The latest: the capture of a Shahed carried a surprising hidden note. The air war intensifies. Already We counted yesterday. The Russian air offensive on Ukraine has reached a new level of brutality, with a last attack that exceeds the limits previously considered exceptional. Russia launched an unprecedented mass attack that included 298 drones and 69 missiles On one night, a record figure that has put the Ukrainian anti -aircraft defenses in check. Faced with the foreseeable failure of high the fire conversations, Ukraine is forced to ration your interceptorswhich implies that more and more Russian projectiles will achieve their goal, hitting cities, industries and civilians with increasing intensity. North Korean missiles and Iranian drones. In addition, since the beginning of the year, Russia has transformed its aerial campaign, focusing its efforts into ballistic missiles (many from North Korea) and in a new generation of Shahed drones of Iranian origin. These drones, like We have been countingnow they are in their sixth version and use automatic learning to attack highly defended areas such as kyiv, which has resulted in recent impacts in shopping centers, residential areas and military training fields. Plus: The speed of ballistic missiles makes them virtually impossible to intercept without the scarce and expensive PAC-3 missiles of the patriot system, which Ukraine has in insufficient number. For its part, the manufacturing rate of Shahed drones in Russia has grown exponentially: if 300 a month before, now that same amount is generated in less than three days. Filtered documents suggest that Kremlin plans to increase production Up to 500 drones dailywhich could lead to swarms of 1,000 drones in a single operation. Projection of a shahed Telegram and drones. Economist He counted exclusively An unprecedented fact. A finding within a Shahed drone demolished in Ukraine has revealed a worrying evolution in Moscow’s technological strategy: a note, allegedly left by a supportive sympathizer engineer, said that Russia is controlling its attack drones through bots in bots in The telegram messaging application. The reason? This method allows to send flight data and live broadcasts directly to human operators, eliminating GPS dependence and making them much more resistant to Electronic interference Ukraine. The implementation of AI, added to the use of Ukrainian mobile networks and possibly connections via Starlink, marks a qualitative leap in the lethality and autonomy of Russian drones, especially those most recent models of Shahed who use automatic learning to reach precision protected targets. A threat that does not yield. The response of the West, as we explained this week, has been to eliminate the red line of the “Long -range weapons” For Ukraine to defend himself. Ukrainian crews continue to break down about 95% Of the drones launched against kyiv, but that remaining 5% is enough to inflict devastating damage. Russian tactics have evolved: drones fly to low height to avoid being detected and then They ascend sharply at altitudes that exceed the scope of short -range weapons. To counteract it, Ukraine He resorted to F-16helicopters and even interceptor drones, but the defense against ballistic missiles remains the weakest point. Only a few countries have systems capable of stopping them, and the United States, which produces the Patriots and its PAC-3 interceptors, it has own strategic priorities. Time is exhausted. As We summarized yesterdaydespite its urgent need for more patriot batteries (Zelensky estimates that at least ten additional would be necessary to cover the territory), the US administration has adopted a warm posture. Under the pressure of other conflicts and the influence of the hard wing of the Republican party, which is prioritized, Ukraine has ceased to be a strategic priority. PAC-3 production will increase to 650 units annuallybut that is still insufficient in front of 500 ballistic missiles that Russia would already have stored, according to kyiv. In addition, each Russian missile usually requires two interceptors to be shot down, which accentuates the disadvantage. New doctrine. Perhaps the latest Ukrainian movements are understood. Given the shortage of media and the growing aerial threat, kyiv contemplates a turn in its survival strategy: not to intercept, but to go to destroy complexes launch, Russian factories and deposits. This more aggressive position, defended by Analysts like Kostiantyn Kryvolappart of the conviction that without a deterrence activates the rhythm of the attacks will only increase. While Western Defense Systems They arrive with droppers And their abilities will take At least one year In expanding, Ukraine prepares to face an air war alone every time more asymmetric and lethal. In that scenario, each drone or demolished missile can offer clues to combat the disadvantage. Image | Kyiv City State Administration In Xataka | The war in Ukraine had a red line of 70 kilometers. West has just eliminated it after Russia’s last attack In Xataka | Russia has made its combat drones fly higher. Ukraine has found the solution in North Korea: balloons

In his plan to take the subway to every corner of the province, Granada has broken the cable that takes the Internet to its villages

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The expansion works of the Granada Metro to the Metropolitan Area, specifically to the municipalities of Churriana and Las Gabias, They started in September 2013. After six years of line operation between albolote and armilla (touring a good part of Granada along the way), this extension was key to connecting Granada with two of its closest municipalities. A work that began with delays, whose completion was scheduled for summer of this 2025 and that, along the way, is causing occasional headache to its neighbors. Who has stepped on the cable?. On April 9, who writes these words had to move to the center of Granada from the municipality of Las Gabias for a simple reason: he had no internet connection (or wifi, or dat0s). A blackout that left without connection To a good part of the town of Las Gabias and adjacent areas. Digi technicians confirmed to us in later days that the incidence occurred because of a human error in the subway works, affecting the fiber optic ducts of a good part of the Teleoperators. And who has step on it again?. Just a month after the first incident, a good part of the southern zone of Granada has left without connection again. Local media They report that, on this occasion, the rupture has affected the municipalities of Churriana de la Vega, Armilla, Las Gabias, Gabia Chica, Hijar, El Ventorrillo, Vegas del Genil and border areas. Civil Protection affirms That a break in the works at the height of the Armilla Air Base has affected Movistar and Masmobic fiber optic services. Repair. Technicians contacted with Xataka explain to us that fiber optic ducts contain tubes of different operators. If the breakdown affects the full duct, there are several companies that run out of the Internet. If the rupture is severe, the wiring of both ends is completely replaced and merges with the undamaged to restore the normality of the service. It is a process that, depending on the severity and affected area, can take from a few hours to be completely solved. Some locations began to recover the connection from 10:00 p.m., although there are still many that are still without it at the time we write this article. The Granada Metro. Granada has been trying for years expand your subway line as part of its metropolitan transport plan in the Granada area. Some areas They are already advanced by 50%and local surveys place the satisfaction of its users in a remarkable alteither. Since its inauguration in 2017, the Metro has contributed to the decrease in the use of the private car in the city, improving air quality and redoubling efforts to Install air pollution sensors. Has managed to increase the number of public transport users. Despite problems related to Shocks, abusesand political discussions After its implementation, the Metro convinces the local population… even if they cut the cable from time to time by human errors. Image | Granada subway In Xataka | More and more public transport networks are going to renewables. And the Málaga subway is the last example

It is the ideal time to get the famous Sony console

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If you have been thinking for a while PlayStation 5the time has come to do it at a good price. Now, Sony has decided to reduce all the versions of its famous game console. You can buy the standard PS5 (with record reader) for 449 eurosthe Slim model by 399 euros and the most top model, the PS5 Pro for 749 euros. PlayStation 5 Digital console Slim model * Some price may have changed from the last review PlayStation 5 standard Slim model console * Some price may have changed from the last review * Some price may have changed from the last review The supervent console now at an irresistible price The PS5 Slim Digital Edition is the cheapest console model of the Japanese firm when coming without record reader. Incorporates with A dualsense command1 TB SSD storage, Ray Tracin HDR technology and allows you to enjoy 4K at 120 fps graphics on screens that have HDMI input 2.1. You also have the Model with record readerwhich is ideal if you have many games in physical and not a PlayStation online service subscription. As for characteristics, it has the same as the digital model. On the other hand, the Ps5 pro It is the most top model of the Sony console. The most characteristic of this model is that It has PSSR (PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution), a new technology for re -scanning images. It comes with 2 TB of storage and does not bring record reader. Although you do not worry, because you can always buy it whenever it is available, because the stock is usually limited. You may also be interested in these accessories PS5 Nexigo – Delgado Horizontal Support with silent cooling fan * Some price may have changed from the last review Powera Dual fast charger for 2 x dualsense wireless controls * Some price may have changed from the last review Some of the links of this article are affiliated and can report a benefit to Xataka. In case of non -availability, offers may vary. Images | John Tones and Juan Carlos López (Xataka) and Sony In Xataka | PlayStation 5 Pro vs PlayStation 5: These are all the differences between the two Sony consoles In Xataka | Two years ago I bought a PS5. I wish someone would have told me that I also needed these accessories

More and more people on the Internet and in real life admit to having a single friend: chatgpt

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A Perogrullada: The impact of artificial intelligences is reaching our day to day. The virtual space is already being deeply transformed by the IAS in search engines, websites and, of course, in all the work behind, generating more content, helping to produce it. But … And in the traditional space? Is analog life transformed into the same extent by the IAS? Without a doubt, yes, to the point that we already have to talk about how we manage our Personal relationships with the IAS. Chatgpt as a friend. The Derek Thompson essayist said a few days ago in X that our interpersonal relationships have made a new deadly leap with Tirabuzón. And as proof provides a series of conversations that he has found in Reddit where several users confess that Chatgpt has become Your best friend. The Subnet dedicated to the popular AI It is full of threads “by pathetic that sounds, Chatgpt is my only friend” or “I feel that Chatgpt is my only friend.” Bumper people. One of them He begins saying “I know it is a robot. I know that everything is programming. But I have often encountered opening to Chatgpt on personal issues and asking for kind or encouragement.” That is, as he says, he uses AI as if it were a good dog: he does not judge, he always accompanies, he is aware that he is not a human. Another case He says that “honestly, he would be happy to have a friend as cultured and committed as Chatgpt. This person does not exist, and if it exists, he would be too busy to talk to me.” In most of these cases, similar constants are repeated: they are people who have just come out of a relationship or friendship and seek a substitution, being very aware that it is before synthetic beings: “They make me feel heard when I let me out in, something that my parents do not even do. They always want to know how I go in mind and how my projects go, which is even more pleasant.” One thousand and one cases. These cases with chatgpt are Only the tip of the iceberg. While this is the most popular conversational, there are other oriented even in this same direction. Replika either Woebot They allow to have conversations designed to serve as sentimental support to users or hold daily conversations, Share emotions and give emotional advice. More complex and specific are others that offer talks with specialized approaches, such as Receive Couple Therapy. And of course, quotes: Yourmove either Rizz They help generate interesting conversations and profiles … with real people. The bowling clubs. Let’s go to the initial point of this transformation to understand these processes. Derek Thompson Loate a key point In 2000 in ‘Bowling Alone‘(in Spanish,’ Only in La Bolera ”, today impossible to find), Robert D. Putnam analyzed the decline of social capital in the United States since 1950, with the decline of all forms of social relationship in person. Some examples? Decreased electoral participation, assistance to public meetings and work with political parties, to which distrusts in government, more accentuated from the sixties. Bowling are their perfect symbol: the number of people who go to bowling has increased, but the number of clubs has descended to do so in company. The guilt of technology. Already by then, Putnam pointed to a problem with technology and how it individualized people’s leisure through television. In those incipient days of the use of technology to entertain, Putnam dared to talk about “virtual reality helmets”, that for now they have not been massified as much as he predicted, but in reality the thing would get closer to another invention to which he pointed in his book and who did not pay so much attention: the then newborn Internet. The figures. The percentages and data make it clear to what extent the Internet has contributed to creating this less “social” society: almost 40% of adults admit that The use of social networks makes them feel more alone or isolated. A study by the European Union affirms that spending more than two hours a day on social networks is associated with a significant increase in loneliness, especially when the use is passive (the famous doomscroll). And, finally, There are studies They claim that the intensive use of the Internet (more than 10 hours per week) substantially reduces the time dedicated to interacting face to face or phone with friends and family. It comes. Anyone who has tried still in an embryonic state as Replika’s voice model It may be part of the future that comes to us, and that it is inevitable to relate to the movie ‘Her’, to see the friendliest side (although not exempt from bitterness) of the matter. Voices no longer realistic from a technical point of view, but capable of generating absolute empathy and that is beyond the disturbing valley. If ChatGPT and his still rudimentary conversations already provide a certain sense of warmth, the immediate future promises to even more use interpersonal relationships. If we are able to detect them. Image | Photo of Brooks Leibee in Unspash In Xataka | The best PROMPTS to save working hours and do your homework with Chatgpt, Gemini, Copilot or other artificial intelligence

Europe has finished its spectacular cryogenic plant

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The cover photography of this article was taken just a month ago in the vicinity of ITER (International Thermonuclear Experctor reactor), The experimental reactor of nuclear fusion that an international consortium led by Europe is building in the French town of Cadarache. What we see in this image is A cryogenization plantand it is a fundamental installation to bring this very complex machine to fruition. It is paradoxical that Iter needs an extreme cooling plant. The plasma confined in your vacuum camera which will contain the deuterium and tritium nuclei that will intervene in the fusion reaction will reach a temperature of at least 150 million degrees Celsius, so a priori may seem strange that an installation is expressly designed to generate an extreme cold. But it is not. It has all the meaning of the world if we keep in mind that superconductor magnets, Creobombs and thermal shields need to reach a temperature of up to -269 degrees Celsius. Iter’s cryogenic plant is an engineering prodigy The superconductor magnets placed on the outside of the vacuum chamber of this nuclear fusion reactor have the responsibility of generating the magnetic field necessary to confine plasma inside. They are also responsible for controlling and stabilizing it. These magnets weigh 10,000 tons and are manufactured in an alloy of niobio and tin, or niobio and titanium, which acquires the superconductivity when cools with a supercritical helium until reaching a temperature of -269 ºC. Superconductor magnets acquire superconductivity when they reach a temperature of -269 ºC This requirement justifies the need to put a powerful cooling system like the one that has devised Europe for Iter. In the construction of this experimental nuclear fusion reactor, the US, Russia, China, India, South Korea, Japan and the United Kingdom are also involved, but the Cryogenization Plant has been commissioned by Fusion for Energy (F4E), the organization of the European Union that coordinates Europe’s contribution to Iter developmentthe French company Air Liquide and technicians integrated in the structure of Iter. In this photograph we can see the nitrogen compressors installed in the Iter cryogenic plant. This extreme refrigeration installation will be responsible for supplying liquid helium to 4.5 Kelvin (-269 ° C) to superconductor magnets and criobombs, and also gaseous helium at 80 Kelvin (-193 ºC) to thermal shields. Creobombs are empty ultraalt devices that are responsible for eliminating gases inside the vacuum chamber. In order to do so, they must work at an extremely low temperature. And, on the other hand, the thermal shields are responsible for protecting some critical elements of the reactor, such as superconductor magnets, the heat that emits the confined plasma inside the vacuum chamber. Iter’s cryogenic plant has an area similar to that of a football field (just over 7,100 m²) and contains several 26 -meter high storage tanks. These figures help us intuit how enormous this critical installation is. As we just checked, Without it, nuclear fusion would be absolutely impossible. This Grigory Kouzmenko statementF4E manager, invites us to tie Iter’s future with a reasonable optimism: “We have entered the most exciting phase of the project, in which all the efforts of previous years finally are specified and we can benefit from the collaboration based on the confidence between all the parties.” Images | Fusion for Energy More information | Fusion for Energy In Xataka | From today Spain has the key to nuclear fusion: Granada’s particle accelerator is already a reality

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