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China has just discovered the largest deposit of rare earths in the world. And he did it just when he needed it most.

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China has a privileged position in terms of possession of rare earthbut it has just surprised the world with a new discovery: the Ministry of Natural Resources has confirmed that the Maoniuping deposit, in Sichuan province, is now the largest deposit of light rare earths on the planet. The news comes at a key moment, since it is these minerals that are the protagonists one of the hottest fronts between Beijing and Washington in their tariff war. What exactly has been found. New exploration in the Maoniuping mining area in Mianning county has confirmed the existence of 9.67 million tons of rare earth oxideswhich represents an increase of more than 300% compared to the reserves that were known until now, as announced by the Chinese Ministry of Natural Resources. With this data, the deposit surpasses that of Bayan Obo, in Inner Mongolia, which until now held the title of the largest light rare earth mine in the world with 44 million tons of proven industrial reserves. In addition to rare earth oxides, surveys have identified 27.1 million tons of fluorspar and 37.2 million tons of barite, both classified as deposits of exceptional scale. Why does it matter? Rare earth elements are the 17 elements that make electric car engines, fiber optic amplifiers, advanced weapons systems and smartphones possible, among many other technological elements that we use in our daily lives. Without them, much of the technology and defense industry simply does not work. China already produces more than 80% of the world supply annual of these materials, according to the state agency Xinhua. And this discovery further reinforces China’s position until now. The discovery within the discovery. According to Wang Denghong, director of the Institute of Mineral Resources of the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, what is truly striking about the discovery is not only the rare earths but fluorite and barite. Fluorite is an essential ingredient in the manufacturing of semiconductors and lithium-ion batteries. Barite, for its part, is essential in oil and gas extraction: it is used to stabilize wells and prevent blowouts. Without this element, hydrocarbon exploration, including fracking, would be paralyzed. Restrictions. Since April last year, China introduced export restrictions on seven rare earths and permanent magnets, precisely in response to the tariffs imposed by Donald Trump about Chinese products. China controls the gateway to rare earths, and basically any company that wants to take these materials out of the country needs express government authorization. Exports to Europe have picked up since the new licensing regime was implemented. Those going to the United States remain stagnant, according to collect Interesting Engineering. What’s coming now. With this discovery, Beijing consolidates its ability to use critical minerals as diplomatic and commercial leverage. The West has been trying for years diversify your supply chains of rare earths with projects in Australia, Canada or northern Europe, but none yet approach the scale of the Asian country. Cover image | aboodi vesakaran and ZME Science In Xataka | In 2010, Japan learned to acquire its rare earths without depending on China. Germany wants to copy its strategy now

The demand for AI memories is suffocating mobile manufacturers. The largest Chinese chip producer is going to take advantage of it

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SMIC (Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp) is the largest Chinese semiconductor manufacturer with a global market share of about 5%. This company is the best asset that Xi Jinping’s Government currently has to sustain China’s technological development. Hua Hong Semiconductor and SMES (Semiconductor Manufacturing Electronics Shaoxing) are also two very important chip manufacturers, but the true spearhead of this gigantic Asian country in this industry is SMIC. This company is partially public and has, as expected, the support of the Chinese Government. In fact, The Administration is investing a lot of money in their chip manufacturers. SMIC and the other Chinese chip producers do not have extreme ultraviolet photolithography (UVE), which are the most sophisticated that exist, but they do have the Twinscan NXT:2000i deep ultraviolet (UVP) equipment manufactured by the Dutch company ASML. These machines have not been designed to develop integrated circuits comparable to the most advanced ones currently manufactured by TSMC, Intel or Samsung, which is why the competitiveness of Chinese semiconductor manufacturers has suffered. Even so, SMIC has a plan to continue growing despite the impact that US sanctions are having on its business. And, according to SCMPis going to launch it now to take advantage of the bad times that manufacturers of smartphones and other consumer electronics devices are having. In March 2026. The memory supercycle for AI has put mobile phones on the ropes The DRAM memory industry is facing a profound structural transformation. The three largest chip manufacturers of memory on the planet, the South Korean companies SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics, and the American Micron Technology, They have reallocated about 70% of its production lines to high-bandwidth memories (HBM) to satisfy the currently insatiable demand of data centers specialized in artificial intelligence (AI). The current situation has triggered the birth of a supercycle in the memory market This situation has triggered the birth of a supercycle in the memory market, which is, simply, a presumably prolonged period of time during which the demand for a certain product far exceeds the offer. This scenario causes prices to skyrocket. In fact, that is what is currently happening with memory chips. And the big losers at the moment are the manufacturers of smartphones and other consumer electronics devices. This circumstance is precisely what SMIC wants to take advantage of to grow. And it plans to do so by trying to capture the entire low- and mid-range chip market that is being neglected. SK Hynix, Micron Technology and Samsung are focusing on the production of HBM integrated circuits because they leave them with a much higher profit margin than other memory technologies. SMIC cannot manufacture chips using cutting-edge photolithography beyond 7nmbut you don’t need them. Its current integration technologies are sufficient to manufacture the microcontrollers and memory chips demanded by mobile phone manufacturers. Image | Generated by Xataka with Gemini More information | SCMP In Xataka | We can forget about AI without hallucinations for now. NVIDIA CEO explains why

buying it will cost 100 euros more in Europe very soon

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That one is very far away PlayStation 5 launch price that many of us had in our heads when this generation began. We are talking about the end of 2020, when the console arrived in stores for 499.99 euros in its version with a disc reader and 399.99 euros in the digital edition. Since then, several things have happened that have marked its trajectory, but there is one that is especially striking: instead of becoming cheaper with the passage of time, something more common in mature generations, Getting a PS5 has been becoming more and more expensive. That journey takes us directly to the announcement that Sony has made todayMarch 27, 2026, in which it confirms a new price increase for its consoles in Europe with effect from April 2. The company recognizes that this is a sensitive decision for users, but frames it in a context of “continued pressures in the global economic landscape.” According to Isabelle Tomatis, vice president of global marketing at Sony Interactive Entertainment, after evaluating the situation they have concluded that this adjustment is “necessary.” A generation that has become more expensive With that announcement already on the table, what really interests us is how much it now costs to enter the Sony ecosystem in Europe. As we say, to starting April 2, 2026these are the recommended prices that the company has set for its consoles in this market: PS5: 649.99 euros. PS5 Digital Edition: 599.99 euros. PS5 Pro: 899.99 euros. To fully understand the current moment, it is worth looking back and seeing that this is not the first time that Sony has revised the price of its console upwards in Europe. The first movement arrived in August 2022, when the PS5 with reader went up up to 549.99 euros and the digital version up to 449.99 euros. Another adjustment was added to this adjustment in April 2025, focused on the Digital Edition, which reached 499.99 euros. What we see now, therefore, is not an isolated case, but another episode within a trajectory of upward prices that has been consolidated over time. In this scenario there is an important nuance that should not be lost sight of: the PS5 Pro He plays in another league within this story. The console was launched in Spain in November 2024 with a recommended price of 799.99 euros in its 2 TB version without a disc reader, and until now it had not undergone adjustments. The increase announced now places it at 899.99 euros in Europe, which represents its first increase since the launch. If we put all the pieces together, what remains is an unusual photograph for a console that has been on the market for several years. Far from getting cheaper over time, the PS5 has been chaining reviews of rising price around the worldincluding the one now announced by Sony. This pattern, conditioned by economic factors that the company mentions in its statement, changes the rules for the consumer. Today, getting a PS5 is more expensive than ever. Images | Sony | Xataka In Xataka | Almost 20 years later, Sony continues to release updates for the PS3: there is a clear reason behind it

that the US has to abandon its military bases

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The US military deployment in the Middle East has been supported in large fixed installations capable of housing thousands of soldiers and operating continuously, a structure inherited from conflicts where air dominance reduced direct threats to those positions to a minimum. However, the advance of drones and precision missiles that logic has changedby allowing even highly protected infrastructures to be reached from long distances with relative ease. Iran empties US bases. The Iranian attacks have modified completely the balance on the ground, to the point of leaving many of the main US bases in the region practically unusable. We are talking about key facilities in Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain or Saudi Arabia that have suffered damage on radars, runways, command centers or logistical infrastructures, forcing them to evacuate or drastically reduce their activity. What was a solid network for years military projection It has become a set of vulnerable positions, exposed to missiles and drones that can hit accurately and sustainably. To the hotels. counted the new york times that the most striking consequence of this situation is that part of the US troops have had to abandon their bases and relocate in hotels, offices and spaces improvised ones spread throughout the region. In practice, this has led to a “remote” war, in which many troops operate outside traditional military installations, far from the environments designed to sustain complex operations. It is a certainly unusual image, one where the soldiers of a superpower, perhaps the greatest of all, are working dispersed in civilian environments to be able to continue participating in the conflict. Dispersal to survive. This fragmented deployment is not accidental, but a direct response to Iran’s ability to locate and attack concentrated targets. Keeping troops on large bases has become too riskyso the Pentagon has chosen to disperse them to reduce the impact of possible attacks. There is no doubt that the strategy has an obvious cost, since it makes coordination difficult, limits the use of certain teams and reduces operational efficiency compared to a centralized structure. Satellite image of Al Udeid air base in Qatar in February Further and better. It we have counted before. Unlike previous conflicts such as Iraq or Afghanistan, where threats were more limited, Iran has ballistic missiles and drones capable of hitting targets throughout the region. This has forced a complete rethinking of the security concept of US bases, which for decades were built under the premise that the surrounding territory could be controlled. Now, that assumption is no longer valid, and any fixed installation becomes a potential target. The paradox between civilians. Plus: relocation in hotels and civil spaces introduces an especially delicate dimension, as it blurs the line between military objectives and civilian environments. In fact, Iran has not been slow to take advantage of this circumstance to accuse the United States of use the population as a human shield, while encouraging to identify and report the presence of troops wherever they are. This creates a scenario of great tension, where the protection of the troops depends in part on their invisibility, but that same invisibility increases the risk for the civilians around them. Increasingly difficult to get rid of. Because from the sidewalk of Washington, operate from improvised locations means losing key capabilities. Heavy equipment, advanced command systems or even specialized infrastructure cannot be easily moved to a hotel or office, limiting the scope and effectiveness of operations. Although the US military maintains its ability to act, the quality and speed of response suffers, making warfare more complex and less efficient. The real change. What happened also reflects a deeper change in the nature of modern conflict. The great bases, the same ones that once were the pillar of presence American military abroad, are no longer safe spaces against adversaries with advanced capabilities. The combination of long-range missiles and drones has turned any fixed point into a vulnerable target, and that forces us to completely rethink not only the way we fight, but also where and how a war can be sustained. Image | Plant Labs In Xataka | Iran has found the perfect deal in Hormuz: a “guest list” that can pass after paying two million per ship In Xataka | Iran and Russia had been silently exchanging drones and material in the Caspian Sea for months: Israel has just revealed it

the Tajogaite volcano has become an immense steam iron

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Last Wednesday, while the storm therese discharged more than 117 liters per square meter in the Roque de los Muchachos, something striking was happening a few kilometers further down in the Tajogaite flows. Here the rainwater touched the ground and disappeared without accumulating, without forming puddles or running off. And it has an explanation: It evaporated the moment it hit the ground.turning the lava field into a kind of giant steam iron. A hot zone. But it is not that the La Palma volcano has been reactivated, but quite the opposite: it has been officially off since December 13, 2021. More than four years have passed, and yet the ground continues to burn from the inside. Because? To understand why, you have to think about how rock works as a material. The basaltic lava from Tajogaite, which is precisely what the volcano expelled during the 85 days it was erupting, came out to the outside at a temperature that could reach 1,200 degrees. This is double that of other volcanic compositions, such as andesitic, which is around 800 degrees. That 300 degree difference matters a lot when we talk about how long it takes to cool down. But the key factor in this case is not the temperature, but rather that the rock is a poor heat conducting material. In this way, the outer surface of the flow may be cold to the touch, even covered with vegetation in some places, while at a depth of 15 or 20 meters the temperatures have been exceeding 150 degrees Celsius until recently. In this way, when water falls, it is logical that it ends up evaporating. What’s underneath. What we see when it rains is actually the tip of the iceberg because beneath this there is a complex geological process. a study published in 2025 it generated for the first time a three dimensional map of the internal structure of the Tajogaite. In this way, they were able to see that under the crater there are areas with anomalies compatible with the presence of pockets and conduits where there is still trapped magma and gases. But logically this does not mean that the volcano will erupt again, but rather that the residual activity still lasts years later. When will it cool down? The most honest answer is that no one knows preciselysince it depends on too many simultaneous factors: the variable thickness of the casting at each point, the porosity of the rock or the ambient temperature are some of them. That is why each area is a different world when it comes to interpreting it. What is true is that the subsoil is going to cool little by little and the scenes that we have seen with this storm will theoretically diminish. The final result will be a completely new piece of land in Spain with a considerable extension that must continue to ‘mature’. Images | Annamarie Ursula rtvc In Xataka | Under the Canary Islands rests a 1,625 meter volcano: it has now begun to show signs of life after ten years of vigil

review with features, price and specifications

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This season Dyson has decided to expand its portfolio of floor cleaning products: in addition to a very light handheld vacuum cleaner (which we have tried) and a new robot vacuum cleanerhas also launched an electric mop that impresses: it is practically a stick. But this ode to minimalism It has a very competent technical sheet, so we have thoroughly tested the Dyson Pencilwash to verify it. Dyson Pencilwash technical sheet Dyson Pencilwash Dimensions and weight 1155 x 267 x 198mm; 2.2kg Deposit 0.34L autonomy 30 minutes (4-cell lithium ion battery) Charging time 3.5 hours cleaning area 100 m² per tank What comes in the box Charging base, wet brush, drip tray and handle price 349 euros Dyson PencilWash, electric mop, Ultra-thin and lightweight handle, motorized roller, hygienic cleaning, stain removal, quick drying, 30-minute autonomy The price could vary. We earn commission from these links I can’t believe so much technology fits in that stick. When I took it out of the box, the first thing I thought was that there were pieces missing. It can’t be that minimalist… and it is: the Dyson PencilWash is an electric mop and on the surface it’s little more than a stick. It comes with a plastic cap to cover the roller when not in use and a stand to keep the stick upright and carry it. If you want to scrub, remove the roller protector, take out the stick and put them together with the brand’s typical assembly that sounds like a clack when you put them together and has a red button to release them. The fit is perfect. My first impression was that it’s crazy that fits all the electronics in a cylinder less than four centimeters in diameter. It may not be as much as in a vacuum cleaner, but at least it has a battery and a motor. Unlike the mop, with a stick that more or less reaches your shoulders, mop and bucket, here we have a stick that reaches my hips (I’m 1.70 m tall), the roller area and little else. On the handle, the brand’s characteristic aluminum in a vibrant color and matte finish is transformed into a plastic cover to improve grip and immediately below, a couple of buttons to start it and choose if you want more or less water and a couple of LEDs that light up when the battery runs out, it is charging or there is a problem. All very intuitive, no need to read instructions. As always, the most interesting thing is in that roller: it is made of an absorbent microfiber (according to the firm, with 64,000 filaments) and has eight hydration points to always be moist. A surprisingly small tank is also integrated into that area for everything it does: provide mopping water and also clean the roller. Everyone knows the scrubbing process, but here it is much simpler, more comfortable and ergonomic: between the light weight being concentrated on the base and the roller practically sliding on its own because it is motorized, with the Dyson PencilWash the effort is limited to minimally holding and directing the handle. It can be done by (almost) anyone and here I’m also talking about accessibility: if for whatever reason you find it difficult to wring the mop or press, here you could scrub using just two fingers. This must be thanked to a format reduced to the minimum, good distribution of the elements and that it barely weighs. In terms of design and ergonomics, Dyson has given a master class. A week scrubbing with the Dyson PencilWash After the first full charge and filling the tank (as easy as lifting the tab and putting the base under the tap), I got ready for my first house cleaning. As I mentioned in the design section, there is no type of power control because the motorized roller goes alone and it is not an exaggeration: if you do not hold it, it pulls forward until it hits something. What you can choose is whether you want to scrub with a normal or high amount of water. With the normal level it is more than enough for standard cleanings. Something that I have noticed and appreciated about the classic mop is that the dosage is so good that moisten the entire soil with a thin uniform layerbut it doesn’t get puddled (something that happens with a mop if you don’t drain it well). So you wet everything but it dries moderately quickly. To properly clean the floor with water is not enough, so even if it is not included (it must be buy it separatelyit is a probiotic cleaner with low foam and it is not exactly cheap), Dyson allows you to add a little cleaning product to the tank. My apartment is 70 square meters and in less than 10 minutes I had cleaned the floor from top to bottom. I go faster than with the mop and I work half as much. By the way, Dyson talks about a half-hour autonomy that is enough to cover 100 square meters and the truth is, I think it has been conservative: I have been able to clean my house twice without the alarm going off, so the battery is not a problem. What you will have to do if you have a larger house is refill the tank: with its capacity I have barely managed to clean my entire house in normal mode with a certain intensity. The elbow between the base and the handle allows the roller head to be placed almost horizontally, which is great for cleaning under furniture, so that in practice at heights it practically competes with a mop. But since it is wider than the mocho, there are places where it doesn’t fit. An example: in the space between the toilet and the bathtub. Here it’s time to grab the mop from time to time. But it’s not only time to recover the mop to deal … Read more

I have calculated how much I will spend on gasoline this Easter. I’m already looking for an electric car

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Tomorrow, March 28, will mark one month since the United States and Israel attacked Iran in an offensive that appears to be stalling. Four weeks since the Strait of Hormuz was effectively closed, since the price of oil skyrocketed and gasoline prices skyrocketed. Four weeks paying more for our deposits. Four weeks looking at electric cars with different eyes. Tied to fuel. The price of gasoline and diesel has fallen significantly since the Government applied the discount on VAT on hydrocarbons. The market, which was beginning to reach two euros/liter, has relaxed in the case of gasoline (1,562 euros/liter on average), according to dieselgasolina.combut it is still very high in the case of diesel, which remains at 1,773 euros/liter. This gap between diesel and gasoline is making let’s live an unprecedented situation. Already with the war in Ukraine we saw the price of diesel skyrocket. Now, with Russia already out of the market (at least the legal one) and with a new tension in the supply chain, Europe is witnessing an increase in diesel prices for having gotten rid of its refineries over the years. A considerable saving. Taking prices in Spain as a reference, the savings in the cost of using an electric car were already high in recent years. But this has skyrocketed in the last month. Spain continues to be dependent on diesel for an aging fleet where diesel is used by 57.1% of the total volume of cars, according to Anfac. although new cars sold with this technology are very few. And in Europe the x-ray is very similar. This has made many look at the electric car with different eyes. How we tell you our calculator and the professionals themselves explainthe more kilometers traveled with an electric car, the cheaper its cost of use. Or, simply, the greater the gap that exists with gasoline. Let’s give an example, with diesel at 1.773 euros/liter, traveling 100 kilometers with a car that consumes five liters of fuel costs 8.86 euros. In the case of gasoline, if the car consumes seven liters on average, the cost to travel 100 kilometers is 10.93 euros refueling at 1.562 euros/liter. With an electric car that consumes 20 kWh/100 km on the road, the cost is the following: Domestic rate (10 cents/kWh): 2 euros/100 km Direct current recharging up to 50 kW (20 cents/kWh): 4 euros/100 km Direct current recharging up to 150 kW (30-45 cents/kWh): 6-9/100 km Direct current recharging above 150 kW (60 cents/kWh): 12 euros/100 km Winner? Yes, especially the slower we reload. And the comparisons between a combustion car and an electric one are somewhat complicated since the consumption of the car on the road (quite variable between electric cars) and the price of the chargers come into play. Below we will leave a practical example but first we will make some details clear: The consumption of an electric car on the road has important differences. A Tesla Model 3, perhaps the most efficient car at the moment, consumes about 16 kWh/100 km at sustained rates of 120 km/h. A “gastón” car can go at 24 kWh/100 km. That, with high rates, means recharges of up to four euros more per 100 kilometers The real savings of an electric car are in slow recharges, especially domestic ones. Here, rates vary greatly. There are flat rates of 15 cents/kWh but those who have license plates and a favorable environment can charge at 0 cents/kWh for a good part of the year. In our case, we are going to assume 10 cents/kWh. On a trip like Easter, it is very likely that we will stop to sightsee in a city or to eat. At these stops, slow or direct current charging can be done but at low power, below 50 kW. Just as service stations have loyalty cards and programs, electric car users can also take advantage of subscription rates to save money. We will leave them aside because the possibilities in both cases are very wide. Our example. To understand whether or not we save money, let’s assume that this Easter we add a trip of 2,000 kilometers. In it, we will leave with a full battery, as a typical electric car user would. Our electric car has a range of 400 kilometers. The round trip will take us 1,200 kilometers and we will do another 800 kilometers moving from one place to another, getting to know new places. Let’s assume that the car’s consumption is 20 kWh/100 kilometers and that the battery has a size of 80 kWh. Thus, we are going to assume the following recharges: We leave home with 100% (80 kWh and 400 km) and we stop when we have 10% battery left (8 kWh and 40 km) We fill the battery with a high-power charger up to 80% (we have recharged 56 kWh and have 320 km available) and we arrive at the destination with 80 km left in the battery (20%) At the destination we charge the battery to 100% to move with a 50 kWh charger. We have a second recharge at destination. We are going to do 800 kilometers of tourism, that is two full batteries which is equivalent to the first full recharge already mentioned and a second to have another 400 kilometers ready. On our return we will repeat the move: we will charge in our holiday area (third recharge at destination) with a 50 kW charger up to 100%, we will repeat the fast charging on the road at more than 150 kW and we will fill the battery at home to 100% to check the real cost. Here we will arrive with 20% battery. The expense. Taking all this data, we have the following results: First recharge on the way up to 80% (56 kWh at 0.60 euros/kWh): 33.60 euros First recharge at destination up to 100% (72 kWh at 0.20 euros/kWh): 14.40 euros Second recharge at destination up to 100% (80 kWh at 0.20 euros/kWh): … Read more

the bravery with which he fought until the end

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That of the Titanic is a story with many dates. There is that of the firm that made its construction possible, in July 1908, that of its launching, at the end of May 1911, and that of the beginning of its maiden voyage, on April 10, 1912. The most famous of all is, however, the most tragic and the one that has turned it into a legend: April 14, 1912. That day, minutes before midnight, the brand new White Star Line ship collided with an iceberg off the coast of Newfoundland. The impact was so brutal that it took only a few hours for the ship to sink. Now, more than a century later, the Titanic writes another new chapter. One that allows us to understand the courage with which his crew acted. What has happened? What science has given us a new perspective and fascinating of the Titanic. Although the remains of the liner rest a few 3,800 meters deep, in the icy waters of the Atlantic, a group of researchers has carried out an exhaustive 3D mapping of the wreck with which they have been able to generate a ‘digital twin’. A unique copy to date. The work was carried out by Magellan Ltd during the summer of 2022 with the help of remotely controlled submersibles. For more than 200 hours a team of experts analyzed the pediment from top to bottom and produced more than 700,000 images taken from different angles. Thanks to them we have a 3D replica that has already been used for the documentary ‘Titanic: the digital resurrection’from National Geographic and Atlantic Productions and released last year. Why is it important? Firstly because it offers us a unique vision of the wreck, which in turn opens a world of possibilities for researchers. in words by Rebecca Morelle and Alison Francis of the BBC, the scan allows us to observe the liner “as if the water” around it had been drained. It may seem like a simple anecdote, but despite the enormous attention it has generated and the number of studies dedicated to the Titanic over recent years, all the unknowns surrounding its sinking have not yet been resolved. “There are still questions, basic questions that need answers,” recognize BBC News Parks Stephenson, an expert on the ship’s history. The 3-D model is important because it allows researchers to go one step further, abandoning the realm of speculation and theories to rely on evidence, something that until now was complicated by the environment in which the wreck rests. Its depth, temperature and lack of light have made it very difficult for researchers, who have had to settle for fragmented images. And what does it show us? Of everything. From the structure of the ship, split in two during the sinking, to much more detailed details. For example, the number of series of one of the propellers, the damage to the deck where the lifeboats traveled or even the debris scattered around them. “Every square centimeter has to be mapped, even the least interesting parts. For example, in the debris field you have to map the mud. It is necessary to fill the gaps between all those objects,” confessed in 2023 to the BBC Gerhard Seiffert, a member of the expedition. Has it been of any use? Yes. Thanks to all the material collected and computer simulations, experts have confirmed that what probably precipitated the sinking were the perforations that can still be seen in the hull. It is just one of the many clues collected by researchers and which, although they may seem minor, complete the chronicle of the wreck. For example, scanning a porthole shattered during the collision confirms to historians that ice entered some cabins. Another conclusion relevant, achieved thanks to computational models, is that the impact with the iceberg left a series of perforations that extended in a straight line along the hull. Can we go further? Again the answer is ‘yes’. The scan has allowed researchers to ‘sneak’ inside the ship itself, revealing part of the mysteries of the internal chronicle of the sinking. One of the most fascinating chapters is the boiler room. The experts focused specifically on one of its installations, located at the rear of the stern section, right where the ship broke up when submerged, which has made it easier to scan. Again it might seem like a curiosity, but it is not: experts have found evidence that part of the boilers were still working when they were submerged in the icy waters of the Atlantic. And that is important. He tells us a story of sacrifice and bravery about the last hours of the Titanic. What story? During their work, investigators found two clues. One is what we mentioned before: that at least part of the boilers never stopped working, something that can be deduced from their condition. The other was left by a valve located on the deck of the aft section. The 3-D scan reveals that it is open, suggesting that the system that generated electricity on the ship probably remained operational during the most tragic moments. Does that matter? A lot. The activity of the boilers allowed them to continue generating electricity and this, in turn, made it possible for the crew members to have light when they were looking for a way to save their lives. If we take into account that the impact with the iceberg occurred in the middle of the night and that the Titanic sank at dawn, it is not a minor detail. More lighting probably translated into greater chances that passengers could get into boats and survive. Was it that important? “They kept the lights and electricity running until the end to give the crew time to launch lifeboats safely with some light and not in complete darkness,” Stephenson reflects.. “They managed to contain the chaos for as long as possible. And all of that was represented in that steam valve that was in the stern.” … Read more

What is the difference between Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and HLG in streaming apps?

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It’s time to renew the television and you go to a store to consider different models, but once you get to work comparing the specifications you find yourself in an alphabet soup: HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision or simply HDR. We already made it clear to you that all these technologies are aimed at offering better image quality, but they do not work the same nor do they achieve the same result. Therefore, today we are going to review what the differences are so that you can make the right choice for the next television. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links What is HDR The High Dynamic Range (HDR) is an imaging technology that aims to increase the difference between dark and light areas. Keep in mind that 4K resolution adds a higher number of pixels, while HDR makes those pixels better by offering much more vivid colors and deeper blacks. HDR10, the standard format HDR10 is essentially “normal” HDR, since it is the standard that all televisions and all platforms usually use. The reason is that it is open language; Brands do not have to pay for it and usually include it in their televisions. How does it work? Movies, for example, usually have predefined brightness and color levels, so once we play it they will be applied throughout it. The settings will be the same throughout the movie, whether all scenes are darker or lighter, and that is where the problem is. The biggest drawback of the HDR10 format is that does not apply scene to scenebut throughout the entire film equally. This means that sometimes the lightest or darkest scenes do not look quite good, so in the end some detail will be lost in these types of scenes. Dolby Vision, scene-by-scene configuration Dolby Vision is a technology from Dolby Laboratories, so in order to include it in their televisions, brands have to pay for it. This makes many brands decide not to use them and We have the best example in Samsungwhich prefers to include other open HDR formats. The great usefulness of Dolby Vision is that, unlike HDR10, it is capable of adjusting the brightness and colors scene by scene, adapting to certain situations in which there is high contrast so that the entire movie looks good. Perhaps you have seen the name of this technology on platforms like Netflix, and it is because it is the one that is usually found in high-quality content. But here’s something you should keep in mind: it doesn’t matter if your television is compatible with this format, if the platform decides that it will only include it in the most expensive subscription levels, and you have the cheapest one, you won’t be able to take advantage of it. Keep this in mind when choosing a television, Are you going to take advantage of this technology?. HDR10+, almost free Dolby Vision TV showing content without HDR10+ (left) and with HDR10+ (right). Why doesn’t Samsung include Dolby Vision in its televisions? The fact that, along with brands like Amazon and Panasonic, it decided to launch its own format has a lot to do with it. HDR10+ is the free technology that directly competes with the Dolby Vision that we have now, and is currently available on many televisions, especially mid-range and high-end. However, despite the fact that HDR10+ is currently found in a good assortment of televisions, the truth is that supported content is very limited; even more than Dolby Vision. Keep in mind that if you buy a Samsung, Prime Video will be your best ally because it is one of the few that uses HDR10+. Although HDR10+ tries to compete head-to-head with Dolby Vision, the latter plays in another league. The reality is that there are still no home televisions capable of squeezing out their full potential; While current screens reach brightnesses of 2,000 nits, Dolby Vision is designed to reach levels of up to 10,000 nits and much higher color richness. It is basically a future-proof technology. On the other hand, with HDR10+ we are faced with a format that, despite having a similar name, is different from HDR10 because allows you to optimize lighting scene by scene throughout the entire moviethus offering a much better result. HLG, the format for live broadcasting We have Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG) on practically all televisions, and this is because it is the format that is used in live content (also delayed) instead of streaming. In other words: it is the one used when you watch the news or a football match. HLG is intended for use on both HDR-compatible televisions and SDR models (older TVs), since it is a format that is broadcast in content en masse. The quality does not come close to what we find in Dolby Vision technology, but it is efficient for live broadcasting. The good and the bad of both options, face to face HDR10 Dolby Vision HDR10+ HLG THE GOOD 🟢 It is present in practically all televisions. It offers the best quality by having a lighting configuration that varies scene by scene. It is present on many televisions and offers an experience close to Dolby Vision. It offers better quality in live or delayed broadcasts. THE BAD 🔴 It maintains the same lighting settings throughout the movie, offering poorer quality in scenes with high contrast. It is not present on all TVs and sometimes the platforms reserve it for the most expensive subscriptions. There is not much supported content. It is not compatible with streaming content. Ideal for: People looking for a very economical television. Enjoy the best experience watching a movie or series and playing video games. Watch movies in better quality than HDR10 offers. Watch live or delayed broadcasts with better quality. What TV should I buy then? At this point, you may be thinking which one is worth it. If you choose a TV, you should pay attention to the HDR or Dolby format, especially depending … Read more

drones attacking North Dakota nuclear bases

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The United States’ nuclear strategy has long been based on the so-called “triad”a system that combines submarines, land-based missiles and bombers to ensure responsiveness even in the worst possible scenario. The model, designed in the middle of the Cold War, assumed that the continental territory was practically inaccessible to direct threats, which allowed the defense to be concentrated abroad and not so much on protecting each installation within the country. Until the drones have arrived. An unprecedented attack on the nuclear heart. What happened, according to what they said several analystsis that while the United States bombs Iran in its large-scale operation, something completely unexpected is happening within its own territory. Drone waves They have flown over key bases linked to the US nuclear arsenal. Apparently, these were not isolated incidents or improvised devices. They were coordinated incursions, repeated attacks for days that have forced stop critical operations and activate emergency protocols. For the first time, in the middle of a war, strategic installations on American soil were directly affected by a persistent aerial threat. Barksdale, the critical point. The most striking case occurred in the Barksdale Air Force Baseone of the pillars of the United States nuclear system. Strategic bombers operate there and long-range missiles are stored, making the facility a key node within the country’s deterrence capacity. For several days, the swarms of drones They have flown over the base in organized waves, forcing interrupt bomber sorties who participated in the attacks on Iran. The scene, more typical of a movie, has been difficult to ignore: while the B-52s prepared to project force thousands of kilometers, the airspace above their own runways was committed. Advanced drones. The most worrying thing was not only the presence of these drones, but its technological level. They counted on ABCNews that the devices showed a remarkable resistance to electronic interference, used variable entry and exit routes and operated in dispersed patterns that made them difficult to track. In fact, countermeasures designed to neutralize these types of threats they didn’t work as expected. This suggests that these are not tailored trading systems, but rather platforms much more sophisticatedcapable of operating with partial or total autonomy and collecting information in highly protected environments. More than a physical threat. There is no doubt, these drones not only represent a risk for Washington due to their potential attack capacity, but also due to the type of information that they can get. When flying over critical facilities, they can map electronic emissionsidentify operating patterns and photograph sensitive infrastructure. In other words, they can build a detailed portrait of how a strategic base works from within. And this opens the door to much more precise and effective future attacks, as it turns each raid into a highly valuable reconnaissance mission. Structural vulnerability in national territory. They remembered on TWZ that the raids are not limited to a single point or a specific moment. They have registered similar episodes at other key bases, including strategic bomber-related facilities and advanced technology development centers. In many cases, these infrastructures they lack systems adequate air defense systems against drones, which forces us to rely on improvised or developing solutions. What’s more, even with new tools deployed, the ability to neutralize these threats remains limited and uneven. The strategic paradox. The contrast is more than evident. The United States maintains an unprecedented global military capability and can project force virtually anywhere on the planet. However, at the same time, shows difficulties to fully protect sour own facilities against relatively small, but technologically advanced threats. This paradox reveals a mismatch that already we saw in Ukraine and now in Iranone between traditional defense architecture and new forms of warfare, where cheap and difficult to detect systems can generate disproportionate effects. Paradigm shift underway. In short, what happened, for unpublishedpoints to a deeper transformation in the way military security is understood. Not even the bases, silos and strategic infrastructures of a superpower like the United States can considered safe spaces by the mere fact of being in national territory. Because the combination of advanced drones, sensors and electronic warfare is taking the conflict directly to the heart of powers. And that implies, or opens the disturbing possibility, that the next great battle will not only be fought abroad, but also in the ability to protect what until now was taken for granted. Image | USAF, Airman 1st Class Benjamin Gonsier In Xataka | Iran has turned Hormuz into the entrance to a VIP nightclub. And Spain enters the guest list and the US stays at the door In Xataka | Iran and Russia had been silently exchanging drones and material in the Caspian Sea for months: Israel has just revealed it

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