usatoday24

“It’s not like Europe, there aren’t many more original art forms here”

by

Clint Eastwood has been convinced for decades that the Western is one of the few things that the United States can truly call its own. The irony is that it was filming in Almería under the orders of a director from Rome that revitalized and updated the genre. He was there, but he still thinks that there are few things as American as the Westen. Original art. In recent statementsEastwood stated that “Honestly, America is not like Europe. There aren’t many original art forms here. Most of them are derived from European art forms. Aside from Western, jazz or blues, that’s all that’s really original.” And there is nothing disdainful in his words, although it may seem like it: Eastwood rather seems to vindicate the genuinely North American nature of the Western, although the evolution of the genre and the actor’s own filmography have made it clear that, at this point, it is one of the most bastard genres in the history of cinema. Western, jazz and blues. In fact, we could dwell on the very precise enumeration of artistic forms that Eastwood considers purely North American. The blues emerged from the deep south and the experience of slavery. Jazz, from New Orleans, at a cross between the African heritage and the music that European immigrants brought from their countries. Finally, the Western speaks of the border in perpetual movement, of the clash between European “civilization” and what it finds in its path (mainly, natives who defend themselves as best they can). They are three artistic forms born from tension, conflict and miscegenation, which explains a lot about the way of being of the country’s inhabitants. And yes, they are purely North American because all three are firmly rooted in the history and philosophy of an unusually young country. An American in Italy. Before 1964, Eastwood was a television actor moderately known for the series ‘Rawhide’. But that year, Sergio Leone signed him for ‘A Fistful of Dollars’‘, an Italian-Spanish-German co-production filmed between the Cinecittà studios in Rome and the Cabo de Gata Natural Park in Almería. The success of the film launched the Dollar Trilogy, completed with ‘Death Had a Price’ and ‘The Good, the Bad and the Ugly’, which established Eastwood as an international figure of the genre. A new character. Eastwood was more than just a protagonist for the trilogy: he was a new type of gunslinger: John Ford and John Wayne’s cowboys were moral heroes, protecting the weak and serving a code of honor. The Nameless Man of the Dollar Trilogy acts for money, switches sides without problems, and his moral compass is arid and often indecipherable, like the landscape of Almería. Eastwood in America. The actor understood that vision and when he returned to his country, he modulated it to his liking, with westerns that are not a nostalgic tribute to the classics of the genre, but rather a dissection that takes into account what Leone and his many imitators contributed to the western. ‘Hell of Cowards’, ‘The Pale Horseman’ or, above all, ‘Unforgiven’ examine the violence of the West without glamor or redemption. “Killing is not right and it is not romantic,” he came to say. The recognition. It is worth remembering that ‘Unforgiven’ won the Oscar for Best Film and Best Director in 1993. Before it, only ‘Cimarrón’ in 1931 and ‘Dances with Wolves’ in 1990 had won. That is to say, for the film industry to finally recognize the importance of the genre, it had to undertake a long journey of reinvention and self-observation in which the European vision had a lot to do with it. In Xataka | Today on HBO Max: the latest film directed by one of the greatest masters in the history of cinema

The world is preparing to harvest 36% fewer pistachios. This is great news for Spanish farmers

by

2025 is not being an easy year for the pistachio. TO the effects of the Iran war, the closure of Hormuz and the swings The price of the fruit now adds a more than likely puncture in the global harvest. This is what at least the main producer organization, the INC, expects, which foresees a drop of 36% in the amount of fruit harvested worldwide. Although it’s not strange that crops rise and fall, conditioned by the climate or the cycles of the trees, the sector’s estimate is interesting for another reason: it confirms that Spain is reinforcing assumption. And everything indicates that it will gain ground this campaign. What has happened? That the International Nuts and Dehydrated Fruits Council (INC) has recognized that the 2026/2027 campaign does not look particularly good for pistachio. At least if we talk about production. Although the sector expects an increase in the cultivation of walnuts, hazelnuts or raisins, in the case of pistachios it anticipates a ‘puncture’ of 36% on a global scale. Translated into tons, that means that production would go from 1.1 million harvested during the 2025/2026 campaign to 701,050 t in the 2026/2027 campaign. Country Campaign 2025/2026 (tons) Campaign 2026/2027 (tons) USA 722,670 350,000 Türkiye 114,600 156,400 Iran 225,000 130,000 Syria 13,350 35,000 Spain 9,500 11,500 Greece 6,500 8,500 Australia 3,000 5,500 Afghanistan 2,600 2,700 Italy 4,700 1,000 China 320 450 World production 1,101,740 701,050 What is the reason? Although a drop of 36% may seem alarming, the data should be handled with caution. Pistachio cultivation is conditioned by the vecería, which means that there are campaigns in which the trees are loaded with fruit and others in which the harvests are much scarcer. It is one of the handicaps with which the sector plays. Hence there are voices, like that of Juan Gallegofrom Ibero Pistacho, who ensure that a drop of 36% “is within the norm.” Nor is it strange that part of the harvests are saved from one year to the next precisely to compensate for the ‘puncture’ of the years highly marked by the harvest. Does only that factor influence? No. The INC data, advanced by the EFE agency, allow us to focus more and observe the great differences that exist between producing countries, each conditioned by its own challenges. For example, in California, the world capital For pistachio, a 52% drop in the harvest is expected due to flowering problems. The ‘photo’ is not good in Iran either, which is suffering the consequences of the high temperatures of the previous campaign and expects its production to be reduced by another 42%. And what happens in Spain? Here the panorama is somewhat different. Although our production is light years away Compared to the US or Türkiye, the INC estimates that in Spain the 2026/2027 campaign will close with 21% more fruit harvested. In practice, this would mean going from 9,500 tons in the 2025/2026 financial year to 11,500 in the 2026/2027 campaign. The data is interesting because it not only consolidates Spain as the fifth world producer, it also allows it to dream of closing the gap on the podium. The forecast of the INC shows a decline in crops in the US and Iran, the first and third producers on a global scale. And although a priori Türkiye (the second supplier) will see its harvest increase by 36%, it remains to be seen if the strong storm that suffered in May has damaged the trees and will reduce the harvest. How is that possible? That the Spanish crop grows while it declines in other countries with large pistachio plantations, such as the US, Türkiye or Iran, is actually little surprising. Spanish farmers They have been increasing for years the number of hectares dedicated to this crop, especially in Castile-La Manchawhich concentrates a large part of the national production and 77% of the surface. The growth of the harvest in Spain during the next campaign (2026/2027) is only a reflection of that bet. The data from the Ministry of Agriculture show that the planted area in Spain has skyrocketed in recent years to exceed 85,800 hectares in the 2024/2025 campaign and that production has grown by more than 70% in just a few years. Looking ahead to the 2026/2027 season, the INC expects a harvest of 11,500 tons. Not all sources agree on this information (in the sector there are those raises it to 16,000 t), but in any case the background photo is always the same: Spanish production is increasing. What to expect now? The million dollar question. For now, and beyond the short-term fall in harvests due to the rainy season, both the US and Iran they hope to increase its production thanks to the increase in plantations. Specifically, California hopes to boost its average capacity by 40% in the coming campaigns and Iran and Türkiye are already considering approaching 300,000 tons in the medium term. Regarding the price of the fruit and whether or not prices will be altered by the 36% drop in production, there are different opinions in the sector. The Italian analysis company Areté warns of a market with “strong tensions on supply and prices” given that the demand for pistachios has been growing for years. Others, like Gallego, acknowledge that “there may be a small increase in cents,” but clarifies: “All of us who are in this sector are interested in the product remaining stable and being consumed.” Not only the generosity of the crops comes into play. The price is also affected by other factorssuch as instability in Iran, the closure of Hormuz or the influence of war on the cost of inputs such as fuel. Images | Brenan Greene (Unsplash), Brad Spry (Flickr) and USDA In Xataka | Fruit seems like the perfect summer dinner. The problem is that it is not as good an idea as it seems.

has left 45% of collective agreements out of play

by

The objective of collective agreements is to regulate the rules of the game of certain sectors or large companies by establishing the salaries they will receive employees in that sector. However, in 2026, almost half of these agreements are encountering a serious problem: they are obsolete. The interprofessional minimum wage (SMI) has been rising non-stop for eight years. It has gone from 735 euros per month in 2018 to 1,221 current euros In 14 payments, a cumulative increase of 66%. Many of these sectoral agreements, negotiated for months, have been stillborn, becoming obsolete due to estimating the lowest salaries below the legal minimum, as is how I collected The Economist. Almost one out of every two agreements, below the SMI. The data is clear. According to a UGT analysisthe SMI exceeds the agreed salary for the lowest categories in 45% of the 2026 sectoral agreements that were registered during the first quarter of 2026, with minimums that are already below of the new SMI. The measure affects, for example, agreements such as the gardenerwhich in January 2026 was approved with a salary of 1,184 euros for laborers and apprentices, that is, adjusted to the 2025 SMI, but does not include the new amount for 2026. In company agreements the proportion of outdated agreements drops slightly, but the problem persists. Of the 25 agreements published in that same period, 9 (36%) also had salary tables below the legal minimum. They are agreements signed after months of negotiation that, in the end, need an extra complement to comply with the law. What the law says. No agreement can set salaries below the SMI in annual calculation. The Supreme Court clarified it in 2025: what counts is the annual total, adding all the concepts. Not just the base salary. If between the base salary and the bonuses it reaches 17,094 euros per year that establishes the SMI of 2026the company would be complying with the legislation. If not, it is obliged to make up the difference through an additional salary supplement. This is the formula that many companies use to comply with the increase in the SMI when, as happened in 2026, this increase is approved with the year already begun, and even when the agreement they apply has come into force that same year. This increase is not always an extra cost for the company (if they already paid more than that SMI with bonuses included). But it is a sign that many of these agreements are governed by remuneration so adjusted to the legal minimum that the minimum correction leaves them outside the regulations. The problem of overlap between categories. Moving in this area of ​​minimum wages leaves a collateral effect that worries unions. When the SMI rises faster than the agreements, the lowest salary categories end up receiving salaries very close to those of the higher ones. A laborer and a first-class officer, with very different tasks and knowledge, can end up with very close salaries at the end of the month due to the compression effect that occurs from below. That is, companies raise the lowest salaries only to comply with the regulations, but not the ranges immediately above in the same proportion. UGT calls it “overlapping” and has been asking for a new agreement to be negotiated for some time. Agreement for Employment and Collective Bargaining (AENC) with the representatives of the employers’ association to organize these scales. Some agreements already have clauses to avoid this. He consulting and technology agreementfor example, sets a margin of 80 euros of minimum difference between each level affected by the SMI and the next. That is, if the lower salary ranges rise to comply with the SMI, that increase is transferred upwards proportionally to the rest of the categories. Who wins and who notices it more. The rise in the SMI has improved purchasing power of workers with lower incomes. Between 2018 and 2026, minimum wages have grown by 66% compared to an accumulated inflation of 25%which has made it possible to cushion the loss of purchasing power of those with the lowest salaries. However, if companies do not compensate for the differences between the lowest salaries and the following categories, there is a risk of discourage promotion of employees, who see that the increase in responsibilities is not compensated with a large difference in salary at the end of the month. In Xataka | Finding a job had always been a good way to escape poverty: in Spain it is no longer true Image | Unsplash (Ivan Henao)

chain models to refine the result

by

During the last three years the models of artificial intelligence (AI) have improved a lot. Often the latest reviews of ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or DeepSeek provide us with convincing answers to the questions we ask them or the tasks we ask them for. However, your first answer is usually not the best. It almost never is. If we settle for the first thing they tell us We will be underusing them and wasting part of their potential. Fortunately, there is a very simple strategy that can help us not to obtain a reasonably good answer, but to achieve the most accurate and reliable result. The optimal response. And it consists of chaining several AIs so that each one of them refines the work of the previous one. When we ask an AI for something, the model generates a response based on the context we have given it. If the context is scarce, the response can clearly be improved. Now, if the context is well defined but the request is broad, the AI ​​will tend to cover the ground in a reasonable way, although without delving into any specific aspect. No professional work is delivered in its first version. There is always a review, a criticism or an adjustment. The chaining of several AIs transfers exactly that logic to working with language models. And, as we are about to see, it is a very valuable ally. What is chaining multiple AIs and why does it work? What we propose to do is simply use the output of one AI model as input for the next one. Instead of asking an AI to do everything in a single step, we can divide the work into several phases. In this way, one AI generates the first result, another criticizes it, another refines it and a last one verifies everything. In this scenario, each model acts as a specialist with a different role. And the final result accumulates the advantages of each phase. It is important that we keep in mind that language models respond to the immediate context they receive, and not to an abstract objective. It is not that one AI is necessarily better than another. Our starting point is that a model that we ask exclusively to criticize a text is more effective than one that we ask to generate it and criticize it at the same time. Specialization improves the result. A model that we ask exclusively to criticize a text is more effective than one that we ask to generate it and criticize it at the same time Be that as it may, the ideal is that we illustrate this strategy with a practical example. Let’s imagine that we need to write a delicate email in which we intend to reject a collaboration proposal without damaging our professional relationship with the person to whom we are going to send the email. We can ask ChatGPT for the following: “Compose an email to reject a collaboration proposal from a supplier with whom I have a good relationship. I want the tone to be cordial, leave the door open for future opportunities and not sound like an excuse” The result will be a perfectly valid email. Maybe too generic, but valid. To improve it we can copy that text and give it to Claude with a prompt like this: “Act like a professional communication expert. This is a rejection email I wrote. Identify your three weakest points and explain how I can improve each of them” Claude will point out, for example, that the opening is too abrupt, that the phrase “leave the door open” sounds like an empty formula, and that the closing does not propose any concrete step. However, we are not done yet. Now we can polish it up a bit more by handing Claude’s output to Gemini, or even ChatGPT, with a prompt like this: “Rewrite this email incorporating the following improvements: (here we paste the three points that Claude criticized). Keep the same tone and length” Investing two more minutes in chaining three prompts instead of using just one can transform a correct result into an exceptional one. The result of this third step will be substantially better than the first. Not because no AI is more “intelligent” than the others, but because each of them has acted with a very delimited purpose. In any case, it is not essential that we resort to various AI models. We can also do the same with a single AI if we change the role in each message. Our strategy is the same: we will not ask a single prompt let him do it all. We will generate first, critique later, and refine last. We can even add a fourth verification step (“Is there anything in this text that could be misinterpreted?”) or adaptation (“translate it now into a more informal register”). Each additional step has a low cost and a high benefit. Invest two more minutes in chaining three prompts Instead of using just one, you can transform a good result into an exceptional one. Image | Generated by Xataka with a prompt created by Claude and submitted to ChatGPT In Xataka | ChatGPT blocking mode: what it is, what it is for, who can use it and how to activate it In Xataka | AI is replacing one of the most hated jobs in the world: the tailcoat collector

These are the best deals on Soundcore wireless headphones today

by

Finding the perfect balance between impeccable noise cancellation, clear sound and a fair price is often an impossible mission… unless we’re talking about Soundcore. Anker’s audio brand continues to prove that you don’t have to spend a fortune to enjoy a premium experience. To save you the trouble of searching, we have compiled the best deals on Soundcore headphones that we found today. Soundcore Q20i Wireless Bluetooth Headphones with Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation by Anker The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Soundcore Life Q30 by 49.99 euros: with battery that lasts up to 60 hours. Soundcore Sport X20 by 64.99 euros: with IP68 certification and adaptive noise cancellation. Soundcore Q20i by 31.99 euros: with transparency mode and multipoint connection. Soundcore P30i by 25.64 euros: with autonomy of up to 45 hours and a charging case that works as a stand. Soundcore Space 2 by 109.99 euros: with autonomy of up to 50 hours and high resolution audio. Soundcore Life Q30 The Soundcore Life Q30 are the undisputed kings of the lower-mid range if you are looking for some off-road headphones. Their recommended RRP is 79.99 euros, but now they are reduced (on Amazon’s early Prime Day) to 49.99 euros. Its great asset is hybrid active noise cancellation that isolates you from outside noise, combined with high-resolution sound that you can equalize to your liking from the mobile app. They also stand out for their battery that lasts up to 40 hours with noise cancellation activated and up to 60 hours if you turn it off. Anker Soundcore Q30 Wireless Bluetooth Headphones The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Soundcore Sport X20 The Soundcore Sport X20 (which you can buy at a discount on Amazon for 64.99 euros) are the definitive evolution for those looking for fully shielded headphones to train without fear of falling. Its great differential element is its adjustable ear hookswhich not only rotate but can be extended up to 4 mm to guarantee a millimetric and very comfortable hold. They are designed to test everything, they have IP68 certification and technology SweatGuardoffering total resistance to water, dust and corrosive sweat. In addition, they integrate a powerful adaptive noise cancellation and its battery lasts up to 48 hours with the charging case. Soundcore Sport X20 Wireless Sports Headphones The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Soundcore Q20i The Soundcore Q20i are the firm’s best-selling headphones on Amazon and are now discounted to 31.99 euros. Its great strength is a hybrid active noise cancellation capable of blocking up to 90% of ambient sound. They offer certified high-resolution audio and powerful bass thanks to technology BassUp. They include a handy transparency mode to listen to your surroundings, multipoint connection to synchronize two devices at the same time and an autonomy of up to 40 hours with ANC and up to 60 hours in normal mode. Soundcore Q20i Wireless Bluetooth Headphones with Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation by Anker The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Soundcore P30i And if what you are looking for is some earbuds good, pretty and cheap, these Soundcore P30i are a good option and even more so now that they are reduced to 25.64 euros compared to the almost 40 euros they usually cost. These headphones in-ear Ultra-compact devices stand out for offering 42 dB active noise cancellation. Despite their pocket size, they surprise with powerful bass thanks to their 10 mm drivers. They offer a autonomy of up to 45 hours with the charging case and one of the most striking things about its design is that its case has a drop-down tab that serves as a support to support the mobile phone. Soundcore P30i Wireless Bluetooth Headphones with Noise Canceling from Anker The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Soundcore Space 2 The Soundcore Space 2 are also on sale now on Amazon (109.99 euros) and have been redefined in comfort, design and performance compared to its previous generation. They stand out for having improved noise cancellation that adapts to surrounding noise. In the sound section, they have drivers quality and support for high-resolution audio, offering clear and personalized sound from your app. All this is finished off with an autonomy of up to 50 hours depending on use and multipoint connectivity. Anker Soundcore Space 2 The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Some of the links in this article are affiliated and may provide a benefit to Xataka. In case of non-availability, offers may vary. Images | Soundcore (Anker) In Xataka | Best activity bracelets. Which one to buy and most recommended models from 25 euros In Xataka | Best Bluetooth speakers in quality price. Which one to buy based on use and seven recommended models

NASA has left women out of Artemis III. The Princess of Asturias has taken the opportunity to reward one of her astronauts

by

NASA astronaut Christina Koch has been awarded with the Princess of Asturias Award for Concord 2026, as announced this Wednesday, June 17. The jury wanted to highlight his figure as an inspiring reference for new generations. It’s no wonder, well this crew member of Artemis II He became a mass idol, especially for girls, during the time of his mission to the Moon, but also before and after. The most curious thing is that this news comes just a week after NASA announced the Artemis III crew in which, contrary to expectations, there is no woman. With this, the Princess of Asturias Award jury makes clear what it seems that NASA has failed to see. That including women in their new lunar project transcends far beyond the mission. A woman who breaks records. Christina Koch has reached a great peak of fame by becoming one of the four crew members of Artemis II. However, she had already broken records before becoming the first woman to travel to lunar orbit. She is also the woman who has spent the most time in space, with a stay of 328 consecutive days on the International Space Station. Additionally, along with Jessica Meir, he was part of the first all-female spacewalk. A true reference. As a child, Koch had a poster in her room with the famous Earthrise image, taken by the Apollo 8 astronauts. Every night she looked at it before going to sleep and wished she could travel beyond Earth and see what those astronauts had managed to observe. For this reason, before her trip to the Moon as a member of Artemis II, she declared that it was an honor for her to “take all the girls in the world to the Moon.” With that inspiring phrase He made a great statement of intent. I wanted to show that dreams come true and, above all, become a reference beyond the typical male photos of astronauts walking on the Moon. The case of Cassius. In Spain, Casio holds a competition from time to time for boys and girls, in which they must present drawings of scientists that inspire them. The winners become part of this brand’s special collection of calculators focused on the role of women in science. The schools freely choose the scientists they want to present; but, logically, current events play an important role. For this reason, this year there have been many children who have chosen to Koch to be part of his drawings. NASA doesn’t know. After the absolute masculinization of the astronaut crews of the Apollo program, NASA had decided to compensate with the Artemis program and include more women in its crew. Koch was the first, but the idea was to maintain this inclusivity until the end, so that even the next person to step on the Moon would be a woman. However, on June 9 there was a big turn of events when it was announced to the crew that they will be traveling aboard Artemis III. Neither the four official astronauts nor the reserve astronaut are women. The advertisement led to a wave of criticismwhich forced NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman to intervene and ensure that the people considered most qualified and available for this specific mission have been selected. Even so, there are those who consider that this could be more related to Donald Trump’s order to federal agencies to eliminate Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs and references. We will have to wait for Artemis IV to see who finally steps on the Moon. At least Christina Koch has seen her work recognized with the Princess of Asturias Award and, above all, with the love of all those girls who, as she promised, have accompanied her on her trip to the Moon. Image | NASA/Bill Ingalls In Xataka | How many times have we gone to the Moon and why have only 11 military aviators and one geologist set foot on it in all of history?

produces for the first time the ultrapure silicon that its competitors controlled

by

China is a powerhouse in quantum technologies. In fact, in this area he looks directly at the US. These two countries have accumulated notable milestones over the past few years, including the quantum supremacybut his leadership diverges depending on the area. In quantum computing The US accumulates 34% of the most cited articles compared to 16% Chinesewhile in quantum telecommunications China leads with 34% of reference scientific production vs. 17% United States. The patent landscape reflects that same duality. China monopolizes around 60% of all requests global quantum technology patents registered in 2024, but when the filter is applied to international patents (those protected simultaneously in several countries), The US leads with 48% compared to 11% Chinese. Although, as we have just seen, China is making important achievements in the field of quantum technologies, it is to some extent dependent on some innovations from abroad. In the current situation of tension with the United States and its allies, this gigantic Asian country needs to become independent from foreign quantum technologies, and has just taken a very important step forward in this direction. The Chinese State Nuclear Corporation has announced that one of its research institutes has for the first time produced high-purity silicon-28 with an isotopic abundance greater than 99.99%. This isotope is decisive because it is considered the raw material for quantum hardware with the greatest scale potential: quantum computers based on silicon. Silence is everything The reason why silicon-28 matters so much must be found in physics. Natural silicon is composed mostly of silicon-28, but contains approximately 4.7% silicon-29, an isotope with non-zero nuclear spin. This detail is innocuous for a classical transistor, but is devastating for a quantum computer because the silicon-29 cores act as sources of magnetic noise that disturb the qubits, causing them to lose their quantum state in fractions of a second. Enriching the silicon until that impurity is almost completely eliminated is equivalent to building an anechoic room for the qubits: an environment where noise disappears and quantum information can persist long enough to operate on. A silicon-based quantum computer uses electron spin trapped in quantum dots (nanostructures manufactured on a silicon wafer) as a basic unit of information. Coherence, that is, the ability of the qubit to maintain its quantum state long enough to operate on it, depends directly on how quiet the surrounding environment is. In natural silicon the magnetic field generated by the silicon-29 nuclei drastically limits coherence In natural silicon, the magnetic field generated by the silicon-29 nuclei drastically limits this coherence. However, in silicon-28 enriched to 99.99% that field disappears. The most recent experiments on wafers manufactured with standard industrial CMOS processes have yielded coherence times of up to 803 microseconds and relaxation times of 6.3 seconds, as well as operating fidelities exceeding 99% in both one- and two-qubit gates. These numbers make sense when put against those of other qubit technologies. Superconducting qubits, the bet of Google and IBM, are extraordinarily fast in the execution of logic gates, but require cooling at temperatures close to absolute zero (around 15 millikelvin) and their coherence times They are measured in tens of microseconds. Trapped ion qubits, for their part, achieve coherences of several seconds and very low error rates, but their operations are slow and scaling them beyond a hundred qubits is extraordinarily difficult. In fact, they require ultra-fine vacuum systems, complex electromagnetic traps and surgically precise lasers. Spin qubits on silicon-28 are not the fastest or most coherent in absolute terms, but they combine sufficiently long coherence with an advantage that no other platform can match. That advantage is compatibility with the semiconductor industry as it exists today. Spin qubits in silicon are manufactured on 300 mm wafers using standard CMOS processes, the same ones that TSMC, Intel or Samsung use to produce classic transistors. This means that, in principle, the transition from a handful of qubits to millions integrated on a single chip is not limited by unknown physics, but by the same manufacturing engineering that the industry has mastered for decades. For China, which has invested many resources in building and strengthening its own semiconductor industry, being able to autonomously produce the base material on which this architecture depends is not only a scientific milestone; It’s a strategic move that connects its quantum agenda with its chip industry. And, as a tip, also with its broader objective of technological autonomy compared to the West. Image | Maxence Pira (Unsplash) More information | SCMP In Xataka | 38% of AI experts in the US have been trained in China. They are essential to sustain your leadership

Satellites show where Russia is heading in Europe after Ukraine

by

In the midst of the Cold War, Norway was the only NATO country with a direct border with the Soviet Union in the Arctic, and for decades the alliance rehearsed there how stop a Soviet invasion in extreme snow and ice conditions. That old frozen border seemed like a relic of the 20th century. Today it is once again one of the most guarded areas in Europe. Russia fights while preparing the north. They counted the TWZ analysts that, while Russia remains bogged down in the Ukrainian war, wasting men, armor and resources in a conflict that has already transformed its entire economy, at the same time it is building something much further north. The new satellite images together with intelligence analysis show that Moscow has been expanding bases, building barracks and creating new logistical warehouses next to the border with Finland and Norway for months. The most disturbing fact is the scale: facilities prepared to house up to 80,000 soldiers. The reading is clear. Although Ukraine continues to absorb a good part of its military force, the Kremlin is already designing the next scenario of tension with the West. “New satellite images show that Russia is increasing its weapons in the area,” the report states. “SVT, together with media partners in several countries, has analyzed how Russia is preparing for the deployment of 80,000 troops… It is a threat we must take seriously,” declares Thomas Nilsson, head of the Swedish military intelligence service (MUST). Russia is expanding its military infrastructure near the borders of NATO countries. Satellite images show numerous new barracks capable of housing thousands of troops, as well as ammunition depots and equipment storage areas From a discrete border to a reinforced one. For years, the border between Russia and Finland was one of the most stable areas in northern Europe. There was a military presenceyes, but at relatively low volumes and without a great sense of immediate threat. Now that is starting to change. According to the finnish estimatesMoscow could go from about 20,000 troops to almost 100,000 once the new facilities are completed. that jump multiplies the capacity of Russian pressure in the area and completely alters the military balance of the region. It is no longer a surveillance presence; It is a structure designed to sustain a massive concentration of troops. Russia is expanding its military infrastructure near the borders of NATO countries. Satellite images show numerous new barracks capable of housing thousands of troops, as well as ammunition depots and equipment storage areas The Arctic is no longer a periphery. All this has a profound reason: the Arctic has ceased to be a distant corner and has become a centerpiece of the world board. The melting ice is opening sea routes that were previously impassable, the region’s energy reserves are enormous and control of the north offers decisive military advantages. Russia has been understanding this for years and strengthening his position. China has also shown more and more interest. What once seemed like marginal geography is now a space where top-level economic, military and strategic interests intersect. Russia is expanding its military infrastructure near the borders of NATO countries. Satellite images show numerous new barracks capable of housing thousands of troops, as well as ammunition depots and equipment storage areas NATO responds. NATO’s reaction it has been fast. The alliance has activated a new advanced ground force in Finland, supported mainly by Sweden and with command and deployment centers spread across northern Scandinavia. Although the initial number of soldiers is small compared to what Russia is preparing, the political message is powerful. Finland and Sweden have gone from neutrality to becoming in central pieces of European defense. In other words, the north is no longer a calm rearguard and is beginning to resemble a new line of contact. The real fear after Ukraine. What worries NATO most is not what Russia can do now, because a good part of its army remains committed in Ukraine. The real concern is in what comes next. If the conflict freezes or ends and Moscow decides to move part of its veteran units to the north, all that infrastructure could fill up in a very short time. That means that what today seems like a medium-term preparation could quickly transform into a tangible threat. The current war, in that sense, is also a period of transition towards something broader. Europe looks to the north with different eyes. It is the most obvious conclusion: the rivalry between Russia and the West is no longer limited to the Ukrainian front. Everything indicates that is expanding towards new areas where the clash is not yet open, but where everyone is preparing as if it could arrive. Moscow strengthens positions, NATO reorganizes his defense and United States adapts its military structure to the new map of the Arctic. There is no doubt, we are not talking about shots fired on that border, but we are talking about movements, investments and deployments that reveal the same idea. As Russia continues to fight one war, satellites indicate that it is preparing the next one. Image | x In Xataka | As we look to the Middle East, the Arctic has become the hiding place for Russia’s biggest challenge to NATO: Borei and Yasen In Xataka | While we all look at Iran, something is moving in the Arctic Circle: Russia is sending bombers with missiles

“The existence of the company is in danger”

by

The Volkswagen Group is at risk of collapse. That, at least, is what six out of nine managers think behind closed doors, according to the German newspaper Manager Magazine. The media assures that the company has conducted an internal survey of its top managers and two out of three agree with its diagnosis. “The company is in danger”. This is what six out of nine managers have answered, according to this German media, to the question of an internal survey that has been circulated among the company’s top leaders. The other three, always according to information from Manager Magazinedescribed the company’s situation as “tense.” The survey has moved among the board of directors through a management consulting company that is analyzing the internal way of working. And the result has been overwhelming: the Volkswagen model is sold out. Some discrepancies. In the German environment Elektroauto They expand the information ensuring that the company that carried out the survey is Boston Consulting Group and that the eight boards of directors of the group and Michael Leiters, head of Porsche, have participated in it. But, without a doubt, the most problematic thing is that, according to this medium specialized in the electricity market, there was no internal consensus on the functioning of the board of directors. Four members of the board of directors assure that the management is united but four others denied it. A position, the latter, that was repeated among eleven of the 14 people who make up the Company Supervisory Board. Same old problems. Among those surveyed, the German media agree, the problems that Volkswagen has on the table seem clear: A perfect storm. Volkswagen’s financial situation is not a coincidence, it is the result of multiple factors in which the coin has come out tails (they have more or less responsibility as a company). In China, the market has turned to local manufacturers. Companies are managing to sell more striking and advanced products than traditional manufacturers but, above all, they are doing so at a much more competitive price. They have entered into a price war that threatens to take manufacturers ahead and is fueled by a public that feels pride in buying Chinese products to the detriment of what comes from abroad. In the United States, tariffs imposed by the Government are severely punishing factories located in Mexico but they have also made the product manufactured within the country itself more expensive because there are pieces that continue to cross the border even if they are assembled on American soil. And brands like Porsche, which have the United States as their big market, They do not manufacture a single car within the country. The result. Volkswagen’s accounts are compromised because investments in the electric car and some concepts that revolve around it have not yielded good results. For example, Cariad, the company dedicated exclusively to producing the software for its future vehicles, it has turned out to be a disaster and has forced important cars to be delayed for Audi or Porsche. This, added to the fact that the electric embrace of the public has not arrived when expected, has sunk the profit of Volkswagen, Seat/Cupra or Porsche, they point out in the German newspaper Welt. For its part, Bentley is also showing red numbers and Audi has entered a lethargy from which it wants to escape with ambitious new proposals to recover brand image. In doubt. In the internal survey that has been carried out within the company, some managers have indicated that they find it impossible to comply with the monetary adjustments announced by Oliver Blume, its CEO, years ago. They consider that to carry out these adjustments it is even necessary to cancel the development of new platforms for future vehicles, according to Elektroauto. In 2025, The Volkswagen Group recorded its worst data in the income statement since 2016when they came marked by the Dieselgate. All of this has led to the unanimity of the board of directors, the nine people that comprise it, thinking that it is necessary for the company to redefine its strategy and its business model, according to the German media. Photo | Volkswagen In Xataka | Volkswagen was late to the transition to the electric car. The price to pay now is 50,000 layoffs

We thought that sleeping was only good for rest. It actually helps us build new muscle.

by

We spend a third of our lives sleeping, and although to some people it may seem a waste of time because literally while we sleep we are not ‘producing’, the reality is quite different. And it’s not just about resting, but our brain hides a real neural “switch” that, during sleep, dictates whether our body will build muscle, burn fat or, on the contrary, enter a state of metabolic emergency. What was seen. Joint research from the University of California and Stanford University, published in September 2025 in the prestigious magazine cell, managed to map this mechanism. The researchers identified a specific neuronal circuit in the hypothalamus composed of two fundamental players: the GHRH neuron, which acts as the “accelerator” of growth hormone, and somatostatin, which functions as the “brake.” Its balance is essential to regulate how much growth hormone is released during sleep. And it is not something that should be left in the background or only for children who are growing, but this hormone is essential to be able to build muscle, break down fat or even regulate glucose. In the first half of the night. Not all moments of the night are worth the same, since approximately 70% of daily growth hormone secretion occurs during the first cycle of deep sleep, also known as the N3 phase. In this way, if we shorten our hours in bed and miss that key rest, deep quality sleep is not achieved and the desired peak of growth hormone does not occur. What this directly leads to is accumulating fat and losing muscle tissue. The hunger. The muscle is not the only one affected, but our diet also suffers chemical sabotage. Here research has shown that little sleep drastically alters our appetite-regulating hormones. A large meta-analysis published in the journal Obesity Reviewsthat analyzed 21 studies with 2,250 participants, pointed out that short sleep causes leptin, which is the hormone that sends the signal of satiety, to decrease by 18%, while ghrelin, the hormone that triggers hunger, increases by 28%. This makes us have a greater appetite and prefer to consume more calories if we do not sleep enough hours. The metabolic risk. The impact of not sleeping goes far beyond hunger and the scale, since at a metabolic level, sleep restriction reduces insulin sensitivitywhich directly increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. More and more data. If you still had doubts about the benefits of sleeping correctly, we already know that having a good sleep allows us to be more productive and better integrate the different knowledge that we learn in our brain. But to this is now also added the ability to ‘create’ new muscle, making the smartest decision to be sleeping, although for some it is not very productive. Images | Slaapwijsheid.nl Anastase Maragos In Xataka | Hitting the gym every week is great, but it all depends on what you do right after you leave the gym.

Log In

Forgot password?

Forgot password?

Enter your account data and we will send you a link to reset your password.

Your password reset link appears to be invalid or expired.

Log in

Privacy Policy

Add to Collection

No Collections

Here you'll find all collections you've created before.