Mobile Tech & Gadgets

Kalma is North Korea’s first real effort to become a vacation spot. For now only for Russians

by

In October we told a surreal story if it weren’t for the fact that it was completely true. North Korea had a plan in hand: to become a vacation enclave with all of the law. In essence, although with nuances: setting up your own Benidorm, inspired by Spain. For May of this year it was expected Wonsan-Kalma resort. The project is not only moving forward, there is already a scheduled date for the arrival of tourists, for now only from Russia. Inspired by Spain. As we count thenIn fact Wonsan-Kalma project started in 2014with the vision of transforming the Kalma peninsula into a luxury destination with hotels, restaurants and attractions, including even initial plans for an underwater hotel. The ambition of the project was reflected in 2017, when a delegation of 16 North Korean officials visited Spain to study tourism development models in places such as Marina d’Or and Terra Mítica, in Benidorm. The experiences acquired influenced the design of the complex, with emphasis on hotel infrastructure, leisure and complementary services, as Reuters reported at the time. The only “but”: that the North Korean region is known for another peculiaritya priori not very compatible with tourist success. They have apparently used the coastal region of Wonsan in the past to test ballistic missiles. In fact, in 2020 the South Korean General Staff warned that two projectiles had been launched from Wonsan itself, about 180 kilometers from Seoul. A megaproject under state control. According to the American expert on North Korea, Jacob Boglethe tourist complex will be the largest development of its kind in the country and possibly the largest in the world under a single state owner. Unlike Benidorm, which was developed over time with various private investments, the Wonsan project is or will be a single, centralized structure, operated exclusively by the government. In this regard, the complex will include facilities such as an aquarium and sports centers, but its tourism approach will be subject to traditional North Korean restrictions, where visitors must follow rigidly planned itineraries, usually in groups organized from factories, schools or state-owned enterprises. . Tourism as a means of earning foreign currency. We also told it a few months ago and it is the most important leg of this investment. Unlike other areas of the North Korean economy, the tourism sector is not subject to international sanctionswhich represents a key opportunity to obtain foreign currency. Hence, the North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un, has highlighted that the country has “rich and diverse tourist resources” that can be used to revitalize the regional economy and improve the living standards of the population. The main target markets for North Korean tourism, at least initially, seem clear: Russia and China, countries with which Pyongyang has strengthened political and economic ties in recent years. In fact, after the partial reopening of the borders in 2023, The first tourists to visit the country were Russiansand the state travel agency, Korean International Travel Company, has been promoting North Korea’s tourist attractions to Russian travelers. Now that bet has been reaffirmed. First packages: the Russian tourist. The news these days is that a Russian travel agency has started promoting the new tourist area of ​​Kalma with the idea that the first foreign tourists to visit the complex are Russians. The Vladivostok-based company Vostok Intur has announced three travel dates to the Wonsan-Kalma tourist resort, starting in July, according to a post on its Telegram channel. In this regard, the agency offers eight-day packageswith the first excursion scheduled for July 7-14, followed by two additional trips in August. The cost of the package: $1,400with additional expenses to be paid in Russian rubles and including: Accommodation for seven nights, with three meals a day. Round-trip flights to North Korea. Guided tours of Pyongyang at the end of the trip, as part of the experience. According to the agency, tourists will be able to enjoy an “ecologically clean” environment with entertainment options for all budgets and a gastronomic variety adapted to various tastes. A strategic opening. Thus, the announcement of the start of operations of the Kalma tourist area comes after a decade of construction, with official opening now planned for June 2025. In fact, Kim Jong-un, who personally inspected the complex with his daughter, has called the project a “big step” in the development of the country’s tourism industry, describing it as a “spectacular, beautiful and magnificent” place. First Russia, and then we’ll see. As we said, the interest in attracting Russian tourists to the Kalma area reinforces the growing relationship between Moscow and Pyongyangstrengthened by cooperation in strategic sectors following increased tension between Russia and the West due to the war in Ukraine. North Korea seems to be clear about and identified Russia as a priority market, given that, as we explained, tourism is not subject to these international sanctions and offers a safe way to obtain foreign currency. Challenges of North Korea, vacation enclave. There is no doubt, although tourism promotion through Russian agencies marks an important and decisive step for the exploitation of the Kalma complex, the project faces known challengessuch as mobility restrictions within the country, limited access to objective information or security issues for those who travel. Despite this, the nation trusts that the tourist area will serve as a key tool to promote regional development and improve the international perception of the country as a tourist destination. Let Benidorm tremble. Image | Clay Gilliland In Xataka | The idea of ​​North Korea in the midst of an international tourism boom: setting up its own Benidorm, inspired by Spain In Xataka | North Korea has a lifeline to avoid sanctions: fake hair

The 13 keys to ‘Plan Mexico’, Mexico’s strategy to protect itself from China and wink at Trump

by

“Continue making Mexico the best country in the world.” That is the ambitious objective of Claudia Sheinbaum, current president of Mexico, who will face a complicated panorama in the coming weeks due to the tariff plans of a Donald Trump who has entered the White House stomping. And to achieve that goal, Sheinbaum has presented his government’s 13 goals to reduce poverty and inequality, while turning the country into an attractive destination for investors. Mexico Plan. On January 13, Sheinbaum advertisement to the nation that “Mexico has a plan and is united forward.” He commented that there is a portfolio of intention of national and foreign investments and that, to attract all possible capital, they have created 13 goals to continue developing the country. These points of the Mexico Plan are the following: Go from the 12th economy to the tenth in the world. Raise the proportion of investment to GDP, above 25%. Generate 1.5 million jobs. 50% of what is consumed in the country are products “made in Mexico” in the textile, footwear, furniture and toys sectors. Increase national content by 15%. 50% of public purchases will be of national production. Vaccines made in Mexico thanks to advanced biotechnology programs. Going from 2.5 years to one year the time it takes to process a new business, also with the requirements for this reduced by 50%. Increase 150,000 additional professionals and technicians annually to those already generated. Business environmental sustainability. 30% of SMEs with access to financing from both private and government banks. Be one of the five most visited countries worldwide. Reduce poverty and inequality. Billionaire. One of the legs on which Plan Mexico will be based is to attract investments. According to the Government, nearly 2,000 projects are being contemplated by companies seeking to establish themselves in the country, which implies national and foreign investments of 277,000 million dollars. “Made in Mexico”. Something that is mentioned several times in the plan is the concept of “made in Mexico”, and as we see in BBCit is something that has every intention. One of the main focuses of this strategy is to return to manufacturing elements in Mexico to develop an industry that has been left aside. For example, prioritizing the textile sector that had been relegated to what Mexico imported, mainly from countries like China. Over the last decades, the country stopped producing what it consumed to import it from Asia and Rogelio Ramírez, Secretary of the Treasury, declared that “10% of exports currently have Mexico as a destination.” Playing both sides. Ramírez commented that “this loss of participation cost us, especially Mexico and the United States, a lot of industry and loss of activity. “Entire sectors were lost.” This is why a plan that favors the national business fabric can benefit both Mexico and its main trading partner, the United States. In the Government document it was specified that China had cornered the international industry and that the objective was to make Mexico recover the lost ground. Ramírez explained that, if replace 10% of China’s exports to North America with Mexican products, the country’s GDP would increase by 1.2%, that of the United States by 0.8% and that of Canada by 0.2%. The problem is that Mexico and China have been strengthening their relations for years. So much so that Trade between both countries skyrocketed during 2024turning Mexico into the gateway for Chinese products to the United States and, therefore, the Asian giant as a valuable trading partner. An example is companies electric cars like JAC or SEV, which have already announced million-dollar investments to open factories in Mexico. AND BYD is also very clear that, to enter the US market, they need to make the leap to Mexico. “No recipe for Donald Trump”. Despite Trump’s threats, Mexico can be crowned as an important US trading partner to get rid of China. We will see what happens with the protectionist policies that the new American president has promised during his campaign, since they may not have been just lip service. The reason is that Trump has no expectations of re-election, so he can go in with everything, giving free rein to his most aggressive ideas and policies. He has threatened Mexico on several occasions, as well as Canada, and Carlos Pérez Ricart, from the Center for Economic Research and Teaching, believes that “there is no recipe or adequate response for Donald Trump. Nobody has the key here and there is so much uncertainty in terms of rates and interventionism that there is nothing clear that can be planned.” What is evident is that Sheinbaum is clear that, coinciding with the arrival of the new president of the United States, citizens should know that there is a plan B in the medium and long term. We will see if it is enough and to what extent the promised US protectionism affects Mexico. Images | White House, Aeneas of Troy In Xataka | China and the US want the same territory in South America. China has offered an ambitious project, Trump will enter by force

The magnetic north pole has been moving rapidly. This is how navigation instruments follow the step

by

What do we talk about when we talk about the North Pole? The truth is that it depends since, on our planet we can distinguish two key geographical points that respond to this name, but with different “surname.” They are the magnetic north pole and the geographical north pole. Distinguishing them is key because only one of them has a fixed location while the other wanders in their proximity. But, in addition, it makes it faster. Reviewing the location. The new year has been released With an update that has gone more or less unnoticed but that is of the utmost importance: it is the world magnetic model (WMM) of 2025. The revision of the model not only includes the information about its current position but also of its displacements planned in the next five years . Accelerated movement. We have known for a long time that the magnetic north pole changes location and we know that the cause is in the changes in the magnetic field of the planet, a field generated by the connective iron movements of the interior of our planet. What is most striking is that, during the last decades the displacement of the magnetic northern pole It has accelerated. If for 300 years this point ranged between the islands located north of Canada, since the end of the 20th century and especially during the new century, the speed of displacement of this markedly accelerated. Now the magnetic north has already exceeded the geographical north and is closer to Siberia than from Canada. “The current behavior of the magnetic north is something we had never seen before. (…) In recent years he accelerated towards Siberia, increasing speed every year until about five, when he suddenly seized 50 to 35 km per year, ” explained in a press release William Brown, of the British Geological Survey (BGS), one of the institutions in charge of the development of the model. The world magnetic model. The model It is the result of the collaboration between the National Environmental Information Centers (NCEI) of the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) American and the BGS, as well as two intelligence agencies on both sides of the Atlantic. The model is used in various contexts, from aviation to commercial GPS and applications that use compasses on our mobile. The model includes a series of maps that not only indicate the location of the magnetic north but also mapped the changes in the Earth’s magnetic field, allowing to know the behavior of compasses at each point of the northern hemisphere. More precision. The latest version of the model, WMM2025will help improve navigation, especially in long -distance tours. As explained by the BGS, a trip between South Africa and the United Kingdom, using the old model, would imply a slight deviation of a degree on the way. The problem is that, over 8,500 kilometers, this very small deviation results in an error of 150 kilometers. The new model allows you to approach centimeters from the destination point. The version also incorporates a novelty: a high resolution map that will accompany the “standard” and that can be used in contexts where greater precision is required. This version has a 300 km resolution in Ecuador, notably higher than the 3,300 km resolution in the standard version. The next update. The WMM model is updated every five years, which means that we will have a new version in 2030, WMM2030. This assuming that I do not know any unexpected change in the speed or direction of the displacement that justifies an extraordinary review of the model. In Xataka | The Arctic has been heating faster than we expected. We may not be blamed this time Image | NOAA NCI / Hendrik Morkel

We just found the bathrooms of a Pompeii mansion. A sample of luxury and the darkest side of the Romans

by

Pompeya is one of the great archaeological treasures of the world. 2,000 years ago, The pyroclastic wave of Vesubio He swept and buried the cities of Pompeii and Herculano and, although archaeological excavations began in 1739, we still continue discovering the secrets of that civilization. It is estimated that a third of the city continues to remain underground, but in recent years we have found interesting details such as the genome of a Pompeyan or carbonized papyrus rolls with such succulent details as the possible location of Plato’s tomb. During the past year, there was an important step to better understand what the society of the time was like. First, one “Black room”About 15 meters long by six wide that it is estimated, it would have been a banquet room. The black paint of the walls would serve to hide the soot of the oil lamps and something surprising is that the frescoes of the walls were perfectly preserved. The second great discovery was the “Blue room” This, perhaps, was more interesting due not only to the fact that the frescoes were also in a perfect condition, but to the blue pigment that is not common in Pompeian spaces, since it was reserved for the most outstanding rooms of the town. In addition, there were large amphorae and a multitude of remains of … clams. Now, everything makes sense thanks to what has been qualified as “a unique discovery in a century”: the blue and black room were part of a house for the richest among the rich. Pompeya’s house for the richest among the rich Both the black room and the blue room are part of the same complex: a luxury village with one of the largest and most structured private bathrooms that have been discovered … in history. And, to get an idea of ​​the magnitude of the installation, we must imagine something like a spa, but private. Archaeologists who are doing excavation work have detailed BBC News what the house was like, and the truth is that the bathroom occupies a luxury place. It is a spa complex that is the heart of the great residence and has hot and cold rooms, as well as a huge immersion pool. The rooms are decorated with red paint on the walls, fresh, stone banks and mosaic floor. Archaeologists define the place as the perfect example of the “Pompeii effect.” This means that it is preserved so well that it seems that the place has just been abandoned, alive until nothing is done when, really, almost 2,000 years ago that a soul is given a bath in those facilities. The house. In green, laundry. In orange, the bakery/kitchen. In pink, private residence. In purple, the bathrooms But it is not just the huge bathroom: the complex had the black room, the blue, the aforementioned spa, a laundry, rooms and a bakery, plus the private house itself. It is believed that it belonged to Aulus Rustius Verus, an influential Pompeyan politician, and can be the greatest discovery in the town so far. “There are only a few houses that have a private bathroom complex, so it was something really reserved for the richest of the rich. And this is so huge that it is probably the largest bathroom complex in a private house in Pompeya, ”says Gabriel Zuchtriegel, director of the Pompeya Archaeological Park. Detail of the bathrooms with the black room in purple and the direct access to the patio porticado with the pool. From there, you could go to other bathrooms such as the hot and cold And that the huge bathroom was next to the bakery and the dining room is not something unusual. The link between the BAOS and the great dining room gives an idea of ​​how the house was a scenario for the celebration of banquets and to make contacts between the high spheres of the time. Celebrating a gun with guests and then enjoying a bathroom, or vice versa, was a political tool to collect electoral support from guests or simply to boast power. And what attracts attention is the pool, with a depth of one meter, occupying the central space of a 10 x 10 meter porticated patio. Zuchtriegel comments that “everything was designed to set up a show in which the owner was the center of attention. The paintings, with themes of the Trojan War and scenes that represent athletes, represented an environment full of culture and erudition, as well as relaxation. ” In addition, he argues that “the public, grateful and satiated, would have applauded the show mounted by the host and owner of the house with sincere admiration, becoming the subject of conversation for a while.” And, beyond the bathrooms themselves, the rear boiler room has been found with pipes and lead systems that heated and distributed hot water, with a valve system that regulated the flow in the different spa rooms. And it is something that also allows you to see the differences of life between the classes, with the owners of the house giving sumptuous bathrooms while the slaves ‘roasted’ feeding the ovens to heat the water. You can see hot water pipes Not everyone was so lucky Now, not all discoveries allow us to look at scenes as relaxing as a good comilona or a relaxing bath. In a small room adjacent to the Blue Room, the remains of two Pompeyans who could not escape the eruption have been found. It is estimated that they were a man and a woman who could not escape because the pyroclastic flow already ran freely through the streets. It was what caused the collapse of a wall that crushed the man, while the woman was still alive. Quickly, the room was filled with the lava, causing the death of the woman. The bone analysis shows that the male skeleton was from someone of a young age, but with wear in the bones that indicates that it was someone of … Read more

Malaysia came up with the idea of ​​painting its roads fluorescent to illuminate them at night. The problem was the price

by

In February 2024 we saw that the continuous line of a good part of the A-355, one of the roads with more accidents of Spanish territory, dawned with a thick continuous red line. It was a pilot measure by the DGT to highlight the prohibition of overtaking on that road. A few weeks earlier, a similar program was developed in Malaysia: repainting the road markings of certain roads with a photoluminescent paint. Not even a year has passed and it seems that they will not continue painting. The reason? It is too expensive, which has raised the question of… and they hadn’t thought of that before? The pilot. In mid-November 2023, the Government of Malaysia advertisement the launch of a pilot program that aimed to highlight the lines of certain roads. Using photoluminescent paint with the ability to glow at night. The authorities commented that these initiatives were suitable for dark areas that lacked public lighting. The lines shine for 10 hours and, in case of heavy rain, they also give off a certain shine that helps make them more visible, allowing drivers to stay in their lane. The images leave no room for doubt: it looks much better than the traditional white line, also better than reflective indicators. The project attracted attention. Initially, only 245 meters of road were painted at one intersection, representing about 490 meters of road markings, but other states began to carry out their own tests. Almost 20 times more expensive. The problems came practically from the beginning. The Malaysian Ministry of Works already warned that they were going to be very attentive to the results of the pilot program and the ability to paint on other roads, since the price of the new paint could be a problem. And so much so that it has ended up being an inconvenience. From the Ministry of Works reported that conventional paint costs about 40 ringgit per square meter, about 8.65 euros. Photoluminescent paint costs 749 ringgit per square meter, more than 160 euros. It costs 19 times more per square meter. Putting on the brake. Despite the enthusiasm with which the population received the measure, Malaysia’s deputy labor minister, Ahmad Maslan, commented a few weeks ago that it was not likely that they would continue painting. “The cost is too high, so we probably won’t continue with glow-in-the-dark lanes,” stated. It is curious when, months before, 31 roads had been identified that could have received this type of paint. Maslan stated that the tests did not meet the expectations of the ministry’s experts, without giving further explanations. Questions and suspicions. This is part of the eternal debate about priorities, budget and security, since we must remember that the areas that were going to receive this type of paintings are wooded and lack lighting, making it dangerous to travel through them due to interactions between humans. as by the action of animals crossing each other. And, evidently, the news has raised suspicions of corruption in local mediawith users who wondered if they didn’t know all this before starting the pilot project, what are those expectations that the painting has failed to meet… and that someone will have filled their pockets with the initial contract. Images | Alexander Nanta Linggi, Bernama (Azlim Mansor) In Xataka | The Tour de France has a team dedicated exclusively to something crucial: erasing penises painted on the roads

pay people to get married

by

According to demographers one of the main factors What is behind the drop in birth rates around the world is that people are not getting married. And yes, I am aware. I can also think of a lot of counterarguments, but the truth is that “marriage and fertility move together with extraordinary regularity“. And, being so, some demographers saywhy don’t we pay people to get married? Pay people to get married? The idea may seem crazy, but it is based on a rather curious issue: that men’s income predict the number of marriages. That is, in places where men earn more, there are more marriages. This is not an extremely strong correlation, but it is very clear (and, as soon as we correct it, it gains strength). The question is why. And is the marriage market actually an insurance market? As? As it sounds. From a sociodemographic point of viewhusbands are a kind of insurance policy. It doesn’t mean that people get married. only for money: but what marriage has traditionally been a widespread solution to the problems and disruptions of having children. A process in which, it goes without saying, women run more risks (health risks, yes; but also work, social and economic risks) than men. put up with a husband (someone who can “reduce” the impact of possible problems that arise) is in a way like paying for insurance: we do it with greater or lesser pleasure in the hope of having it if we need it in the future. Men are many more things, of course.. However, as Lyman Stone points outsalary is usually a pretty good ‘proxy’ for many positive people skills. And, in fact, it works like this even if we are not fully aware of it. It’s something that culturally seeps into our judgments about others. But what happens if insurance covers us less and less? That is the central question: if we look at the US data, we can see that “American incomes are increasing, but this increase is concentrated entirely in women and/or people over 40 years of age, not by young” men. In fact, “men’s real incomes showed no growth or even a decline at almost all ages below 35 years.” As insurance coverage decreases (men can contribute less and less) and monthly payments remain the same (because, well, in the last 20 years the nature of marriages has not changed much), taking out the policy (getting married) It is becoming less and less attractive. It seems silly… but as Lyman Stone saysthe casual effect is there. “When women win the lottery, there is little to no effect on their marriage rates. But when men win the lottery, they get married . Seriously, they (buy houses and) they get married“. It is not the only factorof course: but it is surprisingly important. And surprisingly easy to fix. Because marriage benefits work. Above all, they work much better than maternity benefits work. Image | Photo Pettine | Stock Birken In Xataka | The demographic crisis in the West is no accident: most people do not have children simply because they do not want to.

If the question is, should I buy the iPhone 16 now or wait for the iPhone SE 4, the answer is: there is no certainty.

by

There are two types of users at Apple: those who want the best of the best and go for the most expensive model and those who simply want a “basic” iPhone that allows them to get into iOS in the most economical way possible. At this time of the year, with the iPhone 16 settled, there are many who are waiting for the new iPhone SE 4. A phone that will finally say goodbye to the design that they have been recycling since the iPhone 6, and that according to rumors will be more similar to the iPhone 14. The question is clear: should I buy an iPhone 15/16, or wait for the new SE? The answer is not so easy. What we expect from the iPhone SE 4. According to the leaksthe iPhone SE 4 will inherit the body of the iPhone 14, including the notch. However, there is contradictory information, because the latest rumors speak of a possible dynamic island. Be that as it may, it is expected to be a phone with specifications similar to the iPhone from two generations ago. Let’s talk about specifications. If you buy an iPhone 16, you are buying a phone with the latest Apple processor, a camera system practically identical to the previous model (iPhone 15) and very good autonomy. The iPhone 15 is practically the same phone, with a little less RAM (this is key, since it is left without Apple Intelligence), without camera control and with a little less autonomy. It is a great purchase in terms of quality and price, since you get almost the same phone for less. What will happen to the iPhone SE4? Nobody knows. The last model had the Apple A15 Bionic, the processor of the iPhone 13 Pro. Nothing prevents, therefore, this iPhone SE4 from incorporating the Apple A17 Bionic of the iPhone 15. It will not be an easy decision for Apple. If you want this phone to have Apple Intelligence, the most logical combination is the A18 of the iPhone 16 and 8 GB of RAM. Specifications that would collide head-on with those of its older brother. Let’s talk about money. The iPhone SE went on the market in its latest iteration for 529 euros. An iPhone 16 costs 959 euros. We don’t know the price of the SE, but a too high increase is not expected. With luck, it would be below 600 euros. The iPhone 16 can easily be purchased for around 750/800 euros new if we search a little, and the iPhone 15 can be purchased for just under 700 euros. The main asset of the iPhone SE 4 has to be its price. If the difference compared to an iPhone 16 is around 200 euros, it may be a sensible purchase. Image | Xataka In Xataka | I have tested the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro. I am very clear about which one I would buy

The revenge film that revolutionized the international cinema scene returns to theaters for its anniversary

by

Of course, Park Chan-wook’s masterpieceOld Boy‘ was not the first Korean film to attract the attention of viewers outside Asia. That same year we had had the fabulous rural thriller ‘Memories of Murder’, by the country’s other star director, Bong Joon Ho. And Park Chan-wook himself had shown the first film of his revenge trilogy, ‘Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance’, at international festivals a year earlier. But ‘Old Boy’ connected in a special way with Western viewers by raising a feeling that has been captured in millions of films of all origins, revengebut with the doses of extravagance and visual daring that we have always expected in Korean cinema since then. ‘Old Boy’ became almost a canonical film of the country, at least for foreign viewers and festivals, since there the commercial cinema that the majority of the population consumes, just like in Europe or the United States, is nothing like it. to this experiment artie but forceful. The convoluted plot of ‘Old Boy’ begins when a Korean businessman is kidnapped and confined for years in a cell where there is only a television. He doesn’t know why he is there and little by little we will witness his slow descent into madness. When he comes out, he will begin a meticulous process of revenge for those who have destroyed his life, violent and with a good amount of extreme revelations. We all remember from ‘Old Boy’ its magnificent scene shot in sequence, of a hallway full of enemies that the protagonist dispatches quickly and with the help of a hammer. It has been imitated in series seemingly as far removed from this film as ‘Daredevil’, demonstrating the extent to which the reach and influence of ‘Old Boy’ make it a unique icon of Korean cinema. Now, on the occasion of its twentieth anniversary, we can once again enjoy this film on the big screen, as it is re-released in theaters. In Xataka | Spectators and critics say it is the best science fiction film of recent times, but it was barely seen in theaters

We have just created a new unconventional superconductor by combining materials that are not superconductors

by

Since the discovery of superconductivity does something more than a centurymaterials with these types of characteristics have obsessed physicists. It is no wonder, since it is one of the more exotic phenomenabut also with enormous practical potential. The reason? They are materials that, when under certain temperature conditions, conduct electricity without resisting. Since there is no resistance, there is no loss of energy, but they also have other peculiarities such as “Meissner effect” which eliminates the flux of the magnetic field inside a magnet, allowing it to levitate above a superconductor. The problem is that conventional superconductors show their ‘superpowers’ at extremely low temperatures, requiring liquid helium to cool. That is why the scientific community has spent decades exploring the world of unconventional superconductors. They are those based on iron, some heavy metals and organic materials, many of them with complex crystalline structures and unusual electronic properties, but the most important thing is that the critical temperature is higher. And that is precisely what they have uncovered researchers at Tokyo Metropolitan University. New unconventional superconductor By combining zirconium with different proportions of iron and nickel, researchers have been able to create a new superconductor that features a dome-shaped phase diagram. This means that it is a non-conventional superconductor, which implies that, to appreciate its potential, it is not necessary to lower the temperature extremely with liquid helium, but rather with liquid nitrogen. Superconductor structure It still requires a low critical temperature, but it is easier to maintain this temperature with liquid nitrogen. Furthermore, what is really relevant is that, for the first time, it has been demonstrated that a polycrystalline alloy of iron, nickel and zirconium has superconducting properties, something that neither iron nor nickel zirconide, which are not superconductors in crystalline form, have. . This advance is interesting because understanding and studying the unconventional superconductors It is crucial in order to push the temperature limit at which they can operate without losing their faculties, facilitating their arrival in practical applications such as advanced electronic devices, transport systems or superconducting cables. Furthermore, understanding the mechanisms behind unconventional superconductivity can lead to the discovery of superconducting materials at room temperature. This is the current goal of physics and it is something that we have been researching for yearssince it would be quite a revolution transmit electricity and energy without loss and without having to dissipate heat. The applications of room temperature superconductivity are immense. For example, facilitating the creation of nuclear fusion reactorselectric motors and any type of electrical system much more efficient. Also, accelerate quantum computing, particle accelerators, energy storage in superconducting coils, magnetic levitation devices or the possibility of transmitting electricity immediately, even with sources very far from cities. And steps have been taken in this regard, such as the superconductor that could operate at a comfortable 14.5 degrees Celsius. The problem with this superconductor was that it needed a pressure of 39 million psi, which would be equivalent, more or less, to 2.65 million times normal atmospheric pressure. An outrage, wow, but the good thing is that the industry is dedicated to evolving these unconventional superconductors and it seems that they are getting closer to being useful on a daily basis. Of course, there is still a way to go. Images | Eurekalert, Julien Bobroff In Xataka | This magnetic field experiment shatters all records. And in the process paves the way to nuclear fusion

Getting an infusion with olive leaves sounds very good and healthy. Science has much more doubts about it

by

Olive oil is a fundamental ingredient In the Mediterranean diet. Spain is one of the great producers That, for years, he focused on being a large world producer of consumer oil, Leaving Italy The high ranges. That changed a few months agobut of course: in addition to olive or olives, we have to talk about by -products, Like the bone or the leaves. With them, we can make infusions, buy bread with embedded leaves and in the herbalists and brands Its multiple benefits are cited. But science is not done alone, and researchers have tested these properties of olive leaf infusions. Oleuropein. All those supposed benefits of the infusions of the olive leaf come from the hand of an antioxidant called oleuropein. This is the majority phenolic component of the pulp of green olives and is the one that gives a certain bitter taste in extra virgin olive oils. It turns out that it is also a main component of the olive leaves. In 2011 a study and it was stated that this antioxidant could show antifibrotic and anti -inflammatory effects. The interesting thing is that the oleuropein concentration depends on the color of the leaf: the greener, the more oleuropein it contains, so the leaves collected in spring have higher levels compared to those collected at another time of the year. The studies. These properties such as antioxidant have led us to consume the infusion sheets, but … are they really safe and healthy? In The Conversation we can see two recent studies. One of them, of 2022, combined data from 12 experimental studies in which 819 people participated, concluding that the olive leaf extract (managed in capsules with dose of between 500 milligrams and 5 grams during periods of six to six 48 weeks) improved heart disease risk factors and reducing blood pressure. Data. In people with high blood pressure, the effects were greater. In a study More recent, from 2024, data from other experimental studies with a sample of 703 participants were again studied. The doses were this time between 250 and 1,000 mg -very minors -, administered in capsules or incorporated into the PAN. Some of the participants had high and overweight blood pressure, but others were in healthy parameters. Significant benefits were observed in blood glucose control and a reduction in blood pressure, but when all data crossed, no significant effects were appreciated and it was indicated that it was necessary to continue investigating. Safe levels. In these cases, we are talking about an “the olive leaf can improve the hypotensive effect, since, as we say, it is not a certainty and we must continue to investigate. But something that studies seem to coincide is that, a daily supplementation of this extract, with a dose of a gram per day, has no adverse effects or contraindications. What is indicated in others studies It would be good for pregnant and infant women to avoid consumption, since effectiveness and safety have not been proven during this phase. Toxicity. It is interesting, however, that some cases of aggressiveness have been reported after excessive consumption. It is suspected that a high dose, 85 mg/kg of body weight, is toxic, causing an event similar to that of an excess of dopamine, taking a 67 -year -old woman to aggressive behavior. This woman took 5.5 grams of dry olive leaf per day to treat hay fever, experiencing changes in mood and the aforementioned aggressive behavior after intake. Researchers think that the culprit is hydroxythritic, a component of the olive leaf extract that has a structure similar to dopamine, altering levels. It is still an isolated case, but there it is. Head. Therefore, that olive leaf is sold to make infusions is not negative, because the effects as an antioxidant in our body are there, but the usual thing is important: to have head and common sense so as not to self -medicate with chemical drugs … or with natural remedies with remedies . Are they healthy? Yes, in small doses, but of course they do not replace medicines and treatments made by professionals. And, if they love each other Take as a complementit can be infused, but also in smoothies or as a salad and bread complement. Images | Júlio Reis, Bea.miau In Xataka | During centuries Galicia was a thriving land of olive groves with unique varieties in the world. What changed it is still a mystery

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.