Mobile Tech & Gadgets

Charging the battery properly is a hassle. So the Madrid firefighters have had to come out and explain how to do it.

by

The Madrid Security and Emergency Agency has published a series of recommendations (something that comes remembering year after year) as a result of something they see constantly (: domestic accidents due to bad practices when charging a phone. What in 2026 seems obvious does not have to be so obvious, so it is worth collecting some of the points in which some users continue to fail. It doesn’t work anywhere. Raise your hand if you have ever carried your cell phone on the bed or sofa. Such a common practice can end up leading to a fire. The basic recommendations are clear. Do not charge the device near any device that emits heat, such as the car dashboard itself (when it is connected by cable to it) or a radiator. Do not carry it on beds, chairs or textile surfaces. These, in addition to increasing the temperature of the device, are highly flammable. The 112 recommendation is the same that we have been doing for years at Xataka: charge on a smooth, non-combustible surface, and if possible cool and ventilated. Be careful with chargers. 112 explains that we should only use “approved chargers.” To verify that this is the case, all we have to do is look at whether or not the charger has a visible CE marking. This type of charger always includes data on its input voltage, output, amperage and power. As Xatakero advice, we recommend buy chargers with official fast charging protocols such as Quick Charge (QC), Power Delivery or PPS. This is a perfect indication that the manufacturer has taken care to offer compatibility with the best charging protocols of the moment, since the final power does not tell us everything: how it charges matters. Add to this that, although chargers are specifically designed to collect heat (all the heat they collect is heat they take away from your device), it is best not to put them near flammable surfaces. Be careful with repairs. A point that we do not usually take into account and that can end in a bad outcome is the quality of the replacement battery. Nowadays it is more than common to use compatible batteries instead of the original ones, since they are much cheaper. Here it is important to be clear about where the battery comes from and what its safety guarantees are. A poor quality battery can bloat, not control the temperature like an original one, and cause significant damage. Go deeper. It is no coincidence that year after year, and with the arrival of heat, you discover these articles with tips (that you may or may not know) on how to charge your cell phone. Fires caused by plugged-in electronic devices remain on the order of the dayand every memory about the recommendations for charging our devices makes sense. With the rise of silicon-carbonincreasingly larger batteries, and fast charging systems that exceed 100w, we have advanced and safe technology, but it requires a little effort on our part. In Xataka Mobile | A 12,000 mAh battery in a mobile phone is possible: Xiaomi advances the future of silicon-carbon with the next Redmi

China turned off the oil tap when the conflict with Iran broke out. Now he reopens it to rescue a thirsty Asia

by

When the Strait of Hormuz was practically sealed after the outbreak of the well-known Third Gulf War, the world held its breath. In the midst of widespread panic over the strangulation of one of the planet’s most vital energy arteries, the first major tectonic movement came from Beijing. The Asian giant opted for the crudest pragmatism: it ordered its large refineries to immediately and opaquely stop gasoline and diesel exports to shield its own tanks. China isolated itself to survive. However, in just a few weeks, the board has taken an unexpected turn. With an Asia that looks into the abyss of the shortage, Beijing has decided to reopen the valve, going from being a protectionist actor to establishing itself as the great energy lifeline of the region. Asia’s savior: China. The shockwaves of war have left the Indo-Pacific region shivering. Asia has become “ground zero” of the crisis. In Australia, the panic has emptied the gas stationsforcing the government to cut emergency taxes; India has had to sacrifice tax revenue to freeze prices due to shortages; Japan has refused to share its strategic reserves with its neighbors; and Vietnam airlines They have had to cancel en masse their flights due to the lack and extra cost of aviation fuel. In the midst of this desperation, China has made its move. As anticipated BloombergBeijing has given the green light to its state refineries to export 500,000 tons of fuels (gasoline, diesel and kerosene) over the next month. According to sources cited by oil pricecompanies such as Sinopec and China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) already have shipments ready on ships that will be destined, as a rescue, to severely punished neighboring nations such as Vietnam and Laos. The energetic rice bowl. That China can afford to export fuel while the rest of the continent applies rationing measures is not a miracle, it is the result of a silent strategy. China took advantage of previous years to buy heavily sanctioned and cheap crude oil (Russian, Venezuelan and Iranian), managing to accumulate colossal reserves of almost 1.4 billion barrels. According to researcher Henry Tugendhatthis gives Beijing a cushion of about 104 days of domestic demand, in addition to having a “floating warehouse” of Iranian oil tankers anchored off its coasts waiting to be unloaded. Returning to “Game of Thrones.” But Beijing’s move goes far beyond helping its neighbors; It is a direct geopolitical challenge. As detailed South China Morning Post (SCMP)China has for the first time activated its so-called “Blockade Rules” of 2021. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce has issued an official order prohibiting domestic companies from complying with the sanctions recently imposed by the United States. Washington had sanctioned five refineries Chinese independent companies (known as “teapots”), including Hengli Petrochemical, accusing them of financing the Iranian military by purchasing its oil. By ordering the contempt of these sanctions because they are considered a “improper extraterritorial application”Beijing demonstrates that it not only has physical control of the crude oil, but that it is willing to engage in a legal and financial confrontation with the United States to protect its supply lines. Tightrope diplomacy. The short-term scenario will be played in the offices. As explained The New York TimesChina is playing both sides in this conflict. On the one hand, he acts as a peaceful mediator, pushing Iran to negotiate to de-escalate tension, having been key in the fragile temporary ceasefires. However, on the other hand, US intelligence agencies suspect that Chinese companies continue to export dual-use material and even military technology to Tehran. All of this is meticulously calculated ahead of the imminent May 14 summit in Beijing between Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump. According to the analysts consulted through the New York environmentthe fact that the US is bogged down in the Middle East and rapidly spending its military resources, gives China a position of tremendous strength to negotiate over tariffs, trade and the US naval blockade. lenergy as the definitive weapon of the 21st century. The Strait of Hormuz crisis has functioned as a stress test for energy globalization. The sanctions drawn up in Washington attempt to financially suffocate the actors in the conflict, but the tyranny of physical infrastructure imposes its own rules. China has shown that the energy wars in this decade are not only decided with naval deployments, but with warehouses full of strategic reserves, independence in refining capacity and overwhelming dominance in the manufacturing of renewable energy. By reopening its export tap, Beijing sends a clear message to the world: while the West hyperventilates over the price of a barrel, China is the one who has the ability to decide who is left in the dark in Asia. Image | Photo by Bundo Kim on Unsplash Xataka | China is one of the largest refining powers on the planet. And he has decided something: to keep all the gasoline he produces

Evangelism has been leading a revolution in Madrid for years. Now he has turned the Metropolitan into a huge church

by

evangelism build muscle in Madrid. The weekend tens of thousands of people gathered at the Riyadh Air Metropolitan stadium to participate in The Change 2026a Christian event that had its first edition in August 2023 at the Benfica da Luz stadium (Lisbon) and revolves around gospel, prayer and evangelization. The event is important not only for its content or participants, which includes the footballer Daniel Alves. It is above all because it connects with other manifestations recent and multitudinous Christianity. What matters, but even more so when and where. What is The Change 2026? A Christian macro event held this weekend in Madrid. Its highlight came on Saturday, when a massive event was organized at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano stadium (Atletico’s field) which, according to organizers’ calculations, was attended by more than 35,000 people. In the website from The Change details that the first event of these characteristics took place in 2023, in Lisbon, and has already attracted thousands of people. At its genesis is the Rodrigues Pereira Association, an organization promoted by the preacher of the same name. Tickets to the event were freealthough they required prior registration and the organization accepted donations. Why is it important? Its attendance data is interesting in itself, but if there is a reason that explains the curiosity that The Change has aroused (and the comments that it has generated in networks) is that it connects with other much broader trends. The main one, the celebration of massive religious events in Madrid. We had the best example beginning of 2026when the city hosted two events almost simultaneously that had thousands of attendees. He January 10 Vistalegre served as the setting for a concert by Kahuna Group Music, a Catholic group that brought together thousands of people. On the same dates, the Movistar Arena hosted the prayer meeting Callswhich had Alpha España among its organizers and had the evangelical group Hillsong as the opening act. They were not two isolated cases. In April some 85,000 people They participated again in the fourth edition of the Festival of the Resurrection, organized by the Catholic Association of Propagandists and which once again featured Hakuna. Catholics and/or evangelists? It is not a minor issue. The Change vindicate that their event “is not the fruit of a single organization”, but “the heartbeat of a united church, with the same feeling.” The Catholic Church, however, has distanced itself from the event held this Saturday at the Metropolitan. In fact, on March 12, the Archdiocese of Madrid sent a statement brief and firm in which he made it clear that it had nothing to do with The Change. “This initiative is being promoted in our diocese by people outside it, in collaboration with a priest and an association led by a Portuguese evangelical pastor,” pointed out the Madrid Catholic Church, which clarified in passing that it was only informed of the event “when it had already been called.” “Consequently, the Archdiocese of Madrid does not consider itself linked to this event and regrets the call for activities of this nature in its jurisdiction without the necessary coordination with diocesan pastoral care.” Is it an important detail? Yes. Because it connects with a broader phenomenon that transcends the event held this weekend at the Metropolitano. Beyond the rise of Christianity (a trend that studies do not always support: some suggest a growing interest in the spiritual, rather than in orthodoxy), The Change or Llamados show a change in the way of expressing faith. A shift that also pivots towards a form of collective prayer and celebration centered on pop music, rock, big screens and collective prayers, manifestations far from the liturgy of more traditional Catholicism. Is it something new? No. The change comes from years back and it has not been without debate. The Online School of Apologetics has published, for example a list of “twelve reasons why it is not good to listen to Protestant music” and in 2011 the website Religion in Freedom he was wondering Whether Catholics should take note of the evangelists’ use of music. All this, between the controversy by Hillsong. In recent days, voices uncomfortable with the Metropolitan event have also emerged. One of the clearest is Universitarios Católicos (almost 132,000 followers on X), which took advantage of the weekend event to remember the rise of evangelism in the Community of Madrid. “One of the consequences of mass immigration: the loss of our Catholic identity,” concludes. Religion in Freedom assures that, although on Saturday people linked to the Catholic Church or Charismatic Renewal of Madrid could be seen in the stadium, the vast majority of attendees were not linked to the Church of Rome. Specifically, the media estimates that if in the event held in 2023 in Lisbon Catholics represented 25% of the public, in the case of Madrid they were 10%. What was seen in The Change? The event revolved around gospel, corporate prayer and preaching. Among the participants, names stood out such as Rodrigues Pereira or Dani Alves, former footballer for FC Barcelona and the Brazilian national team sentenced to four and a half years in prison (sentence later revoked by the Superior Court of Justice) for a violation. From that same thing, from his experience in prison, Alves spoke before the thousands of people gathered at the Metropolitano. “I was in prison for 14 months, but there Christ set me free. I have lost everything, but by losing everything I found Jesus.” Is it just religion? No. It’s culture. And demographics. Events like Saturday’s may grab headlines, but they are rooted in a much more important… and silent reality: over the last few years, evangelism has been expanding throughout Madrid, coinciding with the increase in Latin American migration. The Observatory of Religious Pluralism in Spain recorded a few months ago 834 places dedicated to evangelical worship in the region, which made it the minority confession with the greatest presence, ahead of Muslims. The phenomenon, very visible in the polygons where new … Read more

NASA’s plan to capture a falling telescope before it burns up in the atmosphere

by

After more than 20 years carrying out their work to perfectiona NASA space telescope is about to fall to Earth and burn up in its atmosphere. This would be very serious, both because of the possibility of uncontrolled debris being generated and because of the loss of the valuable work that this instrument is carrying out. For this reason, the US space agency has already teamed up with a private company to launch a ship into space capable of hunting the telescope and sending it to a safer orbit. Key dates. The protagonist of this story is the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory. According to the latest measurementscarried out in November 2025, there is a 50% risk that this telescope will leave its orbit and fall to Earth in June 2026. In addition, the risk rises to 90% before 2027. For this reason, NASA has granted $30 million to the company Katalyst to develop a robotic spacecraft capable of capturing the telescope and raising it to a safer orbit. The ship is called LINK and its development is going from strength to strength, although there is still no launch date. The biter bit. Neil Gehrels Swift was sent to space in 2024 to capture and study the explosions of gamma rays. Since then it has provided very useful information; But unfortunately, this could change soon. A subdued atmosphere. The problem lies in the attenuation of the Earth’s atmosphere. When we travel to space, this does not disappear suddenly, but rather fades little by little. Such a weak atmosphere has the ability to slow down spacecraft and send them into a lower orbit. If solar storms are added to this, capable of swelling the atmosphere, great aerodynamic resistance is produced. We are currently in a cycle of high solar activity, which reached its peak in October 2024. This possibly pushed the telescope to its limits, placing it in an unstable orbit, from which it could leave at any time. Work against the clock. NASA and Katalyst are working around the clock to launch the LINK spacecraft on time. But in the meantime, the telescope must hold on. For this reason, some of its instruments have been turned off and their operations modified, in order to minimize their energy consumption. This has made it possible to reposition its solar panels and, thereby, reduce their resistance. Sooner or later this will not be enough, but at least it can buy some time until the LINK launch can take place. In the absence of ground platforms, it is a good plane. In order to hunt this telescope in the orbit in which it is located, a launch configuration is necessary that is not available on any of the platforms available to NASA. Therefore, it is planned to launch the ship directly from an airplane. Thus, the trajectory can be adjusted much better. In short, this will be a unique event in history. A telescope has never been caught on the fly. For now we will have to wait, but we will be very attentive to the release dates. Image | POT In Xataka | Exactly 100 years ago we began to understand how the world works. Quantum physics has radically changed our lives

many are missing flights due to the queues it generates

by

Ryanair has sent a letter to the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, demanding the suspension of the Entry/Exit System (EES) until September. The low cost argues that the new border control, in force since April 10, is generating queues of one to two hours in the middle of the tourist season, and that the summer is only going to worsen the problem. What is the EES? It is about the new control system automated border crossing of the European Union for non-EU travelers. It records biometric data (fingerprint, facial image) at each entry and exit of the Schengen area. Its implementation is especially sensitive for Spain due to the high volume of British tourists, whose country no longer belongs to the EU. This system was put into operation on April 10, at the start of the high season. The problem at airports. According to Ryanair, waits at passport controls already exceed between one and two hours at the airports of Malaga, Alicante, Lanzarote, Tenerife South, Gran Canaria, Reus and Fuerteventura. The airline attributes the delays to a lack of staff, system outages and the lack of enough kiosks to absorb traffic. In some cases passengers are already missing flights. “Governments across Europe are trying to implement a half-baked computer system in the middle of the busiest travel season of the year, and passengers are paying the price,” counted Neal McMahon, Chief Operating Officer of Ryanair. Criticism of the Spanish Government. Ryanair emphasizes that the Spanish authorities have known for more than three years the date of entry into force of the EES. Despite this, according to the airline, neither the staffing, nor the technical preparation of the system, nor the installation of sufficient infrastructure was guaranteed. The request also comes at a time of strong pressure on airports, since according to According to the Airlines Association (ALA), companies have scheduled nearly 260 million seats for this summer in Spain, 5.7% more than the previous year. Greece has already gone ahead. The country has already suspended the application of the EES until September to face the summer season without collapses at its airports. Ryanair points out that this option is contemplated in Regulation (EU) 2025/1534 and that Spain could do the same. The airline has sent the same claim to the governments of the other 28 countries integrated into the system. It’s not just Ryanair. The EES warning is not just coming from the Irish airline. Organizations such as ACI Europe, Airlines for Europe (A4E) and IATA have already warned the European Commission of technical problems, staff shortages and limitations in automated systems. In a joint letter, they warned of what they described as “a total disconnect between the perception that the system works and the reality of passengers,” according to collect The Economist. The president of ALA, Javier Gándara, also asked to apply the EES with flexibility to avoid “endless queues” or travelers missing their flights in the middle of the summer campaign. In Xataka | Ryanair decided to “punish” Spain by withdrawing seats in El Prat. Vueling and Wizz Air have caught a fish in troubled waters

Silicon-carbon seems to be the holy grail in batteries. I have spoken to an Honor engineer to verify this

by

For years, smartphones have been asked for something that didn’t seem so complicated: that their battery last more than two days. It turns out that it was complicated, and that manufacturers have had to wait for the only technology that, for the moment, makes this possible to mature. This technology is the silicon-carbonand companies like Honor were pioneers in its implementation in commercial phones. He Honor Magic5 Prolaunched in 2023, was the first high-end smartphone to incorporate it. Three years later, the industry trend leaves no room for doubt: –this is the way– that is the way. After the launch of Honor 600at Xataka we have had the opportunity to speak with Lun Lu, one of the engineers in Honor’s battery department. And yes, he told us little things. Just because One of the greatest limitations of the human being has to do with the “what ifs”, followed by a negative consequence. In the case of silicon-carbon batteries, no manufacturer dared to implement them commercially. Until Honor decided to accompany her “what if…” with a positive consequence. I ask Lu when it was clear to them, when they knew it was the right time to make the jump to silicon-carbon. He tells me that a year before, in 2021, they felt that they were ready and were clear that the technology was mature. They began to allocate resources to design the architecture and start talking to their partners for mass production. This is precisely one of the keys that makes the process so slow. The chemistry of these batteriesthe changes that need to be made at the design level, the security measures that its implementation requires… it is a slow and delicate engineering process. And this answers my question why do you think that some of the Western manufacturers (Apple, Google) They are not yet on the boat. But… what exactly are we talking about? We are clear that Honor was the pioneer in introducing silicon-carbon but… what exactly are we talking about? How could we explain to someone who has no idea about technology what these types of batteries are and what they provide? Lu explains it without any complications: we are facing a great advance through which we can introduce batteries with much more energy in the same size. In other words, where certain mAh used to fit, now many more fit. Much more lithium per gram can be stored in silicon-carbon batteries than in traditional batteries, up to ten times more on a theoretical level. In the new Honor 600, without going any further, they have introduced a 6,400mAh battery in a body of only 7.8mm. It is much thinner than most of its direct rivals with 5,000mAh batteries, and in our analysis it has reached three days of use. Yes, but If the path to silicon-carbon was only surrounded by flowers, there would be no doubts about its implementation. But everything has fine print. We asked about the biggest challenges when implementing this technology. And the answer is clear: your safety, without room for discussion. Introducing silicon greatly complicates the internal stability of the cell, since its volumetric expansion when absorbing lithium ions is considerable and The fear of possible fans is present in the industry. Zhua says that designing this type of battery is a challenge, but that the department takes into account each of the limitations and possible problems of this technology with a view to the long term, since Honor knows that the trend in the industry is towards maintaining the same mobile phone for a few years. Another fairly recurring doubt with these batteries has to do with the cycles they support. In recent years, one of the obsessions has been to ensure that traditional batteries do not degrade excessively. after 1,000 cycles (about what we would do in a couple of years of heavy use). Although he does not reveal all his secrets, Lu says that Honor has been researching for years how to alleviate the early degradation of silicon-carbon, optimizing manufacturing processes to keep them to a minimum. The E1 and E2 chips, implemented in the Magic family and responsible for energy management (co-processors that accompany the main CPU), are responsible for controlling charging and discharging in real time, adjusting consumption according to temperature, voltage and use, and trying to improve cold performance. The last big limitation has to do with what Lu considers “a big problem,” and answers my question of how a manufacturer like Honor deals with having to make a device with one battery destined for China and another destined for Europe. The European Union has strict controls and restrictions with battery imports, and this is slowing down the advances that China is developing. “We would like to provide batteries with the most advanced technology and the highest energy density all over the world, but regulations cannot be discussed. What we can do right now is somewhat limited, because regulations are a red line that we cannot cross.” From the bar counter The phone battery is one of the components most subject to bar counter conversations. “Fast charging is bad.” “It is better to charge up to 80%.” “Silicon carbon batteries have almost no silicon.” Claims that are sometimes made without knowing the scientific support that supports them (or not). So I take the opportunity to ask Lu about some recurring myths and the direction in which these batteries are going. To the first question, it makes it quite clear to me that today there is no difference between charge quickly and charge slowly. There is some truth to the myth: uncontrolled fast charging is harmful, but current battery and charger design takes this issue into account. Regarding the famous 80-20% ruleit is something totally proven. There is no problem in charging to 100%, but keeping the battery in this range helps to extend its useful life. It is risky to give specific information on how many cycles we can gain, since it will depend on … Read more

from futuristic city to the great logistical shortcut that eludes Hormuz

by

In 1869, when it was inaugurated the Suez Canala long caravan of boats crossed for the first time an artificial pass that changed trade routes millennia in a matter of days, not months. What seemed like an almost utopian work ended up demonstrating that, when a strategic route is transformed, the entire balance of world trade can revolve around it. The map changes with a closure. He closure of the strait of Hormuz during the war with Iran has shown to what extent a relatively small strip of water can disrupt global trade. In fact, the Gulf Countries have been forced to improvise alternative routes to maintain the flow of goods and energy. Saudi Arabia, although less affected than other neighbors, has had to quickly reconfigure your logistics network. The result is that this kind of global shock has accelerated decisions that had been on the table for years and has changed strategic priorities. Neom comes down to earth. Yes, the futuristic megaproject and increasingly utopian of Neom, conceived as a fantastic vision with developments like The Lineit seems that it has entered a much more pragmatic phase. As we have been saying, the extra costs and the economic pressure have forced us to cut back on ambitions and focus on projects that generate tangible value. And in that turn, the neom port and the industrial city by Oxagon They have gained prominence. As? The logic has shifted towards what can be built, financed and operationalized within a realistic economic framework. The great shortcut: avoiding Hormuz from the Red Sea. The war has given immediate meaning to this reconversion. counted the financial times this morning that the port of Neom is positioning itself as an alternative door which connects Europe, Africa and the Gulf without passing through Hormuz. From that perspective, goods travel from Europe to the Mediterranean, cross Egypt and reach the Red Sea to redeploy to the Gulf by sea and land. This route, already in use by several European countries, has become more relevant as the strait was blocked. Neom Under construction… but already operational. Although the project is still in development, the port is already working and shows signs of activity growing. In fact, satellite images they have captured traffic of trucks and operations at the site, while infrastructure such as automated cranes, container terminals and sustainable energy systems are completed. The ambition is to turn it into an electrical porthighly automated and prepared for large vessels. All of this currently places it as an emerging piece within the Saudi logistics network. The turn to the west: the economy moves towards the Red Sea. Because the crisis has accelerated a structural change in Saudi Arabia. The economic weight, traditionally concentrated on the Gulf coast, begins to shift towards the red sea. Infrastructure such as the east-west pipeline and the port of Yanbu have gained importancewhile exports increase from that facade. The problem: that although the movement reduces vulnerability to Iran, it also introduces new risks in other areas. Beyond Neom: a network of routes to resist. Yes, because the momentum is not limited to a single project. Apparently, the Times said that Saudi Arabia and its neighbors are already developing logistics corridors, combining ports, roads and future rail connections. Multimodal routes connecting the Gulf with the Red Sea and other markets are also being integrated. The objective seems clear: create redundancy in supply chains to avoid depending on a single strategic step. From science fiction to real geopolitics. In this context, the scenario that is being glimpsed indicates that Neom stops being just a futuristic and hyperbolic symbol and becomes a whole a strategic tool. The war has acted as a catalyst, transforming an ambitious and possibly utopian vision into a practical solution for an immediate problem. There is no doubt, the project was not originally designed to avoid Hormuz by any means, but now it fits perfectly into that role. And in that change it is summarized the new reality: When routes fail, it is possible that even the most futuristic ideas may end up being necessary. Image | NEOM In Xataka | NEOM may have failed, but Saudi Arabia still has crazy things in its hat: a huge artificial lake at 2,600 meters In Xataka | While NEOM builds ski slopes in the desert, Dubai is going in the opposite direction: attracting tourism without going bankrupt

from the characters to the most iconic ships

by

Today, May 4, is Star Wars Day for the “May the 4th be with you“, and like every year the stores have launched offers on a good number of Lego sets. If you want to take advantage of this day so marked by fans of the franchise, we are going to review the best constructions that we can find right now, always taking into account that they are on sale at a good price. Logo by 52.49 eurosone of the best Star Wars sets to decorate a shelf. Grogu in air cradle by 74.99 eurosthe adorable character from ‘The Mandalorian’ along with the aerocradle from the first seasons. R2-D2 by 68.99 eurosone of the character sets with the best quality-price ratio. AT-ST Walker by 149.99 eurosa very well detailed construction of the Empire’s fighting machine. Millennium Falcon by 62.99 eurosone of the Han Solo ship sets with the best quality-price ratio. Millennium Falcon (75375) The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Logo The logo is one of the most characteristic elements of Star Wars and Lego launched its own construction set a while ago. It is quite large (13 cm high, 30 cm wide and 3 cm deep) and its design is very well cared for. The set consists of a total of 700 pieces and inside comes with a nod to the saga. Its price in El Corte Inglés is 52.49 euros instead of 69.99 euros. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Grogu in air cradle If you liked it’The Mandalorian‘, especially the first seasons, Lego has a set of Grogu who comes with his own air cradle. The character can be placed in the crib or both builds placed on a separate shelf, includes a total of 1,048 pieces and comes along with accessories, a Grogu minifigure and a nameplate with information about the character. Its price in El Corte Inglés is 74.99 euros instead of 99.99 euros. Grogu in air cradle (75403) The price could vary. We earn commission from these links R2-D2 If we talk about mythical characters, R2-D2 is one of them. To date, it has had several Lego sets and the one Amazon has for 68.99 euros (before 99.99 euros) is one of those with the best quality-price ratio. It is basically because it has a good level of detail, it is a large set with a height of 24 cm and comes with both a minifigure of the character and an identification plate with information about it. In this case, the set consists of 1,050 pieces. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links AT-ST Walker Perhaps they do not have a similar relevance to that which certain ships or characters have had, but the AT-ST Walker It is one of the most popular combat machines in the saga. By 149.99 euros In El Corte Inglés (previously 199.99 euros), we are talking about a set with 1,513 pieces and a considerable size, with a height of 37 cm. The construction is very well detailed, you can open the top to see the cockpit and it comes with a pilot minifigure and an identification plate with information. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Millennium Falcon He Millennium Falcon It is the most iconic ship in the entire saga, and it is not surprising because we have seen it countless times. It also has several sets, but the Lego that Amazon has for 62.99 euros It is one of the most balanced in terms of price and quality. The construction consists of a total of 921 pieces, despite its price it is very well detailed (it even includes the cabin, rear engine and cannons) and comes with both a support and two plates: one identifying and another for the 25-year anniversary. Millennium Falcon (75375) 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 | Lego, Star Wars In Xataka | Your favorite series, comics and movies also in LEGO: 15 construction kits ideal to assemble yourself or give as a gift In Xataka | There is a LEGO Star Wars set that I would buy again without thinking twice. It’s wonderful and it’s not expensive.

Salmon have never taken so long to reach Asturias. And yes, it is as worrying as it seems

by

14 days. That is, two weeks after the season opened, we are still waiting for the capture of the ‘campanu’the first salmon to be traced by any of the five Asturian salmon farms. Whatever appears when it appears, it will be the latest campaign in history. No one is surprised that the Ministry have requested an expert report to decide whether to classify the species as “endangered.” What has happened? On Saturday, April 18, 2026, two weeks later than the traditional date, the season opened. The counseling deliberately delayed the start to “accumulate more salmon entries” (in the same way that reduced the number of specimens that can be caught to 154): after all, last year only 472 specimens were detected in the entire Principality. And the problem is not only Asturian. In Cantabria (where 38 salmon can be caught) none have been caught either. Although it must be pointed out that in the Cantabrian rivers the ban opened this May 1st. And in Galicia a total ban was declared for 2026 (although some exceptions have been made). Why is all this happening? The causes are well known: we are talking about things like river fragmentation, pollution (agricultural, industrial and urban), the effects of aquacultureuncontrolled repopulation, invasive species and, of course, climate change. So, are we going towards a total ban? The truth is that no one can know. Especially because we have a very close precedent: Spain has repeatedly refused to ban eel fishing despite the fact that all scientific reports say that it must be done. In favor of the salmon it plays that, thanks to the farms, the money that the wild moves is rather symbolic. But the paths of agricultural regulation in an election year are inscrutable. What is clear is that these are not good times for wild salmon. Not in Spain, not anywhere. In Norway, for example, only 323,000 wild salmon were observed in 2024. The previous year, the figures They amounted to 481,463 copies. In Scotland, another of the great salmon-growing countries, the population of wild specimens has fallen by 80% since the 70s; and, in the Faroes, the total ban is on the table. As we said recently, there have never been more salmon in the world. And, for that reason, this species has never been closer to disappearing in the wild. Image | Brandon In Xataka | We are drugging the salmon with cocaine and anxiolytics. And that’s causing them to behave strangely.

They came to believe that the horoscope predicted true love. It was actually a bug in the 2001 British census.

by

When searching a new lovethere are many people who are looking for the best possible compatibility, but not only in terms of tastes or hobbies, but also to the zodiac sign that corresponds to each of the people. Nowadays there are dating applications that allow you to filter by zodiac sign, since it is not uncommon to see or hear that being a Leo or Scorpio sign is something catastrophic. But science has something to say here. Demonstrating it. When asked if the zodiac sign affects the compatibility that exists in a couple, researcher David Voas wanted to give him an answer to see if it is a definitive tool or not. And to do so, he analyzed a sample of 20 million people from the census of England and Wales, which is equivalent to 10 million couples. This way, if there is any relationship in such a large sample, it has to be seen somehow. And here we didn’t want to see if the fire signs get along with each other, but rather something more basic: is there any combination of signs that occurs more or less frequently than pure chance dictates? The first results. At first glance at the different couples analyzed, it seemed that the astrologers were right and that people were grouped according to the affinity of their zodiac signs. But the truth is that the researcher did not stop at this and continued digging into the data in order to see if there was something more. The real results. Upon further investigation, he discovered that this “astrological sign” did not come from the cosmos, but from imputation errors and biases in the collection of census data. Here he observed that in records where the exact day of birth was missing, officials used to assume that it was the 1st day of the month by default, which generated artificial accumulations of people in certain signs and created patterns that were not real. With all this, it was seen that many apparently compatible couples were simply sharing registration errors or rounded birth dates, which is something quite common within the administration. And once these statistical artifacts were corrected and matches by birth month were separated from matches that actually crossed the boundary between zodiac signs, the effect disappeared completely. In short, there was no trace of a “force” that united the signs. It’s always the same. This new research sits in a long tradition of scientific attempts to validate astrology in some way, and the truth is that it always comes to the same conclusion: there is no relationship. As Carlos Orsi explains in his work published by Columbia University Press, the problem with couple astrology is that not even astrologers themselves agree, since there is no homogeneous theory about which combinations are “good.” And given this lack of consensus, the Voas test is the fairest possible: look for any deviation from chance. And chance won by a landslide. Images | lookstudio in Magnific freepik In Xataka | Esperanza Gracia had been explaining the horoscope to the Spanish for three decades. Its closure illustrates a deeper change

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.