Mobile Tech & Gadgets

Quantum computers are going to overthrow classical cryptography sooner than expected

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Just two weeks ago a group of researchers from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), the University of California at Berkeley and the emerging company Oratomic published a scientific article preliminary in which they explore the capabilities of quantum computers of neutral atoms. These machines are an alternative to quantum computers with superconducting qubits and ion traps, and are still in an experimental phase. However, these scientists have estimated that Shor’s algorithm can be implemented using a quantum computer equipped with between 10,000 and 20,000 qubits of neutral atoms. In fact, in their article they even propose a design with which in theory it would be possible break bitcoin encryption in a few days using 26,000 qubits of neutral atoms. In any case, these researchers are not the only ones who in recent weeks have alerted us to the ability to violate classical cryptography that quantum computers will acquire in a relatively short period of time. At the end of last March, Google’s quantum artificial intelligence group published a study in which he demonstrates that the elliptic curve encryption used by Bitcoin or Ethereum, among other cryptocurrencies, can be overthrown using far fewer resources than initially estimated. According to these researchers, a quantum computer with less than half a million physical qubits will be able to decipher the algorithms used by current cryptocurrencies in a few minutes. In short, the scientific community has agreed that classical encryption technologies will be vulnerable before the arrival of large-scale quantum hardware. The first steps to protect ourselves have already been taken Quantum computing experts have known for several years that quantum computers they will end classical cryptography. That moment came in May 2024. A team of researchers from the University of Shanghai (China) led by Professor Wang Chao used a D-Wave quantum computer to successfully break SPN encryption (Substitution-Permutation Network), which is a cryptographic algorithm used to encrypt information. This encryption is the cornerstone of, for example, the AES standard (Advanced Encryption Standard), which is used a lot. These scientists published the results of their research in an interesting article titled “Quantum Processing-Based Public Key Cryptographic Attack Algorithm with the D-Wave Advantage.” However, this is not all. And in mid-May 2025, several Google researchers posted an entry in the blog dedicated to the security of this American company in which they maintain a crucial premise: an RSA integer (Rivest–Shamir–Adleman) 2,048 bits can be factored in less than a week with a quantum computer of less than a million qubits. A 2,048-bit RSA integer can be factored in less than a week with a quantum computer of less than a million qubits Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana and the other modern cryptocurrencies use a cryptography technique known as elliptic curve that is more robust, efficient and difficult to break than RSA, but its mathematical foundations are similar to those of the latter encryption algorithm. In fact, according to the Google scientists who authored the article I mentioned above, if future quantum computers will have a harder time breaking RSA encryption than initially expected, elliptic curve cryptography will also fall relatively easily. So far we have talked about cryptocurrencies, but it is crucial that we do not overlook that encryption technologies play a fundamental role in our daily lives. In fact, WhatsApp and Telegram use them to encrypt our messages; banks turn to them to protect our transactions and every time we buy something on the internet it is encryption that is responsible for protecting our credit card information. These are just some of the applications of this technology. The threat of quantum computers to encryption technologies is very real, but we have no reason to panic because many researchers have been working on the solution to this challenge for several years. In fact, most of the theoretical work has already been done. In 2024, the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) published an initial set of standards that includes a post-quantum key exchange mechanism and several post-quantum digital signature schemes. The work that has already been done invites us to foresee that the moment relevant quantum computers appear from a cryptographic point of view, the technologies that will be able to protect our information will already be ready. Image | Generated by Xataka with Gemini More information | arXiv | Google In Xataka | We already know what the chips that will arrive until 2039 will be like. The machine that will allow them to be manufactured is close

how to check the status of the declaration you have submitted in 2026

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We are going to tell you how to look at the status of your 2025 Income Tax return already submitted. The Income Tax campaign is already underway, and you can access the draft online either from your mobile to present the statement. And once you do, you can check its status to find out how the Treasury process is going to verify it or if there is any problem. When you send your declaration to the Tax Agency, it will review it and agree to start the payment or collection process. And if something doesn’t add up, then they will start another verification process. Therefore, if you see that it is taking a while for the money to arrive or that you have not been charged, you can check the status to know if the Treasury is doing any verification about the statement. Check the status of your declaration To see the status of your return, you must enter the Tax Agency website on the page agencytributaria.es/AEAT.internet/Renta.shtml. Once inside, click on the option Draft/declaration processing service (Direct Income and WEB Income) that will appear at the top in the options of the section Featured Managements. Before going to the draft, you will first go to the page where you should identify yourself as a citizenso that the Treasury can use your personal draft. To identify yourself you can use your digital certificateincluding the FNMT certificate and that of DNIethe PIN code or Mobile Key, or the reference number. This will take you to the index of topics about Income Services 2025. On this page, right in the header you have a section called Declaration status. This is where it will tell you what the status of the income is, and these are the possible statuses that you can find: Your declaration is being processed: It means that the Treasury has your data, but has not yet reviewed it. Your statement is being verified: The Treasury is proceeding to review your data and verify that your declaration is correct. The declaration with the indicated amount has not been recorded or is in process. Check the amount: It means that there is a problem, and that you will have to contact the Tax Agency to try to verify and solve it. Your declaration has been processed by the Tax Management bodies, and the refund requested by you is estimated to comply, without prejudice to the verifications that may be carried out later by the Tax Agency bodies.: The Treasury has verified your data and everything is correct. Therefore, your return is being processed. Your refund has been issued on day XXX to the ESXXX account. If you have not received the amount in 10 days, go to the Tax Agency delegation/administration corresponding to your tax domicile.: The Treasury has already sent your money to the bank account that appears on the declaration. The process of receiving the money may take time depending on the bank, but the Treasury has already paid. You can also check the income status from your mobileusing the official app of the Tax Agency, the AEAT app that you can find for Android on Google Play and for iOS in the App Store. Inside here, go to the section Income 2025 and, if you have submitted the draft, it will tell you the status it is in. In Xataka Basics | Income Guide 2025: calendar, previous steps and how to prepare for the 2026 declaration

A family wanted to live with only solar panels, well water and a garden. Until Italy took away her children

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High in a forest in Abruzzo, Italy, a stone house fell completely silent in November last year. Until then, that place was the self-sufficient refuge of Nathan Trevallion, Catherine Birmingham and their three children. However, on November 20, 2025, a judge decided to remove them of family custody for living disconnected from the grid, without schooling and in an environment that he considered unhealthy. The resolution started a fire political and social in Italy. What for the family was a self-sufficient life project—solar panels, well water, compostable toilet, garden—became a court case with enormous international repercussions. The story, however, goes beyond an Italian court order. It is the symptom of something bigger: a growing movement in Europe—and also in Spain—of families and communities seeking to get out of the urban grind, disconnect from the electrical grid and live self-sufficiently. How far does the freedom to choose that lifestyle go? And where does the State’s intervention begin, especially when minors are involved? The case that divided Italy. The family, of Australian and British origin, had been living in a forest in Palmoli since 2021. The house was precarious but, according to themenough: electricity with solar panels, well water and an outdoor composting area as a toilet. In autumn 2024, all were hospitalized due to accidental mushroom poisoning. That episode was the one that activated the alarms of social services. As collected Corriere della Seraa technical report described the home as “ruin” and “without adequate conditions for minors.” That’s when social services intervened. The lack of schooling of the minors, the absence of pediatric follow-up and the almost total isolation in which the family lived set off all the alarms. Following these reports, a court in L’Aquila ordered in November of 2025 the withdrawal of parental authority and the transfer of the children to a center, where the mother could stay with them temporarily. The decision has caused a real political earthquakewhere political leaders and several judicial associations denounced pressure from the Government. At the same time, more than 150,000 people signed online petitions demanding that minors return to their parents. The family breakup and tensions in Vasto. The litigation is still in full swing. The development of the case during the first months of 2026 has been marked by institutional complexity, friction and the desperate search for reunification. The deepest wound of this process is, without a doubt, separation. According to Il Messaggerothe situation reached a critical point on March 6, when Catherine, the mother of the minors, was removed from the Vasto family home. In her only in-person visit after the expulsion, social services reports indicated that the woman showed “hostile” attitudes and incited other residents to rebel against the educators. This episode led to the drastic decision to cancel subsequent meetings, limiting maternal contact to video calls, in an attempt to preserve the children’s serenity. However, distance is taking its toll. A forceful technical report presented on April 3, 2026 before the L’Aquila Court, signed by the psychiatrist Tonino Cantelmi and the psychologist Martina Aiello, set off alarm bells. The experts They noticed that children show obvious “signs of psychological distress” and deep trauma resulting from the separation. The document is clear: there is no evidence of abuse or mistreatment by the mother. For this reason, specialists have asked the court for the “urgent and unavoidable” reconstitution of the family, warning that prolonging this fracture will only aggravate the damage to the mental health of the children. An institutional clash in the middle of the crossfire. The family drama has transcended the walls of the reception center to become a political and institutional powder keg. The management of the case provoked an open and public confrontation, collected by RaiNews. On the one hand, the Ombudsman for Children of Abruzzo, Marina Terragni, visited the minors in March and publicly reported having found some children with “notable psychomotor agitation” and obvious trauma due to the repeated changes. The response from social services was immediate. They flatly accused Terragni of exposing the professionals to a “public pillory” based on statements that, according to them, did not correspond to reality, ensuring that the climate in the family home had returned to being “serene.” Polarization and media pressure have escalated to worrying levels: The tension even manifested itself with screams inside the court itself, and the judge of the Juvenile Court, Cecilia Angrisano, had to receive a police escort after being the target of continuous threats on social networks. The countdown. While the courts decide, the family tries to put the pieces back together and comply with the State’s demands. Nathan, assuming a conciliatory role, has moved to regularize his situation. As detailed Il Messaggerothe father delivered to the City Council of Palmoli a personalized study plan, supported by the Libera Schola Foundation of Milan and inspired by the Waldorf-Steiner method. In addition, the family has begun to comply with the vaccination schedule and the children have been receiving in-person classes with a tutor since January, as pointed out by Corriere della Sera. The most tangible progress has come from the municipality itself. In a gesture of support, the Palmoli City Council has given the family, free of charge and for an initial period of two years, a newly renovated 70 square meter house. As detailed Il Giornale, The house, financed with European PNRR funds, has solar panels, heating and all health guarantees, thus solving the judge’s main claim. At the moment the house remains empty until the family is complete, as detailed by Nathan. Everyone’s eyes are now on the Court of Appeal, which has a key hearing set for April 21, 2026. Off-grid: from bucolic dream to global phenomenon. To understand the background of this trend, just open Instagram. As the magazine explains Ethicsit is enough for the algorithm to detect a certain interest in self-sufficiency to fill the feed of videos of families drying their own food, women showing their renovated campers or couples who live half a year off … Read more

is that Iran has “lost the keys” and without them the balance is broken

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There are only a few maritime passages in the world capable of altering the global economy in a matter of days, and some of them are so narrow that they could fit inside a large city. Through those corridors they circulate every day hundreds of ships loaded with energy, raw materials and essential goods. Their fragility is such that a large military deployment is not necessary to alter them: it is enough that something stopped fitting so that the entire system suffers. Closed… but not by what it seems. For weeks, the international focus has been on whether the Strait of Hormuz was open or closedbut the reality could be much more disturbing: that Iran is not fully in control of the shutdown it caused. After laying naval mines in response to attacks by the United States and Israel, the passage was practically paralyzed, raising energy prices and giving Tehran a powerful tool of pressure. However, this same strategy has generated an unexpected situation in which, according to Iran has slippedthe blockade no longer depends only on a political or military decision, but on a technical problem that is much more difficult to reverse. The concept of “losing the keys”. Because the core of the problem is how the mines could have been deployed: hastily, disorganized and, in the worst case, without a record. accurate of your location. Some were even able to move through ocean currents, further complicating their location. So, this weekend counted the new york times that what in theory should have been a controlled closure of the strait has become something more chaotic and disturbing, where not even those who placed the mines know with certainty where they all are. The metaphor of “losing the keys” is not rhetorical, but rather a quite literal description of the situation that has been heard. in embassies in Tehran: Iran has blocked the door, but can no longer open it easily. An effective weapon against. He use of minescombined with the threat of drones and missiles, managed to reduce maritime traffic to a minimum and generate strong global pressure, but that strategic advantage began to turn against Tehran. To mitigate the impact, Iran has maintained limited corridors and spread supposedly safe routes, even allowing some ships to pass under certain conditions. Even so, the traffic flow has not been normalizedbecause the risk remains too high and uncertainty about the location of the mines persists. The technical limit of a modern war. Basically, something that we have been counting these weeks: the elimination of naval mines is one of the more complex operations in the military field, and not even powers like the United States have sufficient capabilities to quickly clear a road as critical as Hormuz. In this context, the Iranian situation is even more delicate: its own technical limitations, aggravated by the attacks to its naval infrastructuremake a quick reopening unfeasible. This introduces an unexpected factor into the negotiations, since the “technical limitations” mentioned by its leaders are not a diplomatic excuse, but a real obstacle. Unstable balance with risk of escalation. The result is a scenario extremely fragilewhere a partially blocked strait depends as much on political decisions as an out-of-control minefield. Neither Iran nor the United States have a clear image of how many mines there are or where they are, while Tehran retains the ability to plant more with small boats that are difficult to track. Of course there is also an option that no one rules out. Now that it is the United States that has decided to block Hormuz. Iran could be playing its cards, because the normal thing is that all the mines are mappedand that Tehran simply does not trust Washington and refuses to take any steps before receiving concrete concessions. And in all these scenarios, Hormuz becomes an area where any error, accident or incorrect calculation can escalate quickly, because the problem is no longer just who controls the passage, but that no one has full control of what happens underwater. Image | Jenikir In Xataka | The most buoyant market right now is selling streaming and satellite images of US movements to Iran. In Xataka | Commercial aviation is based on very old aircraft. The Iran war is going to make it even worse

MediaMarkt’s new Day without VAT is coming strong with discounts on OLED TVs, mobile phones and even video games

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Just a few hours ago, MediaMarkt started a new edition of its star promo: Day without VAT. As usual, we have available a huge list of technology offers where we can find very good prices on cell phones, televisions, scooters, watches, air purifiers and, essentially, anything we need right now. The promo, which will last only until tomorrow at 9 in the morninghas very sweet offers. Below we leave you a selection of five that we find interesting: HW-Q990F/ZF Sound Bar by 698.35 eurosone of the best sound bars on the market. Xiaomi 15T Pro by 453.72 eurospowerful mobile with a 144 Hz screen and Leica camera. Galaxy S25 Ultra by 1,197.72 eurosa great Android mobile that still has some juice left in it for a while. LG OLED55B56LA by 798.35 eurosa 55-inch TV with bright colors that is ideal for watching movies. ‘Pokémon Pokopia‘ by 61.15 eurosone of the best games on Nintendo Switch 2 and in 2026. HW-Q990F/ZF Sound Bar We start with a Samsung sound bar and, in fact, it is one of the best from the Korean manufacturer. We are looking at a sound bar that comes with two independent speakers and a subwoofer to offer a total sound power of 756 Wideal if you want to set up a cinema in the living room. In addition, it is compatible with Dolby Atmos and, if you have a Samsung television, you can pair it with the TV speakers with Q-Symphony and thus achieve a better experience. It is available for 698.35 euros. Soundbar – Samsung HW-Q990F/ZF, Bluetooth, 756 W, Subwoofer and wireless Dolby Atmos, 11.1.4 channels, WiFi, Titanium Black The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Xiaomi 15T Pro If we are looking for a new Android mobile, this Xiaomi 15T Pro It is a very good option. We are looking at a device that has a 6.83-inch screen with a refresh rate of 144 Hzsomething that is not usually seen on many mobile phones and is ideal for having a fluid experience or reading text. In addition, it has a Leica signature photographic system, good battery and notable performance. comes out for 453.72 euros. Mobile – Xiaomi 15T Pro, Black, 256 GB, 12 GB RAM, 6.83 ” AMOLED, MediaTek Dimensity 9400+, 5500 mAh The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Galaxy S25 Ultra It is true that the new one is now available S26 Ultrabut he Galaxy S25 Ultra It is still a great buy in 2026. It has a 6.9-inch screen with one of the best anti-reflective treatments there isideal so that not even the sun bothers you when you are outdoors. In addition, plenty of power with the Snapdragon 8 Elite, a very complete camera system and it has six years of guaranteed updates left (it came out with 7, but a year ago). Costs 1,197.72 euros. Mobile – Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, Titanium Black, 512 GB, 12 GB RAM, 6.9″ WQHD+, Snapdragon 8, 5000 mAh The price could vary. We earn commission from these links LG OLED55B56LA This LG OLED55B56LA television is perfect for taking the leap into this technology, since it is a model with a good price right now (it costs 798.35 euros). It is a TV that offers pure black and very vivid colors, which will give you a great experience when watching movies at home. In addition, it also offers 0.1 ms and 120 Hz response time with VRR on its HDMI 2.1 ports, which is ideal for gaming. 55″ OLED TV – LG OLED55B56LA, 4K OLED, α8 AI Processor 4K Gen2, Smart TV, DVB-T2 (H.265), Umber brown The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Pokémon Pokopia We close this selection of offers with a video game, in this case with one of the best releases so far this year. ‘Pokémon Pokopia‘ is a title that is very far from what this franchise usually is with a video game where there is a lot of exploration, puzzles and tons of things to discover. It is, without a doubt, one of the best exclusives of nintendo switch 2 until now and comes out 61.15 euros. Nintendo Switch 2 Pokémon Pokopia (Game Key Card) The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Other interesting offers from MediaMarkt’s VAT-Free Day 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 | MediaMarkt In Xataka | The best mobile phones, we have tested them and here are their analyzes In Xataka | Best televisions in quality price. Which one to buy and seven recommended 4K smart TVs

the AI ​​+ Education plan to integrate AI at all educational levels

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The artificial intelligence is storming the classrooms. Chatbots have become another everyday tool in university life and teachers are realizing something: all students submit the same work. But apart from how ‘Vago’s Corner‘ vitaminized, there are those who are pushing to introduce AI into the educational system from the same bases. And there China has an ambitious plan to stand out in the fierce global competition. Its name is ‘AI + Education’, and it is supported by the Ministry of Education itself. The problem. AI and machine learning They have been used as tools for years. When the current AI chatbotsmachine learning was responsible for analyzing tremendous amounts of data to learn ‘on the fly’, being a tool for many sectors. But it is clear that AI has boosted the entire sector, and in China ends to overcome an achievement. The architect was Archon, an AI that uses a theorem search engine to transform informal proofs into fully verified projects. Its repository is a huge library maintained by a community that dumps hundreds of thousands of theorems and definitions, and it is the one that has completely autonomously solved an open problem proposed more than a decade ago. The only human intervention has consisted of downloading files behind paywalls, since they were the ones that Archon could not recover. The solution. This case is just one example of the use of AI in China, a country that is promoting this technology as a way to achieve technological sovereignty in the complicated global scenario in which we find ourselves, which is going to integrate it into the earliest educational strata. Inside From China’s Long-Term Education Plan to 2035 (somewhat similar to the country’s five-year economic and technological development plan), is the ‘AI + Education’ action plan. As detail in South China Morning Post, it is something presented by the Ministry of Education that seeks to integrate artificial intelligence into every stage of learning starting from primary education. It is the immediate response to similar plans for the assimilation of AI in education proposed by competitors such as Europe, Singapore and, above all, the United States, and the objective is clear: to increase literacy in artificial intelligence throughout the country as a pillar of future economic competitiveness. Math, cone, tongue, AI. The architects of the plan argue that the skills necessary for the modern era must be redefined and “AI is forcing a systemic and fundamental review of education.” The intention is that, instead of fragmented local projects in which each one can go at one speed, there is a program regulated by the central government to consolidate AI platforms and what this implies at the level of computing power and networks. Let everyone go at the same speed, in short. For this transition, teachers will be trained and required to have knowledge of AI and, as we say, it will be something that will go from the most basic level in schools (to feed curiosity and problem-solving skills in students) to university, so that graduates have better access to AI learning opportunities. That is, AI will be a core part of the education of a Chinese student from childhood to adulthood, so when any type of problem arises, they know how to use the tool to solve it. AI study rooms. But even if it is now that the Government wants to introduce AI into the formal educational system, this is something that has been embedded in the education of young Chinese for some time. Not just Yale students They were going to use AI to find jobs, and in China it has been reported that there are about 50,000 AI “study rooms” across the country. To call them something. These are cubicles in which there is a tablet that proposes tests and where no teaching is done, since the software on the tablets cannot explain the subject and they only function as “supervisors.” It’s like learning a subject by taking multiple choice exams and remembering which question you got right and wrong, but without having any idea why. It is a lucrative educational technology business – valued at $43 billion – and it has already been reported that, to cope with the monotony of six hours in front of the tablet answering questions, children start playing classic games like Go. This system operates in a gray area because since 2021 China has not allowed for-profit tutoring to alleviate financial pressure on families, but since AI does not teach, this system operates in an unclear framework. And it is paid, of course. Debate. Such has been the commotion in these AI study rooms that the same Ministry of Education that now seeks to make AI a core subject in education, has come out lecture to ban elementary school students from using AI tools to complete their assignments. AI should only be a supervised support tool, and it is something that also goes hand in hand with what teachers demand. With the government proposal, what will be sought is not that students do their homework with AI tools, but that they know how to use them, what they are useful for and how to have this software as another tool at their disposal when developing. But what you want is one thing and what you achieve is another, because there is something that comes into play here: the situation of each family, and there are already those who warns that AI can widen the country’s social gap. While in large cities where parents can have a higher level of education and, together with teachers, carry out good AI education work so that children know how to interact with it and even question the machine and its hallucinations, students in rural areas run the risk of being parked in these digital babysitting cubicles with easy answers while parents work. In Xataka | “We exploit the weaknesses of AI”: teachers’ lonely struggle to reinvent homework and exams

China is building a tunnel under the sea for its high speed. It has already reached a record depth

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Under the seabed, dozens of meters deep, there is a work that is progressing with a minimal margin of error. It cannot be seen from the surface, but it is part of a railway infrastructure key in southern China. According to CGTNthe country has reached a new milestone in the construction of a high-speed underwater tunnel: the excavation has already reached 113 meters under the seabed. The figure is not minor, because it places the work at a point where the geological conditions and water pressure significantly increase the technical difficulty. This advance is part of a much larger infrastructure that is taking shape in the south of the country. The 116-kilometer Shenzhen-Jiangmen high-speed line is designed to connect both cities in less than an hour, integrating into the rail corridor that runs along the Chinese coast. In this way, the project has entered a particularly demanding phase, in which the tunnel under the Pearl River estuary becomes one of the most technically complex points of the entire work. A section under the sea that concentrates the greatest technical challenge At the center of this phase of the project is the underwater infrastructure that requires refinement of each step. To execute it, the work relies on a large diameter tunnel boring machine developed in China. The machine, known as “Shenjiang-1”, has kept the excavation going continuously, even during festive periods such as Qingming. It not only drills the ground, it also allows progress while the interior lining of the tunnel is being built, a system that seeks to gain efficiency in one of the most delicate points of the route. From there, the challenge stops being just mechanical and becomes conditioned by the terrain. The TBM must traverse 13 different strata, with five types of composite geology and six fault zones along the route. These types of conditions force the operation to be constantly adjusted, because each layer can respond differently to the excavation. In this context, moving forward does not depend solely on the power of the machinery, but also on maintaining control in a challenging environment. Added to this complexity of the terrain is a less visible, but equally determining factor: the pressure of the water at those depths. The tunnel is planned to reach a maximum of 116 meters below the seabeda level at which hydraulic conditions become especially demanding for the machinery and the structure itself. To operate in this environment, the system uses a sludge circuit that fulfills a double function: on the one hand, it reduces friction at the excavation face and, on the other, it transports the extracted material to the surface, where it is separated and reused in the process. While the machine advances, the tunnel is not far behind. Just behind the excavation face, the teams are assembling the prefabricated concrete segments that form the interior lining. Each one measures around two meters wide and nine are needed to complete a ring in a structure that exceeds 13 meters in diameter. This system allows excavation and construction to progress at the same time, reducing time and helping to maintain the pace of execution. The magnitude of this work is better understood when put into perspective. Official information indicates that this section extends over 13.69 kilometers and crosses several waterways at the mouth of the river, located between Dongguan and Guangzhou. It is a key piece within a line designed to improve the connection in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Beyond the depth already achieved, the project seeks to strengthen regional connectivity and support economic integration in one of the most active areas of the country. Images | CGTN In Xataka | Singapore is literally coming into its own: reclaiming 25% of land from the sea and turning wastewater into drinking water

We already know where many of the microplastics that enter our body end up. We have bad news

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That microplastics had managed to enter our body is something that we already knew in detail, especially considering that we have found them in the lungsin the placenta and even in the testicles. However, there were questions about where they accumulated in greater quantities in our body and what consequences does it have. Something that science has already solved. What they have seen. It has been thanks to a recent study published in the journal Environmental Science and Ecotechnology that it has finally been revealed that not only can cholesterol crystals be found in bile that end up generating stones, but also there are microplastics. And the worst of all is that they have a direct impact on the premature aging of the cells that make up our gallbladder. How do you know? To reach this conclusion, the researchers analyzed 14 samples of human bile: five from healthy patients without gallstones and nine from patients with gallstones. The results were conclusive, since they found microplastics in the samples, mainly highlighting two of them. the most common polymers in our daily lives: polyethylene (PE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Here it could be seen that the particles had a size that ranged between 20 and 50 micrometers. A very relevant fact, since from these sizes is when they can cross the biological barriers, cross the intestine-liver axis and end up in the gallbladder of our liver. There is more. In addition to the presence of plastic in the bile, it could be seen that patients who had gallstones showed a higher load of microplastics. Something fundamental, since it is a fact that fits with recent research that suggests that these particles could act as ‘seeds’ around which cholesterol groups to form the dreaded stones in the gallbladder. What do they do? This is the key point of these studies, since we still do not have much idea of ​​the damage that microplastics can do to our body. Here it points out that bile causes mitochondrial dysfunction and promotes the aging of cholangiocytes, which are the cells that line the bile ducts. In previous experiments, it was possible to see that in the liver of laboratory mice exposed to environmental concentrations of microplastics there was alteration in the metabolism of bile acids and liver damage. In the case of humans, which increases oxidative stress. But the important thing is that in both cases the bile duct cell loses its ability to function correctly and ages prematurely, which in the long term could be related to liver and bile duct diseases. Can it be mitigated? Among the bad news, scientific literature suggests that there are ways to avoid it. One of the great protectors that exists is melatonin, suggesting that it can combat oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction generated by these synthetic intruders. In parallel, other recent experiments with human liver organoids have shown that the damage caused by microplastics improves when ursodeoxycholic acid is administered, which is the drug administered to ‘dissolve’ gallstones. The ‘magic’ of this compound is that it increases bile flow, suggesting that promoting a kind of natural “washing” of the bile duct could help reduce toxicity. A problem. The confirmation of bile as a “hidden reservoir” of microplastics highlights an undeniable reality: plastic pollution is no longer just an environmental problem in our oceans, but a systemic public health problem about which we know more and more data. The longer-term consequences, such as the relationship with gallbladder cancer, remain to be seen. Images | FREEPIK In Xataka | An 18-year-old girl has created the definitive weapon against microplastics: a filter that eliminates 96% of them from water

The Nothing Phone (4a) Pro wants to be different in the mid-range. We have tried it on the street and not everything is so simple

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If you are thinking of buying a mid-range mobile phone and are looking for something different, with personality and that design point that sets it apart from the rest, the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro It may have easily slipped onto your list. It is no coincidence: its proposal plays precisely in that field, that of offering something recognizable in an increasingly homogeneous segment. The question, as always, is whether this difference is accompanied by a good day-to-day experience. This is where our usual approach comes in. While Ivan Linares has been in charge of analyze the device in depth, Ana Boria has taken it one step further: it has been taken out of the controlled environment for a real test. The result is the latest video from Xataka’s YouTube channelwhere he tests the terminal in everyday situations and draws conclusions with context. Let’s get to it. When the cell phone takes to the streets: a real test in Lisbon The chosen scenario is not coincidental. Lisbon serves as a perfect test bed for evaluate a mobile phone in real conditions: outdoor photos, intensive use during the day, navigation, content consumption… This is where a device stops being a technical sheet and starts to show what it is made of. And in this case, as usually happens in the mid-range, there are lights and shadows. In the performance section, the approach is clear from the beginning. We are not looking at the latest Qualcomm processor, but that does not imply a bad experience. The Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 complies with solvency in daily use, something that Ana sums up bluntly: “I have not noticed any type of problem or performance, fluidity or anything.” A statement that points directly to what matters most in this range: stability and consistency. The software is another point that makes the difference. Nothing OS 4.1 is committed to a clean experience, without unnecessary additions, and that is noticeable from the first power on. “You don’t know how much pleasure it gave me to turn on the phone for the first time and not see anything at all. no bloodwarenot a single social media advertising app that I wouldn’t be interested in being there.” In a market where bloated software is still common, this approach carries weight. When we move to the camera, the analysis becomes more nuanced. The main sensor offers solid results, especially in favorable conditions, with “photos with adequate sharpness” and where “in general the white balance is correct.” It is not a revolution, but it is a reliable foundation. Of course, there is also room for improvement in certain scenarios, something that Ana hints at during the video. Beyond the camera, there are two elements that define the experience: battery and screen. They are the ones that accompany the user throughout the day and those that, ultimately, determine whether the mobile phone convinces or not. In the video they are put to real use that allows us to better understand how far the device goes in this area. And, of course, there is the most recognizable element of the phone. The rear with Glyph Matrix is ​​not only an aesthetic issue, it also introduces a customization component that is unusual in this segment. “There are different types of light designs to assign to different applications, but you can even upload images to create custom designs.” It is, in a way, the materialization of that initial idea: to offer something different. The complete analysis of the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro It is now available on the Xataka YouTube channel. If you want to understand how it behaves beyond the technical sheet and keep Ana’s final assessment, it is worth watching it calmly. Remember that you can also leave us your comments both on this article and on the video. Images | Xataka In Xataka | Poco X8 Pro Max, analysis: one of the largest batteries on the market arrives with a SoC that also has a lot to say

Mexico is getting its foot in the door in the semiconductor industry. It will take more than good intentions

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The return of donald trump to the White House it was like an alarm clock for the rest of the countries. It caused the rise of the feeling of European technological sovereigntybut also the awakening of his neighbors. That feeling was captured in the ‘Mexico Plan‘, a strategy for the country to stop depending so much on others and where technology plays a fundamental role. Because Mexico has decided to get into the conversation of the semiconductor industry, and the OECD He just said there is potential. But also some other problems. Intentions. Mexico’s intention is to complete a series of objectives to become the tenth economy in the world and, within that strategy, there are objectives such as reducing poverty and inequality, promoting tourism and promoting vaccines made in Mexico. Also generate 1.5 million jobs and enhance the technological network. Among the various initiatives to achieve this, there are two that stand out: electric cars for urban mobility (the Olinia project of which We expect news this summer) and semiconductors (the Kutsari project). Mexico has experience in both fields because there are powerful companies that manufacture their products in the country, but from being the factory to having all the legs of the chain there is one step. How things are going. However, without making much noise, the institutions are moving. Puebla, Sonora and Jalisco are the three proper names, the three headquarters chosen to develop this plan that allows Mexico to go from being a country that assembles chips for others to one that designs, manufactures and sells them. The three states are reinforcing investment and consolidation of already established infrastructure, as well as the construction of new buildings and agreements to attract and retain talent. In Sonora, for example, it is in the Mexico-US Trade Corridor. In Jalisco there is the Intel Design Center, so there are contacts and experience in integrated circuits. And Puebla will have one of the semiconductor production plants. Strengths. The idea is to start producing chips by 2028 with an eye toward commercialization by 2029. And beyond what Mexico says, it is interesting to see what other organizations have to say. Here the OECD comes in with a optimistic message in which he points out that Mexico already has that experience in the assembly and testing of chips, so it has a base on which to scale. They assure that the country has “a promising future” and a favorable position due to its geographical proximity to the main world market, a large and experienced workforce and an industrial network that, as we say, has already been tested by manufacturing chips for others. They also have data centers and plenty of land for renewable energy to power the industry. Something that the OECD also highlights is the talented labor base because 17% of Mexican graduates are from engineering areas, three points above the average for the OECD as a whole. The least optimistic face. Now, not everything is so optimistic. There is a difference between “potential and concrete execution” and there is critical positions with the country’s ability to meet energy and transportation requirements. security when developing this industry. Regarding education, although the OECD indicates that number of engineering graduates, only 16% of young people between 15 and 19 years old are enrolled in technical programs related to the sector compared to the average 23% of the organization. Water can also be a problem, but if there is one thing clear, it is that the country is more on track with its future as a producer of semiconductors than, for example, as a creator of mass electric cars with its own batteries. Because that’s where lithium comes into play and, although there is plenty of it in Mexico, It’s one thing to have it and another thing to refine it.. Images | mister rfflag of Mexico, Data Center (edited) In Xataka | The avocado “war”: the product that has brutally confronted Mexico and the United States for 80 years

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