Mobile Tech & Gadgets

is to beat death

by

For centuries, humanity has dreamed of stopping the clock. From the legends of the fountain of eternal youth to the Hungarian Countess Bathory, the myth of prolonging life has spanned cultures and centuries. Today, that promise is no longer spilled in blood or written in stories: it is negotiated in offices with investment funds. Biotechnology in the era of anti-aging. A company founded in California, Altos Labs, leads a new generation from companies that aspire to turn aging into another medical problem. The company has brought together elite scientists to develop partial cell reprogramming experiments, with the goal of reversing diseases and restoring tissues. In the words of its executive directorHal Barron: “The cell is capable of compensating for damage, and if we could recover that capacity, we would be buffering stress.” Although Altos is not the only one. Retro Biosciences has raised 1 billion dollars —with the participation of investor Sam Altman— for trials of drugs that can rejuvenate brain and blood cells. NewLimit, co-founded by Brian Armstrong (Coinbase), got another 130 millionand Cambrian Biopharma added 100 million more in 2021. The interest is clear: longevity has gone from speculative science to an industry with massive capital and the promise of profitability. From scientific utopia to business model. For decades, aging was considered inevitable. Today it is a technological and financial challenge. At a conference on aging in Copenhagen —to which the Financial Times had access— executives at Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk, creators of GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic or Wegovy, defined them for the first time as “longevity drugs.” The semantic change reflects a cultural and economic shift: longevity stops being a fantasy and becomes a market. Nir Barzilai, director of the Institute on Aging at Albert Einstein College, he explained it like this: “To say that we don’t have drugs that reduce mortality is incorrect. We are successful; we just need to do better.” While scientists measure telomeres, technologists dream of exponential curves. The futurist Ray Kurzweil maintains that we will achieve the “longevity escape velocity” in 2029, the point at which life expectancy will increase faster than we age. What was once science fiction is now listed on the stock market. The business of beating time. The race to live longer is not just scientific: it is financial. How the Financial Times has had accessfunds allocated to longevity research now exceed $5 billion in the last three years. Investors like Jeff Bezos, Yuri Milner or Peter Thiel they have bet by biotechnology startups that promise to extend human life. In fact, Thiel has funded Unity Biotechnologyfocused on eliminating senescent cells, and Bezos, together with Milner, directly promotes Altos Labs. Larry Ellison, founder of Oracle, has invested more than 430 million in anti-aging therapies and created the Ellison Medical Foundation. The risk is obvious. Enthusiasm could inflate a bubble. Primetime Partners Co-Founder Abby Miller Levy warned that “Money attracts talent, but not all companies deserve so much funding.” And as capital flows, the ethical question also grows: live longer or live better? Scientist Mehmood Khan, director of the Saudi foundation Hevolution, puts it this way: “People don’t want to live longer; they want to live healthy as long as possible.” Not everything that ages can be reversed. In July, Unity Biotechnology was delisted from Nasdaq after failing trials to eliminate senescent cells, a reminder of how far we are from “curing” aging. Still, progress exists: Northwestern University researchers have developed a biomaterial capable of regenerating high-quality articular cartilage, an achievement that until recently sounded like science fiction. This type of medical innovation—quiet, tangible—contrasts with promises of total immortality. The emotional root. Behind genetic engineering and million-dollar facelifts there is something more primitive: the fear of disappearing. Larry Ellison, founder of Oracle, confessed that “Death has never made sense to me.” His investment in biotechnology was born after the death of his adoptive mother from cancer. For his part, Peter Thiel has said that he considers aging “an enemy that can be defeated with enough money and knowledge.” But the fear of dying It’s not just personal: It is also cultural, even political. During a military parade in Beijing, an open microphone caught a conversation between Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin about “achieving immortality.” Far from the anecdote, the scene shows how the body has become a form of power. In this century, the body is not only biology: it is also ideology, territory and a symbol of control. While governments seek immortality for their regimes, individuals pursue it for themselves. Altos Labs scientists They study how cells They lose their resilience with age. Deep down, it is the same spiritual logic as always: restoring the lost balance, rewriting destiny. Science versus myth. In a world saturated with anti-aging promises, distinguishing between science and marketing is essential. In Financial Times describe that no regulatory body —not even the FDA—recognizes aging as a disease, which prevents the approval of drugs whose goal is directly to “rejuvenate.” That is why many biotech companies focus on specific pathologies, such as diabetes or Alzheimer’s. Scientist Michael N. Hall, pioneer in the study of cellular aging, I explained it like this: “I do not and would not take anti-aging medications. Eating in moderation is enough.” Calorie restriction, he says, activates the same mechanisms as some experimental drugs. At the opposite extreme, billionaire Bryan Johnson spends two million dollars a year in plasma transfusions and supplement. Between both extremes—the avant-garde laboratory and the almost esoteric ritual—the frontier of longevity moves today. The gender of youth. While powerful men finance laboratories, famous women they finance operating rooms. However, there is a paradox that runs through this entire market of eternal youth. When they try to stop aging, they are celebrated as visionaries. When they do, they are accused of being superficial. The same media that glorify Jeff Bezos or Larry Ellison for investing millions in biotechnology to “defeat time” scrutinize every wrinkle, filler or lift of the actresses who, for decades, have lived … Read more

The “best mechanic in Spain” says that leaving the car parked for a long time causes “irreversible damage.” It’s not as terrible as it seems

by

Any object that uses mechanical components is something that should be used from time to time. Although we are talking about cars here, it is not exclusive to cars. If you have one bicyclesome automatic watch either photo cameras old, it is something that you most likely have in mind. And the thing is that, with the passage of time, the liquids dry out or become stuck and the components can begin to suffer from corrosion. That’s exactly what happens to a car. When a vehicle is not movingthe moving parts lose lubrication and the liquids always remain in the same places. It is also easier for corrosion to appear. In short, it is the same case as the previous ones. With the difference that a car is an object that usually weighs between one and two tons and is designed to move at high speeds on the road, leaving aside its maintenance clearly puts our health and that of the rest of the drivers we meet on the road at risk. But what should we fear and what can we not worry about? For the best mechanic in Spain in 2023, the problem is obvious: “irreversible damage may occur.” a long, long time In 2023, Javier Sendín, from Talleres Cardiocar de Salamanca, was chosen as best mechanic of Spain for The Official Workshop Community. This award delivered annually and over the years it has brought together more than a thousand participants. The winner is chosen after online tests in which theoretical questions are presented and, phase by phase, it ends up deciding who is the best in Spain. In The Vanguard They have contacted Sendín to ask him about some risks that we should not overlook when maintaining our car. Whoever was the best mechanic in Spain has remembered the importance of not forgetting of a vehicle because we cannot expect that after a long time without starting, the car will be in perfect condition. “Although it may not seem like it (leaving the car still for weeks), this can be harmful. Components such as the suspension are affected, since the silentblocks and other rubber pieces tend to dry out or warp when left in the same position for weeks or months. It is also very negative for the battery, both in thermal vehicles and, especially, in hybrids and electric vehicles (…) there is a risk of irreversible damage.” What “the best mechanic in Spain 2023” claims is undoubted. The question is how much time has to pass for the damage to be especially noticeable. The truth is that if a car remains stationary for a few weeks, the damage is still minor. For example, it is not good for tires spend a lot of time supporting the weight of the car in the same position as deformities may arise. Despite this, in less than a month you will not notice substantial changes. Of course, keep an eye on its pressure so that when you get going again everything is in the best state. The battery is the other problem that can appear when the car has not moved for a long time. Especially if its useful life is already on its last legs, it is not a good idea to leave the car stationary for a long time. Yes indeed, if only a few weeks passthe worst that can happen is that the battery is completely discharged. However, if the battery is in good condition, may take more than two months to download. If we contemplate this happening, a good idea is to unplug the battery completely. So, when should we start paying real attention to our car? The American Automobile Association recommends that we put more emphasis on car care when they pass more than 45 days immobile. In that case, you should try to keep the car indoors and in a dry place. In this way, the car is more protected from corrosion and components that suffer from changes in temperature and humidity, such as tires, are more protected. Among the advice given from RACE There is checking the levels of the car’s fluids: brakes, coolant or oil. And with the passage of time, part of them may evaporate or have dried out in some specific points. Keep in mind, however, that again we are talking about months with the car stopped and not a few weeks. In that case, do not force the mechanics excessively when putting the car back into operation since we will not be risking any breakage. In fact, it is estimated that until after three months Since the car came to a complete stop, the components will not start to cause real problems. That is why possible damage from having the car stopped is not the most common case. Yes indeed, from the RACC They also recommend paying close attention to gasoline. First of all, we should not rush the tank to the maximum since impurities always remain at the bottom of it and it is easier for them to end up damaging a component such as the spark plugs. But if the car has been stopped for a long time it is not good to leave it loaded with fuel either. Over time, it loses properties. If we have a classic car that we use a few times a year, it is best to leave some gasoline in the tank but renew it shortly after we get going. You don’t have to use up the tank but you also don’t have to leave the car forgotten with a full tank. We talked, once again, about leaving the car sitting for months. Photo | Felix Neudecker and Sten Rademaker In Xataka | The “one minute rule” or how to always keep your car ready and avoid breakdowns worth 3,000 euros

Now he’s going for something much bigger.

by

The war for satellite Internet is over, and Starlink has won by technical KO. Traditional operators that rely on geostationary satellites are not only unable to compete, they are seeing their customer base crumble. And what the company plans to unlock with Starship leaves no room for doubt: Elon Musk’s company is no longer looking at its former rivals. Its new focus is terrestrial broadband, including fiber optics. The old guard, erased from the map. The Ookla data They are devastating. With its megaconstellation of satellites 550 km above the Earth, Starlink’s connection is not only twice as fast as that of HughesNet or Viasat, but it offers an average latency of 45 ms, while its competitors in geostationary orbit move in the range of 680 ms. The market has responded accordingly. As Starlink surpassed six million customers worldwide, HughesNet lost 29% of its subscribers and Viasat plummeted almost 68%. They cannot compete with the verticality of SpaceX, which is the only company in the world that routinely lands and relaunches its rockets. Satellites like hotcakes. Thanks to its commitment to propulsive landing and the internal development of Starlink satellites, the Falcon 9 rocket has achieved an unprecedented launch rate in the history of the space industry. The company began deploying Starlink in 2019 and has just surpassed the barrier of 10,000 satellites launched. Although the first models have already re-entered the atmosphere, the active constellation is close to 8,700 satellites in orbit. To put it in perspective: Starlink satellites already represent 65% of all active satellites orbiting the Earth. There are more Starlink satellites than everything else combined. They’re not going to stay there. SpaceX not only has the technology to offer stable, global low-latency satellite Internet connectivity: it has the financial muscle to take it to another level. An analysis of TMF Associates compares Starlink’s revenue to the rest of the industry combined. To continue growing at this pace, Starlink needs to expand the market beyond traditional satellite users. Its objective is no longer just to connect rural areas: it is to convince the urban or suburban user that its service is a viable alternative to fiber or cable. The company has deployed a parallel Direct to Cell connection service to connect directly to LTE mobiles, and has made a historic move to acquire radio spectrumcornering competitors like AST SpaceMobile. Starship is the key. The current v2 mini satellites are “mini” because they are limited by the size of the Falcon 9 rocket. The real revolution will come with the V3 satellites, designed to be deployed by the gigantic Starship rocket. According to SpaceX itselfthese larger V3 satellites will be the ones that bring “gigabit connectivity” to users. Each Starship launch will add 60 terabits per second of download capacity to the network, which is “more than 20 times the capacity added with each V2 Mini launch on a Falcon 9,” SpaceX says. If Starship becomes a reality, there will be nothing to stand between Starlink and its goal of connecting everything. Image | SpaceX In Xataka | It is not normal to have more than 2,000 Starlink antennas on the roof. The suspicion: this is where Internet romance scams come from

For the first time in history there are mosquitoes in Iceland. And it was assumed that they couldn’t get there

by

Iceland is being invaded. Not just for touristsbut because of something perhaps more undesirable: insects that had never been seen on the island. For the first time in their history, at least since records have been kept, Icelanders have encountered one of the bugs most undesirable and hated for all of us who have to sleep with the windows open in summer: mosquitoes. They have been few, but they can represent the advance of a full-fledged colonization. Unwanted guests. Bjorn Hjaltason is an amateur entomologist who was hunting for insects last week when he found something strange. On the wine-soaked rope he uses to catch moths and being able to observe it, three insects fell that have nothing to do with moths. They were mosquitoes, specifically two females and a male, but at first, Hjaltason described them as “some strange flies.” And as they count in BBCthe event was such that the local media opened with the news. Because yes, it is more serious than it may seem (and not because of the bites). Shelter. Iceland has remained one of the world’s mosquito-free bastions, one of only two mosquito-free havens. The other is Antarctica, and the reason is that these insects they don’t handle the cold well. Being cold-blooded, they need environmental heat to carry out their activity. When air temperatures are around 10º, their metabolism slows down so much that they become dysfunctional. Not only can they not fly, but they also cannot reproduce. In warmer climates, this is the time when they enter a kind of hibernation, looking for shelters in which to weather the storm until the heat returns. In Iceland it was not necessary because the average temperature was below 10º. BUT. Climate changethere is no more. Records from the Reykjavík observatory show that in the last 30 years there has been a gradual increase of temperatures, with average values ​​that have past from 2.4º to 4.1º. The average temperature has increased by 0.5º in the last decade, almost double of the planet average and there are areas that have broken all records. They are also occurring extreme episodeslike the 26.6º that in Córdoba would be pleasant and to go out with a jacket in the morning, but that in May of this year must have felt like real hell in Egilsstaoir. There were episodes like this before, but reports indicate that these events that were anomalies are becoming more common. You have to wait. Mosquitoes, of course, are at ease with those temperatures, but the big question is where they came from. Hjaltason found them in Kjós and speculates that they may have come on a freighter that landed at Grundartangi. The two cities are in western Iceland and the insect enthusiast points out that unusual ‘bugs’ usually come in those freighters. Another entomologist, Matthías Alfreodsson, to whom Hjaltason sent the mosquitoes confirmed that, although they belonged to a species that tolerates low temperatures somewhat better –Culiseta annulata-, they should not be in Iceland and we will have to wait until spring to check if the species has really established itself on the island. But Hjaltason is clear that if three of them went directly to his garden, “there will probably be more.” I feel sorry for you, fellow Icelanders. Images | Enzo Guidi In Xataka | The Japanese method to get rid of mosquitoes at home during the summer: katori senko

There are foods that literally hijack your brain.

by

A potato chip crunches, the salty flavor mixes with the sweetness of the soda, and the brain asks for more. It’s not a coincidence. What seems like a simple craving is actually a programmed reaction: a dopamine rush as powerful as that caused by some drugs. More and more scientists argue that certain foods are hooking us. A new approach? For a long time, obesity and eating disorders were seen as simple matters of will. However, advances in neuroscience are changing that perception. Psychiatrist Claire Wilcox explains thatlittle by little, scientists agree on something surprising: some foods activate the brain almost the same as drugs like nicotine or alcohol. “Eating certain products—cookies, soft drinks, industrial pastries— activates the brain’s reward centersgenerating a feeling of immediate well-being. And the more we repeat that stimulus, the more we need it,” he details. The problem is that, unlike tobacco or alcohol, we cannot stop eating. What happens in our head? addictions They share three brain systems clue: The reward system, which releases dopamine when something gives us pleasure. The stress response system, involved in tolerance and withdrawal. The executive control system, which regulates impulses and helps make rational decisions. When we eat very tasty foods, the brain releases dopamine into the reward network. Learn to associate that flavor with a pleasant sensation and seek to repeat it. Over time, the circuit is “rewired”: more is needed to feel the same effect, and rational control decreases. Wilcox explains it like this: “Over time, damage to areas of executive control becomes more difficult to resist cravings, just as it is with drugs.” The science behind the debate. In recent years, research into food addiction has exploded. An article from Nature Medicinewhich analyzed almost 300 studies in 36 countries, concluded that ultra-processed foods can “hijack” the brain’s reward systems. The result: cravings, loss of control, and persistent consumption, even when there are negative consequences. Neuroscientist Mark S. Gold and psychologist Ashley Gearhardt, from the University of Michigan, they go further: “We don’t get addicted to apples, but to products designed to hit the brain like a drug.” However, medical consensus has not yet arrived. Neither the WHO nor the American Psychiatric Association recognizes food addiction as an official diagnosis. “Eating is a physiological need —remembers teacher Elisa Rodríguez Ortega—and the boundaries between addiction, bulimia or binge eating remain unclear. In the center of the bullseye. For years, sugar was identified as the great villain of the modern diet. Today, studies point to a more complex scenario: it is not just sugar, but the combination of ingredients, textures and additives in ultra-processed foods. which can make them addictive. These products—industrial blends of fats, salt, sugars, and flavor enhancers—are designed to generate immediate pleasure and encourage repeated intake. According to the Nature reviewthis “hyperpalatable” composition activates the reward system more intensely than natural foods, which would explain why it is so difficult to stop after the first bite. For its part, sugar continues to play a key role. Research, cited in JAMA Internal Medicineshow that an excess of added sugars not only increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, but also alters the dopaminergic response, reinforcing dependence mechanisms. Qero nor we are all equally prone. Psychologist Michelle S. Hunt, a specialist in food addictions, details that there is a combination of genetic, emotional and environmental factors. “Foods rich in carbohydrates, fats or sugars activate the same areas of the brain as drugs or alcohol. Over time, the brain adjusts its receptors and requires higher doses to feel the same well-being,” he points out. Stress, anxiety and early exposure to ultra-processed foods are other triggers: the brain learns from a young age to associate pleasure with highly tasty products. “People who use food to deal with discomfort are the most vulnerable,” Hunt warns. The border with other types of disorders. Distinguishing food addiction from other eating disorders is not an easy task. According to the Eating Disorder Hope portalin both cases similar signs appear: loss of control, guilt, anxiety and, often, social isolation. a study published in Nature observed that people with bulimia or binge eating episodes present similar changes in the areas of the brain that regulate dopamine. That suggests there could be a common neurobiological basis. Dr. Mark S. Gold sums it up clearly: “Obesity and binge eating are not just behavioral problems; they also share brain mechanisms with other addictions.” For this reason, current treatments combine cognitive-behavioral therapy with cessation programs and emotional support. Reeducation with food. Unlike drugs, total abstinence is not possible: we all need to eat. For this reason, current treatments seek to reeducate the emotional relationship with food. Psychiatrist Kim Dennis runs a clinic where it combines models of addiction and eating disorders: patients learn not to restrict calories extremely – to avoid the rebound effect – but to identify the so-called “trigger” foods, those that unleash uncontrollable cravings. In parallel, drugs are also opening new avenues. Dr. Gold highlights the use of medications such as naltrexone and bupropion, or the newer GLP-1 (such as Ozempic or Mounjaro), which interrupt the link between pleasure and consumption, reducing both food intake and the desire for addictive substances. The final question. Although science has not yet settled the debate, the evidence is increasingly clear: some foods not only nourish or make you fat, they also shape the brain and habits in a profound way. Each bite leaves a mark on the pleasure circuits and the way we learn to eat. It is not about demonizing food or denying pleasure, but about accepting that eating today is an act conditioned by factors that go far beyond appetite. In a world where every flavor is optimized for hooking, true willpower may lie in knowing how to stop before the next bite. Image | Unsplash Xataka | When it comes to meat, science knows there’s something better than protein shakes: lean pork

tie it to a Honda CBR1000RR and pray

by

Since the wheel was invented, humans have wondered what was the maximum speed they could achieve if they incorporated it into another device. As a recurring question, throughout history we have seen steam car racing, jet bikes or bicycles at 272 km/h. Bicycles at 272 km/h… Wait. That? Yes, you read that right. Bicycles at 272 km/h. If the question is “why.” The answer is: you can stop reading. Because? Because no one in their right mind wonders why someone decided that it was a good idea to get on a bicycle and go at such a speed. Because the answer is as absurd as the fact itself. Because the answer is: because yes. Because you can. The real question is: how did they do it? Simple and very dangerous When it comes to reaching extremely high speeds with a bicycle, there are only two ways: rely on pure aerodynamics or strap a bicycle to another vehicle. And for the two options there are two Guinness Records. The first option We already told it in its day. It’s a challenge which has been worked on since the beginning of the last century. In this case, the cyclist can pedal and takes advantage of the fact that another vehicle cuts him off from the wind. First, tests were carried out in velodromes using motorcycles to mark the pace. Finally, even Porsche participated in an attempt. First in the 70s and then taking a bicycle over 200 km/h protected behind a Porsche Cayenne. The second case is that of Elias Schwärzler, a cyclist specialized in mountain descents who holds the Guinness Record for “towed bicycle” speed. In this case, the cyclist does not pedal, he just lets himself be carried by another vehicle that pulls him along a chain. Of course, in this case the bicycle does not undergo any type of modification either since the usual thing in the first case is to make changes to generate more development when pedaling, win “battle” between the wheels and therefore stability or lighten the whole. Click on the image to go to the original post In this case, Schwärzler did none of this. Here the only thing that was done was put this Austrian on a mountain bike, strap him to a Honda CBR1000RR and throw him to the end of a straight line on the circuit. Lausitz-Ring. The record, explained by Guinness Records, has been in force since 2022, when the test was carried out but the cyclist did not reach the expected speed. Schwärzler’s intention was reach up to 300 km/h to which this motorcycle originating in competition is limited. To do this, he had done his own tests because he didn’t quite trust that the tires would hold up to the pressure. However, the real problem was the wind. And it was blowing strongly in the face which prevented the motorcycle from being able to drag the bike at the desired 300 km/h before the end of the straight. Once the curve is close, the rider releases the rubber that hooks him to the mountain bike. From there, Schwärzler simply lets himself go. He explained Since the wind conditions were so bad, his intention was to acquire the best possible aerodynamics, but once launched he could no longer make any movement. In your Youtube channel You can see all the details of the challenge. In the end, he had to settle for a top speed of 272 km/h. Photo | Elias Schwärzler In Xataka | We thought we were very modern, reinventing the bicycle. Almost 100 years ago they already saw it all in Paris and Chicago

a giant 17 meter nail drill

by

After years of comings and goings, on January 15, 2025, they began some works that are both expected and necessary in Madrid: the burial of the A5. It is one of the arteries of the city, an urban highway on which 80,000 vehicles circulate daily and which, after being completed in 1968, separated the residents of the neighborhoods of Aluche, Las Águilas and Lucero from those of Batán and Casa de Campo. The works will not be simple or quick, but there is a trick: the ‘cut and cover’ technique. This technique is nothing revolutionary. It is one of the oldest and most used methods for tunnel construction superficial. When a tunnel has to be excavated to a certain depth or that passes through complex elements, the ‘boring machines’ or tunnel boring machinesbut when it is not necessary, this false tunnel is simply made. In essence, the ‘cut and cover’ technique consists of excavating a trench from the surface, building the new road inside it and, later, covering it with fill material. And there are two variants: From bottom to top: The trench is excavated with the necessary support from the ground and the tunnel is built inside. Once the structure is completed, the trench is backfilled and the surface is restored. From top to bottom: First, the lateral retaining walls and the crowning beams are built at ground level. Subsequently, the roof is excavated and prefabricated beams are installed. Thus, the surface is reinstalled early to restore traffic as soon as possible while the excavation work and construction of the permanent roof are completed. In the video above, a piloting machine in action. Basically, like a giant “drill”. Each has its advantages and disadvantages, and are used depending on the terrain and conditions, but for tunnels at depths of about ten meters, these ‘cut and cover’ methods They are more economical and practical than tunnels drilled with deep tunneling methods. The ‘cut and cover’ of the A5 and Castellana in Madrid As we say, the technique was designed to hinder daily traffic as little as possible, and even more so on such essential and busy roads, but the reality is that on the A5, the works have converted one of the entrances to the capital into a ‘Mario Kart’. Through a series of detours, a succession of tight curves have been created at very slow speeds that have provoked that the Madrid City Council collects multiple complaints. Such is the commotion that a guide to avoid getting lost with this burial of the A5but in any case, both the highway and part of Castellana have a few months of noise and excavators ahead of them. In the case of the A5, 3.2 kilometers of the highway are being buried using the construction technique of concrete containment screens to then install the covering slabs. There are 600 people who work daily on the site along with a hundred machines such as the striking ‘pilots’. These machines are specialized in the construction of “piles”, which are nothing more than buried columns that can be built in the ground by injecting concrete into a metal reinforcement or that can be prefabricated. On the route of the “new” A5, there will be more than 6,000 piles of reinforced concrete. But the highway is not the only area of ​​the city in which this technique is being implemented. In the Parque Castellana project, a tunnel of about 675 meters long is also being built that will have 2,041 piles. In the end, and as we mentioned, it is not a new technique (in fact, it was used to build the Paris metro in 1900), but of the possible options for creating tunnels, it is one of the least disruptive to traffic in cities. Although those who are suffering from the works on Parque Castellana and the A5 will surely see it with different eyes. Images | Xofc, Madrid Diary In Xataka | 20 years later, Europe faces one of the greatest engineering milestones in its history: the longest railway tunnel in the world

what you need and how to get the most out of it

by

Let’s explain to you how to take advantage of your old Android using Gemini as an assistantGoogle’s artificial intelligence. This comes after Google has extended the use of its AI to older devices, so you can reuse them in another way. We are going to start the article by telling you what are the minimum requirements to be able to use Gemini on a mobile phone from about five years ago or more, and then we will tell you what you will be able to do with it. Requirements to use Gemini on Android In order to use Google’s artificial intelligence on your mobile, you need to have a version that is at least Android 9 Pie. This version of the operating system is from 2018, so if you have a mobile phone after that year, it is normal that you have this update. If your old mobile phone has this version of Android or a later one, you will have an update with which you can use Gemini instead of Google Assistant. In the event that your mobile is seven years old but not this version, then you would have to try to search if there is any ROM that you can install, like LineageOS, so that its operating system is newer. In addition to this, you will need your phone to have at least 2 GB of RAM, and you should have it linked to a personal Google account. Obviously, you will also need to reside in a country where Gemini is available, as is the case in Spain. Complying with this, you just have to download the Gemini application, available on Google Play. Once you do it, Gemini will ask you if you want him to be your assistant instead of Google Assistant, and with that you will have it up and running. If it doesn’t ask you, you can also configure it by hand in the settings, in the default applications section or assistant in the applications section. How you can take advantage of Gemini First of all, You can use Gemini for the same thing as with a new mobilesince the functions are the same. Perhaps the application is not as fluid and may be a bit jerky, but you will be able to write and receive responses as normal. Gemini will also allow you to generate images or videosplus code, graphics and everything you want. As long as the Internet connection is good, the operation will be smooth. Voice conversation will also work without a problem, and even the Gemini Live function to exchange phrases while having a natural conversation. A 5 or 6 year old cell phone may not have the best camera in the world compared to current ones, but you can also use Gemini’s functions to recognize the content of the photos, and take screenshots to ask the assistant for information about the content, or to do translations or whatever you want. Furthermore, you can also create your own Gems and use any existing one. Also remember that everything you do with Gemini will be stored in history through your Google account, so you can interact with conversations you have had on the PC with the browser or with another mobile phone. An old cell phone as a smart speaker But if it is an old mobile phone that you no longer use, there is also another interesting use that you can give it. Can turn it into a kind of smart speaker to be able to interact with Gemini by voice whenever you want. To do this, once Gemini is configured as a voice assistant, you just have to go to its settings and adjust the voice command “Hey, Google” so that it also works with the screen off. So, simply put your phone on a stand, keeping it plugged in at all times and that’s it, you can ask it for whatever you want with your own voice. In Xataka Basics | How to create reminders with ChatGPT and Gemini: differences and how to configure your artificial intelligence to notify you

The trend of adding protein to coffee was born on TikTok. And capitalism has taken note of this “functional coffee”

by

Drinking coffee is a very personal thing. You can do it because you like its flavorbecause you want to take advantage of its health benefits or even because you want that caffeine ‘shot’. It is also a social drink with that classic “let’s have a coffee”, but in recent years, coffee has also become a functional drink. Reason? The need to add protein to everything. And coffee chains have not been slow to surf the trend. The ‘profess’. Proteins are one of the pillars of a balanced dietbut if we do intense and regular sports, its intake becomes essential. The ideal is to get it from food, but protein powder (whether vegetable or whey) It is a quick and easy way to increase daily grams. The “normal” thing is to have a smoothie, but in 2021 a trend appeared on TikTok: the ‘teacher‘. Basically, it is the combination between ‘protein’ and ‘coffee’ and it is what you are imagining: enrich a coffee with protein powder. Hacking coffee. Named As ‘broistas’, a term that can be somewhat derogatory and combines ‘gymbro’ with ‘barista’, there were those who went directly to a cafeteria, ordered a long coffee and mixed it with their protein shake. Here the search is to convert coffee into a strictly functional drink that provides caffeine that allows you to perform more during the training session, burn more fat if that training is going to be cardio and add a few more grams of protein to the daily count. Dutch Bros menu Dutch Bros.. Evidently, coffee shops have taken note. The entire food industryIn fact, she has been on the protein diet bandwagon for years, with very particular labeling and higher prices in foods that have one or two more grams of protein per 100 grams than the unenhanced version (which is a ridiculous amount). And, as we say, the coffee shops have not wanted to miss that train of body worship. If people come, order a coffee and add it to their proteins, why not offer the combination directly? Thus, at the beginning of 2024, the coffee chain Dutch Bros. -very direct competition from Starbucks, at least on US soil- launched a series of protein drinks. Coffees like the Salted Caramel Protein Latte or the Salted Caramel Protein Mocha have 20 grams of protein and no added sugar. The key is their reduced-fat protein milk to which they have added proteins -casein-, and little by little they have been opening the range of protein versions of their most popular coffees. starbucks. Also in the American West, but somewhat further north, this protein coffee thing resonated. Starbucks wasn’t going to stand by while customers demanded something the competition was already offering, and just a few weeks agothey launched a protein drink line within your menu. It depends on what you choose, but there are milk foam options that provide about 15 grams of protein per drink in a large size, to others that use milk with whey protein that provides between 30 and 35 grams of protein per drink. As is logical at Starbucks, there are plenty of drinks available to choose from and it doesn’t look like it’s going to be a fad: it’s here to stay. Tressie Lieberman is the company’s chief brand officer and commented that it is something that “responds to the growing demand for protein by consumers.” And other companies are preparing their strategies, like Peet’s Coffee with its ‘Vitality Menu‘ with protein lattes. Necessary? I know esteem that the market for this functional coffee is valued at 4,000 million dollars and that it will reach more than 14,700 million by 2034. It is the consequence of that aforementioned cult of the body, especially in younger consumers, because it is an aid to reach the necessary grams of protein in a simpler way. However, there are those who are skeptical. Eating protein, especially if you practice sports, is fine, but nutritionists already warn that, while an essential nutrient, protein “should not be treated like fairy dust that we sprinkle on everything.” In the end, it all depends on each person’s nutritional needs and how convenient a shake is… or the pleasure of getting that protein from food. Images | Xataka, In Xataka | In the 16th century it was believed that coffee was a satanic drink. So Pope Clement VIII decided to “baptize” him

May the world depend on your new energy

by

Representatives of eight Western venture capital firms have traveled to China and realized one thing: the West can’t compete in new energy. This phrase could be a ‘clickbaitero’ headline, but it is the experience that representatives of several companies told a few weeks ago to Bloomberg. And the truth is that it is nothing new either. China has been consolidating a extraordinary domain in multiple clean energy sectors. It is something supported by industrial supremacy and significantly lower costs than those of its Western competitors, which has been evidently reflected in sectors such as electric car batteries or in sectors such as solar or wind energy. In the Bloomberg article, some of the components of that peculiar Western ‘road trip’ through China wonder How European and North American competitors can compete (or survive) in sectors such as batteries and components of renewable energy sources. The reason? The figures leave no room for doubt: China dominates batteriesthe wind turbinesthe solar panels, the electric vehicles and something even more important: the production chain and critical materials. New energy mastery Not so long ago, China had a massive problem within its borders: pollution that seriously harmed the health of its population. By adopting different measures, they have managed to reduce it significantly, achieving decarbonization objectives before the established dates. And much of the ‘blame’ is adoption of electric vehicles and energy sources that emit less CO₂ into the atmosphere. It is not unusual to see news every so often about the progress of some of China’s macro energy projects, such as the ‘great solar wall‘, huge wind turbines or the construction of the new largest dam in the world which, in addition, will be a gigantic hydroelectric plant. Such is the commitment to renewables that China has managed to the world depends on its technologywith Europe and the United States that cannot compete in the price of solar panels and with a so fierce competition between your companies that They have even had to sign agreements not to continue selling at a loss. Since we are with solar, esteem that China reached 887 GW of solar capacity in 2024, installing about 270 GW in that year alone. This represents 55% of all new solar installations in the world last year, but they are not only dominating this segment. The percentages leave no room for doubt: China controls between 80% and 85% of the world’s solar panel manufacturing capacity and more than 95% of solar wafers. In wind turbines, they count with 60-70% dominance of global production and nine of the fifteen largest global manufacturers they are chinese. As for electric vehicles, they have control of 70% of global production. In 2024, they manufactured 12 million of the 17 million EVs in the world, and of their production, 11 were sold in the domestic market. Related to the three previous points, we have the manufacture of batteries. It is estimated that they control between 75% and 80% of the production of lithium-ion batteries and these are used to store new energy, but also for electric and hybrid vehicles. The only technology where things are more even between China and the West is hydrogen. It is estimated that China dominates 53% of its production, while Europe (30%) and the United States (12%) would add 42%. Mastery of the production chain (and a model that cannot be replicated in the West) This dominance in production is evident, but beyond the data in the different sectors, there is another key that explains the power of Chinese companies. The country controls the rare earth productionalmost monopolistic way. The world depends on minerals and metals processed from rare earths, as they are critical in all technological sectors, but particularly in batteries and elements such as magnets that are used to create wind turbines. Without going any further, The country processes 80% of the world’s lithium and produce 90% of the anodes and electrolytes present in batteries. For years, The West has delegated that production to China due to how polluting they are, but now Western companies have come face to face with a reality in which China has the upper hand. The United States has realized this: if they applied tariffs, China limited exports of rare earth metals. Speaking of the United States, former Vice President Al Gore affirms that China’s supremacy in the energy transition will force many nations to establish closer ties with the country, describing, incidentally, the United States’ energy shift towards fossil fuels as “a tragedy.” And to this control of the production chain is added the so-called “model 996“. This system emerged in the chinese technology industryparticularly in companies like Huawei or Alibaba, and basically implies: I work from 9 to 9 six days a week. Considered a form of modern slavery, companies justified and defended as the method of matching Western technology companies in record time, but the mental health cost (and even suicides) was so enormous that the Chinese Ministry of Human Resources declared it illegal in 2021. Companies are required to comply with the law, but it has been denounced that there are still technology companies that continue with these practicesand added to all the above, it is something that the West cannot compete with. Unless you are a Silicon Valley company. Image | Google Maps, BYD In Xataka | While half the world debates and makes promises about nuclear energy, only one country is keeping them: China

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.