Mobile Tech & Gadgets

We know it as “the red planet”, but 3.37 billion years ago Mars was almost as blue as Earth

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The mystery of Mars and water has a new chapter. The missions like Curiosity in the Gale crater they show clear evidence for the existence of liquid water lakes for thousands or millions of years. That climate models show that the early Mars It was a cold place. with temperatures significantly below the freezing point, it was elucidated with seasonal ice shields. However, among the pending subjects of Mars astronomy is knowing how much there was water and when was there. Mars was (half) blue. A recent study published in the scientific journal npj Space Exploration echoes the discovery of a “tide line” that explains that there was once an interconnected water system. Ignatius Argadestya, the lead author of the study, explains that although today Mars is a dry and reddish planet: “our results show that in the past it was a blue planet similar to Earth.” In fact, they have been able to demonstrate the existence of the deepest and most extensive ocean that has existed on Mars to date, account the scientist that half the red planet was once blue: “an ocean that extended across the planet’s northern hemisphere.” Valles Marineris in Hi-Res The “deltas” of Mars. More specifically, they have investigated geological formations called deposits with steep front located in the region of Valles Marineristhe largest canyon system in the solar system. Using very high resolution images from Cassis of the European Space Agency and the CTX and HiRISE from NASA (the latter provides a maximum resolution of about 25 to 30 centimeters per pixel), have been able to identify these deposits with identical morphology to the river deltas that we see in rivers such as the Ebro or the Danube when they flow into the sea. Thus, on Mars there was a time when water flowed from the mountains through branching channels until it reached a kind of lake or sea, where sediments were deposited. These deltas end in an abrupt step that is located at exactly the same altitude at different points on the planet, between -3750 and -3650 meters with respect to the reference level of Mars. About 3.37 billion years ago. This is not a geological coincidence, it is that at one time there was a body of water like a sea that maintained a stable level for a long time: it is a mark of the shore of a primeval Mars, since these deposits were formed between the Late Hesperian and Early Amazonian periods. According to the research team, that was the time in the history of Mars with the greatest availability of liquid water on its surface. Why is it important. Already had applied previously the existence and size of this Martian ocean, but its conclusions come with more precise and direct evidence. In addition, they have been able to determine when the water peak occurred on Mars. The deltas found constitute a magnificent base to study their sediments in depth in search of traces of life because where there is water, there could be life. On the other hand, among the next steps is to understand how Mars went from having an ocean that occupied half the planet to being a frozen desert. In fact, there are already clues: the research team detected desiccation cracks and dunes on these channels, which indicates that after this aquatic period, there was a progressive drying until they became arid. In Xataka | Mars has just entered the exclusive club of planets with rays. This is discouraging news for NASA. In Xataka | We had been wondering for decades how Mars could have water, cold and life. Today we finally have an answer Cover | Javier Miranda

He planted 16,000 trees and turned it into an anti-rich sanctuary

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What of send everything to fry asparagus and go live on an island It is something that, more or less, has occurred to everyone. Now, whether you do it is another thing. If we talk about buying an island, the circle is already closed to a few and although the story we are going to tell is not from today and does not have current prices, the reality is that the 8,000 pounds that Brendon Grimshaw paid for the small island of Moyenne in 1962 (approximately 200,000 pounds today, about 230,000 euros) they gave him to buy almost three houses in his native Britain. He would have had real estate to speculate on, but the world would not have the Moyenne National Park. But let’s start at the beginning. Brendon Grimshaw was a British journalist who, after starting his career in popular newspapers such as the Batley News and the Sheffield Star in his native country, moved to Africa, where worked in important media such as the East African Standard magazine or the Tanganyika Standard. At the age of 37, he made a drastic decision: he was on vacation in the Seychelles when he made the decision to acquire an island of just nine hectares. Why buy an island? There are those who say that more than a vacation, he was looking for a purpose in life: to demonstrate his peace and love for nature. The BBC mentions “protect Moyenne from excessive urban development” as its initial objective, but it must be said that Until 1973 he continued working as a journalist and visiting the island on vacation. From that date on, he said goodbye to his profession and moved there to create a natural paradise that would last over time. The Sheychelles were beginning to emerge as a tourist destination and although it was abandoned, it would be a matter of time before someone arrived and set up a resort. And he changed Moyenne from top to bottom. The island had not been inhabited for half a century, except for a family of fishermen, and was in a scruffy state as a result of negligence and excessive human intervention: impenetrable thickets where invasive species reigned, as he himself says in the documentary. A Grain of Sand (which before it was a book). Note: globally the concept of environmentalism and care for the environment was being forged and was beginning to take off (the first “Earth Day” dates back to 1970). He was not alone in this mission: he worked hand in hand with the local René Antoine Lafortunea 19-year-old young man from that family of fishermen. Throwing everything away and setting up a five-star hotel is much easier than restoring an ecosystem, something that It took him a lifetime, literally.because Grimshaw died in 2012. René died younger, in 2007, leaving Brendon as a true Robinson Crusoe for five years. A restoration plan that took a lifetime Its areas of action can be divided into three: massive reforestation with native species, tackling the rat infestation and introducing some infrastructure. In A Grain of Sand narrates how the undergrowth was so thick that a coconut that fell from a tree did not reach the ground and that only four tall native trees remained that stood out, counted for the BBC in an interview. So planted by hand more than 16,000 trees of species such as mahogany, palm trees and other endemic species that had disappeared from the island. In the documentary he tells how the silence impacted him due to the absence of fauna: the absence of native fruit trees and the dense layer of scrub made it not an attractive place for birds, which are looking for a nesting place with food and safety. The reintroduction of native species and the restoration of the flora attracted more than 200 species of birds. Grimshaw also explained that when he arrived, there were also no giant tortoises that are now emblematic of the island: he introduced and bred Aldabra giant tortoises (Aldabrachelys gigantea) from other islands of the archipelago, which he later marked to continue their growth. Today there are more than 120 copies. Less striking but also very useful was that They built almost five kilometers of trails to improve accessibility. Practically with pick and shovel. In the 1980s, offers flooded in to buy the island, including that of a Saudi prince, who is said to have offered up to $50 million. Brendon Grimshaw’s response did not give rise to negotiations: “the island is not for sale“. The former journalist was getting older and had no children, so in 2009 and when Lafortune had already died, he arranged for the government of the Seychelles will declare to Moyenne as the Moyenne Island National Park to find legal protection for the island and its preservation. Today Moyenne has an essential biological importance for the Sheychelles archipelago: it serves as a seed bank and refuge for species, since while other islands are plagued with resorts, there there are no shops, restaurants or hotelshardly a basic restaurant for those taking an excursion to the island from neighboring islands such as Mahe. In Xataka | An atoll in the South Pacific has become a magnet for millionaires. Its great attraction is not its beaches, it is its banks In Xataka | A billionaire bought an island in Hawaii for himself and his friends. So the locals had to leave Cover | Jean-Francis Martin and documentary A Grain of Sand on YouTube

Global sperm count has been sinking for years

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There was a time when the movie ‘children of men‘ It seemed like a fairly distant dystopia, but today science forces us to look at it with different eyes due to the great drop in birth rate that we are seeing. Although in principle it could be attributed to social issues such as difficult access to housing or one could even look at women as responsible for this. But it is becoming increasingly clear that human sperm quality is declining. The quality is going down. In this way, it is not that we have fewer children just because we decide to have them later (which too), but that biologically our ability to father them is plummeting. The scientific evidence tells us shows in this case that between 1973 and 2018 total sperm count has fallen by 62.3%. And logically, if men have fewer sperm in general, this leads to a reduced chance of conceiving. Although it does not stop at this data. Studies that have followed men for several years also show that the average sperm concentration has gone from 101 million per ml in the 1970s to just 49 million per ml of ejaculate today. In a generalized way. This is not a phenomenon that is only occurring in Europe or North America, but has also been confirmed by recent studies in Latin America, Asia and Africa that are suffering the same decline. Although the most alarming thing is not the accumulated decline that we are experiencing, but the speed. Specifically, we see that since 2000 the rate of decline has accelerated, exceeding 2.6% annually without any signs of stabilization over time. It’s not just the culture. It is easy to blame the social changes we have experienced to justify the drop in birth rates, such as the delay in couple formation or the economic stress we are experiencing. And it is true that everything influences the birth rate, but it does not explain why semen quality is increasingly worse in our environment. To put it in context, a 30-year-old man today has, on average, half the sperm concentration than the one his grandfather had at the same age. Because. To understand what is happening, there are different scientific reviews that point to lifestyle like an enemy. The obesitysmoking, sedentary lifestyle or diets that have a significant presence of ultra-processed foods They destroy sperm quality. A study published in PMC in 2024 also directly links obesity to oxidative stress and hormonal imbalance to the destruction of sperm quality. But not everything focuses on what we eat, but on what we breathe and touch in our environment. The exposure to microplasticspesticides and endocrine disruptors It is altering male hormonal production that leads to this serious problem. New biological factors. The investigations carried out in 2025 point out two new fronts here to attack in this case. The first is paternal age, since after 35 years of age not only does sperm movement decrease but sperm DNA fragmentation increases, making it of poorer quality. Besides, imbalance in bacteria of semen is behind many cases of infertility that we previously considered “of unknown cause.” If it is true that knowing that the pathogen called Ureaplasma is one of those responsiblecan give rise to personalized treatments. Imminent collapse? The short answer is that we are not facing an apocalyptic scenario where humanity becomes sterile overnight, but the trend is worrying. In the event that sperm concentration continues with this downward trend, a large part of the male population could fall below the threshold of natural fertility, making assisted reproduction cease to be an option and become a structural necessity to perpetuate the species. However, there is a species for the nuance, since a 2025 study in the US suggests that the decline may not be as pronounced in men whose fertility is already confirmed, indicating that the problem could be concentrated in specific subpopulations or closely linked to those environmental factors that we can control. What can we do? The good news is that, unlike other genetic problems, many of these factors are modifiable. The science in this case suggests that adopting the Mediterranean diet, exercising and controlling obesity is a good way to mitigate this decline. Images | freestocks Mohamed Hassan In Xataka | There are couples who couldn’t have children. Now AI has managed to give them hope

Someone has paid 2.4 million for a check for 500. It bears the signatures of Steve Jobs and Wozniak

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Turning $500 into $2.4 million could be anyone’s wet dream cryptobro, but the story at hand It has nothing to do with investment. The protagonist is a small piece of paper, and not just any one, but one that was key in the creation of one of the most important technology companies of our era: Apple. lto auction. It occurred a few days ago via RR Auction. The object auctioned was the $500 check that Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak signed in March 1976 and its final price was $2,409,886, 4,800 times its original value. The check is encapsulated in a plastic casing and its authenticity and quality is certified with a “MINT 9” note, which indicates that it is in a perfect state of conservation. The first check. Throughout their time together, the Apple founders signed many checks, but this one is special because it is the first of all. Furthermore, getting the money was not easy. At that time neither of the two steves He was rich, so Jobs had to sell his van and Wozniak his HP 65 calculator. At the time of his signature, there were still 16 days left before the official birth of the company, so we can affirm that he was a key player in the birth of Apple. The assignment. We already know who the senders were, but who was the receiver? The check is made out to Howard Cantin, who at the time was designing printed circuit boards at Atari. The commission for which he received this amount was to create the plaque that would carry the Apple Ithe company’s first computer that went on sale a few months later. When it was time to get paid, Steve Jobs offered Cantin shares in Apple, but Cantin preferred money. Little did he know that the company would be worth $4 billion. It was not the only thing that was auctioned. The check was the star object of the Apple 50th anniversary auctionbut there were many others such as the opening document for Apple’s first bank account, which sold for $828,569. The Apple poster that Jobs had hanging in his living room was also sold for $659,900 and the most expensive: the prototype of the Apple I board, which reached $2,750,000. In total, the auction has raised more than $8 million. In Xataka | Einstein’s first violin had passed unnoticed. Until an auction house put it up for sale. Image | Wikipedia

There is only one market in China where European brands dominate. Exactly, the one that no one cares about

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Much has been written about the decline in sales of European and traditional manufacturers in China. Volkswagens, Porsches and Mercedes have collapsed in a market that, until very recently, was key when it came to presenting results year after year. Have they collapsed? Not in all markets. In one they are still leaders. Exactly, the one that no one cares about. Leaders. A ranking where 18 of the 20 best-selling cars in China are not Chinese? Yes. It is the extra-luxury market, the one where cars that cost more than a million Chinese yuan are collected, almost 122,000 euros in direct exchange. They collect in CarNewsChina that in this list only BYD has made it among the best sellers. The rest, 90% of the list, is made up of the so-called traditional brands. If we remove Lexus, which is Asian and enters with its Lexus LM (a minivan with a screen that crosses the entire width of the car) and its Lexus LS, the rest are European brands. Yes, Europe also rules in China but it does so in a market of ridiculous volume. Porsche dominates here. The best-selling car over one million yuan is the Porsche Cayenne. Before its renewal that will offer an electric version, the Porsche SUV leads this table with 17,194 units sold in 2025. Land Rover closes the podium, which has placed the Range Rover and the Defender as the second and third best-selling car in this group. Below, Porsche repeats again with the Panamera (fourth classified) and will appear again with the Taycan. But the brand that is most repeated is Mercedes. Cars signed by the brand appear up to seven times, although, yes, it accumulates the sales of the AMG and Maybach divisions separately. Their S Class (fifth, signed by Maybach, and sixth classified) are the best sellers. It also appears with the G-Class and the GLS. The exception. From the Chinese market, only BYD penetrates this hyper-luxury market. It does so with the YangWang U8 and its even longer version, the U8L. This car, both versions of which have exceeded a thousand units, is a gigantic SUV with extended range options (plug-in hybrids with very wide electric range) that has become famous because it is capable of floating on rivers thanks to the enormous power of its wheels. A drop in the ocean (1). There are two problems for European manufacturers. The first is more than evident: its sales are very low. Porsche, which in 2020 shipped almost 89,000 units in China has closed 2025 selling less than half (it has fallen short of 42,000 units). The drop compared to 2024 is 26%. Mercedes boasted when it comes to presenting results of continuing to lead the extra-luxury market in the Asian country. The accumulated sales in this list exceed 38,000 units but the fact that the twentieth place is the Mercedes-AMG GLS with 83 units sold throughout the year gives an idea of ​​its size and its competition. Yeah, Mercedes sold almost 460,000 units in China last year but it is 12% less than the previous year and is very far from the almost 775,000 units placed in 2020. A drop in the ocean (2). This market, if we analyze its best classifieds, almost entirely lacks electric cars. The closest thing is the plug-in hybrid versions, like those offered by BYD. They are automobiles, pure gasoline ones, that are clearly declining in China. Where in 2020 17.8 million gasoline cars were sold Today 10.85 million cars of this type are sold. New energy cars (plug-in hybrids and electric) already account for 60% of sales in the Asian country. In Autohomeexplain that this situation has weakened brands that have collaborations with European automotive companies. They give as an example the case of Maiteng, a company associated with Volkswagen that was a symbol of status and recognition and that has had to lower its prices to continue selling. Right now, the market where European manufacturers succeed is the niche of the niche. They don’t even consider it. But there is also another reason why Europeans succeed in this market. The Chinese don’t even consider entering it. With the market clearly betting on its local manufacturers, they are offering their most advanced cars at “affordable” prices compared to foreign manufacturers. Already in his presentation, the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra highlighted its price difference with the Tesla Model S (DEP) and Porsche Taycan Turbo. While the first one came on the market with a price of 814,900 yuan (it would not be included in the previous list), the German one cost almost two million Chinese yuan. The price war in China has pressured all companies to reduce their prices drastically. This has left out traditional companies that have found an evident loss of competitiveness in all types of markets, from general to luxury, where Chinese manufacturers are offering features and equipment typical of hyper-luxury segments in cars that, due to price, do not fall into that category. Photo | Hong Wei Fan and Arthur Wang In Xataka | We tested the Ojo de Dios with which BYD wants to break the market: autonomous driving for a 9,000 euro car

A wind farm in Tudela is going to lose most of its wind turbines. And despite this it will produce much more energy

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The useful life of wind turbines is between 20 and 25 depending on the location and can reach up to 30 with some investments. The old blades are then removed and They are recycled in the most diverse ways and the wind turbines (some) are replaced by others. Or almost not, because the iconic Montes de Cierzo wind farm in Tudela is practically going to stay bald. Paradoxically, it will produce almost double. The skyline of Montes de Cierzo is going to change a lot. One of the autonomous communities that previously and most intensively opted for wind energy was Navarra, reaching become the Silicon Valley of wind turbines. Its deployment began in 1994 in the Sierra del Perdón, covering its territory from north to south that decade. What does that mean? Taking into account its useful life, in recent years there has been a renewal of its machinery. Latest, that of the Montes de Cierzo in Tudela. On the Statkraft roadmap is removing these veteran wind turbines from the Navarre park this year, removing 41 wind turbines to replace them with four latest generation models. Before, in the first phase of this renovation project, had already retired 44 machines to replace them with 10. In short, the park is going from 85 wind turbines to 14, with what that means in terms of visual impact. For this purpose, the company will allocate 40 million euros and has already been selected to receive aid of up to 24% from the IDAE. Less mills, more energy. Of course, the wind turbines will have a nominal power of around 6.5 MW (standardized by common companies such as Siemens Gamesa either Nordex). Thus, when the park is operational, there will be 84% fewer wind turbines disturbing the horizon of the Ebro Valley, but that will not mean that Monte del Cierzo takes a step back in energy supply, quite the contrary. We are facing a full-fledged repowering: the installed power will go from 60 MW to 90 MW, growing by 50%. Annually, the production estimated by the Norwegian company will go from 145 GWh/year to around 300 GWh/year, almost double. This change of wind turbines will be accompanied by storage systems. Repowering with hybridization. Having fewer mills and producing more is the standard for updates, but this project hides a technical singularity: the incorporation of a lithium ion battery system with 14.26 MW of power and 28.51 MWh of capacity. In fact, it is one of five projects by a Norwegian company to combine sun or wind and storage. only in the Spanish state. With a loading and unloading capacity of two hours, the park will be able to carry out peak shaving and energy shiftingor what is the same, smooth out production peaks and be able to move energy at times where it is needed or the price is higher. In addition to better peak management and improving efficiency, the company explains that this system will allow you to reinforce the security of supply. Why is it important. Because although there are fewer machines, power increases by 50% and production doubles. Furthermore, with this system the wind farm will function as if it were a bank: if there is excess energy, it will be stored for when the wind stops or there is high demand. In this way, it minimizes one of the endemic evils of renewable energy such as wind or solar, which depend on external and unrelated factors such as the climate. On the other hand, cleaning the horizon by almost decimating the number of wind turbines is also important from an environmental point of view. Finally, Statkraft has explained that will prioritize companies in the area in the construction of the project, which will directly generate employment in 2026. In Xataka | The solar miracle that went wrong: Spain produces more electricity than it can manage In Xataka | We have a problem with heat in buildings. A Navarrese investigation knows how to cool them without air conditioning Cover | Statkraft

China’s drone shows in 2026 are nothing like we’ve seen before

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Without being me the viral Uruguayan lady from TikTok who thought they were something paranormal, it must be admitted that some drone shows leave people speechless. Spoiler: the one in Barcelona, ​​with all due respect, was not that big of a deal. Especially if we compare it to what China is doing. From a technical point of view, drones evolve the compositions of classic fireworks, but the Asian giant stands out for its handling of this device in every sense: on a military level, making it shoot with surgical precision from 100 meters away or 200 units are carried out by a single soldieror in the playful. And as an example, some of their shows from recent months that show that China plays in another league. Note: To enjoy the audiovisual content more, we recommend that you set the videos to the highest quality possible. China’s big coup in authority over drone shows came with the 75th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China: to date, the records for the number of units controlled by a single team (do not confuse with that of Ras Al Khaimahthat of the largest aerial image of a phoenix made by drones) there were around 5,000 drones, but for the occasion more than 10,000 units (10,179, specifically) crossed the sky, controlled by a single computer, forming figures as culturally iconic as a red dragon crossing the bay of Shenzhen. That they are capable of emulate the dragon’s scales or how it executes a complete turn It’s amazing, but the evolution of drone shows in the country has been such that it has already become outdated… and has dropped to bronze in the Guinness Book of Records. And as an example, what better than to see what he did at the beginning of February of this year as a rehearsal for the next Chinese New Year (the Spring Festival) in Heifei (Anhui): more than 20,000 drones tracing three-dimensional figures with such complexity and density of light that it almost seems solid. And it’s just a test, hence it doesn’t count for records. Tap to go to the X/Twitter post Tap to go to the X/Twitter post Weeks before, the China Science and Technology Innovation Gala also took place in Heifei, where they recreated the Anhui Opera and a historical event: the arrival of the four opera companies to Beijing for Emperor Qianlong’s 80th birthday. It would be the birth of what is known today as Peking opera. The important thing here was not so much the number of drones, but rather the artistic fusion. Nevertheless, according to the China Global Television Network10,000 drones illuminated the sky with iconic images of Chinese opera sharing performance with human and robot performers in a curious mix of tradition and innovation. China Science and Technology Innovation Gala. CGTN In Heifei they have taken a liking to drone exhibitions and last fall there were another more modest (by Chinese standards) of “only” 1,024 units to celebrate the upcoming science and technology exhibition, as CGTN explains. On this occasion, more than something artistic or record-breaking, its approach was purely scientific and technical, with the drones forming robotic or DNA structures. There may be few drones, but the fluidity of the transitions is notable. 8th World Voice Expo. CGTN To welcome 2026, the city of Chongqing hosted a show Of “only” 8,000 units on the Yangtze River they formed figures like a dragon, the essential countdown and the galloping horse (because this Chinese New Year will be the year of the horse) in a spectacle that played with air, land and water. Also in Guangzhou They celebrated the end of the 15th National Games of China and the arrival of 2026 at the same time with the massive deployment of more than a thousand drones over the Pearl River to reproduce sports figures or the mascots of the games from the countdown of the year. The number of drones may be lower than in other events, but the quality is striking: the representation of fluidly moving silhouettes is striking. Going back to the records, Guinness still boasts it Liuyang city, Hunan province. In fact, the company High Great he managed to beat it twice in October 2025: on the one hand, it managed to have 15,947 drones synchronized from a single computer (the largest number to date) and not only created figures, but launched “cyber fireworks” (there were real pyrotechnics loaded into the devices). How many? 7,496 units, the largest number of fires launched from drones. Coincidentally, that city is known as the “world capital of pyrotechnics” and the milestone took place at the Liuyang Fireworks Festival, showing that drones do not come to replace fires, but to complement them. The fusion seems like magic. Given China’s rapid pace with drones, that record has its hours numbered. Nevertheless, today the Guinness silver It is displayed at the DAMODA exhibition in July 2025 in Heyuan (Guangdong), where 11,198 drones created enormous figures over Lake Wanlvhu representing the evolution of the area in recent decades. Behind these records are companies like High Great and Damoda and beyond getting headlines, there is a real technical challenge behind: Keeping thousands of devices in the air without colliding and with a latency of milliseconds requires extremely high GPS precision and computing power that is not available to everyone. In Xataka | The Vatican drone show was commissioned by an unexpected businessman: Elon Musk’s brother In Xataka | Climbing Everest in person costs 50,000 euros. Uploading it in 4K from the sofa at home is now free Cover | High Great

companies prefer investors

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For 99% of the world’s population, salary is the main source of wealth since it is their only way of income main. However, the data collected by one of the largest fixed income managers, point out that the weight of salaries in global wealth is at its historic lows, while that of financial capital takes the largest share. This imbalance is not accidental and explains why the economy can show growth while many employees suffer to make ends meet. The disconnection between productivity and wages. A good example of this phenomenon is we see in the data of the Economic Policy Institute Updated to January 2026, between the fourth quarter of 1979 and the third quarter of 2025, productivity in the US increased by 90.2%, while hourly wage compensation only increased by 33.0% during this period. This means that the financial productivity has grown 2.7 times more than salaries, generating a gap that benefits companies, senior executives and shareholders, but not the employees of those same companies. He historical of the Federal Reserve Bank of St Louis leaves another illustrative example of this phenomenon. Since the late 1970s, the relationship between wages and GDP in the United States has been progressively sinking, except when serious global crises have occurred: in the 2000s with the dotcom crisis, and in 2020 with the COVID-19 pandemic. That is to say, salaries have been losing weight in the wealth of countries for decades. History of the relationship of salaries with respect to GDP in the US The historical minimum of the salary weight. The share of income from work has gone from representing approximately two-thirds of global GDP in the early 1980s to 52.4% of global GDP today, the rate lowest in the historical series according to the International Labor Organization. According to this organization, if employees received the same proportion of salaries to GDP as in 2004, global salaries would increase by an additional 2.4 trillion. This imbalance is mainly due to the fact that the economy rewards more capital returns than the human effort of work (salaries), with companies focused on obtaining quick returns for shareholders instead of raising payrolls. Increase in productivity and wages The impact of AI on salaries. In recent years, the development of artificial intelligence is beginning to increase this gap by automating tasks. at entry points. Research from the University of Navarra determined that the arrival of ChatGPT (and other LLM models) drove down wages of companies most exposed to AI by up to 4.5% on average, compared to companies less exposed to automation. ​The salary impact was greater among junior workers, that they lost 6.3% in starting salaries and a 4% drop in job offers, while senior workers lost an average of 5.9% in their salary level. Causes behind the turn towards capital. From PIMCO they explain that companies use intangible capital such as software and data (AI, in short), to scale profits without using more labor in the process. That decoupling of the hand work would be reducing the bargaining power of employees, while AI encourages companies to contain payroll expenses to maximize dividends. Since the 1990s, factors such as globalization, loss of bargaining power of unions, and concentration of capital in large firms have eroded the labor portion of income. Tiffany Wilding, an economist at PIMCO, said: “Starting with computers and software, and now adding automation and artificial intelligence, technological tools are easily replacing mid-level and increasingly skilled labor.” In Xataka | We believed that AI was going to retire an entire generation of workers early. The opposite is happening Image | Unsplash (Marcus Locke)

Seven great ideas to give technology as a gift (for less than 100 euros) this Valentine’s Day

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I have a budget of 100 euros, what can I give to a person? techie? Fortunately, today we can find countless things. Some more original than others, but in any case good gifts. For this same reason, today we are going to give seven interesting ideas under 100 euros. Huawei Watch Fit 3 by 79 eurosa great smartwatch to keep better control over physical activities. Elgato Stream Deck Neo by 84.99 eurosa very practical device for playing computer games and even for productivity. Xiaomi Redmi Buds 6 Pro by 59.90 eurosgood Bluetooth headphones with noise cancellation. Woxter Scriba 195 S by 67.99 euros When you add to cart, a small eReader to devour books anywhere. Fire TV Stick 4K Select by 35.99 eurosa great device for old televisions. Chilly’s Series 2 by 38 eurosa thermal coffee cup with Biocote technology for the most coffee lovers. Kodak photo frame by 51.28 eurosa digital photo frame that also plays music. Huawei Watch Fit 3 For the price of 79 euros that he has right now Huawei Watch Fit 3It is a great gift if your partner wants a smartwatch with many sports functions. Specifically, the version with gray strap I find it the most interesting (it’s the one I have) because it’s not like the traditional ones, which often break from use. The screen looks great even outdoors and the rotating crown is a success. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Elgato Stream Deck Neo If your partner loves computer games or wants a device to improve productivity, the Elgato Stream Deck Neo is on sale right now for 84.99 euros. It includes eight fully customizable macro keys, plus a screen on the bottom side. The configuration options it offers are very varied, whether you want to play or work. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Xiaomi Redmi Buds 6 Pro Given so many models, which Bluetooth headphones to buy? The Redmi Buds 6 Pro from Xiaomi have a very good quality-price ratio, especially now that they are on sale for 59.90 euros. Have noise cancellationtheir battery is up to 36 hours and they are quite comfortable to use even for hours. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Woxter Scriba 195 S If your partner usually travels a lot by train, subway or bus and wants to spend time reading, there is no need to spend a lot of money to have an eReader or digital book reader. He Woxter Scriba 195 S It is perfect to carry in your pocket thanks to its 4.7-inch screen. It is controlled through the keypad and comes with 4 GB of storage, which can store many digital books. Its price at MediaMarkt is 79.99 euros, but when you add it to the cart it remains at 67.99 euros. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Fire TV Stick 4K Select If you have an old television at home and you want to use it more, a good gift for your partner or for both of you is the Fire TV Stick 4K Select. Right now it is on sale for 35.99 euros and offers 4K resolution. Furthermore, thanks to its operating system You can download streaming apps like Netflix. It also incorporates Alexa and comes with a remote control with direct access to some applications. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Chilly’s Series 2 Although it is somewhat less technological, for coffee lovers the Chilly’s Series 2 It can be very attractive. By 38 eurosit is a thermal coffee cup that, according to the brand, can stay warm for four hours. It comes with a mechanism to close it hermetically, the mouthpiece is designed to be soft to the touch and has Biocote anti-microbial technology that eliminates bad odors. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Kodak photo frame Finally, if you want to go more for the classic, this photo frame Kodak costs 51.28 euros and it is ideal to remember moments as a couple. It is a digital frame with a 10.1-inch screen that allows you to change photographs, but it can also play videos and music. It includes a remote control, allows you to rotate the image and add photos, videos and files via an SD card. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Some of the links in this article are affiliated and may provide a benefit to Xataka. In case of non-availability, offers may vary. Images | Jose GarciaHuawei, Stream Deck, Xiaomi, Woxter, Amazon, Chilly’s, Kodak In Xataka | The best smartwatches (2026): their analyzes and videos are here In Xataka | Best eBooks. Which eBook to buy and 11 recommended models

the day an entire shipment arrived in Vladivostok frozen

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The cold wreaks havoc and not only on the gas bill: we have already seen how this winter they have had to cancel several flights, not because of storms or snow, but due to lack of antifreeze. If we talk about cars, beyond the myth that too cold affects the batteries of electric cars (tell it to the people of norway), we are clear that driving on ice is dangerous. And hey, carrying a load of cars in an extreme winter storm, too. We are going to the Russian city of Vladivostok, in December 2021. Russia is famous for harsh winters and although the port city is not Siberia, the reality is that its average in December around – 8 degrees. Well, at that time the cargo ship “Sun Rio” docked there, packed with enormous blocks of ice that, as if they were Kinder eggs, They hid used and new Japanese cars. It was not the typical frost that forms on cars when they are parked outdoors and it snows, but a solid and compact capsule that had originated in a strong storm that had occurred in the Sea of ​​Japan that the ship necessarily had to cross to reach its destination. In reality, it was the combination of storm and sea that had caused this effect. The phenomenon is called marine frosting or spray freezing and it occurs on boats, coastal structures or platforms when all the ingredients in the recipe are present, that is, very cold (temperatures below -2 degrees), there is strong wind and the sea is so rough that the waves spray water into the air. That sprayed salt water freezes instantly when it touches cold surfaces, as happened on those cars outdoors. The layer-by-layer adhesion completely covered the bodywork, the underside and even the interior of the cars in those vehicles in which the windows could not support the weight. To the rich marine glaze of cars Visually it is striking, but also It is dangerous both for the integrity of the vehicle As long as it blocks equipment and sensors, we have already seen its effects on the moons and we know that saltpeter is not the best precisely for the sheet metal. And also the ship. This thick layer adds weight to the element to which it has adhered, shifting its center of gravity and affecting its stability. The cars were stationary, yes, but there were a few on the deck, which increases the risk of listing or even capsizing for a relatively small ship like this. As Captain Pyotr Osichansky detailed to the Russian medium VLit was not the first time it had happened on this usual Vladivostok-Busan-Toyama car supply route, but it had been one of the most intense times. With cars trapped in ice, the unloading operation becomes complicated and waiting for the ice to melt is not an option. So the staff resorted to deicers, hoses and the classic iron lever to separate the cars one by one. Some turned out pretty well, others not so much.. It should be remembered that it is not normal ice but comes from salt water, a true catalyst for corrosion in the bodywork, screws, brakes and other elements, even in cars that were apparently in good condition. It is the risk of import in the Green Corner of Vladivostok: those cars with broken windows and deteriorated interiors were discarded for conventional saledestined for opportunity sale, scrapping or sold piecemeal. There was no official balance of losses. In Xataka | Extreme cold paralyzes Europe. KLM cancels more than 2,300 flights due to a technical detail: antifreeze In Xataka | If you think it’s cold it’s because you weren’t in Albacete in 1971: the day the temperature dropped to -24ºC Cover and images | SCMP and Siberian Times

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