Mobile Tech & Gadgets

There are already right-wing rap singers

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In just a few months, two stars of rap and trap in Spanish (curiously, in a field absolutely dominated by male performers) have burst onto the scene with messages openly tilted to the right. Its extreme youth and the clear and frontal positioning, which has become the very core of its proposal, has clashed with the traditional image of these genres, associated with the marginal and criticism of the system. Angie Corine and BB Trickz They represent the spearhead of a new trend in Spanish music and youth, and although the musical quality of their proposals has been very discussedtheir indisputable popular impact makes them worthy of attention. Angie Corine, the tradwife sensation. Angie bursts into the Spanish digital landscape in 2023 and follows the viral logic of TikTok: short and controversial content, politicized from the first moment. He does not come from the world of hip hop (he has not cut his teeth in cock fights, did not go through the underground scene), but from the first moment she attracted attention for using aesthetics as part of her manifesto: exaggerated hyperfemininity (acrylic nails, eyelash extensions, makeup with hours of work), very studied outfits (mixing trap aesthetics with branded bags) and openly airs hypersexualizedwhich is what she criticizes in her songs. In his songs he addresses, with a very simple technical quality (simple rhymes, unsophisticated rhythms), themes that have earned him multitude of enemies: criticism of fourth wave feminism or radical feminism, defense of return to traditional values (claiming motherhood, marriagethe family -although she personally does not live subject to those theses-), anticommunism and defense of freedom from almost anarcho-capitalist codesand with a friendly nationalism with references to the flag and anti-independence. BB Trickz, tropical MAGA. BB Trickz must be approached with even more caution: provocation is part of its formula from the first moment, as is the unbiased mix of elements. Letters in wild Spanglish (due to his multicultural heritage), provocative accessories such as ‘Make America Great Again’ caps and other Trumpist parafornalis (which he defends more as a symbol of person “that says things clearly“that due to a deep knowledge of their politics), an aesthetic mix of traditional choni and luxury trap, and open, almost brutal sexuality. For all this (especially the last thing: BB Trickz has lyrics so explicit that a porn actor from the seventies would blush), the artist’s political position is clear, but almost performative: praise Trump, anti-progressivism visceral and not at all reasoned, broad-brush ultracapitalism… There comes a time when his political statements (absent from his songs most of the time) seem to be part of a posture as pronounced as his clashes with the rest of the scene. International precedents. Political rap emerged in the eighties as a subgenre that maintained variable rhythms, but politicized the lyrics. He took inspiration in the US from movements such as Black Power and the Black Panther Party, with groups such as Public Enemy, KRS-One, Boogie Down Productions or NWA rapping about topics such as racism, police brutality, economic inequality and corruption. Since the mid-2010s, an opposite phenomenon has been observed: the emergence of rappers aligned with right-wing political positions. In the United States, artists such as Tom MacDonald have starred a wave of “right-wing rap” or “troll-rap”where messages contrary to the traditional political left are displayed Friends of Vox. Of course, both right-wing parties rapidly rising among young people and artists thirsty for quick controversy find common ground to work on. In this way, Angie Corine has publicly expressed her support for Vox and its leader Santiago Abascalwhom he describes as a hope for a “model of order, security and economic freedom” to govern in Spain. This has led her to perform at events organized by groups close to the European radical right in Spain, like the Europa Viva 25 event in Madrid. Part of a trend. This doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Various recent studies and surveys reveal a growing trend of Spanish youthespecially among young men, to identify with conservative and right-wing political positions. According to various studiesidentification with liberal-conservative positions has increased in the last two decades, with factors such as family income, economic crises and the passage of time being influential in the adoption of these positions. The surveys They also reflect that a considerable part of young people, especially men, are showing inclinations towards authoritarian positions and a growing skepticism towards liberal democracy. And the latest generation of rap is there to take advantage. In Xataka | The “cayetans” are going to make noise in the squares. And it’s not just because of the love of bullfighting.

Madrid riders have been using municipal bikes for some time despite it being prohibited. The City Council is tired

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When it was released, more than a decadeBicimad was proposed as a public transport service with shared bikes. His idea was very simple: make it easier (and cheaper) for Madrid residents to get around the city by bike. Over time, its network of vehicles and stations has expanded, but it has also attracted a new type of user: riders interested in their benefits and low cost who rent them, skipping the regulation. Now the City Council has said enough. What has happened? That Madrid has grown tired of the riders use during your deliveries Bicimada public bicycle rental service. The message has been conveyed with crystal clear the delegate of Urban Planning, Environment and Mobility of the City Council, Borja Carabante, who recalled that the system was designed to be used by individuals (such as neighbors or tourists) not so that economic benefit could be taken from it, a possibility clearly banned in its regulations. Is the problem that serious? Yes. And no. The Municipal Transport Company (EMT) recognize that he is not aware that the riders are making “massive use” of Bicimad, although it has detected “some cases.” Much clearer has been Carabante, who assures that it is a practice that “we all see” on the street and seems to be getting worse. In fact, the City Council speaks of “an increase”. What does the regulations say? The issue is not so much that the practice is more or less widespread as that it completely fails to comply with the bases (and spirit) that regulate the service. In its chapter XI the document that sets the conditions of use slips several ideas, including one that closes the doors to riders and other delivery people. “The bicycle will be used exclusively for the transportation of users, and cannot transport other people, animals or merchandise,” collect the text. “Nor can the bicycle, nor the stations, be used for commercial purposes.” Why do they use them then? For its advantages. Bicimad offers more than 7,700 bikes and 630 stations spread across 21 districts of the capital. Those who use the service can enjoy electric bikes with a 250W central motor and 70 kilometers of autonomy for a fee of only 10 euros monthly. The service offers free, unlimited rides of up to 30 minutes. After that time, the second 30-minute fraction costs 0.5 and the subsequent three euros. In addition, its users are insured. A rider Anyone who wanted to buy a similar urban bike to deliver orders would have to pay hundreds of eurosat least. This without taking into account the wear and tear of the vehicle and another of the great advantages of Bicimad: the station network and charging points. Those responsible they calculate The service currently has 450,000 monthly users who make journeys that, on average, last just over 15 minutes. What does the City Council want to do? For now he has made it clear that he is aware that the riders They are misusing bikes and he is not willing to turn a blind eye. How he will respond and how far he is willing to go in his endeavor is another matter. The City Council has stated that it will look for a way to “disincentivize” delivery drivers from taking advantage of Bicimad and to do so, one of the options on the table is to apply extra rates to them. “We will have to see if there is some type of specific rate for this type of activity and we are analyzing possible alternatives so that it does not occur,” Carabante specifiedwho recognizes that what has sparked the interest of riders and has caused the use of Bicimad to increase among the group (according to the data managed by the City Council) it is precisely the “low rates” that the service applies, which “makes its use attractive” by the delivery people. Are you considering anything else? Yeah. Increase controls at street level. The City Council of the capital has recognized The World He plans to pay more attention to who rents the bikes to get a more precise idea of ​​the problem. “To assess whether any measure must be taken to avoid this type of use, the EMTE will soon begin a surveillance campaign to monitor these activities,” keep it up. “According to these results, actions will be applied to discourage use for commercial activities.” They won’t have it easy. The riders They use the same cards as the rest of the users and to confirm that they are using the service for commercial purposes, the police would have to stop them. Hence, for example, at the moment the improper use of bicycles is not being penalized either. The problem is not entirely new, but the City Council seems determined to put an end to a custom that, as the delegate alertsharms individuals who want to use public bicycles. Images | Bicimad In Xataka | There are no more 20 euro tickets: the trains between Madrid and Barcelona have become very expensive again for a reason

There are ‘Wednesday’, ‘Nightmare Before Christmas’ and more

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October is Halloween month. There are many ways to celebrate this holiday that is celebrated on October 31, such as a good horror movie marathon. Alternatively, if we are LEGO® fans, we also have a wide selection of sets that They are ideal for Halloween and that belong to some franchises, series or movies that are very beloved, such as ‘Gremlins’ or ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’. It is a good opportunity to expand our collection of sets or give a gift to that friend or partner who is a fan of this holiday. Below, we leave you a selection that fits perfectly for Halloween: LEGO® Disney Tim Burton: The Nightmare Before Christmas by 199.99 eurosa set loaded with details and with six minifigures. LEGO® Halloween wreath by 39.99 eurosa floral crown with Halloween details. LEGO® House of Morticia by 99.99 eurosa set inspired by the Netflix series ‘Wednesday. LEGO® Gremlins: Gizmo by 99.99 eurosa set with accessories that can be assembled both standing and sitting. LEGO® Malfoy Manor by 149.99 eurosa buildable set ideal for both Halloween and Harry Potter fans. LEGO® Disney Tim Burton: The Nightmare Before Christmas The first of the sets we bring is this one from ‘Nightmares Before Christmas’, one of Tim Burton’s gems. We have Jack’s house, Hgalloween City Hall and the iconic Spiral Hill. The set consists of 2,193 pieces and includes six minifigures, as well as lots of details. We have it available for 199.99 euros. Disney Tim Burton: The Nightmare Before Christmas The price could vary. We earn commission from these links LEGO® Halloween wreath We now continue with a minimalist set, but it is perfect for giving a touch of Halloween to your home. It is a floral wreath that has several details closely related to this holiday, such as a ghost or a pumpkin. It has a string, so we can hang it wherever we want. There are more than 600 pieces and it costs 39.99 euros. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links LEGO® House of Morticia Turn of a set inspired by the Netflix series ‘Wednesday’. This is Morticia’s House, which can be rotated and opened to reveal all the rooms inside. In addition, it comes with the car that we can see in the series and four minifigures that include Morticia and Wednesday Addams. It is made up of 1,002 pieces and costs 99.99 euros. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links LEGO® Gremlins: Gizmo ‘Gremlins’ may have been released in the 1980s, but there are still many of us who remember these movies with great affection. This set stars Gizmo, the protagonist of the saga. It is designed so that we can assemble it both standing and sitting and comes with several accessories so that we can customize it. Costs 99.99 eurosalthough shipments of this set will not begin until November 6. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links LEGO® Malfoy Manor We close with a Harry Potter set, although with one that is perfect for Halloween. This is Malfoy Manor, which we saw in ‘The Deathly Hallows’. It has more than 1,600 pieces and has a lot of very special details that reproduce this scenario perfectly. Includes 9 minifigures in this case and costs 149.99 euros. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Some of the links in this article are affiliated and may provide a benefit to Xataka. In case of non-availability, offers may vary. Images | LEGO® In Xataka | Your favorite series, comics and movies also in LEGO: 15 construction kits ideal to assemble yourself or give as a gift In Xataka | LEGO constructions on another level: the Technic Series has the models that any collector would dream of

Spanish agriculture is reaching its moment of truth

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Tíjola is in Alto Almanzora, 700 meters above sea level; right between the Filabres mountain range and the Estancia mountain range. 35 degrees in summer, minimums around zero in winter. Esparto grass, rosemary, thyme, mastic. Some scattered pine forest. Little water, very little. Its water balance is negative almost all year round and, if it were not for the historical overexploitation of the aquifer and the Tajo-Segura transfer, nothing would grow except some almond trees, a little cereal and a handful of scattered olive trees. That is why the idea of ​​hectares and hectares of olive trees under intensive irrigation is so strange. Rare, but not impossible. In fact, according to the Almeria Ecologist Coordinatoris what is being done. SAT Olisurwhich has been working for years in the use of water resources, is carrying out the implementation of 14 hectares of irrigation. Something that, beyond the controversy, is above all an example that the big question of the moment is: at what price will those olive trees be grown? What impacts will be hidden behind intensive production in vulnerable areas? The end of an era. For thousands of years, olive trees have grown in the Mediterranean basin. It is a dry crop, with moderate densities and very close to the ground. The problem is that, in recent years, it has stopped being profitable. The best example is Andalusia. In the south of Spain, “good harvests have been obtained with 400mm per year.” However, in 2023 there are Andalusian dryland areas “that have not received even 200mm.” It was a catastrophe: a catastrophe that threatens to be repeated year after year. For this reason, more and more producers want to switch to irrigation. Because “dry” means “watered with what falls” and “irrigation” is “having water assured.” And the olive grove is good business, if you can water it. “The difficult thing is to have water because the Guadalquivir basin is already in deficit, so new concessions are not given,” explained Diego Barrancor a few years ago. Hence the olive trees are “fleeing” the Guadalquivir. And they go where they can. To Almería, for example. The diffuse limits of agricultural extractivism. The case of SAT Olisur is complex because, even if it seems like a bad idea, it is a company that has been working in the area for almost 30 years; who tries to survive with very bad cards. But not all cases are like this. In recent years, We have seen how ghost companies are dedicated to lease land, drain its resources and move on to the next thing. Agrarian extractivism is the order of the day and the conflict it’s inevitable. The crazy idea of ​​installing irrigated olive trees in Almería is simply an anecdote of an immense problem. The problem is that, as Hannah Arendt said, it is never easy to know the difference between a refuge and a trap. Image | WineCountry Media In Xataka | Spain faces its greatest agricultural challenge of the century: converting 1,901,529 hectares of olive groves into irrigation before it is too late

Spain wanted Ryanair to pay it 107 million euros. Now Europe responds: sanctioning file against Spain

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Airlines have limited “freedom to set prices.” At least that is what the European Commission, which has sanctioned our country, believes. It did so with a statement published yesterday, Wednesday, October 8, in which it clarified that the Air Navigation Law prevents airlines from charging for this service. The decision is also a hard blow for Spain’s role in its open judicial fight against Ryanair. The European Commission. She was the last to give her opinion. And he has done it in the worst possible way for Spain. In a public statementthe European entity confirms that it has opened a sanctioning file against our country when it understands that it is taking measures to restrict the freedom of airlines to charge for a service to which they are entitled. That right is to charge for hand luggage, a service for which Spain has already imposed a sanction on five airlines. The cost of that punishment was close to 180 million euros and Ryanair was the company most punished, receiving a fine that exceeded 107 million euros. According to the European Commission, these sanctions also fail to comply with Community regulations. Right. According to the European Commission: “Spain’s National Air Navigation Law does not allow airlines to subject the carriage of carry-on baggage to an additional charge, restricting the freedom of airlines to set prices and differentiate between a service that includes the right to a larger carry-on baggage allowance, and a service that does not offer that possibility and simply provides the smaller allowance that constitutes a necessary aspect of the carriage.” From Europe, therefore, it is understood that Spanish airlines are allowing the minimum necessary luggage that is mandatory to pass through completely free of charge. On the contrary, it considers that our country is preventing charging for larger packages and that, therefore, companies are prevented from charging more for the service and are forced to abandon this income option. “Reasonable”. The problem right now is that there are no established bases for what is or is not considered “carry-on luggage.” The Court of Justice of the European Union noted, as stated in the European Commission’s own statement, that hand luggage “should, in principle, be free as long as it meets reasonable requirements in terms of weight and dimensions, and complies with the applicable security requirements. Hand luggage that exceeds such reasonable requirements is subject to price freedom.” But what is reasonable? For the European Union, companies like Ryanair already complied with their previous measurements of 40 x 25 x20 cm (expanded to 40 x 30 x 20 cm last summer). For Spain, however, that size or a smaller one does not allow the transport of basic belongings and does not meet those “reasonable requirements in terms of weight and dimensions.” Justice. That same debate, in fact, has been experienced by the fined companies themselves in our country. First because they have received some of the higher economic sanctions on companies in the history of Spain. And, second, because not even the Spanish Justice has shown a clear criterion when deciding whether companies or consumers are right. In SevilleFor example, Ryanair won a lawsuit against a consumer who was charged at the boarding gate for not having checked luggage on time. In Salamancait was the consumers who beat the company for the same reason. A setback for Spain. The decision of the European Commission is a hard setback for Spain, although it was expected. The Transport Commissioner of the European Union himself, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, received the CEO of Ryanair personally a few days ago. Pablo Bustinduy, Minister of Consumer Affairs, preferred to attend to him remotely by video call. The company had also threatened to take the legality of the fine imposed in our country to the European courts. Now, it has the backing of the European Commission should the matter go to trial. For Bustinduy: “the charge for hand luggage represents a conflict between the interests of the large airline industry, which profits from these practices, and the rights of consumers. Unfortunately, today the Commission has decided to position itself on the side of the interests of the multinationals,” in words reported by The Country. An interested movement. As we already told a few weeks ago, the European Union is seeking to reach an agreement on the minimum measures for hand luggage. Both the European Commission and the European Parliament are deciding what minimum measures are imposed. However, until now measures have been put on the table that were almost identical to those offered by Ryanair and other companies low cost. The Irish company also subscribed to the decision of Airlines for Europe (A4E), an association of airlines including Ryanair, to confirm that increased the minimum size allowed in their cabins at 40 × 30 × 15 cm. They are measures slightly lower than those that Ryanair has ended up adopting and similar to those sought by the European Union, in what is a clear nod to those who have defended these latter positions. What happens now? With this file, the European Union gives our country a period of two months to adapt national legislation to European regulations or to give a reasoned response to it. If the changes are not implemented or the response is not considered sufficiently reasoned, the European Commission may issue a reasoned opinion. This is the second formal phase of the procedure and if Spain maintains its positions, the case can be referred to the Court of Justice of the European Union. Photo | Niklas Jonasson and Andrijana Bozic In Xataka | Michael O’Leary, CEO of Ryanair: “I don’t want the money. Let them fly without suitcases”

a plague of flies that no one can stop

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Not the Gaza massacre, not the increase in salaries, not the improvement of public health or the fight against corruption. A few days ago the residents of Tomiño, a town in the south of Galicia, took to the streets to protest something very different and that is not common to find in 21st century Spain: the fly pests. Tired of encountering annoying insects even in the soup (and no, it is not a figure of speech) some 300 people They gathered in the town to demand that the institutions solve a problem that they have been for years dragging “It’s horrible, really terrible,” they cry out. What has happened? That Galicia has just experienced what may have been the most peculiar manifestation so far this year. Not so much for the form as for the substance. What has brought people to the streets in Tomiño, a town in the south of the province of Pontevedra, is a plague of flies. Thousands and thousands of dipterans that sneak into businesses and homes, complicating the lives of part of the town. The rally was organized last Sunday in the center of Carregal, the most affected parish of Tomiño, and brought together around 300 residents, according to Tele Mariñas specifies. The mobilization not only served to demand solutions from the administrations. It has also helped to better understand how the plague affects the inhabitants of the area, who claim to be living a true hell. “This plague doesn’t let me eat, sleep, or anything,” he lamented a 77-year-old neighbor who has lived in the neighborhood for more than a decade. “It’s horrible, terrible.” Is it that serious? The testimonies of the inhabitants of one of the most affected areas, Amorín, in Carregal, show that the invasion of flies is much more than a simple nuisance. “It’s terrible. You kill one and three come to the funeral,” counted a few days ago The Voice of Galicia Avelina, a neighbor. People talk about flytraps that fill up shortly after hanging them, businesses “desperate” and even people who are considering throwing in the towel and selling their homes if the problem is not solved. A few months ago in Forcadela, another parish in Tomiño, the owner of a bar confessed that the plague forced her to work reduced hours and do without the terrace so as not to lose customers. “When you moved there were so many that you could grab them with your hand, you even stepped on them,” recounted the hotelier, Ana Belén, The Voice of Galicia. “The ceiling of my establishment is white and it was black.” At Sunday’s rally, the residents of Carregal took to the streets a poster which, pulling back, emphasized the same complaint: “Menu of the day: 1st, broth with flies; 2nd, chickpeas with flies, coffee with flies. Enough already.” Their discomfort is not only due to the dipteran invasion itself. It also bothers them that the problem is repeated year after year without the administrations finding a solution. “We want solutions now.” What areas does it affect? The weekend protest was organized in Carregal, Tomiño, but a few months ago They complained about the same problem in Forcadela, another neighborhood in the town. In reality, it will have caught few by surprise. In 2024 in the village they were already complaining of the same problem and there are neighbors who report that flies have been a challenge for about five years. In reality, Tomiño is not the only Galician town that has had to do with the invasion of dipterans. Almost 175 kilometers from there, in Narón (province of A Coruña) there is another parish, O Val, which has been with a challenge to simulate. “It makes you desperate,” confessed In June one of his neighbors The Confidential. In his case he has even tried to combat flies with bleach. Without much success. What is the reason? In Tomiño the problem is serious enough that some time ago the City Council commissioned a study to clarify its causes, a task that fell to a group specialized in environmental biology from the University of Vigo. Salustiano Mato, professor of Zoology, he resisted last year to talk about a “plague” of flies as such, but admits that there are “disproportionate population booms” of insects in some parts of the municipality. Its protagonist is the common fly, an insect with a fleeting life cycle, between seven and 30 daysbut which is capable of depositing about a thousand eggs during that brief period. The affected neighbors they explain that “strong pests” are suffered between spring and well into autumn, although the problem is not completely solved during the cold months. “We continue with flies because there is no more frost.” Regarding the possible causes of its uncontrolled presence in Tomiño, Mato explains that “a perfect storm” seems to have occurred, an opinion shared by Galicia Ambiental. “The combination of climatic factors, temperature and humidity could be behind everything. There is a set of environmental circumstances that favor hatching, irruption or mass reproduction,” they sentence. And how to solve it? The problem is more complex than it seems. When it comes to pointing out the causes, more factors have been pointed out, such as the use of fertilizer in crop fields, humidity (the area is near the Miño), the destruction of native forest, with the consequent loss of trees and birds that feed on insects, or the expansion of crops. A few months ago, in fact, the Tomiño City Council related the Forcadela plague with a poorly fertilized farm, in which manure supposedly accumulated on unplowed land. Things don’t seem to be clear in the offices either. Last year the local government I remembered that there is a royal decree of 2022 that establishes that the powers over the inspection and control in the care of farmland falls on the Xunta, but the municipal opposition insist in which the law obliges the City Council to “act” and remembers that it is the … Read more

If you are a student, you have Gemini Pro free for a year: this is how you can get it

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If you are a student, Google has just launched a promotion with which you can enjoy Google AI Pro for one year totally free. In addition to being able to use the model Gemini 2.5 Pro whenever you want, with the subscription you can enjoy 2 TB of storage. Its value without promotion is 21.99 euros per month, which is more than 260 euros per year. If you use Gemini in the free version, the model you can use is Gemini 2.5 Flash, faster but also more limited in terms of reasoning capacity. With Gemini 2.5 Pro You can take advantage of the Deep Research mode for more in-depth investigations or make audio summaries, as well as use the imaging with Nano Banana and create videos with I see 3. There’s more, the promotion also comes with 2 TB of storage and more credits to use experimental tools like Whisk and flow to generate images and videos. Requirements to obtain the offer In order to enjoy the Google Gemini promotion, you will have to meet several conditions that we detail below: You must be over 18 years old. Be a university student and your institution offers the Google AI Pro trial. Have a personal Google account. That your Google account has a valid payment method registered. Register before November 3, 2025. How to get the Gemini Pro offer for students If you meet all the requirements, you can register to enjoy the promotion. We tell you how to do it step by step. The first thing you should do is enter the following link https://gemini.google/es/students/ and click on the Get Offer button. If you are not logged in to your Google account, the next step will ask you to do so. Then you will have to fill out the form where you must enter the name of your educational center and your information (in the email do not use the address of your university, use the Google account on which you want to apply the offer). If everything is correct, you will proceed to verification using SheerID. Basically you will have to log in to your university’s platform with the email and username that you have configured on it. You may be asked for proof of registration. You will have to upload the document and click Send. Finally, select “Subscribe to Google AI Pro” and “Student Offer”. When you redeem the offer you will not be charged anything, but we have already seen that in order to subscribe you need to have a valid payment method. If you do not want the subscription to renew and be charged You have two options, wait until the date approaches and cancel it or do it now from this link https://play.google.com/store/account/subscriptions. If you choose the second, you can continue using it until the renewal date. In Xataka | Gemini Image Editor: 16 Ways and Tricks to Squeeze Nano-banana with Google’s AI

radishes confirm the entry of nanoplastics into the food chain

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Living with microplastics It seems like the new normal in our diet. We already see them in things as everyday as bottled water either tapbut also within our body as in breast milk or their own testicles. Now the researchers, who remain very focused on the food chain, have wanted analyze its presence in crops and it has made it clear that the problem is more serious than we thought. The study. Published in the magazine Environmental Researchresearchers have used a technique of radiolabeling to demonstrate, for the first time quantitatively, that nanoplastics are not only absorbed by plants, but travel through them until they accumulate in the parts we eat. And the results, obtained with radishes, are a wake-up call to a very important food safety problem. The marking. The main challenge of studying nanoplastics in biological tissues is to distinguish them from the organic material that surrounds them. To overcome this obstacle, a team of scientists from the University of Plymouth in the United Kingdom synthesized polystyrene nanoplastics and “marked” them with a radioactive isotope: lime. famous carbon-14. In this way, it was possible to accurately monitor the movement of the plastic inside the plant. And precisely the material is more common in agricultural soils. Design. The experiment was meticulously designed to avoid any type of surface contamination. For this, radishes were used due to their rapid growth and their large fleshy root (the edible part), which were introduced into a hydroponic system with a liquid nutrient solution instead of being in their normal habitat, which is soil. This is where the key is: only the fine, non-fleshy roots were in contact with the water containing the nanoplastics. In this way, the edible part and the sprouts were never in contact with the contaminated medium. From here, the radishes were left for five days to absorb the solution and subsequently analyzed to check if the nanoplastics (which emit radiation) had been absorbed and what path they would follow. Results. After the passage of these five days, radioactivity was detected in all parts of the silver that had been exposed, demonstrating the absorption and transport of the nanoplastics. In total, the radishes managed to retain almost 5% of the nanoplastics that were in the water and of these, 65% remained in the non-fleshy roots (the entry point). But the alarming thing comes when in the part that is edible, a concentration of 25.5% of the nanoplastics that the plant had absorbed and transported to this area was found. Even the buds and leaves, the furthest part, accumulated almost 10% of the total absorbed. What does it mean. This finding demonstrates that polystyrene nanoplastics are capable of crossing the Caspary bandan impermeable layer of cells that functions as a protective barrier in the root of the plant, designed precisely to prevent the passage of unwanted substances into the vascular system. Once this barrier is overcome, the nanoplastics have free rein to distribute throughout the rest of the plant. Why it is important. These results open a direct and quantifiable pathway for human exposure to nanoplastics through diet. Unlike animals, which have rapid excretion mechanisms (such as feces or urine) to eliminate part of the contaminants, plants lack these systems. This makes them potential “sinks” for nanoplastics, accumulating them throughout their lives. And for humans, the fact that these particles are so small means that they can diffuse our biological barriers and enter the body to circulate through the bloodstream. Although the effects that these microplastics have on our body still remain to be known, something that is currently still being studied to know exactly their distribution throughout the body. Future research should explore whether other types of plastics behave the same, how soil type affects absorption, and what happens in longer growing cycles. But the door has already been opened: smaller plastics are no longer just pollute our oceans and air, but they have found a way to silently sneak into our food, from the roots. Images | Teslariu Mihai Marc Pell In Xataka | They clean your blood of microplastics for 11,500 euros: the startup that capitalizes on our fear of an invisible enemy

1.2 million fewer places, with Asturias as the most affected

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The airline has announced a new cut of 1.2 million seats in Spanish regional airports for the 2026 summer season. This It is already the third reduction consecutive in a year and leaves Asturias without any Ryanair operations. The hardest blow. Asturias is left without any Ryanair flights, becoming the airport most affected by this decision. Although the airline has not detailed the specific impact on other regional airports, this cut is in addition to the 800,000 seats eliminated last summer and the million eliminated in the current winter season. In total, three million fewer places in just twelve months. The battle of rates. Michael O’Leary, CEO of Ryanair, holds Aena directly responsible and the Spanish Government to make regional airports “uncompetitive” by raising rates of 7%. According to O’Learythe airport manager charges similar prices at small and large aerodromes, which penalizes destinations with less traffic. The company denounces that these airports operate with a capacity of 10% or 20% and demands reductions of at least 50% in rates to stimulate traffic. Aena’s response. Its executive vice president, Javier Marín, rejects the accusations. He assures that the increase represents only about 30 cents per passenger and denies that the rates are the same at all airports. According to Marín, a small airport can charge two euros per passenger in the growth phase, compared to 14 euros for Madrid-Barajas. Marín describes the situation as “blackmail” and points out that other airlines are occupying the routes that Ryanair abandons. Where does the capacity go?. The airline will move part of the seats eliminated to Spanish airports with the highest traffic such as Madrid, Barcelona, ​​Palma and Malaga, where their offer will increase by 600,000 seats. The rest will be reallocated to countries that Ryanair says offer more favorable conditions: Italy, Morocco, Croatia, Sweden and Hungary, where governments have eliminated environmental taxes or reduced airport charges. And now what. Ryanair keeps the door open to reversing the cuts if Aena cancels the planned rate increase and substantially lowers prices at regional airports. Meanwhile, competitors like Volotea have already announced that They will take advantage of the gaps left by the Irishwith an increase of 16.4% in its national offer, especially in destinations such as Asturias. Cover image | Gabor Koszegi In Xataka | CAF decided to do business in Israel: it was the beginning of a domino effect that has left it without the Barcelona metro

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