Mobile Tech & Gadgets

The jobs that will grow the fastest in the next decade, in a revealing graph about the future

by

Knowing which professions are going to be the most in demand is always a good idea: either because you are in the academic period and want to better outline what to study or because you want a professional change or specialize. Of course, if it is also accompanied by the best conditions. The winning combo: demand and wages. Every era has its challenges, but undoubtedly the emergence of AI generates more uncertainty: from its usurpation of junior positionsnow you can program without knowing how to program and translators already live with the sword of Damocles on. Whichever phase you’re in, this graph of data on the fastest-growing jobs through 2034 is quite revealing in terms of bringing together both demand and salary range. The graphic is provided by Visual Capitalistwhich in turn uses information from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics collected by USAFactssomething to especially take into account due to the issue of salaries: Spain is not exactly in the United States in the rankings of salary from all countries in the world. What’s more, it is not even in the high area in the salaries of the states of the European Union. Care at the center. If there is an area that stands out in the coming years, it is those related to care, with home care and personal care assistants increasing abysmally compared to the rest by 740,000 new positions until 2034. A little further down, health classics such as medical and health area managers with almost 143,000 more positions and nursing, which both in internships and already qualified exceed 260,000 positions. Of course, this increase in auxiliaries does not go hand in hand with a huge salary: it is well below what can be achieved in nursing and medicine in particular, and the list in general. Technology is balance. If you are looking for a profession with demand and a good salary, the technology sector meets both requirements. The job that appears at the top of the graph is software developers, which will increase by 268,000 positions and will have an average salary of $133,000 (we insist, in the United States). A little further down, those responsible for computer and information systems, with just over 100,000 new positions between now and 2034. The jobs that will grow the most until 2034. Visual Capitalist Money, money, money. If you are looking for the positions with the best remuneration, a no-brainer: managers, specifically those in computer systems, which increase by 100,000 jobs and have an average salary of $171,000. However, in general the payrolls of data scientists, software developers, IT and financial systems managers, financial directors and nursing specializations stand out. Beyond the numbers. Leaving aside salary differences, there are readings of the figures and the graph that cross borders. As the population ages, the need for care of all kinds inevitably increases, whether in residences or at home. On the other hand, it is true that AI is already affecting the IT sector: big tech companies are already slowing down hiring and there have been layoffsbut also that it will take someone who knows how everything works to implement it in different industries. In fact, one of the most in-demand profiles is AI engineering: it has increased by 278.5% since its lowest point in 2023 and currently has 24,957 vacancies open, according to data by TrueUp. In Xataka | What salaries are like in Europe, explained in a revealing graph In Xataka | The main companies in each province of Spain, on an interactive map that says a lot about the country’s economy Cover | Visual Capitalist

In the middle of World War II, a woman illuminated modern cryptography. The FBI then hid it from us.

by

He did not study mathematics, nor did he enlist in the army: Elizabeth FriedmanShe simply fell in love with Shakespeare and that love embarked her on an adventure that led her to uncover Nazi spy networks in World War II, lock up Al Capone’s lackeys, and lay the foundations of the modern NSA. This is the story of how, with the only help of a pencil and paper, a poet from the American Midwest became one of the most important cryptographers in the United States. It is also the story of how they hid their work and we forgot about it for decades. Although she was the youngest of new siblings and grew up in a Quaker family in rural Illinois, Elizebeth graduated in English literature for him Hillsdale College of Michigan. Almost immediately she began working as a teacher. That seemed like it would be his vocation until Shakespeare crossed his path again. The Newberrya Chicago research library, was looking for an assistant. It was nothing too striking except for the fact that, it was said, an original by the Stratford-upon-Avon playwright was kept in the library’s holdings. That was enough for Elizebeth. It was there, working at Newberry, where he met George Fabyana millionaire convinced that Shakespeare’s plays had been written by Francis Bacon. It is not a very strange belief, for centuries the confusing past of the English poet has generated rivers of ink about who William Shakespeare really was. What had not happened until then was that an eccentric billionaire decided to put his fortune at the service of the idea. In 1916, at the age of 23, Elizebeth began working at the Fabyan think tank, a private laboratory, Riverbankwhere things as varied as genetic engineering or they worked on the development of weapons. Now, he would also have a team dedicated to finding the clues that Bacon ‘had left’ in works like ‘Hamlet’ or ‘Romeo and Juliet’. That Riverbank was surely one of the first modern cryptography laboratories. There Elizebeth met her husband, William Friedman. Together, and unintentionally, they would shape modern American cryptography and play a very important role in the next 50 years of American defense. ‘We few, we happy few, we band of brothers’ It all started because, in the middle of the First World War, the army decided to turn to Riverbank to help them with code breaking. It was such a great success that the Secretary of War signed them and took the couple to Washington, DC. Shortly after arriving, Elizebeth began working for the Treasury: the eighteenth amendment (the famous Prohibition) and alcohol trafficking networks were rampant throughout the United States. Elizebeth was terribly productive. It is estimated that, between 1926 and 1930, he deciphered an average of 20,000 smugglers’ messages a year, dismantling hundreds of ciphers in the process. And the Second World War. The role of American cryptographers “was not very important”, but among them the Friedmans shined especially. Elizebeth’s skills were already known and served to dismantle a complex network of Nazi spies in Latin America that tried to promote fascist revolutions and weaken the “backyard” of the United States. Despite this, resources were very scarce and recognition even less. Surely his most impressive work was the one that led to the arrest and imprisonment of Velvalee Dickinsonthe “doll woman”, a spy arrested in 1942 for passing all kinds of information to Japan (hidden in letters about patent leather dolls) during World War II. “His abilities were so unusual that he became indispensable,” he explained. Jason Fagone who has written a spectacular book on Friedman’The Woman who smashed codes‘. “She was called on repeatedly to solve problems that no one else could solve. A secret weapon.” However, and despite the publicity of these cases, the Friedman surname did not transcend. It was not an forgetfulness. Hoover, the famous and controversial director of the FBI, wiped the Friedmans off the map and awarded the merits of each of the cases to his Agency. Nothing surprising in a figure, that of Hoover, key in much of the American 20th century, capable of creating the largest research office in the world and, at the same time, using it as if it were his ‘private army’. Although Elizebeth’s work and that of her husband were the seed of what would later become the NSA, their figure was forgotten, relegated and, until very few years ago, remained unrescued in the drawer of history. In 1999 he entered the NSA ‘Hall of Fame’ and in 2002 a building was dedicated to him. It’s another one of those ‘hidden figures‘without which we could not understand today’s world. In Xataka | In 1925, procrastination was already a problem and someone found the definitive solution: the isolation helmet. In Xatka | Scotland remains almost a fiefdom in the 21st century: half of its land is owned by 421 owners

NASA has just shared some impressive images of the Helix Nebula like we have never seen it before.

by

If there were a nebula popularity contest, that of the Propeller It would be at the top: it is one of the brightest and closest to Earth, located about 650 light years from the Solar System, in the constellation of Aquarius. However, the fact that it was discovered more than two centuries ago and its resemblance to the “Eye of Sauron” have made it one of the most photographed in history. Over the years the Hubble space telescope has captured some of the most iconic images of the Helix Nebula, like the one you can see just below these lines, but the new images that NASA has just published of the James Webb They are simply on another level. If you like astronomy and want to renew your desktop background, here are some great candidates. One of the most iconic images of the Helix Nebula, made by Hubble. POT The reason is not so much because of the nebula itself, it is that the difference in sensitivity and sharpness is abysmal compared to the veteran Hubble and the retired Spitzer, as you can see in this video. The key is the size of their “eye” (the mirror) and the type of light they detect. Thus, while Hubble observes mainly in the visible and ultraviolet, with a 2.4-meter mirror, Spitzer was a pioneer of the infrared with a much smaller mirror, 0.85 meters, which limited its resolution. The James Webb combines the best of both approaches: with a 6.5-meter mirror and extraordinary infrared sensitivity, it achieves unprecedented resolution in that range of the spectrum and is capable of passing through interstellar dust. In image quality it plays in another league. The Webb Space Telescope photographs the Helix Nebula in spectacular detail The correct term to refer to this nebula is “planetary nebula”, which does not clarify very well what we have in front of us: they are not formed from planets, but from stars like the Sun. When their life is running out, these stars emit large amounts of gas in an envelope that expands in a grandiose but “brief” phenomenon (in cosmo, not terrestrial units). It is, in a nutshell, like glimpse the possible final destiny of the Sun and our planetary system. This new image highlights comet-like knots, strong stellar winds, and layers of gas released by a dying star as it interacts with its environment. Image: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI; Image processing: Alyssa Pagan (STScI) The image obtained with Webb’s NIRCam (Near Infrared Camera) that you see just above shows a kind of pillars that look like comets with elongated tails, tracing the circumference of the internal region of an expanding gas envelope, explains NASA. The image shows “scorching winds of hot, fast-moving gas from the dying star colliding with slower, cooler layers of dust and gas ejected earlier in its life, sculpting the nebula’s extraordinary structure.” Webb’s near-infrared vision highlights these knots against the ethereal image from NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, and thanks to the higher resolution, the focus is much sharper than ever. Additionally, this infrared vision makes it possible to clearly visualize the transition between the hotter and colder gas as the envelope expands. The Helix Nebula from the Visible and Infrared Telescope for Astronomy located on Earth (left) in front of Webb’s field of view (right). Image: ESO, VISTA, NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, J. Emerson (ESO); Acknowledgment: CASU Outside the Webb’s frame, you can see the white dwarf in the center of the nebula (its nucleus), which emits very strong radiation. This energy works like a kind of flashlight that illuminates the surrounding gas in different chromatic layers depending on the temperature: the blue area is the closest and hottest, the coldest is red at the edge, where the gas mixes with dust. In the middle, the intermediate area in yellow, where atoms begin to join together to form molecules. The most striking thing on a technical level is that to date, Spitzer images only hinted at the formation of these molecules, but the resolution of the Webb allows us to see precisely those dark and protected “pockets” between the bright orange and red tones: it is where complex molecules are being manufactured. This interaction is essential insofar as it constitutes the raw material from which some day new planets could form in other star systems. In Xataka | NASA has published 96 fantastic posters of the universe that you can download for free in HD In Xataka | The first images from NASA’s new satellite offer us a completely different view of the oceans Images | POT

Europe’s passenger car industry, in a revealing map that makes it clear who is the real “engine” of the EU

by

Even though it is submerged in a deep crisis of competitivenessIt’s no secret that The automobile industry is one of the driving forces of the European Union. Thus, it is responsible for 8% of its GDP (figures collected by CCOO) and employs 13,000 million people, including direct and indirect jobs. Of course, the EU is large and the distribution of its factories presents enormous divergence. Although there are things that don’t change. The European Automobile Manufacturers Association has an interactive map which is quite good to see what the distribution is like quantitatively, insofar as it shows even the few electric battery plants on the old continent, but if you are more interested in the qualitative and only passenger cars, there is a clearer map: that of World Wide Mobility. And beyond a barrage of concentrated icons that are difficult to distinguishshows in general terms the main brands that are produced or assembled there, production volumes and the percentage they represent of the total. Which countries are the engine of Europe in the automobile industry The data on the map dates back to 2024 and shows a figure of 11.4 million passenger cars manufactured in the European Union, which are essentially concentrated in three states in a non-uniform manner: Germany, Spain and the Czech Republic. World Wide Mobility Germany, 12 points. The leading country in the old continent when it comes to motors is, of course, Germany: it is not only the largest producer by volume with more than four million passenger cars and a 35.7% share, but also the one with the densest network of high-tech factories. Own brands stand out such as Volkswagen and its five factories that include the headquarters in Wolfsburg, BMW with four factories, the three of Mercedes – Benz or the two of Audi, Porsche or Opel (Stellantis). But it also has plants from foreign companies, such as Tesla in Grünheide (Berlin) or the North American Ford in Cologne. Much lower but still outstanding silver is Spainwith a share of 16.4% and almost two million cars assembled in the state. With the high efficiency per flag (in the words of the Spanish Minister of IndustryJordi Hereu), has fewer of its own brands but in exchange it is the nerve center for foreign groups. Thus, in addition to Martorell’s own SEAT/Cupra, legendary highlights include the Volkswagen factory in Landaben in Navarra, Stellantis distributed in three plants, both of which are Renault, Ford in Almussafes, and the Mercedes-Benz manufacturing plant in Alava. And be careful because it does not take into account the reactivation of the old Nissan factory for Chery/Ebro EV, already operational. Third place belongs to the Czech Republic with 12.7% and almost 1.5 million passenger cars, which together with Slovakia (fourth with 8.7% and almost a million cars) form “the Detroit of Central Europe“. A bronze achieved thanks to the importance of Škoda and the growing impact of Hyundai and Toyota. In fact, Slovakia It has the highest car production per capita on the planet: over there Large SUVs in the most premium segment are manufactured of the Volkswagen group in its factory in Bratislava, but it also houses manufactures of Kia, Stellantis or Jaguar and Land Rover. Romania and Hungary below demonstrate a reality: the strength of the Central European axis in this industry. France deserves special mentiona country with historically mythical brands that have been relocating production, but which still houses five plants of the Stellantis group and four of Renault, as well as foreign brands such as Fiat. And if we go to luxury, Italy and Sweden appear on the map, with high-end brands such as Ferrari, Lamborghini, Koenigsegg or Volvo, although their figures are lower. In Xataka | There is a Europe that is suffocating to pay for housing and another that lives in peace. And this map shows the differences In Xataka | All the car plants in Europe (including the few battery-electric ones), on a map Cover | World Wide Mobility

Most people take creatine for the gym. It is actually really useful against insomnia.

by

for a long time Creatine has been seen as a supplement intended for people who go to the gym to have a good muscle. However, this is changing completely to recommend that anyone take creatine for the many benefits of taking creatine to improve cognitive functions for example. Now, it is also being seen that it has a great component for the quality of life in people who suffer insomnia. Sleep deprivation. The human brain represents only 2% of body weight, but consumes 20% of our body’s total energy. The main cfuel it has is ATPthe currency we use, and its ability to quickly resynthesize it determines our mental agility. But when there is sleep deprivation, energy levels drop and with it attention, memory and mood. This is where creatine comes in, as a large study published in Nature in the year 2024which changed what we knew about acute creatine supplementation in anyone. In this case, the researchers demonstrated that a single high dose of creatine is capable of reversing the cognitive deficit caused by little sleep. The results. Specifically, after 21 hours of wakefulness, the subjects showed a significant improvement in processing speed and working memory from taking creatine. Furthermore, one of the effects of stopping sleep is brain acidification. In this case, creatine acts as a buffer, preventing drops in pH and positively altering the relationship between key metabolites such as phosphocreatine and inorganic phosphate. A discovery that complements the classic 2006 study which already indicated that doses of 20 grams a day for a week mitigated the deterioration in prefrontal cortex tasks and improved mood and balance after 24 hours without sleep. Neuroprotection. As we age, the efficiency of cellular energy production decreases, which is why science is focusing on creatine as an agent. anti aging powerful. Something that is especially focused on women who are in perimenopause and postmenopause, where the protective effect of estrogens has been lost. Of course, there is an important change in the dosage, since while the standard dose is 3-5 g, women over 40 may need between 8 and 10 g/day to see notable improvements in cognitive function and mitigation of hormonal “brain fog.” Furthermore, in women, in addition to improving cognition, there is also an improvement in the quality of muscle mass, which is a critical factor for longevity. Older adults. A systematic review of 2025 and ESCEO studies directly associate creatine consumption with better cognitive health in adults over 60 years of age. In this case, creatine appears to compensate for the natural reduction of phosphocreatine stores in the aging brain, improving sustained attention and reducing mental fatigue. The new paradigm. In this way, science is advancing to see that creatine is not just a matter of gaining muscle, since the brain is also a great consumer of this energy. The reality we have on the table is that creatine is one of the compounds most tested in humans, with an excellent safety profile even at high doses. But in addition to all this, it is also the property that working memory has, since it is undoubtedly the most tangible benefit that we can have in the case of doing complex tasks that require great mental effort under very adverse conditions. Images | HowToGym Sander Sammy In Xataka | We have been obsessed with Japan for decades to understand people who live over 100 years. The key was in Brazil

There are people obsessed with consuming magnesium as a supplement when the best way is to put it in your diet

by

We live in the era of biological optimization, where The strange thing without a doubt is not taking dietary supplements from the supermarket such as magnesium, collagen, calcium, various vitamins… Magnesium in particular is sold as an almost magical way of sleep betterreduce anxiety and recover muscle. But the truth is that we are forgetting the most important thing: We have all this in food. The reminder. With so many food supplements (which often do not come cheap), sometimes we forget that we have these nutrients in the supermarket in different presentations. This is something in which Doctor Federica AmatiChief Nutritionist at ZOE Science & Nutrition, has put its finger on the sore spot of the supplement industry: For the vast majority of the population, there are plenty of pills and no food. Why magnesium matters. There is an obsession with taking this mineral, and the reality is that it makes sense because its functions are critical for our body to function correctly. Its fundamental role in many metabolic reactions of the body makes it essential for human survival, since without magnesium we would literally be extinct. And it is no wonder, because beyond being used to prevent cramps, it has important functions in energy production, DNA synthesis, metabolic control such as glucose levels, and also structural function by allowing bone to develop. Given its importance, the consumer logic seems simple: “If it’s so important, the more you take, the better”. But this is where science has to put the brakes on because a large amount does not always equal better performance. The best foods. One of the positions that we can have on the table right now is that magnesium supplements (and even others) are not necessary, unless it is known that there is a deficit. All this because it has a big problem: they are isolated. The problem with supplements is that they are isolated. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) emphasizes that the food matrix It is irreplaceable. When you get magnesium from an almond or spinach, you’re not just ingesting the mineral, you’re getting fiber, phytochemicals, and other micronutrients that work together and that no pill can fully replicate. The daily doses. The official recommendations today indicate that the minimum levels of magnesium They are not unattainablesince for adult men between 400 and 420 mg per day are needed, while for women between 310 to 320 mg per day is sufficient. Low figures mean that they cannot be easily achieved with food by adjusting the shopping list without going to the pharmacy. Where can it be found. If the goal is to reach 400 mg daily, the strategy is not to look for supplemented foods, but to go back to the basics. In this case, science points because the food where we have the greatest amount of magnesium are seeds and nuts, where we find almonds, cashews and especially pumpkin and chia seeds. But in addition, it should also be noted that green leafy vegetables such as spinach or chard have chlorophyll in their composition, which also acts as a highly coveted magnesium reserve. All this without forgetting legumes and whole grains. Who needs supplements. Logically, they have a site, but it is by no means a universal recommendation for everyone who may have their requirements met with the diet. According to the ODS, there are different groups of people who may require this supplementation (under medical supervision). These are the following: Gastrointestinal disease such as celiac disease where nutrient absorption is compromised. Type 2 diabetes, since its pathophysiology causes a decrease in magnesium. Chronic alcohol consumption. Elderly people where absorption is naturally decreased. In these specific cases, the evidence indicates that supplementation can help improve parameters such as sleep quality or anxiety, but because they have an absorption problem. A previous visit to the doctor. Before starting supplementation of any type, it is best to go to your primary care doctor to verify in a blood test the nutritional deficiencies that you want to counteract. And our body does not store these minerals, meaning that anything taken in excess has no effect whatsoever. In Xataka | Which dietary supplements really work and which don’t, in a great graph

On the surface, the AI ​​talent war is about engineers and developers. It’s actually about plumbers and electricians.

by

In recent months we have seen how some of the big big tech companies are opening their portfolio to hire the best AI talents: among the most voracious is goalbut the arrival of Jony Ive to OpenAI It was a flash signing. They may not have the resume of the former design director or make as many headlines, but the AI ​​talent war is also being played in another league: that of blue-collar technicians, such as the CEO of NVIDIA already predicted months ago and more recently, at the World Economic Forum from Davos. (Another) bottleneck for AI. Because for ChatGPT to have a new model or Nano Banana to level up, data centers are needed. And at the same time, huge quantities of electricity supplied by energy plants. We have already seen that data centers are proliferating like mushrooms (or at least, their planning, materializing them is another more arduous and slow story which leads some companies to consider ride them in space). So there are big tech that are being becoming energetic. But to assemble and maintain everything, you need electricians, plumbers or air conditioning technicians. And there are precisely not a few: the union that represents electricians in the United States and Canada mentions in a blog post of specific data center projects that can quadruple the current number of its members. Blue collar technicians wanted. The problem is that they are scarce: according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statisticsbetween now and 2034 there will be an average shortage of 81,000 electricians per year. Furthermore, demand in the next decade will increase by 9%, well above average. According to this McKinsey studyBy 2030, the United States will require 130,000 more electricians and 240,000 construction workers. The absence of professionals such as bricklayers, welders or plumbers also occurs in Europe, as collect the latest report of the European Employment Service. In Spain at the moment takes its toll on housing construction. There is no one to inherit the workshop anymore. Wired picks statements by the economist responsible for the American Builders Association, Anirban Basu, who tells how in the past workers passed on their skills to their offspring, but now they are encouraged to pursue university studies. The problem is that baby boomers are retiring, leaving a void that no one is filling. Dan Quinonez, its counterpart in the plumbing sector, comes to say the same: They are doing everything possible, but it is a structural problem that has no immediate solution. Data centers are not places for newbies. On the other hand, data centers are not just any job and it is not only because of the technical requirements, but because the deadlines are tight, leaving little room for delays or errors. This is crucial as it is normal for apprentices to be trained on the job. Incorporating workers quickly and safely is a challenge, as David Long tells of the National Association of Electrical Contractors. What Big Tech are doing. This reality does not go unnoticed by big technology companies and Google has already gone ahead: last spring advertisement that would make a financial injection to the Electrical Training Alliance, an organization that trains electricians with the goal of improving the skills of 100,000 active electricians and training 30,000 before 2030. The point is that AI also competes with other sectors: housing, hospitals, industries… the competition is fierce. But the companies behind it have an ace up their sleeve: those demands and tight deadlines usually translate into higher salaries and more overtime. As Charles White tells of the Association of Plumbing Contractors, this causes union workers to change companies in search of better conditions. Without going any further, Jensen Huang prediction offers with six-figure salaries. How long will the boom last? The installation of a data center is a finite project in time that, once completed, is limited to maintaining a small permanent maintenance team. Likewise, and although we are in a phase of AI expansion with enormous potential, sooner or later it will lose steam. At that time, we will see what will happen: of course, taking into account the needs in other sectors and the hole that the retiring generations are leaving, it seems that it will not cost them much to find another job. In Xataka | Spain is becoming a true Mecca for data centers. Uruguay has some lessons in this regard In Xataka | 30,000 jobs and many doubts. What we know (and what we don’t) about the Valencian “data valley” Cover | Sammyayot254, Jimmy Nilsson Masth and Xpda chaddavis.photography

There are people so against sleeping that they have even made caffeine patches. It’s a bad idea

by

If the 90s were the decade of nicotine patches to save the lungs and the 2000s that of transdermal contraceptives, 2026 has given birth to a different and more revealing obsession: wellness patchmania. If we thought we had seen it all in the universe of digital self-care —tapes to cover the mouth and sleep better, stickers to lose weight effortlessly or nighttime facial bandages that promise wake up with botox effect— the last frontier is here: patches to have energy, concentrate more or sleep better or reduce appetite. Simply peel off a small sticker, adhere it to your skin, and trust it to do its job. The so-called wellness patches or wellness patches are transdermal adhesives that promise to release active substances through the skin for several hours. As brands explain and advertising campaigns, allow you to avoid pills, bypass digestion and offer a slow and constant release of ingredients such as caffeine, berberine, B vitamins, melatonin, magnesium or plant extracts such as ashwagandha. According to The Guardianit is a market that is increasingly saturated with products that promise to treat “the most common symptoms of everyday life”: fatigue, stress, lack of sleep, menstrual discomfort or low mood. Many of these patches are sold in bright colors and designs designed not only to be worn, but to be seen. Well-being stops being something intimate and becomes a visible sign. The phenomenon is not new in medicine: nicotine patches, contraceptives or some hormonal treatments have been used for decades with proven effectiveness. The difference, As several experts point outis that these medical patches work because the molecules they release are suitable for passing through the skin and because they have passed rigorous clinical trials. In the world of wellness, that requirement disappears. An increasingly tired society The appeal of these products lies more in their aesthetics and comfort than in their effectiveness. In other words, there is no need to swallow a pill, prepare a drink or change routines: just stick something to your skin. As pointed out in The Atlanticpatches fit perfectly into a culture obsessed with constant self-optimization and hack vital. Furthermore, by being visible, they turn the user into a brand ambassador: they generate conversation, social validation and the feeling of doing something for their own health. However, the scientific consensus is quite clear. As Michelle Spear explainsProfessor of Anatomy at the University of Bristol, the skin is not designed to absorb substances, but to block them. Its outer layer, the stratum corneum, acts as a wall formed by dead cells and lipids that prevents the passage of most compounds. Only some very specific molecules can pass through it easily: small, fat-soluble and without an electrical charge. Nicotine or estradiol meet these conditions. Many of the substances present in wellness patches such as vitamin B12, minerals such as magnesium or iron, or plant compounds such as berberine are too large or water-soluble to pass through the skin in significant quantities. In other words, if a substance requires high oral doses or even injections to be effective, the probability that a sticker will be able to deliver it in a useful way is very low. Added to this is the lack of independent studies that show that these patches can correct real deficiencies or treat health problems. The problem of “feeling better” Immunologist John Tregoning suggests a key question: How do you measure whether something works when the effect is “feeling better”? Tiredness, stress or concentration are deeply subjective experiences, influenced by multiple variables. Sleeping more, changing routines, eating better or simply believing that something will work can alter perception. Beyond the lack of effectiveness, experts warn of possible side effects. From the British environment have collected cases of dizziness and feeling of weakness after using patches with berberine. Added to this are skin irritations, allergic reactions and a false sense of security that can delay seeking medical attention. When the patch is no longer harmless. Caffeine patches are promoted as a gentler alternative to coffee or energy drinks. However, testimonies collected in different media they mention nervousness, difficulty sleeping or feeling overstimulated. The problem is not just the caffeine, but the inability to control the dose: unlike a drink, the patch continues to release it for hours, even when the body no longer needs it. Berberine poses a different problem. These patches are marketed as appetite suppressants or metabolism accelerators, and have even been compared – without scientific basis – to drugs such as Ozempic. The experts remember that there is no solid evidence berberine can be absorbed effectively through the skin or cause significant weight loss. Furthermore, these products are becoming popular in a context of the return of aesthetic pressure and the obsession with thinness, especially among young women. The risk is not only physiological, but cultural: presenting hunger control as something that can be turned off with a sticker reinforces an instrumental and problematic relationship with the body. The patch as a cultural symptom The underlying question cuts across all sources: why do we look for such simple solutions? As Deborah Cohen points outwe are medicalizing normal life experiences. Sleeping poorly, being tired or losing concentration are not always pathologies; Many times they are logical responses to a demanding, hyperconnected and poorly rested environment. However, we live in a culture that prefers shortcuts to rethinking. It is easier to put on a patch than to review schedules, workloads, expectations or rest habits. These products do not promise to change life, but to make it more bearable without questioning it. They function, in that sense, more as a cultural pain reliever than as a health tool. Most experts agree thatif a patch makes someone feel better and does not cause harm, its occasional use is not necessarily dangerous. The problem arises when they are presented as real solutions to complex problems or when they replace basic habits such as sleeping, resting, eating well or consulting a health professional. Perhaps the success of caffeine and berberine … Read more

Europe seeks sovereignty in rare earths: the first step to achieve it is a megamine in Sweden

by

In world geopolitics, having oil, gas or rare earths (let us remember that They are neither earth nor are they rare) is the equivalent of starting a game of mus with several kings in hand. And if we talk about rare earths, this map of the world’s (known) reservesIt shows that China has the best possible hand. Finding rare earths in your territory is very good, then you have to know how to extract them and create an industry around them. This is neither easy nor quick nor cheap. The good news is that the European Union could cover 18% of its lanthanide needs. The not so good thing is that first he has to launch a megaproject: the Per Geijer supermine, in Kiruna (Sweden). Per Geijer has never been just any mine. In fact, it is the underground iron mine largest in the world (the underground surname is important in that the Brazilian Carajás Complex produces more but in the open pit and the Australian Hamersley Ranges has a larger deposit) and also the most ambitious and complex metal mining project that the European Union has faced in decades. The mine is operated by the state through the public company Luossavaara-Kiirunavaara Aktiebolag (LKAB). That it has rare earths makes it special, but how they are present is also particular: it is not a pure lanthanide mine, but a high-grade iron deposit with significant concentrations of phosphorus and rare earth oxides. How much? Early 2026 LKAB estimates 2.2 million tons of rare earth oxides, more than double what I thought about 2023. Mine in Kiruna. LKAB Why is it important. As noted in the intro, because China processes about 90% of the world’s rare earths and taking into account the mine’s estimates, if these rare earths could be extracted for use, the European Union could cover 18% of its needs. according to LKAB estimates. Own resources instead of having to buy them, which leads to dependencies on third parties, market fluctuations and diplomacy. In mining, the time between discovery and the first ton of commercial around between 15 and 20 years old. But the European Union has considered it as a strategic project, so it is on the “fast track” thanks to the Critical Raw Materials Law (CRMA). In Xataka The rare earth war has reached Spain. And it is in Ciudad Real where mining and ecology are in conflict under the microscope. The presence of these oxides in a high-grade iron mine like Per Geijer hides a couple of aces up its sleeve: processing synergy and phosphorus, another strategic element (but less so). And the cost of extracting rare earths is more profitable when there is already an operation to extract iron. On the other hand, these lanthanides are trapped in apatite, which is essentially calcium phosphate. Through magnetic separations for iron and chemicals, two high-value products emerge: one is the rare earth concentrate and the other is phosphoric acid, essential for fertilizers. {“videoId”:”x8wlh9q”,”autoplay”:true,”title”:”United States vs. China: The CHIPS WAR”, “tag”:”webedia-prod”, “duration”:”1611″} The northern triangle. Although the site is located in Kiruna, the project is actually an industrial ecosystem made up of three points: Kiruna for extraction, Malmberget for concentration and Luleå is in charge of separation. Thus, the Kiruna deposit provides the mineral from a new deposit of iron, phosphorus and rare earths discovered next to the current mine, about 700 meters away. Malmberget provides the volume of rare earths from the already operational iron mine from apatite waste and also from what will be extracted. Finally, Luleå provides chemical technology with a processing center in charge of separating the rare earths from the rest using hydrometallurgical technology. The schedule until it is operational. Although the normal thing would be to have to wait almost 20 years, we have already seen that the EU has stepped on the accelerator. Tunnels are currently being built to connect the current Kiruna iron mine with the new deposit. In 2026, Malmberget plans to have permits to open a new plant to treat apatite, and the Luleå plant is expected to be operational by the end of this year. However, for the large-scale commercial plant to be commercialized, estimates point to the 2030s due to the series of permits and environmental evaluations that must be successfully passed. It won’t be easy. Despite the importance of rare earths in the EU plans and the apparent profitability of the process, the megaproject faces several challenges beyond the technical and the inherent waste generated. Without going any further, the city of Kiruna itself is sinking and its citizens have to move, literally, building by building, to allow mining expansion, as picks up CNBC. Furthermore, there is conflict with the indigenous Sami peoplesince the site is located on reindeer grazing routes. In Xataka | Spain has a plan to become a rare earth powerhouse and stop depending on China: you will recycle In Xataka | Europe wants to be competitive in the rare earths market. Its enemies are old acquaintances: China and Europe itself Cover | LKAB (function() { window._JS_MODULES = window._JS_MODULES || {}; var headElement = document.getElementsByTagName(‘head’)(0); if (_JS_MODULES.instagram) { var instagramScript = document.createElement(‘script’); instagramScript.src=”https://platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js”; instagramScript.async = true; instagramScript.defer = true; headElement.appendChild(instagramScript); – The news Europe seeks sovereignty in rare earths: the first step to achieve it is a megamine in Sweden was originally published in Xataka by Eva R. de Luis .

The most famous bridge in the US recorded more than 2,000 suicides. Until in 2024 they found an “invisible” solution

by

When the golden gate Opened almost a century ago, it was celebrated as an architectural triumph of engineering and modernity. It happens that the history of many of the great works has had a second reading. Sometimes they have failed due to technical problemsand others have ended up marked by uses that no one foresaw. Over time, a bridge can become something very different from what its plans imagined. The bridge and its dark history. The Golden Gate Bridge, inaugurated in 1937 between San Francisco Bay and the Pacific, has been for decades one of the places most associated to suicide in the United Stateswith a rate of more than 2,000 jumps confirmed and a real figure surely higher because not all cases are seen nor all bodies are recovered. In 2006 there was one of the worst years, with at least 34 deathsand that was also the turning point in which relatives of victims, as Paul Mullerdecided that it was unacceptable to continue living with that routine of tragedies without a physical and effective response on the bridge itself. The barrier that changed destiny. The solution ended up being a deterrent system “invisible” installed along both sides of the bridge, one based on stainless steel cables of marine grade placed about six meters below the pedestrian walkways. It is not something that can be seen from afar or from normal traffic, but it is evident to those who look over the edge. The idea is simple and tremendous at the same time: if someone tries to jump, they fall on that structure, are injured or shocked, and the possibility of completing the fatal fall into the water is cut off. The barrier created to prevent suicides The effectiveness of the new impact. For many years the Golden Gate recorded an average of about 30 deaths annuallya figure that seemed entrenched and almost impossible to break. However, in 2024, with the facility entering its final phase and with adjustments still underway, the deaths they went down to eight. Last year, in 2025 and with the system already operating for twelve months, there were only four and there were no falls between June and December, a stretch that could be one of the longest without suicides on the bridge, although old records are not always complete. By the way, from the beginning of 2026 there is already a casewhich reminds us that there is no such thing as zero risk. That said, the general decline is so evident that even its promoters see it as clear proof of effectiveness and a mirror for the rest of the hanging architectures. Surveillance and intervention. The barrier does not act alone, because the bridge maintains an electronic surveillance system and a team of agents whose task is to detect and stop attempts before they occur. In the last year, 94 successful interventions were achieved, about half of what was normal before full installation, suggesting that the problem does not disappear suddenly. In fact, there are still people who come with the idea of ​​jumping, but now the margin of action is greater and death is no longer as immediate or as certain as it was for decades. Installation of anti-suicide barriers, February 2020 Against inertia and cost. The truth is that the installation of the barrier came after a very long road full of political blocks, doubts about aesthetics, discussions about price and debates about if it would really work. Already in 1939 it was recommended to raise the railings, but for decades measures were avoided while the death count rose from 500 to 1,000 and it continued to grow with chilling regularity. The organized pressure from family and professionals ended up crystallizing at the Bridge Rail Foundationand after years of paperwork the work started in 2018. The project also became very expensive, going from an estimate of 76 million dollars to a final cost of 224 million dollarsand even took longer to install than the bridge itself to build. The “invisible” barrier Why it saves lives. One of the central ideas is that reducing easy access to a lethal method works, even if it sounds too simple. A 1978 study by Richard Seiden, at the University of California at Berkeley, followed 515 people who had gone to the Golden Gate with the intention of jumping and were deterred, and concluded that 94% were still alive or had died of natural causes. This reinforces the idea that many suicidal crises are acute and not permanent, and that placing a specific obstacle at the exact moment can make the difference between dying and surviving. Bridges and the same problem. There is no doubt, the Golden Gate incident was not an isolated case, and there are other iconic bridges that have ended up with a similar reputation by becoming recurring scenes of suicides. In the United States, the royal gorge bridge next to Hoover Dam, or the Chesapeake Bay Bridgethey have had known histories and episodes that have fueled debates about surveillance and barriers. In Canada, the Bloor Viaduct in Toronto was for years one of the most problematic points until it was installed a great prevention structureand something similar happened in the United Kingdom with the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol, where the combination of height, accessibility and symbolism forced action and reinforce early intervention. Also in Australia, the Sydney Harbor Bridge has been targeted of concern and initiatives preventive, and in Europe there are numerous cases on urban bridges and high-rise viaducts that share the same pattern: very busy and at the same time very exposed. The same idea is repeated in all of them, when a bridge becomes a known point, it is not just a problem of physical security, it is a social phenomenon that feeds on itself, and the more famous it is, the more important it becomes to cut that inertia before it becomes part of your identity. The legacy. The Golden Gate had been in operation for decades … Read more

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.