Mobile Tech & Gadgets

This is the DGT map to visualize where there are active V16 beacons in Spain. There is another more useful unofficial map

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We are in 2026 and that means goodbye (or not) of the signal triangles in favor of the beacons v16 to signal accidents or breakdowns on the road. Don’t you take it? Well fine of 80 eurosalthough these first days Pere Navarro assured that “they would be flexible“(sic). In addition to avoiding accidents, the great advantage of the V16 beacons is their connectivity: it is true that It’s half-connectedness.but it does allow the DGT to notify the vehicles with signal V-27 and the rest of the drivers through light panels. And an interactive map to accurately geolocate the V16 beacons active in the state. The DGT traffic map also shows the beacons. Go ahead that the officer It is much more than the map where we can see these luminous devices: we can visualize closed roads, detours, landslides and meteorological events such as low visibility due to fog, accidents or stopped vehicles. Precisely here the beacons would come in, marked in the legend of the map with the danger traffic sign. However, if we tap on the ‘Filters’ area (the button with the three stripes in the upper right corner) you can alleviate the display a little. DGT traffic map As you can see below these lines, when you touch the icon, information appears such as the cause (by default the vehicle appears stopped), which road and direction it is on, the orientation, since when the notification has been operational, the province and the municipality. It is worth remembering that the data is anonymous as long as the DGT only receives the location of the stopped vehicle and not the identity of the occupant or other personal data such as the license plate or policy data. Beyond zooming, selecting areas or screening, this is what the DGT map allows you to create. You just have to activate it. To see your V16 beacon on the map, simply touch the button so that the signal is sent to DGT 3.0 platform: The function is technical and automatic, transmitting data such as the device ID, its GPS coordinates, the exact time of activation and the status, but not the cause (it could be a puncture, a mechanical breakdown, you have run out of fuel, an accident). The person who categorizes the cause of the incident is the roadside assistance operator, such as the tow truck, with the signal V-24 and the obligation to inform the DGT when they arrive at a service and what type of incident they are attending to. A reminder: you can fine up to 30,000 euros for a false positive, that is, activating the beacon as a test and leaving it activated for more than 100 seconds. The unofficial map of the beacons If you just want to see the beacons, there is another map. The data collected by the DGT 3.0 platform is public through the DGT 3.0 API. So the cybersecurity engineer Hector Julián Alijas has created a specific map for the beacons with some extra advantages from public data and official sources, such as explains in their FAQ. This beaconmapv16 displays all devices that are currently or recently active, regardless of beacon manufacturer and operator. The map shows active beacons in yellow and those that have recently been operational in dark, updating periodically to report changes in the status of the beacons and the activation of new units (you can check the latest update in a message located in the upper area). As with the DGT map, you can tap on the beacon icon to see information related to that device. The information provided by this alternative map is exactly the same, but it has an extra that can be useful if you want to go there: the possibility of sharing it with a GPS navigator such as Waze, Google Maps or Apple Maps. I want to see the beacons on Google Maps and Waze. GPS navigators do not offer the option of viewing activated beacons on the road per sebut they do warn of incidents on the road such as stopped cars or accidents. The DGT 3.0 platform itself explains that: “It facilitates the interconnection of all the actors that are part of the mobility ecosystem. Vehicle manufacturers, navigation service providers, mobility applications, city councils, public transport platforms, fleet management systems, etc.” Furthermore, both Google (behind Maps and Waze) and Apple uses information from the authoritiesso technically they can do it. And it has a great advantage: ruling out false incidents, which may be reported by mistake or intentionally, and which can later be verified through the platform. In Xataka | From today, connected V-16 beacons are mandatory in Spain: what should be clear between controversies and doubts about the rule In Xataka | The DGT’s great plan does not end with the V16 beacons: it wants to connect all traffic as they already do in China Cover | DGT and V16 Beacons Map Hector Julián Alijas

Someone stole 56 million liters of water during the last 18 months in Murcia. It’s just the tip of the iceberg

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A pendulum and a couple of wooden sticks are the only tools that dowsers need to, supposedlydetect the magnetic flows of water currents to find underground water. Actually, a dowser is not much use, but it is the name with which SEPRONA baptized a surveillance cycle to catch the water thieves. One of the last cases It is that of the 50 million liters looted by two businessmen in a period of 18 months. But it is neither an isolated case nor something that shows signs of stopping. Louvres. One of the latest SEPRONA operations have taken place in Puerto Lumbreras, in the Region of Murcia, where agents have opened proceedings against two businessmen as alleged perpetrators of a crime against natural resources and the environment. It is estimated that they carried out well exploitation activities for decades, but to be specific, in the last 18 months alone, 56 million liters of groundwater were allegedly stolen. Those investigated used a clandestine well without a volumetric meter that was hidden in one of the companies and was not water that they used to irrigate their own crops (something that is usually common in this type of activity), but to sell. Pirate hydrological. They were capable of extracting more than 100,000 liters a day, which they sold and distributed through their own tanker trucks. Its use? Intensive livestock pig farms. Sale to other companies. Sale to individuals for filling swimming pools. Fine or “operational cost”? SEPRONA began the investigation after a complaint signed by 128 residents of Zarzalico who detected an illegal pipeline of several kilometers built to supply feedlots, and it is estimated that the two businessmen invoiced about 275,000 euros during the 18 months already mentioned. The curious thing about the matter is that, as we say, it has only been investigated for a year and a half, so the figure could be astronomical if the estimate that the activity was carried out for decades is true. Water theft is not something new, far from it, and in fact there are studies which suggest that, for more than a century, it was a practice that occurred in the Spanish southeast. It makes complete sense if we take into account that the area, with Almería or Murcia, being the “orchard of Europe”, is not exactly in which the most rainfall is recordedbut where it is most needed for the cultivation of fruits and vegetables. In fact, this is called “virtual water” that these areas export in tomatoes, lettuce or avocados. This theft of water has been taken as a “survival mechanism”, something necessary to maintain activity during droughts, and there is also studies which point out that the administrative fines received by those who commit the infraction are lower than the economic benefit obtained from the stolen water. Illegal wells in southern Spain in the Andalusia region Devastating. The problem is that the accounts don’t add up where it matters most: in nature. The systematic depletion of aquifers due to illegal well activities has led to the depletion of some of the most important wetlands in our geography. Doñana is the clear examplero, since the national park has been, and is being, drained by hundreds of illegal wells for cultivation. But you don’t have to go far from Puerto Lumbreras to see the effects, and the Mar Menor is another example. Fresh underground water is looted and, sometimes, used to irrigate agricultural fields in which nitrate fertilizers are used that, due to runoff, filter into the soil or end up directly in the sea. This causes the water to have less oxygen than it should, and when it ends up in the lagoon, the fish die from anoxia. Add and continue. Unfortunately, as we say, it is not even a problem new… neither isolated. These last years We have been talking about dozens of people investigated, detained and convicted. The Malaga water company, in fact, has even hired private detectives to monitor employees, suppliers and customers. According to WWFthere are more than 500,000 illegal wells in Spain, the benefits offset the administrative fines and fevers like avocado fever They don’t help at all. Images | Greenpeace, Niriho khoka In Xataka | Andalusia has become a hostile land for the avocado. So an unexpected region is taking over: Galicia

five top technology offers from El Corte Inglés that are about to end

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The first weekend of 2026 coincides with the days before Three Kings Day. It also coincides with the end of some outstanding promotions that we have had in recent weeks, all of them with the presence of important offers and bargains. One of the stores that ends promotion in a few days is The English Courtbut good news: We still have a few days left to take advantage of your discounts. As usual, we have offers for all tastes, needs and pockets. It is true that some have already disappeared, but there are still several that are very worth it. Below, we leave you five of them: Samsung Galaxy Book4 by 649 eurosa very interesting device for working or studying. Hisense 65A7Q QLED Smart TV by 499 eurosa TV with QLED technology and 65 inches. Star Wars LEGO by 52.49 eurosfrom the iconic logo of this space movie saga. PlayStation 5 console by 509.90 eurosin a pack that comes with the GOTY of 2024 and a Dragon Ball game. HP OmniBook 5 Laptop by 699 eurosa laptop that stands out for having good autonomy and an OLED screen. Samsung Galaxy Book4 The first of the offers stars this Galaxy Book 4, a lightweight laptop that is perfect for working or studying. It has an Intel Core 5 120U processor, as well as 16 GB of RAM and a 512 GB SSD. At the connectivity level, it more than meets the requirements with two USB-C ports, two USB-A, an HDMI, an RJ-45 port and even a microSD slot. All rounded off by a 15.6-inch SuperAMOLED screen with 1080p resolution. It is reduced to 649 euros. Samsung Galaxy Book4 NP750XGK-KG2ES laptop, Intel Core 5-120U, 16GB, 512GB SSD, 15.6″, W11 The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Hisense 65A7Q QLED Smart TV If we are looking for a television and prioritize quality-price ratio, look out for this 65A7Q from Hisense. This is a 65-inch model that uses QLED technologyso we can expect bright colors and a good level of contrast. It is compatible with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, in fact having a fairly complete sound system that even includes a subwoofer. Its price is very attractive: it costs 499 euros (also in amazonwhich equaled this price). Hisense – QLED TV 164 cm (65′) Hisense 65A7Q, UHD 4K, Smart TV. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Star Wars LEGO If we think about Star Wars, there are few things more iconic than its traditional logo with yellow letters. This LEGO set allows us to have it at home and assemble it ourselves, which is always a plus. It is made up of 700 pieces and even includes a small surprise at the top of one of its letters. It is reduced to 52.49 euros (also in amazonwhich equaled this price). LEGO – Construction Set 75407 Star Wars LEGO – 75407. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links PlayStation 5 console It may not be the most economical pack of PlayStation 5but it is still worth taking a look at this one that El Corte Inglés has right now. In addition to including the standard version of the console (which comes with a disc reader), it comes with two truly great games. One of them is the GOTY of 2024: ‘AstroBot‘, which is undoubtedly one of the best 3D platforms of recent years. The other, ‘Dragon Ball Sparking! Zero‘. The pack costs 509.90 euros. PlayStation 5 console + Dragon Ball Sparking Zero + Astro Bot The price could vary. We earn commission from these links HP OmniBook 5 Laptop We close with another laptop, in this case from HP. This is the OmniBook 5 16-bf0000ns, a device featuring the Snapdragon X chip (X1-26-100) and 16 GB of DDR5 RAM. In addition, it has 512 GB of SSD and a 16-inch screen that, in addition to using OLED technology, has 2K resolution. All taking into account that it barely weighs 1.57 kg, which makes it ideal for traveling with it. It is reduced to 699 euros (also in PcComponents). HP OmniBook 5 16-bf0000ns Copilot+PC Laptop, QC Snapdragon X1-26-100, 16GB, 512GB SSD, 16″ OLED, W11 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 | El Corte Inglés and Compradicción (header), Samsung, Hisense, LEGO, PlayStation, HP In Xataka | Best home theater projectors. Which one to buy and five recommended models from 299 to 18,000 euros In Xataka | Mega-guide to set up a home theater: projector, screen, sound system and more

Their lands are in the hands of only 421 landowners

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While the whole world watches how digital and financial power is concentrated in the hands of a handful of millionaires in Silicon Valley, Scotland stands out for something much more physical but which serves as an example that this concentration of power in a few hands has been happening for centuries: land. Only 421 owners control around the 50% of private rural land of the country. It is a figure that is difficult to find in other countries and makes Scotland practically unique in Europe. What is surprising is not only the concentration of land in a few hands, but its persistence. While much of the continent fragmented property after revolutions, agrarian reforms or wars, Scotland has reached the 21st century with a territorial structure that has barely changed in centuries, maintaining its feudal structure. An anomaly with historical roots. The key to this territorial anomaly is intrinsically linked to its history. Scotland never experienced a radical break with its system of large estates. The power of the tribal clans first and the landowning aristocracy later consolidated enormous areas under a single owner. When other European countries redistributed land among their citizens, in Scotland the right to property remained almost intact. The historical studies reveal that already at the end of the 19th century the land was concentrated in a few hands, and the arrival of the modern State did not substantially alter that map. The result is that Scotland enters the 21st century with a property map that appears frozen in time. A European rarity considered “exceptional”. Why wasn’t it distributed? The absence of a profound territorial reform was not accidental. Unlike France, Germany or the Nordic countries, there was no massive redistribution of the land when feudal privileges were abolished. One of the reasons that weighs most heavily in this “anomaly” is that in Scotland there was no revolution or civil war that promoted a social change and land ownership, as happened in Europe with the World Wars, with the French Revolution, with the different dictatorships. Thanks to this territorial calm, the United Kingdom avoided major agrarian redistributions and protected private property as a pillar of its economic and political system. From lords to billionaires. For centuries, the great owners were dukes and great lords of aristocratic families. Today the profile is more diverse but equally wealthy. Scotland has become a magnet for international millionaires, heirs to large fortunes, investment funds. The reason why has attracted so many millionaires It is simple: few regions in Europe offer such large areas of land and the legal stability with respect to territory that Scotland offers. This is the case of Danish businessman Anders Povlsen, fashion magnate at the head of brands such as Jack&Jones and one of the main investors in the online giant Zalando, which in recent years has become one of the largest private landowners in the United Kingdom. Along the same lines we find the billionaire heiress of the Lego empire who, according to published The Timeslittle by little has been acquiring huge plots in the Scottish Highlands. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, emir of Dubai, is also among the new landowners who is acquiring land in Scotland at a frenetic pace. He already has eight houses in that area Owning land is a sign of power. In the Middle Ages, owning land was a symbol of economic power since a productive benefit was obtained from the crops. Today, it also maintains that powerful status, although for different reasons. Whoever controls thousands of hectares of land influences housing development, in energy projectsin land use and in the future of entire communities. a study of the Scottish Land Commission warns that such extreme concentration of land in the hands of a few landowners can limit local democracy and slow rural development, as a few people make key decisions about huge territories and those who live in or around them. Reforms that advance slowly. The Scottish Government has attempted to correct this anomaly with new territorial reform laws. Transparency has been improved, public procurement has been facilitated and the introduction of “public interest” mechanisms for large urban plans is being debated. However, both analysts and British media agree that current tools are completely insufficient to substantially change the balance on Scotland’s land ownership map. Concentration remains the norm, not the exception. Instead of dividing, they regroup. The most paradoxical thing about this situation is that, despite the political debate, recent data They show a reconcentration driven by the new millionaires turned landowners, who are buying large tracts of land and their surroundings. That is, properties that already belonged to others are once again concentrated under a single owner. He follow-up carried out by former MP Andy Wightman reveals that most big land deals end up in the hands of those who were already big landowners. These operations are supported by a real estate market that works in their favor due to high prices, a low supply and buyers with great financial capacity. The high prices of farms make them inaccessible to local communities or farmers who cannot compete against the financial capacity of millionaires. The gentrification has arrived to the Scottish Highlands. In Xataka | In California, the funds discovered that there is no investment more profitable than farmland. Now it’s Spain’s turn Image | Unsplash (Toni Tan, Garvit Nama)

the three winners as electrification gains weight

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The closing of 2025 leaves more than just a registration figure. It leaves a market that is beginning to organize itself more clearly in the middle of the transition, with electrification gaining weight. With the aggregated data in hand and without going into readings that the sources do not allow, there is a podium that clearly imposes itself on the Spanish market and that helps to understand how it is being reconfigured. The manufacturers podium. With the year closed, the podium by brands is defined. Toyota led 2025 with 96,290 registrations, followed by Renault with 83,308 and Volkswagen with 76,545. It is not a minor detail, because this leadership occurs in a market that is growing and, at the same time, transforming. Monthly behavior provides an interesting perspective. After two consecutive months exceeding pre-pandemic benchmarks, December broke that dynamic with a year-on-year decrease of 2.2%, to 103,012 units, and the employers’ associations point out that this decline was influenced by the fact that in the same month of 2024 DANA increased vehicle sales in Valencia. It should be noted that in the accumulated annual period, registrations grew by 12.9% to 1,148,650 units, still below the 1.26 million in 2019, and the private channel was the most dynamic, with 539,642 units (+18.1%), ahead of companies (418,574, +12%) and rental companies (190,434, +2.3%). Electrification accelerates. The most striking leap of the year is in electrified passenger cars. BEV+PHEVs grew by 94.6% in 2025, up to 225,617 units, an unprecedented figure in a single year. In parallel, pure electric vehicles exceeded 100,000 sales in the year and plug-in hybrids reached 124,000 units, 111.7% more. Even with the market far from being mostly electric, the change is already big enough to begin to influence the general distribution. We must keep in mind that this advance coexists, however, with a market still dominated by non-pluggable technologies. In the annual summary by energy sources, hybrid and plug-in hybrid passenger cars accounted for more than 50% of the market, with 483,000 units (+23.1%) and 124,000, respectively, while gasoline and diesel fell, with 318,210 registrations (-16%) and 62,669 (-35%). The DANA effect, with nuances. The impact appears in the data and in the sector’s discourse, but always as a partial factor. The employers’ associations point out that the comparative effect of December 2024 helps explain the adjustment at the end of 2025 and FACONAUTO also highlights the registrations linked to the Valencian Community after DANA. From Moncloa, in an update from October last yearcontext is provided, the Insurance Compensation Consortium registered 250,034 applications, processed 244,426 and paid 3,735,525,301 euros. Within that volume, more than 144,000 requests were for damage to vehicles, with more than 98% already managed, a figure that measures the impact, but does not allow it to be attributed to a specific engine. Thus, 2025 closes with several certainties. The market is growing, electrification has gained weight and the brand podium is clear in a year of transition. Toyota, Renault and Volkswagen lead the ranking of registrations. At the same time, the sector is still far from full normalization and carries the burden of an aging fleet, according to ANFAC. The question remains open for 2026, when it will be time to see if this trend is sustained. Images | Christina Telep In Xataka | London has started a silent war in its streets: one with the supercars of Saudi millionaires parked incorrectly

is putting them in front of stores

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There are those who are clear that, not soon, robots will be like current smartphones: we will all have one. There is not enough time for prices to become as democratized as to get to that pointbut if there is a country that has taken the lead when it comes to push humanoid roboticsthat’s China. And the Hobbs W1 is the latest example: a humanoid robot with a human face, and hands capable of doing fine motor work. And they have already put it to work. Hobbs W1. A far cry from Star Wars robots and closer to the uncanny valley. Hobbs W1 still looks like a robot, but the fact that they have given it a face and a body with an absurdly stylized female silhouette is a declaration of intent: they want us to feel “comfortable” with their presence. Very low on the evolutionary scale of robots are those tray holder (or Sardinator) with faces that look like emojis and cat ears: the Hobbs W1 has no legsbut it does have a face, upper joints and a screen. They are tools that are used to give instructions to people. Because Hobbs W1 is already working and those responsible, the Pekingese Noetix Roboticsthey point to a very clear segment: commercial spaces where you can guide clients, answer questions and perform reception tasks. great players. Noetix is ​​one of the many – many – Chinese startups that the country itself is promoting. The strategy of China is to become a robotics power (technological, in general, especially promoted by the ‘Delete A’ plan), and although there are many companies, we can now talk about very prominent names. Hobbs W1 It is estimated that Unitree, UBTECH and AgiBot they control practically the humanoid robot market in China. It is still a small market, but these three companies are looking to position themselves as soon as possible. Its key is the ability to manufacture at scale, but also specialization: Unitree may be the best known name. The most direct comparison would be with Boston Dynamics, since it has its ‘robodog’ – the Unitree Go2 – and its humanoid, the G1. Unitree is already selling units to end customers. In fact, you can buy that Go2 on Amazon. UBTECH has the Walker S1, a robot focused more on professional use. It is the one that directly seeks to replace humans on assembly lines and, in fact, it is already working in one of the plants Geely -manufacturer of electric cars-. AgiBot It is the third in contention. Instead of being specific, it has specialized in being multiplatform and going to volume so that they can do tasks in different sectors. It has humanoid robots from its X series, but also much more specialized ones from the A and G series (although they also give them faces to humanize them. Image: Unitree. Muscle and brain. These companies are closely linked to the development of another of China’s priorities, lto artificial intelligencebut there is a fourth that stands out for its focus. It’s Galbot, and he’s taken a less conventional route. Instead of focusing on promoting their robots as mountebanks or capable of lift heavy weights in factoriesGalbot has developed multimodal AI models with one thing very clear in mind: that they can now care for humans in the real world. When we talk about topics of this type, it is always difficult to know to what extent it is smoke, promises or there is someone with the controls behind the scenes. In the case of Galbot and his G1I can say that, although slow, it works. It already serves a store of just 10 m² in Beijing and you can order drinks perfectly. There is no human nearby and the company plans to expand with more than a hundred automated stores throughout the rest of Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen. From the laboratory to the store. Therefore, the Hobbs W1 is just one more of those humanoid robots that China has already put to work. And the truth is that it contrasts with what we see in the West. We have been talking about robotics for many years, but the proper names were different. China has arrived later in this racebut it has managed to position itself as the country to beat. And the reason is your approach. While Tesla promises to have “many” Optimus and Boston Dynamics continues to show his Atlas performing jumpsChinese robots are already in stores, but also walking through the subway supplying the 7 Eleven either extinguishing fires with real firefighters. The vast majority of the startups that are starring in the conversation have been created in the last two years and make it clear that the country is very interested in leading the sector. It’s not only to show off. And it may not just be a strategy to demonstrate technological muscle. we come it counting for months: China faces a future with many more elderly and, as a consequence, much less labor. Have a tremendous rate of youth unemploymentbut even so in the medium term the country faces a dramatic demographic contraction. Putting the elderly to work It’s an option –also in Japan-, but at a certain moment, and with a low birth ratehaving only the elderly work is not an option. That’s where the country’s strategy comes into play: leading the conversation in roboticsattract talent and, in addition, develop robots that can fill that job hole that is anticipated in a few years. Stepping on the accelerator. In whatever way and for whatever reason, it is clear that both the country and the startups are in a hurry. HE they estimate 800 humanoid robots sold in 2024 compared to more than 4,000 in 2025. By 2045, the projection is that they will have more than 100 million operational units with a market of 1.4 billion dollars. And the main advantage is that economy of scale, the national push and being able to access key elements in the … Read more

China bets on liquid air to stabilize its largest solar sea on the roof of the world

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In the vastness of Qinghai province, where the Tibetan plateau merges with the Gobi desert, dust and rock they have given up their domain to a mega-project of 610 square kilometers. This “sea of ​​silicon”—the size of the city of Madrid—is home to seven million photovoltaic panels that have transformed the ecosystem: the shade of the plates retains humidity and allows thousands of “photovoltaic sheep” graze today where before there was only sand. However, this massive deployment encountered a physical barrier. As researcher Wang Junjie explainssolar and wind energy are “random and intermittent”; When the sun sets in the Gobi, the power grid shakes. To stabilize this giant, China has gone beyond conventional lithium, betting on liquid air storage. White giants in the desert. On the outskirts of the city of Golmud, a row of white tanks stands sentinel against the horizon. It is the world’s largest liquid air energy storage (LAES) project, dubbed by Chinese media as the “Super Air Power Bank.” According to the Xinhua agencythis facility of the state-owned company China Green Development Investment Group (CGDG) has entered its final commissioning phase. It is not just any battery: its capacity is 60,000 kilowatts (60 MW) and it can release up to 600,000 kWh per cycle, a discharge capable of sustaining the daily consumption of tens of thousands of homes. Physics against lithium. Why has China opted for this technology instead of its popular lithium ion batteries? The answer lies in scale and geography. While lithium is ideal for mobile devices or cars, on an industrial scale it faces cost and degradation problems. Air has an advantage that is difficult to match: it is there and it costs nothing. AND, as CleanTechnica remindswhen it becomes liquid air its density skyrockets, up to 750 times more than that of normal air, which allows energy to be stored in large quantities without dams or geographical conditions. The alchemy of cold: From gas to liquid at -194°C. The operation of the system is a feat of cryogenic engineering. As detailed by Xinhuathe process is divided into three critical phases: Load (Compression): During the day, surplus solar from a nearby 250 MW plant powers giant compressors. The air is purified and cooled to -194 degrees Celsius (-317°F). At that extreme temperature, the air becomes liquid. Heat recovery: The heat generated during compression is stored in high-pressure spherical tanks to be reused. Discharge (Expansion): When electrical demand rises or the sun disappears, the liquid air heats up. When vaporized, its volume expands explosively (750 times), driving a turbine that generates electricity again for the grid. This cycle, according to researcher Wang Junjieachieves over 95% cold storage efficiency and 55% “round trip” efficiency, harnessing what would otherwise be waste heat and eliminating the need for rare materials. A global laboratory on the “roof of the world.” China is not the only nation in this race. The United Kingdom waits to complete a similar plant in Manchester by 2026, and South Korea too has made progress in this technology. However, the Chinese scale is, again, incomparable. However, the success of these projects in Qinghai is due to centralized planning which combines three sources: solar, wind and hydroelectric. At 3,000 meters above sea level, the cold, pure air improves the efficiency of the panels, and the electricity generated is already 40% cheaper than that of coal. This energy not only illuminates homes; It powers the data centers that power China’s Artificial Intelligence, using the plateau’s frigid air to cool the servers. From the factory to the engine of the world. As Professor Ningrong Liu reflectsChina no longer wants to be just the “factory of the world”, but the “engine” of that factory, exporting its engineering and its green network model. Golmud’s project It is the symbol of a paradox: the country that emits the most CO2 is also the one that builds the fastest carbon exit. In the silence of the Gobi, between cryogenic tanks and sheep herders, China is demonstrating that the air we breathe can literally be the fuel that sustains the 21st century. Image | freepik and Bureau of Land Management Xataka | On the roof of the world, China is building the largest solar park on the planet

makes my life easier every day (and at no cost)

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By now we all know Gemini. Google AI is a fantastic tool that we can use for a ton of things: from writing down a recipe in Keep to getting ideas for giving a gift, to generating a Christmas card. We can download it through Google Play Store But there Android phones have an advantage, since Gemini is deeply and very naturally integrated into them. The best thing is how simple it is to activate this artificial intelligence assistant: All you have to do is press and hold the side button on your phone for a few seconds. and we will automatically be able to interact with Gemini (either by writing or speaking). Now, what exactly can this AI do for us? Let’s see it briefly. Gemini is a very useful tool that has no cost Gemini is a very versatile tool that, as we say, can carry out many tasks. Now, before moving on to it, it is worth mentioning two very important details that give even more value to Google’s AI. The first of them is that interacting with Gemini is very natural, so you don’t have to speak robotically for him to understand us. The other detail is also key: everything is done at no cost to the user. In addition to talking to Gemini directly (or writing, as we have said before), we cannot ignore the existence of Gemini Live. Thanks to this function, which arrived after the launch of this AI, we can activate the device’s camera to share visual information with GeminYo. It is very useful if, for example, we want this assistant to translate a poster in another language. We can also share screen with Gemini if ​​we wish. On a day-to-day basis, we can continually use Gemini to set alarms or create reminders. In fact, this Google assistant handles complex tasks very wellwhich simplifies everything a lot. The clearest example is that we can, with a single sentence and in a language that we would use to talk to a friend, ask Gemini to create a reminder for a doctor’s appointment and send a message with this information to our partner (among many other things). Finally, we must add to this cocktail the latest function that Gemini has received, so far, on mobile phones: Nano Banana. Thanks to this, we can generate images very precisely and use them for anything, whether to create a meme or to design a birthday greeting, for example. You have Android phones with direct access to Gemini on offer If you’re in the market for a new Android phone and looking for something that lets you access Gemini directly, you’re spoiled for choice. In fact, MediaMarkt has an active promotion with many of them on offeralthough you only have a few more days to take advantage of it. Below you have a selection of some very interesting ones. Galaxy S25 Ultra If we are looking for a top Android device, perhaps the Galaxy S25 Ultrawhich precisely won the Xataka award for best super high-end mobile this 2025. We are faced with a device with a beastly performance thanks to the tandem formed by the Snapdragon 8 Elite and its 12 GB of RAM. Its 6.9-inch screen with QHD+ resolution has the best anti-reflective treatment there is and its camera system is outstanding. All added up to seven years of updates and a very interesting price with this offer: 890.10 euros in its 512 GB version if we register in myMediaMarkt (it’s free). Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (512GB) The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Google Pixel 10 Pro The purest Android experience, as usual, will be offered to us by the Google Pixel. We have available right now the Pixel 10 Proa more compact device than the previous one. It has a 6.3-inch OLED screen and uses the Tensor G5 chip, as well as a 4,870 mAh battery with 30 W fast wired charging. Its camera system performs well in all scenarios and has seven years of guaranteed updates. comes out for 854.10 euros if we register at miMediaMarkt. Google Pixel 10 Pro (256GB) The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Google Pixel 9a If we like the previous Google phone, but we are looking for a cheaper alternative, then the Pixel 9a. This device is, right now, a great quality-price option: it costs 399 euros. Despite having been on the market for almost a year, it continues to offer very good performance thanks to the Tensor G4 chip and its 6.3-inch 120 Hz screen is of high quality. It has a very balanced dual camera system and came with seven years of guaranteed updates. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Vivo V50 Lite We also have an economical and very interesting alternative with the Vivo V50 Lite. This device, which currently costs 209 euros With 256 GB of storage, it stands out for offering a considerably larger battery than previous devices: it is 6,500 mAh. In addition, its 6.77-inch 120 Hz screen provides a very fluid experience. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Galaxy Z Fold7 We also have several folding ones on sale right now, as is the case with the Galaxy Z Fold7. Although Samsung already has several competitors in the foldable sector, this Fold is one of the best devices of this type out there. Its interior screen, once opened, offers 8 inches with a resolution of 2,184 x 1,968 pixels. In addition, it has plenty of power thanks to its Snapdragon 8 Elite processor and 12 GB of RAM. We have it available for 1,709.10 euros if we register at miMediaMarkt. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Here are just a few examples. If you are looking for other alternatives, just take a look to the complete MediaMarkt catalog. Some of the links in this article are affiliated and may provide a benefit … Read more

At last we know what the slaves of Roman Hispania ate. Exactly the opposite of the landowners

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Since the times of Roman Hispania Many things have changed on the peninsula, but there is something that remains unchanged, immune to the passing of centuries and the fall of empires: what you eat is directly related to the amount of money you have in your pocket. The more zeros in the bank, the greater the probability (probability) that you will eat better quality foods. It happens today and it happened in the 5th century, in the times of the town of Nohedaa settlement located 18 km from what is now Cuenca. When analyzing their remains, archaeologists have found that what their landowners ate had nothing to do with the diet on which slaves and workers subsisted. In a place in Castilla-La Mancha… One of the most fascinating Roman sites on the peninsula is located: the ancient town of Nohedalocated just under 20 kilometers from Cuenca and which was inhabited between the 1st centuries BC and 6th AD It may not be the best known in Spain, but the enclave stands out for several reasons, mainly, as remember from the centerfor hosting “one of the most spectacular figurative mosaics of the Roman Empire.” Another of the peculiarities of Noheda is that it is a relatively ‘young’ site. That there was a Roman settlement in the area was something known since ancient times: A map from 1554 is preserved in which the area is already cited as “Villar de la Vila” and references from 1893 about the complex and its mosaics. However, the phase of more detailed studies it’s recentwhich has allowed experts to peer into its remains with the tools offered by modern science. What did its inhabitants eat? In Noheda, researchers have not only found a thermal areaa impressive mosaic preserved and remains of what was the residential area (urban pars) and farmers’ homes (pars rustica). Archaeologists have also found a large number of bones, vessels with organic remains and a small necropolis, apparently unconnected pieces but which, together, hide the answer to a fascinating question: What did the inhabitants of the village eat? And above all, were there differences between the urban pars and the rustic? Did the diet vary a lot between the rich and the humble? Science to the rescue. To answer these unknowns, archaeologists have had a wide (and above all diverse) toolbox at their disposal. That the questions are posed today, in the 21st century, has allowed them to resort to techniques that analyze seeds, wood remains, pollen, bones, human collagen… a wide amalgam of clues that include, remember The Country Miguel Ángel Valero, director of the site, remains of oysters or even bird bones in which the teeth of humans and dogs can still be seen. Tell me what social class you are… And I’ll tell you what you eat, which is basically what the Noheda archaeologists have been analyzing, where they have confirmed the clear differences that existed between the wealthiest families, housed in the urban parsand the slaves and field workers who lived in the pars rustica. The research has also yielded striking conclusions, such as the one advanced a few days ago the SER chain. In the town, experts have found remains that tell us of a high consumption of young donkey meat. Is it something new? Yes. And no. Archaeologists knew that in late ancient times this type of meat was consumed, especially among the humblest classes, but it was a little-known practice on the peninsula. The study of the remains has also revealed hunting and agricultural patterns and, above all, how the locals adapted their diet as the town went into decline. As explains Valeroits objective is not only to peek into the life of luxury of the town’s potentates, but to understand the routine of the “ordinary people” and those residents who repopulated the abandoned buildings. And what did they eat? Tasty stews or chewy meats. Depends. Wealthy families treated their palates to fish, poultry, sheep and roasted young goats. Everything was well watered with Syrian wine that arrived to the town in amphorae. If we talk about the most humble inhabitants of Noheda, the slaves and field workers, things were different. They fed on ox, goats and sheep that had once been used for farming or obtaining wool and were now too old for the tasks. Their meat was aged and required longer cooking than the young cattle reserved for landowners. To drink, in his case he passed on Syrian wine to the fool. More than archeology. Noheda’s study is interesting for another reason. In addition to revealing the culinary secrets of those who lived in the Roman town between the 4th and 5th centuries AD, it is offering experts valuable information that aspires to move from museums and laboratories… to the table. After all, not only archaeologists collaborate at the site. The investigation is being carried out with the help of butchers, doctors, dentists… and Jesús Segura, chef at the head of a Michelin-starred restaurant. The objective: that the secrets of the villa serve as a basis to dishes inspired by Roman Hispania. Images | Wikipedia 1 and 2 and Government of Castilla-La Mancha (Flickr) Via | The Country In Xataka | A 2,000-year-old glass has revealed an unexpected facet of the Egyptians: psychedelic mixologists

We have been failing with New Year’s resolutions for decades. Science says it’s because we don’t know how to “cheat”

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January starts with a predictable ritual: paying gym membership, fill the fridge with kale or buy paintbrushes for a new hobby. It is the “clean slate effect” that defines Professor Katy Milkman. Human beings do not perceive time linearly, but rather like chapters of a novel. The New Year is the “Black Friday” of new beginnings; a symbolic border that makes us believe that the “me” of last year—the one who didn’t know how to draw a line without looking like a preschooler—has finally died. In fact, 4,000 years ago the Babylonians they already made promises at the Akitu festival to appease their gods. The difference is that they sought to avoid divine wrath and we simply sought to avoid the guilt in the mirror. The autopsy of a failure foretold. Despite our enthusiasm, the statistics are devastating. According to the media Selphonly one in five people manages to stick to their long-term resolutions. Most of us throw in the towel before the month is over, because we always make the same mistake: wanting to be a different person overnight. We want to eat healthy, meditate, travel and be experts in some subject, all at the same time. The problem is that we focus obsessively on the result (losing 10 kilos) and not on the process (enjoying the taste of a new recipe). Added to this is what psychologist Kimberley Wilson describes how the danger of “forbidden words”. Using terms like “always” or “never” puts us in an “all or nothing” trap. If work gets complicated on a Wednesday and you can’t go to paint or eat a pizza, you feel like the entire year is a failure. It’s tunnel vision that ignores that life is, by definition, unpredictable. Furthermore, today we have a new enemy: metrics. As behavioral experts saywe have gone “from enjoyment to performance.” We no longer read for pleasure, but to update the counter. goodreads; We do not run for health, but to not break the streak of Strava. This culture of productivity applied to leisure turns our hobbies into a second working day. If the app says we haven’t complied, guilt appears. The science of “traps”: The method of temptation. What if the key to compliance was not military discipline, but rather being a little “cheatful”? Katy Milkman, behavior change expert, confesses her own trick in an interview with the Washington Post: he “temptation bundling” (temptation pairing). When he was a student, he hated exercising but loved Harry Potter. His solution was to allow himself to listen to the audiobooks of the saga only while he was at the gym. “It made me want to go to work out,” he explains. It’s basically using a guilty pleasure to “bribe” our brain into a healthy habit. This idea is complemented by the “Habit Stacking” (habit stacking). Instead of reaching for willpower you don’t have, “glue” your new purpose to something you already do automatically. Want to learn that paint stroke? Do a five-minute sketch right after your morning coffee. Want to finish that Pinterest scarf? Do ten rows while watching your favorite Netflix series. You don’t add effort, you just take advantage of the architecture of your current routine. Less “goals”, more “values”. From Harvard University, Dr. Aisha Usmani suggests that we see change as “shaping a sculpture”: It is done by removing pieces of stone little by little, not all at once. Cognitive science tells us that if you want to paint, don’t set out to do one canvas a day; Start with one a week. And above all, align your goals with your personal values, not with external pressure. If crochet stresses you, perhaps it does not respond to your value of “creativity”, but rather to an aesthetic imposition. According to Usmani, We must ask ourselves every day: “Is this still important to me?” If the answer is no, adjusting course is not failure, it is being flexible. Self-compassion as a strategy. We cannot forget the weight of the treatment we give to ourselves. As the psychologist Ángel Rull explains in his columnmany resolutions are born from “being fed up with oneself” and not from self-care. If you join the gym because you hate your body, there is a good chance you will quit. If you do it to feel more energetic, the commitment changes. Another interesting note is how we talk about our setbacks. A recent study highlights the difference between saying that we didn’t “have time” and that we didn’t “make time.” While the first sounds like an external excuse, the second implies active control over our agenda: if we didn’t do it today, we can decide to do it tomorrow. According to this research, focusing the cause of failure on external factors and not on our lack of will is the best lifesaver for our confidence. A more human 2026. In short, we are not computers that restart on January 1st. The real change is not about saturating our to-do list, but about transforming initial fatigue into real self-care. If this year you want to start lifting some weights or for your painting stroke to gain firmness, science gives you permission to be a strategist: combine effort with pleasure through temptation bundlingopt for small things—because a page read will always be better than an abandoned book—and accept that perseverance necessarily includes days of hiatus. In the end, perhaps the best resolution for this year is not to become an “optimized” version of ourselves, but to stop treating ourselves as a defective project that must be fixed by decree. The key to success this year lies not in military discipline, but in the ability to begin to see ourselves as someone who is simply trying to live with a little more presence, realistic tools and, above all, a little less guilt. Image | freepik Xataka | Neither board games nor karaoke: ‘Word on Beat’ is the new king of the living room and proof that we prefer rhythmic chaos

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