Mobile Tech & Gadgets

We have filled Europe with traps to combat the terrible Asian wasp. It was a bad idea

by

That non-endemic species reach new territories It’s a colossal problem. It is estimated that more than half of contemporary extinctions They are the fault of invaders and there are examples of kicks (reaching the Arctic due to climate change). He coypu or the blue crab They are two of those invasive animals, but if we share something in Europe it is the “fear” of Asian wasps: a ‘bug’ that we have been fighting for 20 years and against which we are losing miserably. And the big problem is that we are killing flies with cannon shots. vespa velutina. About three centimeters long, this wasp came to Europe at the beginning of the century. Supposedly, he did so aboard a cargo ship from China, landing on the French coast and, since then, colonizing other territories. In 2010 the species spread to Spain, entering from the Basque Country, colonizing the Cantabrian coast and arriving in Galiciabut it has also expanded to Portugal, Germany and even the United Kingdom. It is already well established and, although it is true that it is not more aggressive than “our” wasp, when it gets angry and stings it can cause serious allergic reactions, causing occasional deaths. The worst thing is that it continues to expand at a rate of about 80 kilometers of territory gained each year. Invaders. It’s no longer that they can bother us, but rather that, as an invasive species, they do what they do best: destroy the native ones. And not with other wasps, but with bees. The Asian wasp is a predator of other insects, but has a predilection for honey bees. It attacks their hives indiscriminately, causing enormous damage to beekeeping. At a time when awareness about importance of bees in naturebeyond for him human consumption of honeythere are those who take matters into their own hands and have started setting traps. It moves fast Flies with cannon shots. There are several types. On the one hand, the most homemade: the typical upside-down bottle that we fill with mixtures attractive to wasps (juices, wines, fruits and sugar), creating a sticky paste in which the wasp becomes trapped. There are others that are more sophisticated and selective, with large holes for wasps to enter, but with release mechanisms for smaller animals and pheromones that attract insects. The problem is that they are remedies that can do more harm than anything else because, although commercial traps have release mechanisms for accidentally captured insects, you have to be careful and, basically, it is killing flies with cannon fire. Those who do not have to fall fall. And the main criticism is precisely that: the traps do not discriminate and damage is created to biodiversity because many insects that are not the Asian wasp are killed. Among them are moths, beetles, flies, bees and an ally that fights against the Asian invader: the European hornet. In a recent investigation published Pest Management Science has analyzed how in Galician vineyards, traps against Vespa velutina have turned out to be ineffective in controlling the damage that the insect does to grapes, but although Asian wasps are trapped, other species that have an important role in pollination are also captured. Solutions? The request of the researchers is that the Galician administration, promoter of this massive trapping, takes a step back because what is produced is a false idea of ​​effectiveness due to general captures, but without implying that the objective, which is to stop the Asian wasp, is met. What do they propose? That this elimination technique be reconsidered and look at the scientific evidence, since “environmental problems are complex and can rarely be solved with quick and easy solutions.” It is not a solution as such to the damage that these invasive wasps can cause, but it is to put an end to the indiscriminate killing of other insects that do a job in our ecosystem. What is evident is that, as we mentioned a few paragraphs ago, for a kind of outsider to arrive and establish itself so quickly in a territory is something devastating. And the Asian wasp is a perfect example. Images | Clame Reporter, Didier Descouens In Xataka | After centuries of disappearance, there are people releasing beavers into the Tagus and other rivers in Spain. The problem is that we don’t know who

We have been thinking for years that, after the midlife crisis, old age is synonymous with happiness. This researcher thinks it’s a hoax

by

We are happy during adolescence and late youth, but as the years go by we become increasingly sadder, more unhappy, more miserable. At some point, in our late 40s to early 50s, we hit rock bottom. And once there everything tends to improve. “It’s statistics,” we said. What we did not suspect was that the statistics could be ‘trick’. Happiness is U-shaped. “Happiness is a slippery slope until we hit the bottom at some undetermined point in middle age. From there, it climbs back to the levels of youth.” That’s what I said a 2008 study than by Blanchflower and Oswald with data from more than half a million people. Over the following years ( here an example from 2017), studied in some detail how firm this U-shaped trend was; Everything seemed to indicate that this was the case. Until Fabian Kratz and Josef Brüdel from the Ludwig Maximalian University of Munich they realized of a small – possible – problem. Wonkblog A fundamental problem. What if happiness steadily decreases with age and what we see in the aggregate graphs is just a statistical effect? Kratz has been studying for years happiness and, as explained in New Scientistis increasingly convinced that the U simply does not exist. Reviewing the scientific literature, the authors found studies that justify a “stability“in happiness throughout the years; a”increase” or progressive descent; a inverted U; a U normal; and a curve like of waves (promotions, relegations). The problem is “that all studies on age and happiness have incurred biases that have distorted their results.” The other form of happiness. By correcting them, Fabian Kratz and Josef Brüdel came to the conclusion that it is true that happiness shows some stability around the last 50, but it does not rise at any time. Kratz and Brüderl (2021) But why? It is important to keep in mind that this work is essentially methodological. But Kratz’s central idea is that previous studies they didn’t realize that “after a certain age, happiness seems to increase only because unhappy people have already died.” The least happy people they tend to die before, which would cause an overrepresentation of the happiest at older ages (literally, as said our colleague Andrés Mohorte, pure survivor bias). According to this theory, “that old popular story” through which retirement would open a window towards a fuller and more satisfying life is just that, a story: a lie. Or, perhaps, a strategy. Because, in short, “there is a lot of evidence about how humans experience a bassoon psychological in middle age” (Blanchflower and Oswald, 2007; Steptoe, Deaton and Stone, 2015; Graham and Pettinato, 2002), but there is very little about the relationship between that downturn – that unhappiness – and quality of life. As we said quite a few years ago“we’re about to see what happens to the millennials when they become unhappy” and maybe that is behind a part generational battles. But facing the future with the certainty that things are going to improve is not the same as facing the future with the certainty that things are going to get worse. The science of happiness has never been so depressing. Image | Garloncio In Xataka | If the question is “where is the secret to happiness,” an expert believes it is hidden in these 15 statements

In the 19th century they were not particularly sad, but no one smiled in the photos. Although they had reasons for it

by

It’s strange to come across a current photo in which no one is smiling. If we see her, we assume that something is happening: either she wants to give a serious image, or something happens that we don’t know about, or the intention is precisely to go against it, not to smile. However, there was a time in which the usual thing was not to do it, not to show the slightest emotion in the photographs. What is the reason for this attitude? Were they so sad in the victorian englandSpain at the beginning of the century and so on? Actually, there is a very simple explanation. The exhibition. We all know that in the early days of photography, that is, between about 1840 and 1880, cameras required people to remain completely still for several seconds, or even, in the most primitive photos, minutes. Maintaining a natural smile for so long was uncomfortable, and fatigue ended up turning a natural smile into a stiff grimace. Furthermore, any movement resulted in a blurry image, which ran the risk of the model appearing in the photo with a blur on his face like a specter from beyond the grave. Hence the much simpler and more accessible custom of remaining with a relaxed gesture. Decent photographs. But there came a time when photographs did not require more than a moment of exposure, and there were still models with long faces. What was it due to? In reality it was not a technical question, but rather a question of how photography was understood. Perhaps with a vision inherited from when a portrait was a canvas that took days to create, required effort for the painter and model, cost money and could not be reproduced, but rather remained a unique piece. For all this, the portrait was clothed with a certain solemnity. It didn’t matter that these new portraits were much simpler and faster to do: They preserved the aura of dignity and special occasion of the oil paintings. Example: the dead. The legendary photos of the deceased or post-mortem photography They are a perfect example to understand how the medium was perceived for a time. They were a surprisingly common practice during the 19th and early 20th centuries and had a very clear purpose: being still a medium that was not widespread, photography was the only opportunity that many families had to preserve a portrait of the deceased, since they had not been able to do it while they were alive (and with the high infant mortality rate of other times, even more so). Furthermore, with this aura of dignity and pomp that the photograph had, it was incorporated into the elaborate mourning process. Victorian. Smile bad. In the 19th century, smiling openly in public or in portraits was often associated with frivolity, lack of seriousness, or even drunkenness. Educated and respectable people maintained a serious composure. If you have ever seen material from the tone period, let’s say, libertineyou will see what contagious smiles. It’s not that in the 19th and early 20th centuries people didn’t know how to smile: it was the circumstance in which photos were taken. That is why photos have been found taken in more familiar settings, at parties with very close relatives or close friends, where some of this rigidity is lost and people smile widely. Smiling badly, part two. And if we started with a reason as prosaic as “it’s easier not to smile than to smile,” we ended up with another equally practical reason: smiles one hundred and fifty years ago were terrible. The dental hygiene It was much worse than today and the dentures were full of holes, at best. When it came to passing on to posterity, it was normal for the models to decide not to show their teeth. Photo of Lia Den in Unsplash In Xataka | A tractor engine and three floors: this is the Victorian steampunk house that is touring the United States

Immediately afterwards, they gave China a new railway record

by

China has been celebrating these days, as the National Day festivities have coincided with the Mid-Autumn Festival. And like every year, there is a larger influx of people who take public transportation from what is already usually China. In this aspect, its railway system has once again set a record. On October 8, China Railway Zhengzhou Group transported more than a million passengers in a single day, establishing a new historical mark and demonstrating once again the capabilities of its high-speed train infrastructure. Quite an achievement. During the entire festive period (October 1 to 8), China Railway Guangzhou Group moved 21.8 million passengerswhich represents an increase of 5% compared to the previous year. The first day of the festivities marked a milestone, with 3.5 million travelers in a single day. The data from the Ministry of Transportation reveal that about 82% of Chinese travelers chose the high-speed train as a means of transportation during these dates. Featured cases. The Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong line recorded 955,000 trips during the festive period, with an increase of 29.35% year-on-year. On October 4, this connection transported 135,000 passengers in one day, 40% more than the previous year. According to A spokesman for the passenger services department of China Railway Guangzhou Group, “the coincidence of National Day with the Mid-Autumn Festival caused a significant increase in passenger flow, mainly driven by tourism and family visits.” Click on the image to go to the post How have they achieved it? To manage such a volume of passengers, the railway authorities deployed an operational strategy which included extraordinary trains, connections with multiple units, circular routes were established, night services increased on days of higher demand and additional carriages were coupled to regular trains. During the holidays, the Guangzhou Railway Group operated an average of 3,419 trains of daily passengers, with 358 extra services. Increasingly popular destinations. These data, however, reflect only part of the picture. The Ministry of Transportation amounted to approximately 1,240 million interregional travel during the first half of the festive period, reaching historical highs. Only on Saturday, October 5, 301.29 million trips were registered, 6.1% more than the previous year. Frontline cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen were the most popular destinations, along with tourist enclaves such as Chengdu and Xi’an. High speed train as favorite. These records once again cement high-speed rail as the backbone of transportation in China, while also reflecting the vitality of the country’s tourism and mobility sector. The Chinese railway network, which is crowned as the largest in the world at high speed, it does not disappoint in infrastructure capacity and operational efficiency, especially in times of mass events. In Xataka | China has just redrawn the map of strategic minerals: its new rules on rare earths target the United States

Speaking in English to a baby still in the womb seems like an absurd idea. Science has just discovered that it is effective

by

We have long known that Babies recognize their mother’s voice from the womb and who show a preference for their mother tongue a few days after birth. However, now we know a little more thanks to studies neuroimaging studies that have confirmed something we intuited: the brain of a newborn is prepared to recognize foreign languages ​​if it has heard them in the womb during gestation. The experiment. To reach this conclusion, a team from Sainte-Justine University Hospital in Montreal recruited 60 pregnant women from monolingual French-speaking families. From here they did two different phases: prenatal exposure and brain analysis after birth. Prenatal exposure. In this case, a group of 39 fetuses was selected and exposed to recordings of a story during the last month of gestation. To do so, the mothers placed headphones on their abdomen so that the fetus could hear the story in its native language, which was French, and also in a foreign language, which was German or Hebrew. These languages ​​were chosen specifically because their rhythmic and phonological properties are very different from those of French. The second group, of 21 fetuses, acted as a control and did not receive any experimental exposure, hearing only the French of their natural environment, which is what happens in any type of normal pregnancy. Brain analysis. A few days after birth (between 10 and 78 hours), the brain activity of all these newborns began to be monitored while they listened to the same story in three languages: French, German and Hebrew. To do this, they used functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), a non-invasive technique that measures changes in blood oxygenation in the brain to see which areas are activated. The results. They were certainly surprising. The brains of newborns reacted almost identically to their native language and the foreign language they had been hearing in the womb. In both cases, an increase in activity was observed in the temporal regions of the left hemisphere, which is a key area for language processing with Broca’s area, among others. In contrast, when these babies heard the completely new foreign language (the one they had not heard before), their brains showed a different response, with less activation in language areas and more activity in general sound-processing regions. The conclusion. This finding suggests that the fetal brain not only hears, but “learns” to recognize the patterns of a language, which causes a specialization of the left hemisphere. One of the authors point specifically that “Our results provide evidence that even brief prenatal exposure to a foreign language could make it recognizable to neonates, leading to brain activation patterns similar to those observed when listening to their native language.” Anne Gallagher, a neuropsychologist at the University of Montreal and lead author of the study, qualifies the concept of “learning”: “We cannot say that babies ‘learn’ a language prenatally. What we can say is that neonates develop a familiarity with one or more languages ​​during gestation, which shapes their brain networks at birth.” Understand development. These findings reinforce the idea that a newborn’s brain is not a ‘blank slate’, but that the gestational environment contributes a lot to its brain development, since its brain processing begins here to be shaped before birth. However, experts caution that this study should not be interpreted as a guide for parents to expose their babies to multiple languages ​​in order to make them more intelligent or multilingual. But it does give us an idea of ​​how this important characteristic is developing. Limitations. The study, while revealing, also has its limitations, such as a relatively small sample size that prevented, for example, directly comparing responses to German versus Hebrew. Still, it shows that even brief, repeated exposure to linguistic stimuli can modify a newborn’s language brain networks, laying the foundation for future development. Images | Volodymyr Hryshchenko In Xataka | When the first meal is not porridge, but a chop: the rise of carnivorous babies

14 audio servers to host your music collection and listen to it wherever you want

by

We bring you a small collection of 14 applications to set up a music server on your computer. With them, you can configure a server on your main computer, and then you can listen to the music you have on it from other devices through official websites or applications. With this, what you are going to get is create your own Spotify with the music files you have on your computer. This way, you can choose to buy digital music directly from the artists so that they get more benefits than with Spotify and then manage it without fees and with more privacy, although you can also use your own files after ripping a CD. And as we always say at Xataka Basics, these are the proposals that we have chosen, but perhaps you know others that also deserve to be on the list. If so, we invite you to Leave us your proposals in the comments sectionand so that all readers can benefit from the knowledge of our xatakeros. Plex We can only start with this application, because you can also set up your own Spotify with Plex. You have the server application for your computer, and then clients to watch movies, music and more on any other device. Plex It is very versatile, and very well known. It has some specific functions like an exclusive player for music and others that are paid, although you can make a single payment of just 120 euros and have it for life. Swing Music An open source self-hosted streaming service, which stands out for having a magnificent design maximum care. It has functions such as separating different versions of a disc, showing related artists or albums, or being able to navigate between your music files. The client works through the browserso you can use it anywhere. You also have a search engine, handle duplicate files, and more options that keep coming. You can install the server on Windows, macOS or GNU/Linux. koel This alternative is open source, has a modern design, and is feature-rich. It’s free, although you also have a paid version that allows you to store your files in the cloud or share music with friends. Its modern and colorful design makes it catch the eye, very clean and simplified, but it also stands out for its optimization and speed. All of this being a great player with all the options, including metadata editing or genre categorization. In addition, it integrates with Last.fm, Spotify or YouTube among others. Jellyfin Jellyfin is one of the main Plex alternatives, and in fact also has a specific music app in developmentalthough it may not work as well yet. However, you can also use its general app to find the music section. The main characteristics of this tool compared to Plex is that It is totally freeand at the moment it does not have a paid version. In short, it’s like setting up your own Spotify and Netflix all together. Emby Emby is another of the great alternatives to Plex, and although It does not have a specific application to listen to musicin the complete app of the tool you have a section to access the songs from the folders on your computer that you have chosen. Like Plex, this tool also offers most of its free options, although it also has several others that are with the paid version. Navidrome Free and open source, it allows you to stream from your computer. virtually any audio format. It has good support for multi-artist compilations, and makes use of all the metadata you’ve been editing in the files. Uses very few resourcesand can be used on both macOS, Linux and WIndows, even for Raspberry Pi. The client is web, for use in any browser, although it is also compatible with service clients such as Subsonic, Madsonic or Airsonic. mStream A fairly simple, self-hosted music streaming service that can work on any operating system with server applications for Windows, macOS, GNU/Linux and Raspberry Pi. You also have clients to listen to your music for Android and iOS, as well as for the browser. Playback is almost perfect with a good sound viewer and playlist sharing features. You can also easily drag files to upload to the server, all with an open source project. funkwhale This is a community-led projectin which there are different pods or servers created by other users where music is hosted and you can upload yours. You also have the opportunity to create your own pod, although it is somewhat more complex. In the end, the idea is to be able to enjoy your music or podcasts wherever you want. Ampache A veteran project but constantly updated, focused on being able to create your own music streaming service. All this with an open source tool that has been developing since 2001, and with which you will be able to install third-party clients for mobile, tablet or television. It has a web interface with which you will be able to configure the local and remote file synchronizationall in a single consistent collection. And then, you can access your music from any device, whether with an app or an HTML5 player. Gonic A recent and lightweight alternative, compatible with Subsonic client appswith simple management of your folders and support for podcasts. Gonic is especially recommended for those looking for a minimalist, modular and easy-to-install alternative. It stands out for its scanning speed, and for also being compatible with scrobbling applications such as listenbrainz or last.fm, to have your listening statistics. Perhaps its only drawback is a simpler and more schematic interface, but in exchange it is very easy to use. Subsonic This is a powerful streaming service where your computer also becomes a server. It is used to stream video and music. It is also a base for many third party clientsso if you don’t like their applications you can always turn to others. The price of this server is $1 per month, … Read more

In 1901, Russian explorers found the corpse of a frozen mammoth. What happened to his meat is a mystery

by

Although we are trying to bring them backthousands of years ago mammoths disappeared from the face of the Earth. However, for centuries, humans fed on its flesh, created tools with their bones and were protagonists in the stories that were drawn on the walls. Now, although they disappeared about 4,000 years ago, there are stories that claim that less than 100 years ago, there were those who ate mammoth meat. Its flavor? Like a sirloin of the time. Of course, there is quite a bit of ‘sauce’ that masks this culinary story. The Berezovka mammoth. Otto Ferdinandovich Harz was a Russian-German naturalist who, at the beginning of the 20th century, participated in the famous Siberian excavation of 1901 in which the Berezovka mammoth. It is about one of the best preserved specimensif not the best, because he died when he was between 45 and 50 years old in the Permafrost, more than 44,000 years ago. That’s how they found it. The most superficial part, the skull, had been gnawed by wolves, but look at the state of the buried paw The peculiarity. This exposure to extreme temperatures allowed researchers to find a piece in enviable conditions. The wolves had eaten some of the meat, but the carcass was complete and even herbs in its mouth and 12 kilos of food in its stomach were recovered. The conditions allowed us to determine that the skin was a reddish brown color, with curly hair about 50 centimeters long, a 35 centimeter tail, a penis in good condition and a layer of fat nine centimeters thick, key to withstanding low temperatures. The size? 2.8 meters high by just over four meters long. Reconstruction of the mammoth at the time of its death “Appetizing“Unearthing the animal was not quick. The researchers set up a tent at the excavation point and got to work. Here we entered turbulent terrain because legends begin. Nobody was there on those cold Siberian nights to see what was being cooked, but there are those who point out that there was mammoth meat in that casserole. Due to the good conservation of the meat, the rumor was that the members of the expedition ate part of the mammoth to last the nights. But there’s a twist: it turns out that although it didn’t look bad, when it thawed, the smell could be nauseating. Even seasoned, it was too much for the human nose and, although jokingly they dared to try it (after a story which points to alcohol consumption as a trigger), it seems that in the end they gave it to the dogs at the camp. The Explorers Club. Another story goes in the opposite direction: after arriving at St. Petersburg Zoological Museumwhere you can see both the remains and a faithful representation of the mammoth at the time of its death, Otto began to sort through the remains and realized that the meat was of no use. Therefore, he organized a dinner for colleagues. The requirement? That these also carried something from prehistory. Evidence that they ate mammoth meat from 44,000 years ago? None, but the story is good. Same as that of New York Explorers Club. It turns out that, according to legends, the explorers of 1901 were not the only recent humans to have tasted mammoth meat. Founded in 1904, the Explorers Club of New York is a society dedicated to the exploration of land, sea, air and space (more recently, of course). It was created to support exploration exploits and has notable and honored members such as Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, Jane Goodall, Richard Garriott either James Cameronamong many others. Part of a room at the ‘Explorers CLub’. Humble. Myth. Anyone who makes a documented and outstanding contribution to scientific knowledge through field expeditions can be a member. Aside from that adventurous spirit, what its members share are annual banquets in which the menu is… exotic. has been eaten polar bear or seal babies (to comment on this), but also crocodile tail, caramelized yak and a large number of insects fried, in quesadillas, baked, or in dessert form. What if they didn’t eat dodo? It’s because there wasn’t, wow. Dinner at the club What they are said to have eaten was mammoth: woolly mammoth discovered in Alaska. Supposedly, it was Roosevelt and Armstrong who, at the 1951 dinner, tasted this ancient meat. They were going to eat meat megatheriumwhich was a kind of enormous sloth, but it seems that a misinterpretation by a magazine that covered the dinner led them to think that “megaterium” was another term for “mammoth”, so it went down in history as, that day, they ate mammoth at the prestigious event. The turn. It turns out, and here comes the twist, that a member of the club was not going to be able to attend and asked that they give him his portion in a jar so he could keep it. He put “megatherium meat” and took it to the Bruce Museum in Greenwich. He left it there, but fate wanted it to end up at the Peabody Museum of Natural History and, in 2014, some researchers performed DNA tests to see what the hell it was. It didn’t matter if it was a mammoth: the fact that in 1951 they had had megatherium for dinner would still be just as impressive. Well, neither a mammoth… nor a giant sloth: the analysis showed that it was turtle meat. And not a Pleistocene turtle, but a green sea turtle that, yes, is protected and in danger of extinction, but not extinct. The mammoth meatball. Legend pointed to this similarity between the modern sirloin and mammoth meat, but in the absence of documents, it seems that any consumption of mammoth in the last 4,000 years is difficult to believe. What is known is that, in 1979, a paleontologist who discovered a bison from 50,000 years ago He couldn’t resist the temptation of making a good stew with its meat. It wouldn’t smell … Read more

A Japanese city has had enough of its neighbors spending the day on their cell phones. So he has set a limit: two hours

by

“When you get on a train in Japan, most passengers are looking at their phones. They don’t do anything else.” Speaks Masafumi Kouiki, mayor Toyoake (Japan) and probably the country’s most recognizable face in the fight against addiction to smartphonesthe sleep hygiene and life away from the screens. The reason is very simple: despite the suspicion on the part of his neighbors, Kouiki has promoted an ordinance that limits the use of cell phones and tablets to two hours a day. The measure was launched October 1 and for now it has served one of the objectives that Kouiki pursued: to move consciences and generate debate. What has happened? That October has arrived with a curious legislative novelty in Toyoakea city of almost 70,000 inhabitants in Aichi Prefecture that in practice functions as a dormitory city for Nagoya. On Wednesday the 1st, a new rule came into force that restricts the time that your neighbors can spend in front of a screen for recreational reasons: maximum two hours. 120 minutes. Not one more. The measure was announced months ago, in Augustwhen it was still a proposal, and despite the huge stir that it generated has managed to move forward: in September it received the endorsement of the municipal assembly with 12 votes in favor and seven against. What does the standard say exactly? Roughly speaking, the ordinance, 2,400 charactersestablishes a limit on the recreational use of smartphones, tablets, consoles and computers. The rule applies to Toyoake residents and sets that limit at two hours a day, not counting time spent studying or working. There is an important nuance, of course: although it is an ordinance endorsed by the municipal assembly, in reality what it offers is a guidelinenot a mandatory rule. No one will check whether the residents of Toyoake conform to that standard or not. No sanctions are foreseen either. This is just a recommendation. Is it wet paper then? At all. To begin with, because Japanese culture exerts strong social pressure to follow official guidelines. Beyond its real impact, the rule has also served to open the debate on the excessive use of screens and its influence on aspects such as sleep. In fact, the same ordinance advises that younger children stop using their devices at 9:00 p.m. and those in secondary school and those under 18 should not drive them after 10:00 p.m. The objective: guarantee your correct rest. That’s all? No. On October 1, coinciding with the entry into force of the rule, the Toyoake Government sent emails to young people and parents in the city to insist on the same message. Primary and secondary school students were in fact urged to “take care of their rest and health hours” and agree with their families how much time they would dedicate to their devices. “The main objective of the ordinance is to guarantee sufficient hours of sleep,” underlines the organism. The City Council has also carried out a survey among 250 residents registered in its monitoring system and wants to find out the real scope of the guideline: whether the use of smartphones during free time, the duration of sleep or the hours of family conversation changes. TO beginning of next yearIn fact, the authorities want to do a new survey among their students. Why have they done it? To change habits. “It’s very sad to end the day looking at your phone all the time at home,” explained a few days ago Kouki a The New York Times. “I hope citizens change their behavior.” Rather than strictly limiting the recreational use of screens to 120 minutes a day, its purpose is to invite “reflection and debate” and make people think about how much time they spend on screens and until what time they do it. In 2024, a state study revealed that, on average, younger Japanese (those in primary or secondary school) invest about five hours up to date on their mobile phones. And not only that. More than 80% of Japanese people between 15 and 24 years old consider themselves “dependent” on smartphones and 14% already show symptoms of addiction. How have people responded? Depends. Not everyone has reacted equally well to Kouki’s attempts to restrict screen use. Although it is not a mandatory rule nor are there fines for breaking it, there are those who believe that the mere existence of the ordinance means an intrusion in the lives of the people of Toyoake.”In one sentence: it’s none of your business”, claims Mariko Fujie, one of the local politicians who voted against. In his opinion, there is no “scientific evidence” to support a norm that, he warns, also does not take into account the perspective of young people. “Many of my supporters find it condescending. This ordinance is complete nonsense.” Is Toyoake a unique case? Yes. And no. The Town Hall assures that theirs is the first standard of its kind in Japan. This is also presented by media such as The Japan Times either The Mainichiwhich have highlighted its pioneering nature. Whether or not this is the case, the truth is that it is not the first attempt by a Japanese public institution to put limits on the use of screens among the population. Especially among young people. A few years ago Kagawa promoted another ordinance that aimed to restrict young people’s access to video games. Their objective: that minors do not dedicate themselves to them more than one hour daily during the week, a margin that the authorities were willing to extend to 90 minutes on holidays. In Yamato, another town, they also prohibited use mobile to pedestrians while they walk. Images | Yifei Wong (Unsplash) and Launde Morel (Unsplash) In Xataka | In Europe we have a problem: we are becoming the Japan of the 21st century

the new and unexpected solution against baldness

by

Androgenic alopecia, better known as male or female pattern baldness, is one of the most common causes of hair loss all over the world. The most common treatment is the use of topical minoxidilbut it is not a great miracle either because its effectiveness is limited by many factors. Now a group of researchers they have found a solution quite unexpected in the sweeteners that we use on a daily basis to make the treatment more effective. The problem. As we say, topical minoxidil can be affected by the simple fact of have a low solubility in water, making it very difficult for it to pass through the skin. This means that alcohol has to be used as an excipient in the treatment, which generates other side effects such as itching. That is why the study published in the prestigious magazine Advanced Healthcare Materials reveals that the stevioside (STV), a natural compound extracted from the plant stevianot only dramatically improves the absorption of minoxidil, but can be used to create a much more effective delivery system. A sweetener. The scientists’ idea was to use stevioside for its dual function. On the one hand, as a powerful agent to dissolve minoxidil (MXD) and, on the other, as the main material to manufacture an innovative microneedle patch that can later be used in the presentation of the medicine. As. Stevioside is an amphipathic molecule, which means that it has a part that attracts water and another that repels it. This property is very important to be able to create small spheres that are called micelles in an aqueous solution, creating a core where poorly soluble drugs such as minoxidil can comfortably lodge. To understand it, it acts as the ‘vehicle’ that minoxidil uses to cross customs, which are our biological membranes. And the results of the research have been quite good. The study found that stevioside increased the solubility of minoxidil by up to 47 mg/ml, which is approximately 18 times higher than that of minoxidil alone. Microneedling. To overcome the skin barrier, the researchers designed a patch with soluble microneedles made from the mixture of stevioside and minoxidil itself. These microneedles, invisible to the naked eye, painlessly penetrate the outermost layer of the skin and dissolve, releasing the drug directly into the area where the hair follicles are located. This is much better than using it topically with a spray where we have that problem of it not penetrating. Applying. In this way, we have a much more precise application method that also avoids the effects of having to use a metal microneedle. In the laboratory, it has been seen that a release of 85% of the drug and a retention in the skin of 18% is achieved in 24 hours. These numbers far exceed the results achieved with a traditional topical application with an alcohol solution where retention is only 2%. And this is the key for the drug to act in the hair follicle for a longer amount of time before it is metabolized. Put to the test. To see the potential of this new application of the treatment, the test was done on animals in the laboratory. To do this, the animals induced alopecia in the mice and received treatment with the microneedle patch compared to the standard minoxidil solution and a control group. As days passed, the group treated with the stevioside and minoxidil patch showed significantly more hair growth. Specifically, after 35 days of treatment, the area treated with the patch had 67.5% new hair coverage. In comparison, the conventional minoxidil solution only achieved 25.7% coverage in the same period. But it doesn’t stop there, since it was also clearly seen that the patch was much more effective in reactivating the hair follicles to quickly move into the growth phase. A new way. Although human studies are still needed to confirm these findings, this research opens a completely new avenue to combat alopecia. A natural, safe sweetener already approved for consumption could be the key to developing a new generation of hair treatments that are more effective, comfortable and with fewer side effects. Images | Gustavo Sanchez In Xataka | The great promise of science to end baldness is not a transplant or a medicine: it is a vaccine

now it has to be “functional”, “conscious” and, of course, instagrammable

by

Two years ago, social networks they were filled of giant glasses of water of all colors and flavoring powders. That effervescent fashion was called WaterTok: a digital community that transformed hydration into likes. Now, the phenomenon has returned with another name and a more sophisticated air: loaded water, or water loaded with ingredients that promise energy, balance and digestive health. The difference is not so much aesthetic as speech: less glitter, more “functionality.” The functional era of water? Between Generation Z and the wellness-loving public has arisen he loaded water, that unlike the WaterTokis presented as a “conscious” evolution. For many, it is a way to give up soda and drink more water: “It helps me consume much more water than I normally consume per day,” said a creator on TikTok. He loaded water reappears this year as a “functional” version: water to which electrolytes, fruits or prebiotics are added to improve the flavor and promote adherence to hydration. However, like the experts remember Water alone is still sufficient for most people, except in cases of prolonged exercise or exposure to extreme heat. So, this new trend would be an evolution of traditional infused water, with a discourse that mixes nutrition and wellness aesthetics. “If flavored water displaces sugary drinks, it is healthier,” summarizes dietitian Fiorella DiCarloalthough with an important nuance: “Dehydration can cause fatigue, slow down metabolism and increase sugar cravings, which can lead to weight gain.” From that logic, the loaded water It becomes a tool for those looking to hydrate better without adding sugar. Is it so hard to drink water? There is no viralization without an uncomfortable truth behind it: many people do not reach the daily hydration recommendations. According to Mayo Clinicrecommends 15.5 cups of liquids a day for men and 11.5 for women, remembering that not only water counts, but also fruits and other foods with high water content. Additionally, the Cleveland Clinic medical portal relates the lack of water with cravings for sweets, something that loaded water promises to combat by offering flavor without sugar. With or without flavor? It is not a fixed recipe, since it can include electrolytes, prebiotics, sparkling water, fruits, herbs or vitamins, depending on the needs or taste of each person. In short, as a Fitness portal explainsis a creative and functional way to hydrate, which allows you to customize the drink according to your goals: energy, digestion or simply flavor. Regular water is still enough for most people, except those who engage in intense physical activity or are exposed to extreme heat. The rest, recalls nutritionist Helen Tieuyou can get the same minerals through a balanced diet with fruits, vegetables, nuts and dairy. Healthy fashion or profitable business? The border between well-being and business is easily blurred. In a report for the New York Times documented as the #WaterTok phenomenon skyrocketed sales of syrups and flavoring mixes: brands like Jordan’s Skinny Mixes sold out and doubled their revenue. Many of the creators who popularized the movement included affiliate links to the products they used. Under the same prism, loaded water falls within the “liquid aesthetics of well-being”, where translucent, colorful and photogenic drinks triumph —like clear protein—. The visual is sold as synonymous with health, even though there are ultra-processed products behind it. And there lies the slightest difference with a more sober and “scientific” tone, but ultimately it responds to the same commercial logic: converting water into a product that can be labeled, promoted and sold. Back to the essentials. Not all experts join the wave of functional powders. Nutritionist Ángela Quintas defends the return to nature and shares simple recipes for waters flavored with cucumber, mint, lemon or red fruits. “Hydration is not just drinking water, it is taking care of your metabolism, your skin, your energy and your health from within,” remembers in statements to La Vanguardia. To avoid confusion, nutritionists match on some basic principles: prioritize fresh fruits, herbs or coconut water over industrial powders, limit sodium and artificial flavorings if consumed several times a day, and adjust hydration to individual needs. In situations of prolonged effort or extreme heat, electrolytes may make sense, but it is always advisable to consult a professional if there are kidney or cardiovascular problems. The water is no longer invisible. Under the guise of health, the loaded water It is also an example of how far wellness marketing can go. If in 2023 the WaterTok turned hydration into a spectacle, in 2025 the loaded water He has transformed it into a business. What started as a reminder to drink more water is today an industry of dyes, powders and promises. The trend passes, the thirst remains. Image | FreePik Xataka | You don’t sweat as much, but you drink like you’re running a marathon: the new obsession with electrolytes

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.