93% of owners believe that sleeping with their dog improves their rest. Science has just proven that it is self-deception

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Night comes, you get into bed and, almost out of inertia, your dog or cat jumps on the mattress to curl up at your feet. For many people, pets are full members of the family and even share the sheets. According to a report from the platform Sleep Foundation56% of people say they sleep with a pet in their room. The bond is so strong that the mere idea of ​​changing this habit generates rejection. Sleep psychologist Shelby Harris recounts in an interview for The New York Times that when caring for patients with insomnia problems, the first reaction is usually almost defensive: “I have a dog. You’re going to tell me not to sleep with him.” And, although sleeping with our animals gives us an immense feeling of peace, the scientific community has begun to empirically measure what happens in our body and brain during the night. The bad news is that, objectively, your rest could be suffering much more than you realize. Data under the microscope. An exhaustive study published in the scientific journal Scientific Reports decided to put exact figures on this phenomenon. Researcher Brian N. Chin and his team analyzed the habits of a representative sample of more than 1,500 adults in the United States. The results revealed that sleeping with pets is directly associated with poorer perceived sleep quality and greater severity of insomnia symptoms. Interestingly, the impact is not identical with all animals. Research analyzes showed that this negative effect on human sleep is strongly associated with dog owners, but no evidence was found that the same damage occurs when sleeping with cats. This difference may be due to the fact that dogs have greater sensitivity to external stimuli, waking up more easily to the noise of cars or barking in the neighborhood. The main problem lies in the sleeper’s self-deception. The author of the study highlights a surprising fact: 93% of people who slept with their pets firmly believed that their pets had a positive or neutral effect on their sleep. This disconnection between perception and biological reality is also supported In another study carried out on 12 women; Although the monitoring devices showed that the dogs constantly interrupted their rest, they rarely reported these interruptions the next morning. Why do we rest worse if we feel good? Dr. Vsevolod Polotsky, a sleep researcher at Johns Hopkins University, explains that the sleep of dogs and cats is not continuous; They inevitably move, bark, scratch or walk on the bed and on us. All this nocturnal activity causes what experts call “microawakenings.” Neurology professor Kristen Knutson details that these brief interruptions, which we are often not even aware of, are extremely disruptive because they abruptly take us out of the deep sleep phase. Worse yet, they have been associated with the release of the stress hormone cortisol, which significantly worsens overall rest. Furthermore, the investigation of Scientific Reports demolished one of the most widespread beliefs: the myth that the pet acts as a protective shield against anxiety before sleeping. Although high levels of life stress were associated with worse sleep, the scientists found no evidence that sleeping with the animal had a “buffering” effect that would protect the person from the ravages of stress. However, purely emotional logic has an undeniable weight in this equation. Sleeping with a pet, especially one with whom you have a close bond, can reduce the sense of perceived vulnerability and dramatically increase the feeling of security. We are faced with a complex exchange: our physical body experiences fragmented and less efficient sleep, but the animal’s mere presence helps emotional regulation by making us feel happy and protected. The verdict of the specialists. For animals, the experience of sharing sheets is undoubtedly positive. Dr. Dana Varble, veterinary director of the North American Veterinary Community, points out that animals Those who sleep with their owners experience higher levels of trust, as well as an increase in beneficial neurotransmitters such as oxytocin and dopamine, known as the feel-good hormones. However, in the case of humans, medical specialists warn about certain risk profiles: Respiratory problems: People with allergies or asthma are at risk of seeing their symptoms activated by being exposed to allergens such as animal dander for multiple hours in a closed space. Persistent allergens: Dr. Raj Dasgupta, pulmonologist, warns that allergens They also reside in the animal’s saliva and skin, which can cause watery eyes and continued nasal congestion throughout the night. Previous disorders: For those who suffer from chronic problems such as insomnia or sleep apnea, Dr. Polotsky is very clear when stating that bed sharing “is particularly harmful” and will prevent the patient from falling asleep again when they wake up. There are, of course, medical exceptions where the balance tips in favor of the animal. Service dogs trained for patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are of great help by knowing how to identify physical symptoms and wake their owners to interrupt nocturnal nightmares. Dr. Dasgupta also recognizes that, For people dealing with depression or anxiety, the pet can act as a comforting “big blanket” that effectively decreases distress. The unwanted companions. Beyond sleep quality, hygiene adds another layer of risk to nighttime living. A revealing pilot study published in the scientific journal Pathogens investigated what exact bacteria and parasites we take to bed. Of the 50 animals analyzed, 30% literally slept in bed, under the blankets with their humans. The most striking thing about this research was the great contradiction of the owner: although 42% of all respondents cited lack of hygiene as the main reason why pets should not be allowed into the bedroom, in practice, many ignored the risk and allowed them to sleep there. Microscopic measurements of the fur were surprising. The aerobic colony count (ACC) on the dogs’ hair exceeded the maximum limits of bacteria tolerated on hospital surfaces or in food preparation areas by 4 to 43 times. Even more graphic is that 64% of the dogs tested positive for … Read more

Jupiter appeared just in time to retain the elements that would allow life

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Jupiter it’s a big planet and inhospitable, but it is quite possible that we owe life on Earth to it. And, according to a study recently published by scientists at Rice University with the support of NASAthe largest planet in the Solar System acted as a kind of gravitational dam to retain in our neighborhood some of the essential ingredients for the proliferation of living organisms. Phosphorus and nitrogen. These scientists have been based in measuring the ratio between phosphorus and nitrogen (P/N), two elements that are considered essential for life in adequate proportions. Thanks to the analysis of the composition of two different types of meteorites, it was possible to verify that, initially, the appropriate P/N ratio was concentrated in the outer part of the solar system, very far from where the Earth ended up forming. However, when the giant Jupiter was born, its great mass caused a kind of gravitational barrier that prevented the phosphorus from continuing to flow outwards and concentrate inside, in such a way that the Earth had the correct proportion of those pieces that, joined to others, could little by little give rise to the life that our planet houses today. 4.5 billion years of history. The solar system was formed from a large cloud of gas and dust 4.5 billion years ago. First, gas and dust merged to form celestial objects known as planetesimals. These collided with each other, releasing small pieces that over time became the planets and moons that the Solar System houses today. Some, however, did not constitute either of these two objects, but continued to wander in the form of asteroids. Furthermore, if these asteroids impact the Earth They are considered meteoriteswhich can be of two types. On the one hand we have iron meteorites, which are dense, metallic and composed mostly of iron and nickel. Secondly we have the chondrites, which They are rocky. The latter constitute the majority of meteorites that have been recovered on Earth. Some older than others. Today we know that iron meteorites are older than chondrites, since they were formed from a first batch of planetesimals. Chondrites were formed about 2-3 million years later. Taking this into account is very important, since it is precisely what was analyzed to verify how nitrogen and phosphorus were distributed during the dawn of the Solar System. Two other elements come into action. There are two other elements that indicate the origin of meteorites that have impacted the Earth. By analyzing the ratios of nickel and molybdenum isotopes it is possible to know whether the meteorites come from the external or internal part of the Solar System. This is important, since thanks to a series of laboratory experiments and geochemical models it was possible to verify exactly where the meteorites came from and how the levels of phosphorus and nitrogen fluctuated between them. The asteroid belt separates the outer and inner part of the Solar System From outside to inside. We already know that the first phases of the solar system can be studied in iron meteorites and the newer ones in chondrites. We also know that both can come from the external or internal part of the solar system and that this is found out by analyzing the isotopes of nickel and molybdenum. Thus, these scientists saw that the greatest high P/N was initially concentrated in the outer part of the solar system. However, later the tables turned and it began to focus on the internal region, precisely where the Earth was formed. The causes. In its initial phases, the protoplanetary disk in which the planets formed would be very hot and turbulent. These turbulences cause a strong flow of materials outwards. With increasing temperatures, phosphorus condenses inside the disk, as part of a mineral called schreibersite. Then, due to turbulence, it flows to the outside of the disk, which is much colder. The result is a buildup of phosphorus on the outside. As for nitrogen, through oxidation it is freed from some minerals that contain it, but it is very volatile, so it is maintained at lower levels. That means that in the outer layers there is a high P/N ratio. That is, much more phosphorus than nitrogen. Turn of tables. In chondrites it is observed that the tables turn. The elements of life flowed inward. This is partly because the disk is already colder after 3 million years, so there is less turbulence. But it is not enough to explain what these scientists have seen. For this reason, they consider that there is also a great influence from Jupiter. The changes occur more or less from the moment this giant planet formed. The main suspicion is that, being so large, it exerts a great gravitational influence that acts as a barrier preventing the schreibersite from escaping outward. On the other hand, due to the cooling of the disk, the nitrogen-bearing minerals stabilize on the outside. This means that the exterior is enriched in nitrogen, while the interior is impoverished. Added to the retention of internal phosphorus, the result is a high internal P/N ratio, which coincides with what we have on Earth today and, possibly, served as a starting signal for the formation of life. In short, Jupiter gave us a cable. He didn’t give us the ingredients to live, but he did prevent them from escaping our neighborhood. That was the key. Image | Comparison of the size of Jupiter and Earth (NASA) | Solar System (NASA) In Xataka | We have been studying the planets of TRAPPIST-1 for years with great hope. James Webb just knocked it down

“Airport fees should be reduced”

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“They should be reduced.” Two words summarize the CNMC’s position regarding the strategy that Aena must apply in relation to airport taxes. The semi-state company wants to apply a 3.82% increase in the rates that airlines pay in our country for each of the passengers who board their planes. And that is a reason for obvious conflict with the companies. And especially with Ryanair. What does the CNMC say? That the 3.82% increase that Aena has proposed for the period 2027-2031 is not the best idea. In a report titled lCNMC concludes that airport fees should be reduced between 2027-2031the body in charge of ensuring free competition in the Spanish market has a clear position. According to the report, it is not only recommended to eliminate this increase, it is also recommended to lower rates by 0.59%. This would help: Increase traffic from the 1.3% calculated by Aena to the 2.2% calculated by the CNMC that will be achieved with this rate reduction. It would go from the 346.7 million passengers expected by Aena to the 366.7 million calculated by the CNMC. Reduce operating expenses by 741.5 million euros considering that the increase expected by the CNMC is much higher than that of estimated passengers. According to the agency, this indicates an operational inefficiency. Why does the CNMC say this?. This response from Aena is part of the procedure that must be followed for the approval of the Airport Regulation Document corresponding to the period 2027-2031 (DORA III), which should be approved before September 30, 2026. He Ministry of Transport refers to this document as: “The basic instrument for defining the minimum conditions necessary to guarantee the accessibility, sufficiency and suitability of the airport infrastructure and the adequate provision of the basic airport services of the Aena airport network” To finish deciding what to do with airport taxes for the 2027-2031 time frame, the General Directorate of Civil Aviation of the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility has requested a report from Competition to provide a second opinion on the numbers presented by Aena. This step is mandatory. Aena’s proposal before the CNMC. To understand why Aena proposes an increase in airport taxes, you have to understand some key points of your proposal. The company, halfway between state and private, proposes the following: Personnel expenses will increase by 16.7% between the period 2027 to 2031 and 37.1% compared to the numbers closed in 2025. Operating expenses (maintenance, cleaning, security or energy, among others) will increase by 18.3% in 2027-2031, which represents an increase of 49.4% compared to 2025 numbers. Taking 2024 as a reference, the expenses that will increase the most once the period ends in 2031 will be: security (84.8%), maintenance (102.3%) and operational and labor services (77.5%). These data, according to the CNMC, are not realistic and exemplify problems of productive inefficiency. According to his calculations: Operating expenses would grow four times more than the expected increase in traffic. According to Competition calculations, for every 1% growth in traffic in Spain there would be a 3.3% growth in operating expenses. The CNMC defends that taking into account economies of scale, with its proposal Aena would be saving 741.5 million euros in operating expenses between the years 2027 and 2031 despite lowering rates since this would increase traffic. The airlines. What the airlines propose It is, evidently, a reduction in airport taxes. Specifically 4.9%. The figure, they say, would not put at risk the investment plan that Aena has already announced for the coming years and for which it estimates that it will be necessary to spend 10,000 million euros. They defend that a drop in rates would increase traffic and give as an example the period 2017-2025 in which the number of passengers increased by 15.3% compared to the airport manager’s forecasts. If so, they consider that traffic would grow by 3.6%. Halfway. That is, the CNMC proposal is halfway there. Competition believes that passenger growth in 2027-2031 will be 2.2%, while Aena estimates 1.3% and airlines advance 3.6%. Furthermore, he believes that rates should go down but only by 0.59%, far from the 3.82% increase proposed by Aena and just as far from the 4.9% reduction proposed by the airlines. Why is it important? Airport taxes are being the great battle between Aena and the airlines. Of all of them, Ryanair has undoubtedly been the most critical of the airport manager’s decisions, threatening to reduce traffic in smaller airports considering that prices are abusive. In some it has already done so. At these airports, Aena has bonuses to attract travelers and make airlines pay less money. For its part, Aena has confronted the Irish company (the one that moves the most traffic in Spain) and has made it clear that it will not give in to what they consider blackmail. In fact, Maurici Lucena, president of Ryanair, stated yesterday that with this company’s position “the debate on airport charges will be endless” and defended that “Aena’s rates are the lowest in Europe”, in statements reported by The Newspaper. For now, it will be necessary to wait to confirm whether rates end up rising or, as the CNMC and the airlines prefer, end up being reduced. We should know by September 30, 2026. Photo | Wikimedia and Wolfgang Weiser In Xataka | After leaving many Spanish airports without service, Ryanair has made another decision: to raise its prices by 9%

The European Union presents its digital sovereignty plan to compete with the US technologically. It’s a wonderful utopia

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The European commission just announced the European Technological Sovereignty Package. The objective is to reduce European dependence on foreign suppliers of both hardware and software solutions, and to achieve this the plan is simple: ensure that European companies can compete with North American companies. And precisely there lies the problem. For a European cloud. The entire focus of this initiative is on drastically reducing the exposure of the Old Continent to cloud services controlled by American companies. The concern generated by the CLOUD Act and the current geopolitical situation has caused the EU to try to migrate at least part of its critical services to local nodes so that this data always remain under European jurisdiction. The regulation trap. The great Achilles heel of this strategy is once again the way of trying to solve the problem. The European Union is a superpower regulatingbut it is a secondary actor in the field of creation and innovation. Both the US and China do not stop investing billions of dollars from the private sector to develop new AI chips or models. Meanwhile, Brussels responds with AI surveillance agencies and bureaucratic obstacles to the companies it precisely wants to try to promote. Hello Linux. In the document published by the EC, an open source strategy is repeatedly mentioned as an essential weapon to avoid dependence on foreign suppliers. Operating systems such as Linux and developments with this philosophy can undoubtedly provide a basic pillar to be able to develop competitive projects, and of course there are already movements that aim to replace proprietary solutions such as Microsoft Office with open source solutions such as LibreOffice. reality is harsh. The harsh economic and technological reality is that in many segments Europe does not have companies that can compete with the technological giants of the US. One of these segments is precisely that of cloud infrastructure: Amazon, Microsoft and Google dominate this market imperially, and although the intention is to change to “sovereign” clouds; The question is, which one? It is true that there are some companies such as OVH (France) or T-Systems (Germany) that have their own infrastructure, but they are still far from their American rivals. Worrying precedents. In 2020 Europe launched the GAIA-X projecta large cloud platform that was theoretically going to make it possible to face the three large hyperscalers in the US. Dozens of companies were going to get involved in an ambitious project that six years later is in a state that is difficult to define: the official website publishes news frequently and there is a specification and code which, for example, talk about GAIA-X 3.0 ‘Danube’, but it does not seem that at the moment this platform is being used in a practical way. The money comes, but from outside. And while the EU becomes entangled in regulation and ethical debates, the projects that should theoretically boost that digital sovereignty are weakening it. Investment in data centers in Europe is a good example: practically all those that want to be built They are simply delegations of large US technology companies. A wonderful utopia. Digital sovereignty is a logical objective as the world is currently moving, but in the EU they seem to confuse priorities once again. That sovereignty is not gained by prohibiting or regulating foreign technology. You win by making yours so competitive that the rest of the world has no choice but to use it. That requires a lot of work and a lot, a lot of capital investment. Not even the European Court of Auditors trusts for something like this to come to fruition. Image | Rafael Garcin In Xataka | The European Union knows that the US has stopped being a reliable partner: its new agreement with India aims to compensate for it

France has been determined to rob Spain of its position as a data center power in Europe

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The French country has hit the table in its ambition to become a technological benchmark in Europe. He agreement reached between Emmanuel Macron and Masayoshi Son (CEO of SoftBank) aims to deploy up to 5 GW of computing capacity for AI data centers in northern France. This movement competes with all the projects that are underway in Spain, one of the countries that until now had attracted the greatest interest from hyperscalers. The problem is that neither France nor Spain will gain much from these initiatives. Nuclear counterattack. France has taken advantage your energy network —with a clear prominence of its nuclear power plants— to attract AI supercomputing projects. The SoftBank project will start in the Hauts-de-France region with an initial phase of 45 billion euros to build data centers in regions such as Dunkirk. In this first phase we want to achieve that the total capacity rise to 3.1 GW in 2031followed by a second phase that could reach 5 GW. Spain, data center paradise. Faced with this French movement, Spain has been closing agreements in that same area for months. It totals more than 22,000 million euros in recently announced projects. Giants like AWS (15.7 billion in Aragon), Microsoft (more than 7,000 million) and Blackstone have chosen our country to create these data centers. The Spanish advantage is its renewable energy productionwhich has attracted that type of investment. The harsh reality: Europe (probably) loses. Although both this announcement and those made in Spain are very striking, the reality for the Old Continent is quite stark. The data centers in Spain are not Spanish, and those in France are not French either. Europe is becoming the powerhouse for foreign multinationals that invest here because it suits them strategically. Energy resources are great for Microsoft, Amazon, Meta or Softbank, but the real benefit of this computing does not remain in Europe. The accounts. There is a clear difference between the strategies of Spain and France. Spanish soil is filled with hyperscalers like AWS or Microsoft that build, operate their own clouds and then control the flow completely. In the case of France, the initiative depends on a Japanese conglomerate allied with sovereign funds from the Middle East. SoftBank operates here more like a real estate developer– Create the data center and then rent it to third parties. Source: FT. Sovereignty, little. Emmanuel Macron and Pedro Sánchez can sell the message that these projects promote this ambition to have sovereign AI. The problem is that these data centers are simply delegations of big technology companies taking advantage of the advantages offered by their European partners. There may be options in the French project for the country to boost its AI companies —Mistral is the clear example—, but the truth is that these movements do little to help this objective of avoiding the independence of foreign technology companies. Rather they make the situation worse. The other European rivals. Europe’s traditional technology markets, grouped under the acronym FLAP-D (Frankfurt, London, Amsterdam, Paris and Dublin) are giving way to projects in other countries like France or Spain. There are also other protagonists in this new map of decentralized infrastructures: the Nordic countries are also interesting for their cold climates, ideal for helping to cool these centers. The real bottleneck. Beyond the billions of euros that are on the table, the big battle in the coming years will be access to hardware components, especially now that the memory crisis has made everything significantly more expensive. Demand far exceeds supply and it does not seem that this imbalance will be resolved soon, so all of these initiatives could suffer delays and changes in their final costs. In Xataka | Mistral does not generate hype, it is a discreet AI, it does not boost the shares of any company, but it already makes more money than Grok

Spain launches radio frequency detectors to hunt penguins and AI

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June and July are two months that almost 300,000 students in Spain have marked on their calendars, as they face the University Access Test (PAU). And in some classrooms they also face it with extra surveillance measures for those who copy. We are referring to radio frequency detectors, small devices designed to hunt down hidden devices that some students could use to copy, especially if there is AI involved. What exactly are they? They are not signal inhibitors, but detectors. In this sense, a jammer blocks communications, while these devices only locate them. Héctor Esteban, professor in the area of ​​Signal Theory and Communications at the Polytechnic University of Valencia, counted to El Español that are electromagnetic radiation detectors costing about 10 or 12 euros that track WiFi, Bluetooth and 3G, 4G and 5G networks in a very broad spectrum. When they detect a nearby signal, they warn with a beep or vibration. Stephen himself describes them such as devices as small “as a pen”, that the teacher can carry in his pocket in vibration mode so that the alert goes unnoticed by the rest of the classroom. What are they aiming for? The objective is not so much conventional mobile phones as technology that is difficult to see with the naked eye. The vice-rector of Students of the Complutense University, Rosa de la Fuente, counted that “we are concerned about everything that could be used to commit fraud”, such as micro-earphones and AI glasses generative, since they are devices with which we can easily obtain responses from another person abroad or from any chatbot. Where are they used? The measure does not currently apply throughout Spain. The six public universities of Madrid launched the detectors at the beginning of the month for their more than 42,000 students. Added to these are communities such as Galicia, Murcia, Aragon, Catalonia, the Valencian Community, Andalusia, the Balearic Islands and the Basque Country, among others. The devices are not in all classrooms at the same time. Cristina Moreno, vice-rector of the University of the Balearic Islands assured that the devices rotate through the different locations, but not necessarily during all the tests. What happens if the alert goes off. If the detector vibrates, the exam is “flagged” and the student continues taking the exam as normal. Afterwards, it is the court of headquarters that analyzes the case and decides. However, the sanctions are not identical throughout Spain, because each community sets its own framework. In Madrid, according to counted de la Fuente, three levels are distinguished: a minor fault leaves the exam marked but preserves the grade; a serious one, such as having your cell phone on, can cancel that exam; and a very serious one, such as the active use of a earpiece, can invalidate the entire Selectivity. In other locations the criteria is more severe, as is the case of the Polytechnic of Valencia, where in some cases it is enough for them to find a mobile phone on them, even if it is turned off, to fail the subject. It is not a perfect method. Jesús Alcalde, cybersecurity specialist, counted to The Objective that the scope is limited, because the devices only alert active signals, can give false positives in full classrooms and do not always allow them to prove themselves that there has been copying. Its greatest value, in reality, is as a deterrent. Héctor Esteban illustrated it counting that, in one of the first tests, it was enough to announce that the detector was going to be passed for fifteen students to get up to hand over the cell phone that they should not have brought. Why is it coming just now? The trigger is the emergence of generative AI, which has turned the old problem of copying into something much more complex to deal with. However, the universities themselves recognize that this is a pilot project that they will have to review each course, because at the end of the day the technology for cheating advances as quickly as the tools to detect it. And now what. Radiofrequency covers only part of the problem, and many in the academic field believe that the underlying solution is not in the devices, but in changing the way of evaluating. Stephen himself point towards oral exams, common in countries like Italy, or the in-person defense of papers. Cover image | Ben Mullins and Alberto Ortega (Europa Press) In Xataka | Someone has created the website “is AI profitable anymore?” to answer the question of our time in real time

What is the blue dot at the top of your Android mobile

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Let’s tell you what is the blue dot that will soon start to appear on the screen of your Android mobile. This is a new indicator similar to the green and orange dot which already appears on many devices, a privacy indicator that tells you when an app is accessing specific sensitive data on your mobile. We are going to start the article by explaining what this blue dot on the mobile screen means, and the fact that it can appear or disappear from it. Then, we will tell you what you should do in the event that this point appears for no apparent reason, an indicator that an app could be doing something behind your back. What does the blue dot on your phone’s status bar mean? The blue dot in the status bar that appears at the top right of the screen of an Android mobile means that an app is accessing your location. Every time your phone is sending your location the dot will appear, and then it will disappear when it stops doing so. This is a method with which your mobile phone tells you the exact moment in which the location permission is being used. The goal is that apps do not use your location without you knowing itand that you can detect bad behavior in applications. Therefore, with this three types of colored dots will appear on your mobile screen: green dot: Indicates that an application is using your mobile camera. orange dot: Indicates that an application is using your mobile microphone. blue dot: Indicates that an application is using your mobile location. At the moment, this indicator has already begun to arrive to some Google Pixel phones, such as the Google Pixel 10a. However, it is expected to become a standard indicator that will also soon begin to reach other Android phones from brands such as Samsung, Xiaomi, and others. What to do if this point appears for no apparent reason This blue indicator will appear whenever your phone is using location data. If it appears when you do not have an application open It is because someone is accessing them in the background. If you see that your location is being used but you don’t know what application it may be, it is best to check your location access permissions in the settings of your Android mobile. To do this, go to Settings and go to the section Privacy and security. Once inside, click on Privacy Settingsand inside access the section Permissions manager. This will take you to a list with all the permissions on your mobile, and you must click on the permission Location. By doing this, you will go to a list where you will see all apps that have permission to access your locationboth those that do it at all times and those that can only be accessed while you use them. Here, you can review which applications you are giving this access to, and you can revoke it from any that you consider should not have it. Images | Noelia Hontoria In Xataka Basics | 47 free and open source alternative Android applications that respect your privacy as much as possible

It is from Samsung and arrives with a discount and Galaxy Buds4 as a gift

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Samsung has new Odyssey monitors. These are oriented towards gaming as usual, although this time we have two that can also be great for us when it comes to working. The best thing is that they are all now available in the company’s official store and they do it with double promo: We have a 10% discount on everyone and, in addition, some Galaxy Buds4 as a gift. Gaming Monitor 27″ Odyssey G8 G80HF 5K 180 Hz Flat The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Taking advantage of this is very simple: all we have to do is use the code ‘NUEVOSIT10’. Right below we are going to see each of the new monitors and, in addition, We will explain how to buy them at the best price. Odyssey G8 G80HS The first of these monitors is the Odyssey G80HS, which is, as you can read in the title of this article, the world’s first 6K gaming monitor. This resolution means that we can play with greater clarity and a more detailed image, although it is also something that will be great for those of us who work with text. All this with a refresh rate of 165 Hz, which is not bad either. The funny thing is that we can go down to 3K resolution (similar to 1440p) and raise the refresh rate to 330 Hz. This Odyssey, which is 32 inches, has DisplayPort 2.1 and is compatible with HDR10+ Gamingas well as with AMD FreeSync Premium and NVIDIA G-Sync, the two most important VRR technologies that allow gaming without tearing (very annoying image jumps). Using the code ‘NEWIT10‘ and ‘Delivery and Premiere‘, Samsung’s renewal plan, remains in 1,119.10 euros (its RRP is 1,299 euros). Gaming Monitor 32″ Odyssey G80HS 6K 165 Hz Flat The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Odyssey G8 G80HF The Odyssey G8 G80HF is a more compact and smaller version of the previous one. It is 27 inches and in this case it has or5K base resolution with a 180 Hz refresh rate. Also like the previous one, it has Dual Mode, so we can lower its resolution to QHD and raise the refresh rate to 360 Hz. Otherwise, It is exactly the same monitor As far as the most important features are concerned: compatibility with both FreeSync Premium and G-Sync, also with HDR10+ Gaming and comes with DisplayPort 2.1 ports. Using the same discount code and using ‘Delivery and Release’ you stay at 624.10 euros (instead of 749 euros). Gaming Monitor 27″ Odyssey G8 G80HF 5K 180 Hz Flat The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Odyssey G8 OLED G80SH We now move on to the Odyssey G8 OLED G80SH. We don’t have Dual Mode here, although it is still a 32-inch 4K monitor. The key point of this Odyssey is that uses OLED technologywhich represents a leap in image quality compared to IPS panels. By not having a backlight layer (their pixels are self-emissive), these types of panels achieve a pure black color and much better contrast, something that we will notice a lot when playing (especially in dark scenes or in horror games, for example). In fact, one of the new features of this QD-OLED panel uses Penta Tandem technology, which means it has a multi-layer structure. This, in practice, means that you have better brightness, efficiency and better resistance to burning that OLED panels tend to suffer in the long run. In addition, it also uses Glare Free technology that helps avoid those annoying reflections on the screen. To all of the above we must add a 98 W USB-C port (ideal for charging a laptop or any device, for example) and a 240 Hz refresh rate, which we have not mentioned above. Using the code ‘NEWIT10‘ and with ‘Entrega y Estrena’ it remains in 1029.10 euros (has a RRP of 1,199 euros). Gaming Monitor 32″ Odyssey OLED G8 G80SH 4K 240Hz Flat The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Odyssey G7 OLED G73SH We only have one Odyssey monitor left to talk about from this new batch from Samsung: the G7 OLED G73SH. It is a cheaper version than the previous G8, although it is still maintaining the 4K resolution and the 32-inch diagonal. It does have certain cuts, such as the absence of Glare Free or Penta Tandem technology. In exchange for this, this Odyssey does have Dual Mode, being able to lower its resolution to FHD, gaining 330 Hz refresh rate. This can be great for, for example, competitive games that require fast and precise movements (it also helps that the monitor has only 0.03 ms response time). Using the same code and with ‘Delivery and Release’, your price remains at 804.10 eurosa discount compared to its RRP of 949 euros. Gaming Monitor 32″ Odyssey OLED G7 G73SH 4K 165Hz Flat The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Bonus Ball: ViewFinity S85TH Although almost all the monitors that Samsung has released, there is one exception: the new ViewFinity S85TH. This monitor, which has a 40-inch curved screenis more oriented to the professional world and to work. It supports Thunderbolt 5 and has a 140W charging port, making it perfect for connecting a laptop. Despite not being an Odyssey, it falls within the same promotion, so it also has some Galaxy Buds4 as a gift and you can use the code ‘NUEVOSIT10’. With this and ‘Delivery and Release’, its price goes from 999 euros to 849.10 euros. ViewFinity 40″ S8 S85TH 5K2K WUHD 144Hz Curved Monitor The price could vary. We earn commission from these links You may also be interested LG 32GX850A-B – Ultragear OLED Gaming Monitor, 32″, 4K (3840 x 2160), 165 Hz, 0.03 ms (GTG), Dual Mode, G-Sync Compatible and FreeSync Premium Pro, Adjustable Tilt and Height, Grayish Purple The price could vary. We earn commission from these links MSI mag 273QP QD-OLED The price could vary. We earn … Read more

Switch 2 will have replaceable battery in 2027

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nintendo has confirmed on its consumer information website that prepares a revised version of the Switch 2 for the European market, one in which the battery can be easily replaced. It is not really a traditional revision as we might expect, but a new version born as a result of complying with European regulations that will come into force in 2027. What is this about? The key is in the Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 on batteries, which as of February 18, 2027 requires that cells and batteries integrated in certain devices sold in the EU can be removed and replaced by the user himself easily and at any time during the product’s useful life. Portable consoles fall into that category, so the Switch 2 is fully affected. What Nintendo says. In the official publication On its website, the company assures that it is “implementing measures to comply with these requirements by preparing versions of products that comply with the Regulation.” To differentiate those models from the current ones, Nintendo says the new ones will carry different model numbers and the additional “OSM” code visible on the packaging, identifying them as “standalone products for regulatory purposes.” How affected models are recognized. Nintendo doesn’t mention the Switch 2 by name, instead talking about “current products whose model numbers start with ‘BEE’.” That is precisely the case of Switch 2, whose model number is BEE-001, as collects VGC. The Joy-Con 2 (BEE-012 and BEE-014) and the Switch 2 Pro controller (BEE-008) also have integrated batteries and share that same prefix, so they could also receive a review if the regulations apply to them. At the moment, Nintendo has not confirmed it. Details yet to be confirmed. Nintendo does not explain what will change at the design level to facilitate replacement. And it will require a major change, because nowadays replacing the Switch 2 battery is no small feat. According to the repair guide from iFixit, the battery is not accessible even after removing the back cover, and requires disassembling a large part of the device and then reassembling it. The one with the Joy-Con 2 is somewhat simpler, but it’s not easy either. Only for the EU, for now. Nintendo has not yet committed to selling these models outside of Europe, nor is it under any obligation to do so. However, as they point From Tom’s Guide, making a completely different version of hardware for a single region ends up making little economic sense. And the usual thing is that regional variants are limited to specific components, not to redesigns as important as this one. That’s why it wouldn’t be strange if, over time, the “OSM” models also end up reaching other markets, although for now it’s just a guess. When. The only certainty is that Nintendo will have these adapted consoles in European stores before February 18, 2027. What is not clear is the exact schedule or whether the original version will coexist with the new one or will end up disappearing. Nor should we lose sight of the fact that these models will arrive, presumably, after the price increase planned for Septemberwhich places the console at 500 euros here in Europe. We will have to wait to find out more information about it. In Xataka | A CD Projekt developer: “Do you know what we’re doing for ‘The Witcher 4’? People aren’t ready”

A scientist wants to build a space shield against solar storms. Your secret weapon: lithium and barium

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Predict the arrival of very strong solar storms It is important for many reasons. Not only to keep an eye out and not get lost the most beautiful auroras. Also because these could affect satellites or terrestrial communications systems, so it is important to take precautions. The problem is that, no matter how much prevention methods have improved, we cannot do much more than be prepared for what is coming. Today there are no ways to stop these solar storms. However, a scientist from Boston University has announced that it is working on a method to strengthen the Earth’s natural shield against this type of phenomena. A stronger shield. The scientist in question is called Brian Walsh and is working in what he himself has called a wall against solar storms. Its objective is to send six ships to strategic points in a geostationary orbit, so that they release chemical elements capable of strengthening the magnetic field. These should be elements such as lithium or barium, since they are easily converted into positively charged ions when solar ultraviolet radiation hits them. At that point, the cargo released by the ships is converted to plasma. Precisely, what reaches Earth with solar storms is also plasma. However, there is a big difference. The one that comes from the sun consists of charged particles that move at very high speed, with great energy. On the other hand, what would be released into the magnetosphere would be cold, static plasma, which acts as a kind of wall, preventing this high-speed plasma from passing through the magnetosphere. A good shield when the activity is not too intense. The Earth has a great shield against solar storms. Generally, our magnetic field prevents these charged particles from the Sun from crossing into our atmosphere. This is because the magnetic field generally acts as a kind of rail on which the plasma circulates. The electrically charged particles are retained on these rails, but do not cross to the other side. They can only reach the atmosphere at the poles, where the inclination of the magnetic field lines acts as a kind of funnel. Even so, the charged particles that come from the surface of the Sun may already arrive somewhat weakened there. They interact with the gases in the atmosphere, exciting the atoms and causing the release of the light that makes up the auroras. But there are usually not very detrimental effects on communications. On the other hand, if the solar storm is very intense, the particles may be able to deform the rails of the magnetic field, filtering at the poles, but also in other places in the magnetosphere. Historical consequences. The consequences of these types of events have been seen numerous times throughout history. The most dramatic case was possibly that of Carrington eventwhich took place in 1859. It is considered the most powerful solar storm that has been recorded in history with consequences on Earth. Because of this large release of plasma from the Sun, auroras were seen in places as far from the poles as Hawaii and Cuba, but there were also less noticeable consequences, such as the burning of telegraph lines in many parts of the world. Another very notorious and dangerous case took place during the Vietnam War, in 1972, when a solar storm caused the accidental detonation of several magnetic underwater mines. And much more recent is the Gannon Storm, which in 2024 affected the GPS systems of planting tractors in several locations in the United Statescausing losses of 500 million dollars among farmers. But the situation could be worse. It is estimated that a major storm like Carrington’s could occur once a century. There hasn’t been one this big since then, so it could happen in the not too distant future. And today we depend much more on technologies than then. It is estimated that the losses could be more than 2 billion dollars. A natural process. This artificial wall that Walsh wants to create is inspired by a process that occurs naturally. And the thing is that, from time to time, small fragments of the Earth’s atmosphere break off and join the magnetic field, reinforcing it before the arrival of charged particles from the Sun. Lithium and barium would do something similar, artificially. Simulations only: For now, Brian Walsh has only made simulations of his invention, he has not tested it in space by any means. He himself recognizes that it is a complex process, so it must be done perfectly so that it causes more benefits than problems. Releasing ionizable elements at random could be harmful if not done in the right place. In addition, ways must be found to put ships in the correct place in their orbit before the storm arrives, so it is important to speed up the process while improving prediction methods. Handicaps. Although it may seem like a lot of mass is required to carry out this procedure, Walsh insists that the payload needs fall within current launch capabilities. However, he recognizes that it is an expensive process. Therefore, it would be necessary to look for ways to optimize it so that the necessary investment is not so large. For example, you want to work on pulsed release so that ionizable material is not wasted. In short, this method of controlling space weather is not at all something that will be used imminently, but it is clear that in the future we will need something like this. If not this method, another, but we greatly need something that protects us from the harshest elements of the Sun. Image | NASA | Walsh et al. In Xataka | A sunspot 17 times larger than Earth caused red auroras across half the world. It is a very rare event

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