“The cause of the sigh we make when we are sick is in the amygdala”

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Sometimes words are not needed, just look carefully. Someone receives a call, listens to it carefully, remains silent for a second and lets out a long sigh. Nothing more is needed: we know that something has happened, that there is bad news. It is a language older than words, the body screaming in its universal language. That language, for the neuroscientific communicator Nazareth Castellanos, is inscribed in our brain. The thing is, it’s easy to misunderstand. How the amygdala ‘hypertrophies’ (and the stories we tell about it). Castellanos has a very interesting conference that has been circulating on the internet for weeks. As the story of how the brain is “deflated,” the amygdala “deflated,” and “reset” has circulated, it has gained popularity and lost accuracy. It is true that sighing is inscribed in our socio-emotional system, but the explanation is a little more complex. What triggers the sigh? To answer this question we have to go to a tiny circuit within the brain stem. In 2016, the team of Li, Krasnow and Feldman mapped in mice and discovered that there are about 200 neurons that make two very specific peptides that are behind sighs. The two peptides (neuromedin B and gastrin-releasing peptide) have a lot to do with the pre-Bötzinger complex, what some call the pacemaker of respiration. But, in general, we are talking about something very basic: if they appear, they sigh; If you block the receptors, the sighing stops. And the amygdala? So what does the amygdala have to do with all this? The amygdala is part of the human ’emotional processor’. That’s the thing. In 2015, Dlouhy and Richerson, from the University of Iowa, found that electrically stimulate the amygdala could cause apnea and a drop in oxygen… without the patients realizing it. They didn’t notice the choking, or anything strange. Although we don’t have the exact biological mechanism (and we don’t know if it has anything to do with sighing), it is true that the amygdala plays a role in breathing control. And that the story is plausible. In fact, Castellanos, in an interviewused the precise term: he spoke of an amygdala that ‘increases its activity’, of an ‘apnea induced by the amygdala’. It is, as I say, more than plausible. Is a “sigh” “our body telling us we’re fed up”? That’s one way of looking at it, of course. But in reality the sigh is an element of ‘high neuroscience’ that we do not understand very well. We only know that what activates it is something that has been in our brain for a long time. That’s why it’s universal, that’s why we don’t need words. Image | Bhautik Patel In Xataka | Some philosophers boast of having found the “lost law” of evolution. It is much more complex

Faced with the dilemma of whether long or short vacations are better to disconnect, science has a very clear answer.

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Spain is not only divided into ‘with and sincebollists‘. If we talk about vacations, there is another dilemma that confronts people and even causes tensions between co-workers: Is it better to enjoy a long break, an impasse of several weeks that allows us to forget about the stress of the office and (hopefully) take a trip to some distant destination, or is it preferable to dose the 30 calendar days of rest that corresponds to us by law to take small getaways? If you ask your colleagues, you will probably find supporters of one or the other, but things change when you consult the experts. They are clear about it. “Long vacation or short vacation?” The question is not ours. It was launched a few days ago by doctor Antelm Pujol in a tweet which already has hundreds of thousands of views and has been shared more than 600 times, which demonstrates, among other things, that the topic generates interest. And it’s quite understandable. As a general rule, those of us who work in Spain have at least 30 calendar days (or 22 working days) of vacation, a limited time that we must manage correctly if we want to get the most out of it. So, what is best to disconnect? Should we take three weeks at a time to go to Cancun or Thailand or should we take several five-day getaways? Click on the image to go to the tweet. A matter of taste, right? More or less. Factors such as family balance, the budget managed by each person or personal tastes come into play in the decision: there are people who love to get away from their office for weeks and others who feel the house collapse after four days of vacation. However, if what we are looking for are scientific answers, things change. A quick Google search arrives to find research and experts who agree on which of the two options is more ‘intelligent’ or, at least, offers a better strategy to obtain the greatest possible rest. What option is that? Do not enjoy all the days of rest at once, but segment them over several months. “Taking more frequent vacations could be a better strategy to maintain well-being,” Pujol shares in his tweet. He doesn’t talk just to talk. In the same post he quotes an academic study published in 2012 in Journal of Happiness Studies in which three psychologists from the Radboud University (Netherlands) examine what impact vacations have on employees’ health and well-being. It is interesting because they focus on aspects such as the duration of trips, the quality of sleep or the organization of activities. And what did they discover? After interviewing a group of workers who went on a trip for an average of 23 days, the experts analyzed how their sense of well-being evolved. And one of the aspects they paid the most attention to was the length of the vacation. Were people happier the more time they spent offline? Did the feeling of relaxation and happiness ‘hit the ceiling’ at any point? Is a long vacation always a better vacation? The answer is no. The health and well-being of study participants increased during the first eight days of vacation, a trend that became especially pronounced between the fourth and eighth days of vacation. From there the evolution was not so clear or positive. “In summary, health and well-being levels improved rapidly over the holiday and peaked on the eighth day,” synthesize psychologists from Radboud University. Did you find out anything else? Yes. They also discovered that throughout the first week of returning to work “levels of health and well-being decreased and resembled baseline levels prior to vacation.” In short, the relaxing effect of the vacation fades after seven days. It may sound demoralizing, but it is an important nuance if what we are looking for is a strategy to get the most out of our 30 days of vacation. If relaxation reaches its peak on the eighth day and its effect on our mental health is lost shortly after returning to the office, isn’t it better to divide them into short breaks? What do the experts say? “Short, frequent vacations have a more positive impact than long, infrequent vacations. The bottom line is that you don’t need a whole month to see significant benefits because longer vacations don’t improve well-being more and they don’t make the benefits last longer,” explains to Men’s Health Marcos Vázquez, disseminator. “Taking seven to ten days off more frequently seems to increase well-being the most.” Does it only matter how much? Not at all. The how also matters (and a lot). It’s not just about whether the vacation lasts more or fewer days. If what we want is to disconnect, relax and increase our sense of mental well-being, we must take other important issues into account. For example, hours of sleep. The Dutch psychologists found that, on average, the subjects in their study slept 7.4 hours at night while on vacation, almost an hour more than what they normally did when they worked (6.7 hours). It is a fundamental detail because the experts confirmed an evident relationship between the duration and quality of sleep and the levels of well-being and health recorded by tourists. Is it the only study on the subject? No. The effects of vacation length they have analyzed them other experts such as Rui Cui, from the Shichuan Universityin China. In 2023 he published other paper in Tourism Review in which he notes an effect similar to that seen by his Dutch colleagues. “The regenerative effects were systematically greater in the group that traveled than in the group that did not. Furthermore, an inverted ‘U’-shaped relationship was observed between the duration of the trip and the regenerative effect of the vacation,” comment the Chinese expert. “A moderate duration had more intense regenerative effects than a duration that was too long or too short.” And before the holidays? In reality, it is … Read more

that the lion of the Metro remained silent

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Before every Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film, a lion has been roaring for a century. Only once did he remain silent, and this silence was persecuted by a director who wanted to be respectful of the Child Jesus. It was in ‘Ben-Hur’, in 1959: the lion, instead of roaring as was his custom, appeared still, looking at the camera. It was the first time in the production company’s sound history that it adopted this timid behavior. Teasing the lion. Wyler did not want his biblical epic, which begins with the Three Wise Men visiting the Baby Jesus, to have as a prelude the roar of a circus animal. The director He then explained to the press that he did not want “the Christmas atmosphere to be disturbed”, and that he convinced Metro to replace the roar with a shot of the still lion that already existed in the studio archive, thus avoiding re-recording anything. Wyler came to regret that the anecdote made more headlines than the film itself, something that at the time seemed almost like a provocation against an untouchable symbol. The importance of ‘Ben-Hur’. ‘Ben-Hur’ was not just any production for MGM. The studio invested around $15 million in filming, the highest amount ever allocated to a film, at a time when the company was going through serious financial difficulties. The gamble worked: the film grossed nearly $37 million in the United States alone and $80 million worldwide during its initial release, enough to sustain the studio for another decade. At the 1960 Oscars it won eleven statuettes out of twelve nominations, a record that still stands 66 years later and that only ‘Titanic’ and ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King’ have managed to equal, although not surpass. Lots of lions, actually. Behind “the lion of the Metro” there is, in reality, a succession of different animals: there are eight that have embodied Leo since 1924, some of which came to visit towns in the United States on a promotional tour. The current one, active since 1957 (although obviously its performer died long ago), is the only one that has formally held the name “Leo”, even though the studio has applied that label to all its predecessors equally. The first, Slats, didn’t even roar: he just looked at the camera, because the cinema was still silent. Jackie, his successor, was the first to make sound thanks to a gramophone record, and survived two train accidents and one plane accident that left him stranded for several days in Arizona. That is to say, when Wyler arrived, it was not sacrilege to touch the logo with small adjustments. The logo: it is played. Leo’s roar has been frequently interrupted, although almost never for the same reverent reason that Wyler applied. In ‘Tarzan of the Apes’ the lion reproduces Johnny Weissmuller’s characteristic cry. In the final version of ‘The Pink Panther’, the roar is interrupted by an animated Clouseau. In 2025’s ‘Merv’ the lion is replaced by a barking dog, and in the recent ‘He-Man and the Masters of the Universe’ Cringer, the franchise’s talking tiger, takes his place. However, none of these interventions have the symbolic weight of what happened in 2025 with ‘The Wizard of Oz’ at the Las Vegas Spherewhere the Cowardly Lion played by Bert Lahr occupies the logo circle instead of Leo. In Xataka | “Leave her alone, she’s perfect”: Tom Hanks refuses to participate in the remake of this classic Hollywood film

Aragon’s plan to rejuvenate the Pyrenees

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Summer arrives and the ski resorts close, but that doesn’t mean they will be abandoned until the snow returns. In fact, it is the ideal time to regenerate the mountain after months of the bustle of skiers and machinery with a shock treatment to fix the soil with hoses of water, seeds and plant fiber, a recipe with which the Aragonese Pyrenees reinvents itself every summer to be ready when the cold returns. To the rich hydroseeding. Hydroseeding is a technique for restoring slopes and degraded surfaces that uses seeds, plant fiber, water and fertilizer and is applied under pressure to maximize adhesion and promote germination in steep places. In the Aragonese Pyrenees, stations such as Formigal-Panticosa, these works are carried out between the months of May and June and then in September, months of good weather where periods of high humidity are concentrated. As explains Juanjo Pesdirector of the station: “By the time winter arrives, the seeds have already germinated. If it is delayed too long and the cold begins, they can freeze inside the ground.” Why is it important. Because in addition to being beautiful, the vegetation cover is essential: it stabilizes the soil, reduces erosion caused by melting ice and torrential rains and also favors the recovery of use as a ski resort (where compactors frequently pass by). There is studies that confirm that revegetation through hydroseeding manages to control erosion and that native species take hold in the soil compared to those lands where it is not applied. Context. In the standard hydroseeding method, generic commercial seed mixtures used to be used, but now it has been imposed to use native seeds and it has its reason: A study in the French Pyrenees indicates that traditional seeds, although they help stop erosion, are not always adapted to the harsh conditions of the high mountains. Hence Formigal works with a botanical conservatory to obtain local seeds. In detail. The mixture formula for this type of hydroseeding It includes a binder that works as a kind of glue that retains the seeds even on steep slopes. Historically, commercial species are the most convenient, because they are cheaper and grow quickly, but in complicated scenarios such as in the Pyrenees, native species are more interesting because they can withstand that climate better. Once planted, the vegetation takes about two years to develop. Yes, but. Hydroseeding is a consolidated and convenient technique, but its results are neither immediate nor uniform. In fact, A study conducted in northern Europe found that the positive effect of hydroseeding on vegetation cover formation was relatively small and short-lived, with no significant differences in species richness between hydroseeding and conventional seeding, suggesting that it greatly depends on local soil and climate conditions. In Xataka | There is a corner of Spain where global warming is wreaking havoc: the Pyrenees are becoming “Mediterraneanized” In Xataka | Aragon’s ‘cure’ for the abandoned Pyrenees: growing medicinal herbs Cover | Maria Cassagne and Jose Noguera

Five daily tasks where the differences between a high-end processor and a more humble one are very noticeable

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It is very common to hear phrases like “to surf the Internet and watch four videos, any 200 euro cell phone will do.” It is partly true, but there is a difference between choosing a high end processor (as Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 or an Apple A19 Pro) and a low-mid range one (like a Dimension 7000 or a Snapdragon 4 or 6). Apple iPhone 17 Pro 256GB with A19 Pro chip The price could vary. We earn commission from these links The differences are not only measured in seconds, but in the quality of experience. It is true that it is not that the humblest processor cannot do the tasks; It’s how he makes them. Do you want to discover five everyday situations in which the difference between having one processor or another can be abysmal? I show them to you below. Real multitasking and app refreshes Have you ever been writing an email, gone out for a second to copy some information from WhatsAppand when you return the email has been closed and you have to load it again? This is what is known as the multitasking management. In the high range: The processor manages RAM and duty cycles so you can jump between 10 open apps and they’re all right where you left them. In practice, switching between apps feels immediate and seamless. In the mid-low range: The system “kills” apps in the background to save resources. It’s a small one-second lag every time you change apps and it can end up being a frustration on a day-to-day basis. Low battery consumption 5G or WiFi 6 At the high end, the SoC is extremely fast and does the task in an instant and returns to sleep immediately. Furthermore, their 5G modems are much more modern and efficient, which makes they heat up less when you use data outdoors. In a more humble range mobile, the processor has to work harder and for longer to do the same. That usually translates into more heat and a higher battery consumption. Keyboard and system accuracy and speed Although it may seem silly to you, the keyboard is one of the mobile elements that we use the most on a daily basis. High-end processors have a minimum touch response latency. This means that the letters appear on the screen at the exact moment your fingers touch the glass. Plus, AI text prediction is instant and learns from you in real time without slowing down the system. On mobile phones with lower-end processors, there is a very slight delay (which is known as input lag). On some slow phones, when typing very quickly, there may be small pauses or jumps in the keyboard response. Although it is a difference of milliseconds, your brain notices it and it becomes more tiring to your eyes and mind. Photo processing Nowadays, it could be said that in mobile cameras, the software weighs a lot, but the optics, the sensor and the processing continue to be decisive. If you take a photo in night mode or a portrait with blurthe mobile processor is what makes the difference in results. On phones with high-end SoC, when you take the photo, you can instantly see it processed in the gallery, with the HDR applied and noise removed. On the other hand, on a mobile phone with a more humble SoC, you will see a charging or “processing” icon for a couple of seconds. Furthermore, in these phones, the processing is usually less sophisticated and the result may show more noise or less detail in shadows, since the chip does not have the power to “understand” the image as quickly. Using generative AI and video editing We are in 2026 and the AI It is already in almost (if not all) places: from deleting objects from a photo to summarizing an audio or translating a live call. In many high-end mobile phones, these tasks can run locally with the help of the NPU (Neural Processing Unit) because not all AI functions are always processed locally. In some mobile phones with a less powerful chip, certain functions are supported in the cloud. This translates to if you don’t have good coveragethe function will not work or will be desperately slow. With all this, you are surely wondering if Whether or not it is worth the investment in a mobile phone with a powerful processor and high-end. If you are looking for a device that will last you three or four years, the high-end SoC ensures that the smartphone does not become slow with software updates. Keep in mind that the power of a mobile phone is not just for playing; It’s that kind of gear that makes technology invisible and that the device simply responds to your wishes without you having to wait for it. Some mobile phones with high-end processors XIAOMI 17 Ultra – 16+512GB Smartphone, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Apple iPhone 17 Pro 256GB with A19 Pro chip The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Mobile phones with more humble processors that may interest you realme 16 Pro 5G Smartphone, 8GB+256GB The price could vary. We earn commission from these links XIAOMI REDMI 15 – 8+256GB Smartphone, Snapdragon 685 The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Some of the links in this article are affiliated and may provide a benefit to Xataka. In case of non-availability, offers may vary. Images | Yúbal Fernández (Xataka), Ricardo Aguilar (Xataka), Álex Alcolea (Xataka) and Xiaomi In Xataka | The best mobile phones, we have tested them and here are their analyzes In Xataka | Best wireless headphones. Which one to buy and 21 models from 15 euros to 470 euros

“Recording an eclipse with your cell phone is a mistake, we are going to miss the show”

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Solar eclipses have gone through many phases throughout history. First they became objects of worship or spreaders of panic, depending on the civilization we are talking about. Later, once their origin was better understood, they became a very specific but extremely useful tool for astronomers, as it was the only way they could study the solar corona. Nowadays, no one (or almost no one) fears eclipses and scientists have tools that can replace them when studying the corona. However, they have not stopped being special. Now we have entered a new phase. A stage in which society enjoys them Instead of fearing them, scientists witness from the outside how the love of heaven that one day led them to choose their profession arises in other people. I have talked about this and much more with David Galadiastronomer, professor at the University of Córdoba and member of the Scientific and Advisory Commission of the Trio of Eclipses. The end of an era For a long time, solar eclipses have been used to study qualities of the Sun or Moon that are not normally measurable or visible. A solar eclipse was even used to prove Einstein’s Theory of Relativity. However, possibly those that stand out the most are the studies on the solar crown. That is, the outermost layer of the solar atmosphere. It is composed mostly of plasma, an ionized gas, whose atoms have gained or lost electrons, acquiring an electrical charge. This moving gas is what makes up the solar winds. It is also in the corona that coronal mass ejections are formed, which serve as the origin of geomagnetic storms. For all this, studying the solar corona is essential for scientists. However, there is a problem. The center of the Sun is so bright and it has such a dim glow that normally cannot be seen with conventional observation instruments. There is only one exception: a total solar eclipse. When the Moon completely covers the Sun, its brightness can no longer hide the solar corona from us and it suddenly appears in the sky. For decades, scientists had a few minutes with each eclipse to study it. Nowadays, fortunately, it is no longer necessary, since there are coronagraphsinstruments that have the ability to artificially “eclipse” both the Sun and other stars, revealing what we normally cannot see. However, there are still a few qualities that can only be studied in eclipses. “Coronographs cover not only the solar disk, but must also cover, due to unavoidable design needs, the chromosphere and the lowest part of the solar corona,” explains Galadí. “However, these regions can be observed well during a total solar eclipse.” On the other hand, “the coronagraph removes light from the solar photosphere, but does not reduce the brightness of the overall sky, so the outermost and faintest parts of the corona are also lost using these instruments.” Therefore, today we know the Sun and the Moon much better. The theory of general relativity continues to be constantly tested with new discoveries in the field of astronomy. And yes, you can study the solar corona without having to see a solar eclipse. However, these instruments prevent us from seeing it with the same clarity that we see it when the Moon completely eclipses the Sun. “Here we have the only two residues of heliophysics for which eclipses are still useful: the study of the link between the solar photosphere and the middle corona through the chromosphere and the lower corona, and to analyze the outermost coronal regions”. Now, in the future solar eclipses will not be necessary even for that; Well, there are already two missions underway aimed at solving the problem. “The observation of the external corona from space, with coronagraphs on artificial satellites, such as the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) of the European Space Agency in collaboration with NASA, avoids all the disadvantages due to the Earth’s atmosphere and its brightness,” says the astronomer from the University of Córdoba. “In addition, we have great technological innovations such as those of the mission Proba-3 (also from ESA), which are already allowing us to study the chromosphere and the lower corona from space, precisely by creating artificial eclipses.” Does all this mean that scientists will no longer have anything to study during a solar eclipse? Perhaps for astronomers there will come a time when they can focus only on looking at the sky and enjoying themselves. For other scientistssuch as those specialized in animal behavioralthough some studies had already been published previously, the real party begins now. “In animal ethology it is interesting study behavior when a sudden night occurs, uncoupled from other circadian rhythms,” says Galadí. “The behaviors of species when ‘turning off’ the Sun suddenly can only be due to the change in ambient light and temperature, but not to other external or internal factors.” The solar eclipse is now for society This August 12, 2026, there will be thousands or even millions of people who will travel or look for the best places near their homes to view the solar eclipse. These astronomical phenomena have become milestones that transcend far beyond science. It is time for society to enjoy them. David Galadí is clear about it: “Total solar eclipses are no longer science, or have almost ceased to be science, but they continue to constitute great natural spectacles with enormous potential to surprise people.” This can occur at many levels. “They have power as a source of artistic inspiration, tourist resourcean inexhaustible source of didactic or informative applications, and the ability to awaken vocations.” In fact, the latter is something in which he himself sees himself reflected. “Great astronomical events mark people, I myself am a product of the astronomical fever of Halley’s comet in the eighties.” In Spain we have a great opportunity, because It is not a single eclipse. Next year we will have another total solar eclipse and in 2028 an annular eclipse, which will provide new opportunities to enjoy them … Read more

the best Google Play titles that you can install on Windows

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We bring you a collection with top 38 best Android games to play on PC taking advantage of the fact that Google Play also allows you to install them on Windows. Not all Android games can be played on Windows, but from those that are compatible we have selected the most notable ones. Because sometimes a small screen is not worth it, and some titles are better enjoyed on a good monitor. Additionally, sometimes being able to use the keyboard and mouse can also be more effective. But as we always say at Xataka Basics, this is just our choice. Therefore, we invite you to tell us in the comments what you think are the best Android games that can be installed on PC, so that the rest of the readers can benefit from the knowledge of our xatakeros. Best 38 Android Games for PC Amaze GO! Arrow Puzzle: If you like maze-solving style puzzles, here you have dozens of levels without time, to get you thinking and keep your mind busy. Link: Google Play. Asphalt 9: Legends: One of the most popular racing games created for mobile, and one of the most popular sagas for these devices. An arcade racing game with dynamic environments and car customization. Link: Google Play. Blackmoor 2: Action Platformer: An arcade platform game with combat that includes cooperative multiplayer. You have a story mode full of dungeons, turns and doors, and your own custom dungeon generator. Link: Google Play. Block Blast!: If you like Tetris, this is a fun clone full of levels and totally free. Link: Google Play. Boxes: Lost Fragments: A leisurely puzzle game in which you are a thief who has to unlock treasure boxes full of puzzles. Link: Google Play. Cats are Cute: Cat Town: A simple and minimalist game, an idle simulator where you have to build a town full of cats and you can relax and see their lives. Link: Google Play. Chess.com: One of the most popular online chess platforms in the world. If you are not convinced by the web version, here is the mobile version with several puzzles, tutorials, lessons and, how could it be otherwise, online games with its base of millions of users. Link: Google Play. Clash of Clans: One of the great mobile strategy games. You will have to build your village, train troops and face other players in clan wars. Link: Google Play. Clash Royale: One of the great titles of collectible cards and strategic battles in real time. The only problem here is that many users complain about the excessive pay to win. Link: Google Play. Cookie Run: Kingdom: An action game with role-playing touches starring cookies. You can train your characters, there will be events, and you have several game modes. Link: Google Play. Cop Duty Police Car Simulator: A kind of reverse GTA, in which you are a police officer who has to circulate around the city chasing criminals. Link: Google Play. Creatures of the Deep: Fishing: A fishing game in which you have to navigate, look for the best spots, investigate, and catch fish for mysterious monsters of the depths. Link: Google Play. Drive Mad: Physics Racing: A fun physics-based driving game where usually the biggest obstacle is your overconfidence. Each level has a new type of vehicle, and is guaranteed to have laughs. Link: Google Play. Legendary Terminator: An RPG in which you have to save the world by exterminating all types of creatures, leveling up and advancing. Link: Google Play. Fallout Shelter: The excellent nuclear shelter management game, with all the inhabitants. You’ll have to pair them up, recruit or hatch new ones, or set them out to explore the wasteland in search of resources and rewards. Link: Google Play. Free Fire MAX: A game designed to offer you a Battle Royale experience on mobile. 50 competitors and one survivor. Link: Google Play. Fruit Ninja 2: Fruit Ninja was one of the first great viral games for mobile, and its second part takes it further. Fruits are thrown at you and you have to break them all in the air before they fall, it’s that simple. Link: Google Play. Genshin Impact: One of the most important and popular online RPGs in recent years. Its graphics are quite demanding, but by playing on a big screen you can benefit from the extra power of your computer. Link: Google Play. Geometry Dash SubZero: One of those titles that puts you to the test. An action platformer in which you have to jump and overcome levels full of obstacles. Link: Google Play. Granny: Grandma has locked you in her house and you have to try to escape without making a sound. A horror and survival game for the most daring. Link: Google Play. Homescapes: Help butler Austin restore warmth and design to his family’s mansion by completing levels with all kinds of puzzles. Link: Google Play. Infinity Loop: Calm and Relax: Another relaxing game and puzzles full of logic where you can spend time exercising your brain. Link: Google Play. Jetpack Joyride: A true classic for mobile phones, an infinite race title in which you have to fly with your jetpack to go as far as possible. Link: Google Play. Level Devil – NOT A Troll Game: If you are one of those people who like to have a hard time and be tortured by a game, this title interests you. Run, jump and reach the door of each level in which each jump or each corner can be the last. Because the maps move and seem to be trolling you. Link: Google Play. Mahjong Blast: A solitaire Mahjong game created for those looking for relaxing board games. Link: Google Play. Melon Sandbox: A game to unleash your creativity with experiments based on doll physics. Without limits and without rules. Link: Google Play. NTE: Neverness to Everness: An open world supernatural RPG with a good story, impressive graphics and a lot of fun. Link: Google Play. Pixel … Read more

Europe has a problem with the size of its cars: the "carspreading" threatens to devour thousands of parking lots

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New cars sold in Europe they are a little longer every yeartaller and wider. The phenomenon already has its own name, “carspreading”, and according to a new report from the environmental organizations Transport & Environment (T&E) and Clean Cities, if this trend is not stopped, it will have direct consequences both on road safety and on the parking available in our cities. We tell you the details. What is happening. The report, published by T&E and Clean Cities, has analyzed the evolution of the size of new cars sold in Europe from 2000 to today, and has projected two possible scenarios until 2040: one in which growth continues at the current rate, and another of “adequate resizing”, in which specific policies return the average size of vehicles to the levels they had in 2015. The difference between both scenarios is, according to the authors, alarming. In detail. The data show The average length of a new car increases by 1.2 centimeters each year, while its height and width grow by 0.5 centimeters each year. The height of the hood, which is precisely a key element that directly affects pedestrians and cyclists in the event of a collision, also rises at the same rate. If nothing changes, the study estimates that the average height of the hoods in the entire European vehicle fleet will reach 86.2 centimeters in 2040. All this despite the fact that, as the same report emphasizes, families are becoming smaller and cars transport fewer people on average than before. In Xataka Michael O’Leary, Ryanair: "Von der Leyen is very good at giving speeches, but he is useless in boosting competitiveness in Europe" Why it is important. As highlighted in the study, andThe size of cars has a direct impact on the chances of surviving a crash. The higher the hood of a vehicle, the greater the risk that the impact will occur on the victim’s torso or head rather than the legs. According to figures collected in the study, an increase of 10 centimeters in the height of the hood increases the risk of death for pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists by 27%, and up to 81% in the case of children. If the current trend continues, the report estimates that in 2040, 40% more child pedestrians could die on European roads than in a scenario in which cars are limited in size. The key figure. Comparing both scenarios, T&E and Clean Cities they estimate that the difference in the number of deaths of vulnerable road users (pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and people with mopeds) could reach 400 additional deaths per year in 2040 in the European Union and the United Kingdom. Adding the intervening years, between 2026 and 2040 this accumulated difference would amount to 2,500 adults and 79 additional children who died, according to the report. And parking is not spared either. The other major effect of “carspreading” is the loss of street parking spaces. The study predicts that European cities will lose between 8.5% and 14% of their surface parking capacity by 2040 if the size of cars continues to grow uncontrollably. London and Berlin could lose around 100,000 places each, while Rome would lose around 95,000. In the case of Madrid, the loss could reach 41,000 places, according to the report’s calculations. In Xataka Omoda and Jaecoo already sell more cars than Citroën, Nissan or Ford in Spain. And they are very clear that their secret is not the price Between the lines. “Many automakers have followed a strategy that prioritizes larger, more profitable vehicles over smaller models,” explains Isabell Büschel, director of T&E in Spain, pointing out that “our roads are increasingly dominated by huge off-road vehicles that pose a physical danger to other users.” From the United Kingdom, the T&E director in that country, Anna Krajinska, sums it up as a “market failure.” “The result is a double harm: city councils are forced to redesign streets around larger vehicles, sacrificing parking capacity, public space and safety,” he continued. Not everyone sees the problem the same way. Edmund King, president of the British Motor Association (AA), nuanced to the BBC that, depending on the design, some large cars can be safer for both occupants and pedestrians, so he considers it “too simplistic to assume that larger cars are always more dangerous.” For his part, Mike Hawes, head of the British manufacturers’ association SMMT, argued that it is the consumers themselves who, with their purchasing preferences, end up influencing the design of vehicles. What organizations ask for. T&E and Clean Cities they claim European regulators several measures to stop this trend: A limit of 85 centimeters of bonnet height and 192 centimeters of width for new cars, applicable to approvals from 2033 and to all sales from 2036. Tax reforms that penalize the purchase of large vehicles. An update to Euro NCAP protocols to assess the visibility of young children from the driver’s seat. Changes in municipal parking rates depending on the size and weight of the vehicle. In Xataka César Franco, engineer: “We have preferred to inaugurate over conserve. Nobody applauds that a bridge is still standing” Along these lines, Carmen Duce, coordinator of the Clean Cities campaign in Spain, point to experiences such as that of Paris, which “is already considering differentiated rates for parking”, as the type of measures that, in his opinion, “must be taken urgently to guarantee a fairer redistribution of public space.” And now what. The report comes precisely at a time when the European Union maintains as its objective its “Vision Zero” strategywith which it aims to eliminate road deaths by 2050. The distance between that objective and the current trend of growth in the size of cars is, according to T&E and Clean Cities, increasingly evident. Lucien Mathieu himself, a T&E analyst, poses it as an open question that regulators and manufacturers will have to answer in the coming years: “Where do we stop?” Cover image | Aditya Rathod In Xataka |Good news, Michelin has finally … Read more

30 years ago we laughed at China and Japan for their obsession with sun protection. Now we’re following your path

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If you travel to Qingdao or any other beach in China, you may come across bathers who, in addition to bikinis, sandals and glasses, look colorful ‘facekinis’. That’s how it was at least a few years ago (even in 2025), when this peculiar garment that covers the entire face to protect it from ultraviolet rays gained popularity in the middle of a heat wave. In Europe, the image of Chinese women with their heads in XL swim caps that only leave their eyes and mouth visible was interpreted as an eccentricityone more proof of the aversion of Asians to tan. On the beaches of Spain it may not be common see ‘facekinis’but an idea is beginning to sink in: cultural issues aside, Chinese, Japanese and Koreans may not have been wrong when they did everything possible to protect themselves from the sun. “It is very frowned upon”. The facekini It is its most obvious (and graphic) demonstration, but it connects with a much larger phenomenon: not everyone values ​​tanning in the same way. Vincent Coëffé, from the University of Angers, explained it a few years ago in an article published in The Conversation: The prospect of sporting a tan skin tone may sound great in California, but things are quite different if you talk to an Asian. “Light skin continues to be viewed favorably in Asian cultures (China, India, Japan, Korea…), to the point that exposing the body to the sun is perceived as a subversive act,” comment coffee, geographer and tourism expert. “In China, tanning is very frowned upon, especially if it alters the female body, particularly influenced by the ideal of ‘milky’ skin.” Tanning is becoming globalized and it is increasingly easier to find Asians sunbathing both abroad and on the beaches of their countries, but there is still an important cultural gap with respect to the West. Why the hell do they do it? These differences in sun exposure explain why for decades, in countries like Spain, we have seen with a mixture of fascination and incomprehension Asian tourists walking down the street in the middle of summer, fleeing the ultraviolet rays like the plague. It caught our attention that, in addition to caps and sunglasses, they wore gloveslong-sleeved t-shirts, arm warmers, sun-protective clothing and umbrellas. “Why does everyone use umbrellas on the streets of Japan? Is it very hot? Do they protect themselves from the sun or is it extremely hot?” I asked intrigued a traveler in August 2025 in the ‘Backpackers in Japan’ Facebook community. The person writing this had the opportunity to travel to Cairo a couple of years ago and one of the details that most caught his attention, in addition to the monuments of Ancient Egypt, was seeing Korean tourists with very white skin walking around with umbrellas and long dresses that covered their arms and legs. Nothing to do with us Spaniards who walked under the sun in shorts and t-shirts. Lesson in humility. In Benidorm, Malaga, Barcelona or any other beach destination in Spain it is still very difficult to meet someone with their face covered by a ‘facekini’, but it is just as undeniable that something is changing. It is less difficult to find people who opt for long sleeves and sun protection pants (even muffs) in the hottest moments and, above all, no one is surprised anymore when they come across people who cover themselves with umbrellas. We told you recently: it is increasingly common to see Spaniards walking at five or six in the afternoon in July umbrella in hand. Also parents who, before going to the beach or the river, dress their young children in sun protection shirts. Umbrellas, t-shirts and more. Umbrellas may be the clearest demonstration that we are changing our way of relating to the sun, but it is certainly not the only nor the most important one. A quick search in the newspaper library arrives to find interviews with experts determined to debunk hoaxes and who warn of the risks of sunbathing without protection, the threat of melanomas, burns… They speak because there is an underlying problem, but the fact that they do so also demonstrates a growing sensitivity. It’s not about changing our cultural perception of tanned bodies, but that the message of experts is getting through who warn that, when 20, 30 or 40 years ago we looked strangely at Asians who protected themselves from the sun at all costs, we were the eccentrics. What is ‘strange’ is not walking around with an umbrella and protective clothing on a July day at five in the afternoon. The ‘strange’ thing is deliberately punishing our body, with all the risks that entails. “The Sun is an electromagnetic radiation that, when it reaches our skin, will produce mutations in our nucleic acid, and these mutations can initially be canceled by our body,” already warned in 2016 Dr. Julián Conejo Mir, Honorary President of the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. “Any person who goes to the beach every day develops skin cancer, but our defensive system, if it works, cancels it out.” Great, right? Half. We may no longer be surprised to see someone using an umbrella on a sunny August afternoon, but that does not mean that we have internalized what it means to sunbathe irresponsibly. What’s more, we even run the risk of trusting us and think that protective clothing or umbrellas are infallible tools to keep us safe from melanoma. It is clearly demonstrated by a recent study from Nivea Sun that leaves two percentages that invite reflection: 85% of Spaniards admit to being worried about the effects of the sun on their skin, but nevertheless a large majority (67%) also admit that they do not regularly use sunscreen. Another clear example is in the networks. Thanks to them, doctors can warn of the risks of lying for hours and hours in the sun without protection, but X, Instagram or TikTok also serve as a loudspeaker for people who … Read more

Bugatti has manufactured its latest W16

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four years ago, Bugatti announced the end of its most iconic engine. The mythical and beastly W16 was coming to an end. He did it with a last dance to match. During the last four years, the company has released 99 units of the Bugatti Mistral. Now, the last unit has left its factory. The last Bugatti Mistral. The last Bugatti Mistral has left the doors of the company’s artisanal factory in Molsheim (France). A Blanc Éternel unit, inspired by the porcelain from Königliche Porzellan-Manufaktur in Berlin. The supercar, as pointed out in Autonomyadds numerous details in honor of Ettore Bugatti, founder of the company, but has the customization expected in a car of this type. They explain in the middle that, for example, the classic elephant head on the gear shift knob has been replaced by a falcon head that represents the Middle East, where this last unit has ended up. The last of its kind. “The last of his kind.” So reads the tribute plaque found inside and on the spoiler of this latest Bugatti Mistral. This refers, of course, to the last dance of the W16 engine that dies with this supercar. The Bugatti Mistral will go down in history for being the last model to mount an unparalleled engine but also because its production has been limited to 99 units. (sold in one day) that They have been customized from scratch by each owner. Thus, each unit can increase its value, costing some of them more than five million euros. The supercar is the latest evolution of a series that began with the Veyron, which has continued with the Chiron and which has the last of its kind in the Mistral. A beast that has 1,600 HP and 1,600 nm of torque under its body. And a top speed that exceeds 400 km/h. The W16. With the latest Mistral the W16 is also lost. This engine is considered one of the jewels of automotive engineering. Its configuration comes from “gluing together” two V18 engines. The result is the 16 cylinders that they mount. A figure to which we must add its 8.0 liters of displacement and four turbos with which first appeared on the Veyron just over 20 years ago. Then the engine delivered 1,001 HP of power but this has skyrocketed to the 1,600 HP found in the brand’s latest supercars. The W16 is made up of 3,712 parts that add up to 400 kg. To achieve this reduced weight in such a monstrous engine, Bugatti produces its engines with large amounts of carbon and titanium, as light as they are resistant to high temperatures. The idea of ​​developing this engine came from Ferdinand Piëch, engineer and grandson of Ferdinand Porsche, who resurrected Bugatti with the clear idea that it should represent the best and most exclusive in the world of motors. And, furthermore, he used the company to take cold revenge born in Le Mans in the late 80s. And now? Now, the future for the company lies in the hybrid. When the company presented the Bugatti Tourbillon, it did so by anticipating what would come in the future: plug-in hybridization. And the supercar, limited to 250 units and starting from four million eurosis a 1,800 HP plug-in hybrid with which, who knows, if one day they will be able to break the barrier of 500 km/h top speed. Yes, Bugatti’s proposal is to electrify the car to continue increasing the power of its machines. But it does it with a naturally aspirated V16 engine that no one else has. To this it adds three electric motors that also drive the wheels. The customer-facing concept is very similar to the W16: yes, it’s hybrid, but no one else has it. And, as our colleagues from MotorpassionMate Rimac, CEO of Bugatti, is clear: “if it is affordable, it would not be a Bugatti.” An uncertain future. It remains to be seen now what will become of Bugatti. A few months ago, the company was completely separated from the Volkswagen Groupwhich owned part of the property through shares in the name of Porsche. Mate Rimac has finally managed to completely control the company. Bugatti was one of the crown jewels of the group but it was also a whim. With the less personalized units, Volkswagen was losing more than four million euros. Now he is Mate Rimac, creator of the electric supercar company that bears his name, who is at the forefront of this new era of the company. Rimac was, in fact, the first to show a Tourbillon outside the factory. And he did it on a huge carpet of snow. It remains to be seen how Rimac manages to make profitable the investments and development that must be done for a car that is manufactured by hand and that, at least for the moment, will not jump to the electric car. The why, Mate Rimac himself can tell you. Photo | Bugatti In Xataka | Bugatti is taking its custom packages to extreme places: 230,000 euros for eight exhaust pipes

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