Boeing needs the 787 Dreamliner to run like clockwork. Two problems threaten his plans

by

There are times when an industrial program is no longer measured only by the number of units it can manufacture. At Boeing, that role is now occupied by 787 Dreamlinera family of wide-body aircraft characterized by its efficiency and long-haul versatility. We are not talking about a plane pending release: Boeing completed the first delivery of the 787 to All Nippon Airways in September 2011and the Japanese airline operated the model’s first passenger flight a month later, between Tokyo Narita and Hong Kong. What is at stake now is not to prove that the Dreamliner can fly, because we already know that, but that Boeing can manufacture it and deliver it regularly. The objective that Boeing has set for this year is clear: to increase production of the 787 from eight to ten aircraft per month at its North Charleston plant, as explained by its CEO, Kelly Ortberg, on May 27. at an investor conference. The problem is that this leap depends on two fronts that still do not advance at the pace the company needs. FlightGlobal points outOn the one hand, delays in engine deliveries GEnx from GE Aerospaceone of two engine families available for the 787 along with the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000and, on the other, delays in the certification of business class seats with doors, which are blocking some deliveries. A plane that Boeing needs to deliver, not just manufacture That nuance is important because Boeing does not arrive at this phase in a vacuum. The company continues to drag the shadow of the 737 MAX, a program marked first by a global safety crisis and then by the Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 door plug incidentwhich brought back to the table a very damaging conversation about quality controls, documentation, supervision and industrial culture. The NTSB investigation Regarding this latest episode, he pointed to internal failures at Boeing and pointed out deficiencies in “adequate training, guidance and supervision.” The FAA, for its part, toughened pressure on the manufacturer after detecting systemic safety and quality control problems. That history does not directly affect the Dreamliner, but it does change the reading of any new instability: Boeing needs the 787 to be a test of order. To understand why this increase in pace matters so much, you have to look at the recent history of the Dreamliner itself. The inspector general of the US Department of Transportation remember that Boeing paused deliveries of the 787 in 2020 due to quality problems in manufacturing, with delays that ended up accumulating almost two years. In addition, those problems led to rework valued at more than $5.8 billion for Boeing and its suppliers. Jammed seats are easier to overlook, although they have a very concrete effect. Some business suites with doors require more complex certifications, and Boeing and its suppliers miscalculated approval times. According to FlightGlobal, there are 787 already built and with those seats installed that still cannot be delivered because the documentary authorization is missing. Another element is added to this pressure: 777XBoeing’s next big widebody plane, has yet to enter commercial service. The 777X family is set to occupy the top of the company’s long-haul catalog, but its schedule has been shifting due to certification delays. AP reported in October 2025 that Boeing had delayed the first delivery until 2027 and that this postponement implied a charge of $4.9 billion in the third quarter. And the pressure is not just internal. Boeing has improved its deliveries, to the point of reaching 600 aircraft in 2025, its best record since 2018. But Airbus is still ahead in deliveries: the European manufacturer reported of 793 commercial aircraft that same year and a record total portfolio of 8,754 orders, with a specific maximum in wide-body aircraft. For Boeing, the 787 has to be one of the pieces that helps reduce that competitive pressure. If the Dreamliner has demand and orders, the challenge is no longer in convincing the market, but in transforming that traction into constant deliveries. Images | Tienko Dima In Xataka | Brazil has achieved something more historic than its sixth World Cup: being the first in Latin America to have its own supersonic combat aircraft

be the first in Latin America to have its own supersonic combat aircraft

by

In 1969, Brazil made a decision that many considered excessive for a developing country: create a state company called Embraer to manufacture their own aircraft. More than half a century later, that bet has given rise to third largest manufacturer aerospace industry in the world, only behind Boeing and Airbus, and already one of the most advanced aerospace industries outside of the traditional great powers. A milestone beyond defense. Brazil has celebrated the output of the production line first supersonic fighter assembled in its territory, an event that far transcends the military sphere. What is truly relevant is not only the arrival of a new aircraft to the ranks of the Brazilian Air Force, but the fact that a Latin American country has reached an industrial level which for decades seemed reserved for a very small group of powers. In a region accustomed to importing advanced combat systems, Brazil has managed to join to an extremely exclusive club in which the ability to manufacture supersonic aircraft is as important as ownership of the aircraft themselves. The road to the Brazilian Gripen. The Gripen program began with contract signed in 2014 between Brazil and the Swedish Saab for the acquisition of 36 aircraft, but from the beginning the objective went far beyond purchasing airplanes. The agreement included technology transfer, training of engineers and direct participation of Embraer in the manufacturing and assembly of the devices. A decade later, the result is visible in Gavião Peixoto, where the first Gripen E has left the factory built on Brazilian soil. Although the design remains Swedish, the process has allowed the development of industrial capabilities that did not previously exist in the country and that would hardly have been acquired through a simple purchase of foreign material. Enter the most difficult club in aeronautics. Building a commercial airplane is a complex task. Building a modern fighter aircraft is one of the industrial activities more demanding of the planet. In fact, only one small group of countries has the ability to design and manufacture supersonic fighters from scratch, including the United States, France, Russia, China and Sweden. Brazil is not yet part of that circle of independent designers, but it has achieved something that no other Latin American country had achieved: locally produce a fighter front-line capable of operating in the most advanced scenarios of modern aerial warfare. That difference may seem subtle on paper, but it represents a gigantic leap for the region’s technology industry. Much more than a plane. The Gripen also represents a bet for technological sovereignty. The ability to assemble, maintain and modernize devices within the country reduces external dependencies and strengthens the operational autonomy of the Brazilian armed forces. At the same time, the project has promoted the creation of specialized knowledgenew supply chains and an industrial base capable of participating in increasingly sophisticated aerospace programs. The same impulse is behind other Brazilian strategic projects, such as the transport plane KC-390 or naval programs developed with foreign technology but growing national participation. Aerospace power. The true meaning of this program It is not measured solely in the number of aircraft or military capabilities. It is measured in the position that Brazil is beginning to occupy within the global industrial map. While much of Latin America remains dependent on the export of raw materials or the import of advanced technology, Brazil is building an industry capable of participating in some of the most complex and profitable sectors in the world. The departure of first assembled Gripen in Brazilian territory symbolizes precisely that: the moment in which the country stops being only a buyer of defense technology to become one of its producers. There is no doubt, it may never arouse the same passion as a football World Cup, but for the industrial history of the region it will probably be an even more exceptional achievement. Image | Embraer In Xataka | We tend to assume that the Wright brothers invented the airplane in the United States. In Brazil they believe they have evidence to the contrary In Xataka | A Brazilian has shown that having Internet in mid-flight is possible with Starlink. It has also shown that it is a real danger

New LG Micro RGB evo AI MRGB96 2026, features, price and technical sheet

by

If we look at a premium television today, we find a map that is increasingly difficult to read. OLED, Mini LED, the very expensive MicroLEDRGB MiniLED, Micro RGB: many names sound similar, but they don’t mean the same thing or promise to solve the same problems. And that difference matters, because we are not just talking about marketing, but about how the screen lights up, how color is reproduced and what viewing experience we can expect when we bring the TV into the living room. In this increasingly populated terrain now appears LG with the MRGB evo AI. The interesting thing is that the brand arrives when Micro RGB has already begun to move in the market. In Xataka we have seen it up close with the Samsung R95Hthe company’s first Micro RGB. The underlying idea is that the high-end LED range also begins to compete because of how the light behind the panel works. In other words, the fight is no longer just about having more inches or more brightness, but about better controlling how the color is generated. That’s where LG’s latest move for Spain comes in. The company has announced a family of premium LED televisions in sizes of 75, 86 and 100 incheswith the focus on color, brightness and large format. In its communication, LG insists that this proposal is based on the experience accumulated over years with its OLED televisions, especially in image processing and precision. Technical sheet of the LG Micro RGB evo AI MRGB96 2026 LG Micro RGB evo AI MRGB96 2026 panel 4K Micro RGBMicro RGB Backlight120Hz nativeVRR 165Hz inches available 75, 86 and 100 inches resolution 3,840 x 2,160 pixels image processor Alpha 11 AI 4K Gen3 with Dual AI Engine hdr Dolby Vision / HDR10 / HLG sound 2.2 channels40 wattsDolby Atmos connectivity 1 x Ethernet2 x USB 2.01 x digital optical output2 x RF input4 x HDMI with 4K 120 Hz support, eARC, VRR, ALLM, QMS and QFTeARC on HDMI 21 x IC slotSimplink HDMI CEC wireless connectivity Wi-Fi 6EBluetooth 5.3Apple AirPlayApple HomeGoogle CastLG ThinQGoogle Home operating system webOS 26 CONSUMPTION IN STANDBY Less than 0.5W dimensions 75 inchesWithout base: 1,673 x 963 x 44.9 mmWith base: 1,673 x 1,040 x 370 mm 86 inchesWithout base: 1,925 x 1,105 x 46.1 mmWith base: 1,925 x 1,174 x 370 mm 100 inchesInformation not available weight 75 inchesWithout base: 40.5 kgWith base: 48.7 kg 86 inchesWithout base: 56.1 kgWith base: 64.3 kg 100 inchesInformation not available price According to the LG Spain page:75 inches: 2,696.10 euros86 inches: 3,564.86 euros100 inches: 11,480.03 euros The high-end LED has changed: LG also wants to play with light and color To understand the proposal, it is advisable to separate the pieces well. LG’s Micro RGB technology continues to work on an LED base, but changes the way the panel is illuminated: instead of relying on a more traditional LED backlight, it uses a backlight made up of independently controlled red, green and blue LEDs. These LEDs, they promise, are smaller than the company’s own Mini LEDs and are designed to expand color reproduction. The key, therefore, is not in each pixel emitting light on its own, but in fine-tuning the lighting that comes from behind much more. Here appears the bridge that the brand wants to build with its most recognizable territory. The company claims that MRGB uses “OLED precision” to control each of the RGB LEDs on the backlighta way of presenting this technology as heir to part of its image experience, although applied to another family of televisions. The technical protagonist of this idea is the 3rd generation α11 4K processora family of chips associated with LG’s most ambitious televisions. The promise of the image relies, above all, on color. According to LG, this model is the first Micro RGB TV to obtain the triple certification of 100% TriColor color coverage by Intertek, with full coverage of BT.2020, DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB. We are talking about three color spaces that serve to measure how far a screen can go when reproducing different tones, from audiovisual standards to more demanding image uses. Added to this, always according to official information, are up to 13,104 Micro LEDs, 5,184 independent zones and a peak of up to 3,000 nits. The manufacturer also talks about Anti-glare Pro with a reduction of up to 98% in controlled conditions, a promise designed for those who watch television during the day or in brightly lit rooms. To that are added Dolby Vision for compatible HDR content, Dolby Atmos for surround sound and a design ready to stay against the wall. It is a less striking part than the backlight, but important to complete the audiovisual experience without limiting it only to color and brightness. Anyone who has used a recent LG television knows very well that webOS It is the basis of your interface. Here the difference is in the accompanying package: search with Gemini and Copilotvoice control, recommendations, virtual assistant and updates planned until 2031. LG also includes Shield to reinforce privacy, data security and system integrity. Operation relies once again on the Magic Pointer Remote, the remote control with a wireless pointer that allows you to move around the interface with a motion sensor and scroll wheel. If we buy a television of this type, we probably won’t do it just to watch movies or series with the highest quality possible. We also expect it to respond well when we connect a console, use a PC or access a cloud gaming service. There LG places several pieces on the table: VRR at 165Hza variable refresh rate that allows the screen to adapt its rhythm to the game signal to gain fluidity and avoid image jumps. Add to that Motion Booster up to 330 Hz, AMD FreeSync Premium and compatibility with GeForce NOW. Price and availability of the LG Micro RGB evo AI In the commercial section there is an important nuance. LG has not included prices in … Read more

It’s called ‘Kill Him Now!’ and can be seen for 4.99 euros

by

It can be said that he true crime It’s my guilty pleasure. If it’s good, it grabs you and doesn’t let go until it’s over. This not only includes the specific case on which the true crimebut it also matters (a lot) how it is told and how it is shown on the screen. And there, few better than Carles Portawhich has several of the best documentaries of this genre that I have seen so far. The best? Today his new one is released true crime: It’s called ‘Kill Him Now!’ and comes to Movistar Plus: you can see it with its Free Film and Series Plan for only 4.99 euros. Without permanence and whatever operator you are. Monthly subscription to Movistar Plus – Cinema and Series The price could vary. We earn commission from these links A lot of true crime, but also a lot of original series This new documentary by Carles Porta arrives on M+ today, June 4. It focuses on a real case that occurred in July 2017 near Albacete and promises to follow the line of the last true crime by Porta himself, such as ‘Missing in Murcia’, ‘Muerte en el hotel’ or ‘Peregrina’. All, by the way, are available on the platformtogether with others like the series ‘Crímenes’ or ‘Tor’, one of my favorites. There is a lot to see on the platform if you like the true crime and, since it has no permanence, you can try it for a month to see how they are. In addition, in Movistar Plus there are also a lot of series that are original to the platform and that are very worthwhile, as is the case of the recently released ‘Many people have to die’ or ‘Celeste’, to name just two examples. To all of the above we must add that you can share the account with a friend or family member without problemseven if they do not live at the same address as you. You can also download one of these true crime to watch it offline when you travel this summer by plane or train. 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 | Movistar Plus In Xataka | Movistar Plus activates its Free Plan with complete programs and a lot of content, regardless of which operator you are In Xataka | Movistar Plus for non-Movistar customers: what it is, how much it costs, channels, additional services and how to contract it

drinking alcohol is for old people

by

We knew that it takes years expanding strongly throughout Spain and which attracts more and more people, but the great proof that the ‘late’ has become a massive phenomenon just arrived now. And in the form of report. The trend has grown so much that the nightlife employers’ association has dedicated a study to it that analyzes its impact and clientele in detail. Among all his conclusions there is one eloquent one: he already moves 26.5% of the billing of leisure venues. And there are no signs that that will change. From the bars to the office. There are several signs that reveal to us that a trend has become a business with a future: people begin to talk about it on the street, it grabs headlines, it generates noise on the networks… All this ‘lateness’ been doing it for years. Now it adds a new clue that confirms that it has stopped being a passing fad and has become a real gold mine for the hospitality industry. The National Federation of Leisure and Entertainment Entrepreneurs (‘Spain at Night’) has just dedicated its first sector studya comprehensive report that answers some key questions about a trend that basically involves advancing a leisure offer that until recently was limited to nighttime hours: How and when did it emerge? What audience does it move? And how much money does it generate? The key data: 58.8%. There is who places the origins of ‘tardeo’ in Albacete at the beginning of the 2000s, from where it first made the leap to the Levantine coast and later (thanks to the changes in habits brought about by the pandemic) to the rest of the country. Whether or not this is the case, the undeniable thing is that the ‘lateness’ has had a deep impact on the sector. The study concludes that they have opted for it close to 58.8% of leisure and hospitality venues, which explains why it accounts for 26.5% of their turnover. They are not the only percentages that give an idea of ​​the extent to which hoteliers have been jumping on the bandwagon of evening leisure. The same report shows that 62.2% of the clubs hold afternoon sessions every weekend. If we talk about cocktail bars, they are 41.4%; and 24% among restaurants. Who late? That’s probably the most important question the study answers. The public that usually moves the ‘evening’ in Spain is on average 39.4 years old, significantly above the average nightlife clientele, which is around 29. It may seem like a minor or even obvious fact, but it is essential to understand other peculiarities of the trend. The increase in age is also accompanied by greater spending: if the average ticket for night owls is 20 euros, in the case of late-night regulars the average rises to 25. This is not bad at all if we take into account that for years bars have been dealing with another phenomenon: a generation Z that seems less interested in alcohol than his predecessors and is changing the way of drinking. New format, new offer? That profile millennial or generation the leisure offer of the afternoon sessions. Customers order mixed drinks with vodka, gin, rum or whiskey, although they also drink beer, soft drinks and glasses of wine. As for music, it is not strange that people look for songs that were played during their youth. “Until recently the favorite music was the so-called ‘remember’. Now we are in ‘afternoon 2.0’. We started to see afternoon ‘indie’ sessions for people who went out at night 10 years ago,” explains to The Newspaper Vicente Pizcueta, from Spain by Night. Partying yes, but conciliating. The success of ‘afternoon’ cannot be understood without taking into account the pandemic and how it altered our leisure habits, giving more relevance to the evening offering. However, there is another factor that explains why we are increasingly opting to go out in the afternoons: Spain gets older little by little. In 1975 the average age was 33 years, today it is over 44.5. This makes it clear that the weight of a more adult client profile who still wants to party, but who at the same time has other obligations, such as dependent children, has increased. The vast majority of the ‘afternoon’ offer continues to be concentrated on Saturdays (84.9%) and 63.4% of those surveyed recognize that what leads them to go out is to enjoy with their friends, but there is another data that is equally revealing: 38.9% look for options that are compatible with their family life. “It is true that the issue of conciliation is fundamental,” confirm Pizcueta. “You go out in the afternoon, leave the children with the grandparents, pick them up at dinner time, go to bed early and the next day you can get up early to go to the countryside.” Do we know anything else? Yeah. The reportin which Coca-Cola has also participated, leaves out some interesting ideas that help to better understand ‘lateness’. For example, although DJ sessions are the most common, there are also many celebrations that combine music with gastronomy, offer live music or even opt for themed and private parties. That the format has convinced so many businesses is not surprising either. Especially if we talk about bars and clubs. Although the public that attends afternoon and night parties is so different that sometimes businesses have to clearly divide both sessions, the ‘afternoon’ allows them to extend their hours of activity. They open earlier, bill earlier, earn more. According to the hoteliers’ study, on average the ‘afternoon’ sessions start around 5:30 p.m. Images | Marcel Strauss (Unsplash) and Artem Polezhaev (Unsplash) In Xataka | Madrid has been filled with “dopamine parties”: alcohol is gone, salads and ice baths are here

Tomorrow the new version of a classic sordid thriller that gave Scorsese one of his masterpieces comes to streaming

by

John D. MacDonald published his novel ‘The Executioners’ in 1957. Since then, the same character (Max Cady, the ex-convict who returns to civilian life determined to destroy the life of the lawyer who locked him up) has survived two films, a television series, 69 years of life and three generations of leading actors (Mitchum, De Niro, Bardem) giving him life. Now, ‘Cape Fear‘ comes to Apple TV+ with Javier Bardem in the role of Cady and a premise that, this time, puts a woman in the eye of the hurricane. This is the most visible modification compared to the movies: a former lawyer (Amy Adams) who works in an NGO dedicated to exonerating unjustly convicted prisoners, is married to a lawyer for wealthy clients (Patrick Wilson). This time there is an intimate and forbidden relationship at Cady’s (Javier Bardem) trial, which accentuates the idea of ​​a family with a dysfunctional point that the villain wants to blow up. The series format also helps to expand the children’s characters: one goes through depression and is a victim of social isolation, another carries the label of “perfect daughter” while her parents overprotect her problematic brother. The person responsible for the series is not a newcomer to the genre. Nick Antosca is the creator of the magnificent anthology horror series inspired by creepypasta ‘Channel Zero’, and showrunner of the award-winning ‘The Act’, which turned an apparent story of true crime in a tortuous descent into the abysses of the mind. Some perfect precedents for a story that wins the murkier it appears. The main comments of the series, as it could not be otherwise, will be brought together by Javier Bardem in his new incarnation of Max Cady, especially because the comparison with his two predecessors is inevitable: Robert Mitchum captured a subtle evil, De Niro opted for biblical and explosive madness, and Bardem brings us sexual charisma and contained violence. Without a doubt, it will be a good way to see if this old story continues to stand the test of time. In Xataka | Today on HBO Max: the latest film directed by one of the greatest masters in the history of cinema

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

by

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

by

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”

by

“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

by

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

Log In

Forgot password?

Forgot password?

Enter your account data and we will send you a link to reset your password.

Your password reset link appears to be invalid or expired.

Log in

Privacy Policy

Add to Collection

No Collections

Here you'll find all collections you've created before.