Carratraca was a small town in Malaga with 800 inhabitants. Now it will be the largest natural theme park in Europe

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Carratraca is a small town in Malaga that does not reach the 800 neighbors. Yeah ‘Evolution Park’ It meets its objectives in a short time, however, it will have a unique facility in Spain and an international reference: a theme park dedicated to nature that (among many other claims) wants to be equipped with the longest aquarium in the world and the largest aviary in the country. Along the way, by the way, it aspires to mobilize a million-dollar investment and generate a volume of employment that is equivalent to 45% of the entire population of Carratraca. One figure: 786. They are the neighbors who (according to the INE) are registered in carratracaa small municipality in the Guadalteba regionprovince of Malaga. There, in the heart of the Sierra del Agua, is where an ambitious project has begun to take shape that aspires to become a benchmark beyond Malaga, Andalusia or even Spain: Evolution Parka theme park dedicated to nature that, according to the data outlined by the Board, it will have the longest aquarium in the world and the largest aviary in the country, among other attractions. What exactly will you offer? The regional government presents it as “a nature theme park”, a large facility located on the slopes of the Sierra de Aguas and Sierra Blanquilla that aspires to become into “a reference center for sustainable tourism”. That is at least the philosophy’s rhetoric. If we look for specific details, it comes with reviewing the Andalusian newspaper archives. After all, the project is not new: takes years on the table, although its future seems to have cleared up in recent months thanks to the endorsement administrative. Animals, cabins… and a ‘mega aquarium’. Although the latest What has emerged from the park is that it will have “the longest aquarium in the world”, the largest aviary in Spain, a natural history museum, planetarium and 360º cinema. The Andalusian press has been making some progress for some time. keys of the project. For example, it will have animals, although it will move away from the traditional concept of a zoo. There is who points In fact, it will also act as a wildlife rescue center, recreate habitats and be the biggest theme park of the nature of Europe. In April SOUTH pointed out that the enclosure will include themed accommodation (such as African-style cabins), a museum with replicas of extinct animals made by paleoartists, a simulator type ‘Flying Theater’ or a train that will allow visitors to move around the enclosures and observe the animals safely. Regarding the aquarium, he pointed out that it will measure about 80 meters long. All in one large farm of the Sierra del Agua located just four kilometers from the urban center of Carratraca and connected through the A-354 highway. The town is located about an hour’s drive from the center of Malaga. Another figure: 10 million. Although the initiative seems to have aroused enthusiasm in the Board and the City Council, in reality it is a private proposal which will start with an investment of three million of euros and will end up mobilizing around 10 million. Behind is Ecological and Recreational Estate Arroyo las Cañas 2013. The diary SOUTH clarify that to give shape to the project, a land of around 200 hectares was chosen within the municipality of Carratraca and that the idea (at least today) is to have the project ready in four years. “It’s not just sun and beach”. If the future park is in the news today, it is because its promoters have managed to go beyond paper and infographics. The laying of the first stone of Evolution Park was celebrated on Thursday, a symbolic ceremony which, however, is interesting for two reasons: first because it confirms that the project is alive; second, because it has demonstrated its institutional support. The Minister of Tourism, Arturo Bernal, attended the event, for example, and highlighted that the complex “will generate an economic and social impact” that will make the small Malaga town “a new benchmark for nature tourism.” 350 jobs. A curious fact about Evolution Park is that it aspires to generate a volume of jobs that is equivalent to almost half of the population of Carratraca (780 residents), as it was responsible for underline yesterday the Junta de Andalucía. “This unique project in Europe, with a private investment of 10 million, will promote the creation of more than 350 direct and indirect jobs,” celebrated the leader, who insisted that Evolution Park will help diversify the tourist offer of the entire province. “Projects like this are the best proof of why Andalusia is a leading and reference destination. A destination that is not only sun and sand, but also mountains, culture, heritage, sustainability and life.” Images | Andalusia Tourism, Ian Schneider (Unsplash) and Ministry of Tourism and Foreign Andalusia (X) In Xataka | The coast of Huelva has been touristed for decades. Now one of its last virgin areas will become a megaurbanization

Halloween is coming and the temptation is to put on some terrifying plastic contact lenses. Science has its reservations

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Costumes, scares, moviespassages of terror and also the occasional party is undoubtedly something that we will see in this Halloween nightalthough among all these elements there is a protagonist that can undoubtedly become a risk to our health: colored cosmetic contact lenses. The color of the eyes. To dress up in the most faithful way to the character we want to resemble, eye color may be essential. In the case of Halloween, it may be interesting to have them red or some other color that conveys a feeling of fear, such as those of the famous ‘Valak’ or ‘The Nun‘. But it can undoubtedly be a serious problem for our health. And on many occasions we want something that is economical to be able to dress up and we can choose to buy these contact lenses in a store that is not specialized in these products such as a bazaar. All because to wear it for a while at night you are not going to invest a large amount of money in a special contact lens. But we forget that we are buying a product that will be in contact with our eyes, which are really delicate. Doubts. Ophthalmologist Damián Teillard through his TikTok account It alerts us to all the problems that can arise, such as infections, corneal abrasions, blurred vision or eye fatigue when colored contact lenses are used without adaptation, with poor hygiene or throughout the night. That is why you are committed to making the purchase at an authorized optician to try them the days before. The scientific evidence. But beyond what this ophthalmologist says, we also find a large amount of scientific literature that documents all of these problems. An exampleor we have in the magazine eye that reviews these cosmetic contact lenses and demonstrates the appearance of severe microbial keratitis associated with these products that are purchased without health control. More cases. We have another example in the TFOS report on the impact of contact lenses on the ocular surface, details that their inappropriate use (sleeping with them for example) damages the epithelium, alters the tear film and increases the risk of infection. Something quite common in a situation where many people opt for these contact lenses without having ever worn this product before, so they lack the recommendations to avoid problems when wearing them. In this way, the evidence on periocular cosmetics and ocular surface underlines that makeup and formulations around the eye They can irritate, destabilize the tears and increase discomfort if combined with contact lenses. Elevation of risk. With all this, we can see how buying contact lenses in bazaars or unauthorized websites that have poor quality produces a significant injury that can end in visual loss in the most severe cases. Among these complications we see the keratitis, conjunctivitis or corneal abrasions and ulcers that require ophthalmological treatment in many emergency cases. How to use it correctly. In order to avoid all these problems, the crucial thing is to purchase them from authorized opticians and with the advice of ophthalmological professionals. But you must also follow the basic recommendations for contact lenses, such as sleeping with them, putting them on with clean hands, not sharing them with several people, and always applying makeup after putting on the lenses and removing makeup with them to protect the ocular surface. With all this you can achieve a night of terror but without the eye ending up suffering from the misuse of contact lenses that we find in any bazaar or on the internet. Images | Grégoire Hervé-Bazin In Xataka | There is nothing that makes blue eyes blue. If we want to understand why, we have to turn to physics

If you thought the AI ​​bubble was worrying, it’s because we hadn’t entered its next phase: debt

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Big technology companies have issued $75 billion in bonds and loans between September and October 2025: Meta leads with 30,000 million. Followed by Oracle (18,000 million in bonds plus a loan of 38,000 million). And Broadcom (27 billion). The figure is equivalent to what these three companies used to borrow in an entire year. Why is it important. The shift from liquidity to debt marks a turning point in the AI ​​race. For years, these companies financed their infrastructure with cash flows, but now they are resorting to debt: Debt not linked to bonds has gone from 15% to 30% of its capital. The money trail. Oracle has closed the largest syndicated loan (a joint loan by several banks to a single client) in its history: 38 billion for data centers. Meta, for its part, is allocating its 30,000 million to campuses in Virginia and Oregon. And Broadcom uses them to strengthen its semiconductor division and its network equipment. The threat. Paying the interest on all this debt now consumes 15% of these companies’ operating profits, compared to 10% a year ago. And the cost of borrowing has risen: corporate bonds are near their most expensive levels since 2022. If the energy bill rises by 20% – a more than likely scenario given the stress on electrical networks – or if AI does not generate the expected revenue, these companies could see their credit rating reduced and trigger a chain crisis. Yes, but. Large investors continue to buy these bonds, attracted by returns of 6%. Money flows because official interest rates are at 3.75%so lending to these technology companies seems like a good deal. The problem is that any sudden change in rates can make these bonds lose value. And fast. At stake. Debt finances the AI ​​revolution, but also makes it more fragile and technology companies continue to increase their investment. If inflation returns or profits fail, the same debt that accelerates innovation could become a liability. Investors, meanwhile, continue to win; but they assume the risk of the storm. In Xataka | Apple is resisting the push for AI PCs because AI PCs have caused complete indifference Featured image | Towfiqu barbhuiya

In 2007, 20% of homes were bought by young Spaniards. Now that gap is being filled by another group: foreigners

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With the skyrocketing priceshe decoupling between supply and demand in cities and a market increasingly inaccessiblethe notaries of Spain have found themselves with a curious fact (not unexpected) when reviewing the home buying and selling data. Operations led by young people have collapsed in recent decades. If in 2007 they represented 22.5% of the total, now they do not reach 10%. Of course, all groups have followed the same dynamic. The statistics Notaries show that there is another group of buyers that has experienced a diametrically opposite trend: foreigners. What has happened? That the General Council of Notaries (CGN) has launched a new tool on-line which helps us better understand the Spanish real estate market. Above all to study key aspects such as the evolution of prices, the pace of purchases and sales or the amount of operations, offering an alternative vision to that of portals such as Idealista. If something has attracted attention During its presentation, however, another indicator was: the weight of young people in the real estate market. Or rather, how it has been receding little by little. What does the data say? The conclusion of the notaries is quite clear. If we look back and analyze the last two decades, we see that “the presence of young people in the market has been drastically reduced.” In 2007, the younger population (those between 18 and 30 years old) was behind 22.53% of sales. Today that percentage has been reduced to 9.55%. In fact, the statistical portal shows that they are one of the groups with the smallest footprint on the market, only behind the group that is already over 70 years old. In general the latest data Updated CGN data show that those under 31 years of age have represented 9.35% of buyers over the last year, far from the 25.7% of the 31-40 age group or 26.89% of the 41-50 age group. For more than a decade, in fact, the average age of those who buy has been around 50 years old. It’s not surprising at all. Other studies have been pointing out for some time the difficulties with which young people encounter to access the real estate market (only a part manages to buy or rent) and above all its gradual weight loss. Do they show anything else? Yes. Young Spaniards may play a much more discreet role in the sector today than just a few years ago, but there is another group that has grown. So much in fact that has covered the gap left by those less than 30 years old. CGN data show that operations carried out by foreigners have skyrocketed in the last two decades: from representing 7.5% of the total in 2007, they have risen to 20.1%. The Vanguard specifies that the increase has been especially pronounced in the case of non-residents, who would be purchasing of the order of 50,000-60,000 properties per year. He statistical portal of notaries allows us to go a few steps further and get a more approximate idea of ​​which foreign citizens are interested in the Spanish real estate market. According to their updated data, the British represent 8.7%, the Moroccans 7.7% and the Italians are close to 7%. They are followed on the list by Germans (6.9%) and Romanians (6.4%). It is interesting that in some of these groups, such as the British, the percentage of non-resident buyers is higher than those who do have their habitual residence in Spanish territory. When comparing the evolution of foreign buyers and young people (between 18 and 31 years old), the data must however be handled with some caution, since the General Council of Notaries does not clarify to what extent they overlap. And what about the prices? In recent years the real estate market has been marked by another phenomenon as or even more relevant: rising prices. The data of Idealistic show that, in Spain, on average, the square meter of residential use cost 1,522 euros in September 2015. It now stands at 2,517. The data does not exactly match the calculated by the notaries, but it still gives an idea of ​​the increase in housing prices. The group estimates that last year the sector recorded a variation rate price increases of 7.12%, one of the highest in the last decade. In fact, it was only surpassed in 2022, when the figure was 7.23%. “From January to August 2025, apartment prices in Spain (new and second-hand housing) have increased by 8% compared to 2024. This situation is worsened in the country’s capital, with Madrid registering a price increase of 15.2%. In Barcelona the increase reaches 9.23%,” concludes the CGN. The director of the Technological Center of Notaries, Alberto Martínez Lacambra, admits In fact, the rise in housing prices “is beginning to be worrying.” And beyond prices? The weight loss of young people is explained by several factors. Although the increase in the price of residential m2 is a key factor, there is an added difficulty in saving (costs rise in the purchase and sale market, but also in the rental market) and accessing credit or deep imbalance between demand and supply that the most saturated markets suffer from. The situation is so complex and young people have it so difficult that in fact notaries have found another revealing surprise: they are increasingly most common donations of housing (or cash for purchases) between parents and children. Regarding the increase in foreign buyers, the trend coincides with another undeniable reality. One that goes beyond the effect of extinct ‘golden visa’: he general increase of the foreign population, which has helped Spain increase its GDP and strengthening of the registry, a reality recognized by the INE itself. In recent years, the country has also gained appeal as a vacation destination, to the point that it threatens to become with more visitors of the planet. Images | Emil Gabrovski (Unsplash) and Roberto Tjalondo (Unsplash) In Xataka | A 40m2 “capsule” for 25,000 euros: the Chinese solution to housing that … Read more

proposes an ERE for 1,200 employees in Madrid and Barcelona

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The round of more than 30,000 layoffs that Amazon announced at the beginning of the week seemed something far away. Finally, the figure was lowered to 14,000 layoffswhich is still dramatic. However, two companies linked to Amazon in Spain have initiated employment regulation files (ERE) for their workers in Madrid and Barcelona, ​​which indicates that Spain is also among Amazon’s workforce reduction plans. 1,200 jobs between Madrid and Barcelona Just a few days ago, Amazon announced a round of staff layoffs that would affect some 14,000 employees around the world. According what was published by EFE and Europa Press, the company’s corporate employees in Spain will be part of that adjustment. As confirmed by Amazon at the request of Xataka, two employment regulation files have been opened in the companies Amazon Digital Spain, whose offices are located in Madrid, and Amazon Spain Services, located in Barcelona. The combination of both processes will affect up to 1,200 employees of these corporate offices. Sources from EFE point out that the layoffs would be limited only to the staff of those offices, but not to the operations and logistics part that Amazon has spread throughout the national territory. Amazon’s global workforce is estimated at around 1.5 million employees, of which around 350,000 hold corporate positions. According to data from 2025 provided by Amazonits staff in Spain would be about 28,000 employees distributed in 19 provinces. Amazon indicated in its official statement on the reduction of 14,000 jobs globally, that those affected would be offered a period of 90 days to look for a new position within the company, although it was clarified that this period could vary depending on the legislation in force in each country, so we do not know if those affected by this ERE will be able to relocate to other positions within the company. It’s not for money, it’s for agility Amazon’s decision in Spain is known just after publishing one rrising economic resultsin a context in which the company continues to break turnover and profit records. The reaction from the Government has not been long in coming from the Minister of Labor, who from her profile on BlueSky has attacked Amazon and its founder: “A company that has million-dollar profits and that leaves its workers stranded is a model of shame. The “Amazon miracle” is this: Jeff Bezos at the service of Trump, not paying taxes, destroying small businesses and mistreating its workers,” wrote Yolanda Diaz. Unlike what usually happens, the constant layoffs that are taking place in large technology companies (and in other that they are not) They are not explained in a context of financial crisis of those companies (which, in fact, set records in your quotes) but in a scenario of optimizing their templates to be more agile in the race for AI. This is how Andy Jassy, ​​CEO of Amazon, explained it in recent statements reported by CNBC: “It’s actually a question of culture. If you grow as fast as we did for several years, you know, the size of the companies, the number of people, the number of locations, the types of businesses you’re in, you end up with many more people than before, and you end up with many more layers.” Eliminating those layers of middle positions reduces your internal bureaucracy and speeds up decisions. In Xataka | Big Tech doesn’t stop firing its engineers. At the same time, they have stepped on the accelerator in hiring Image | amazon

The lack of additives at low-cost gas stations does not keep drivers up at night. That’s why Moeve wants to be more Ballenoil

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Moeve has changed its strategy and has done so in a big way. In just 12 months, the company has converted 50 of its service stations traditional to Ballenoil, its low-cost brand. And since this type of gas stations began to become popular, the ‘lack’ of additives It has not been a concern for consumers who, above all, prioritize their pockets. The transformation has been especially intense since this summer, when the oil company decided to accelerate the process of further prioritizing its low-cost brand in strategic points throughout the Peninsula. Transformation. The old one Cepsa bought Ballenoil in November 2023 with a clear objective: to challenge Repsol for the crown, which maintains the largest share of the Spanish market. But it is not only about growing the number of gas stations. And it seems that Moeve has understood that the future involves being present in two worlds: the premium, where it maintains its traditional brand, and the low cost, where the customer seeks to fill the tank at a lower cost. From Moeve confirm to the Vozpópuli medium that “both premium and low cost are important to respond to the expectations of our customers.” The perfect timing. Although fuel prices have fallen since all-time highs which they reached after the Russian invasion of Ukraine (when they exceeded two euros per liter), continue to remain at high levels. The liter of 95 octane gasoline exceeds 1.45 euros on average and diesel is close to 1.40 euros, according to data from CincoDías. Logically, given the rise in fuel prices, many drivers are looking for specifically economical gas stations, and that is where the low-cost ones come in. All in a context in which traditional oil companies focus on attracting customers through their promises of premium fuel and additives. Figures. The integration of Ballenoil has made Moeve exceed 2,000 service stations in the Iberian Peninsula for the first time, reaching 2,040 gas stations, according to 2024 financial data. The figure is expected to increase before the end of the year. The pace of transformation accelerated in June, when 16 stations changed their image in a single month. Just like affirms In the middle, during September and October the conversions continued, prioritizing territories where the company already has a greater presence. Madrid leads this transformation with nine gas stations that become Ballenoil, followed by Barcelona, ​​Navarra, Albacete, Ciudad Real, Granada, Seville and Badajoz. The Ballenoil network has also allowed Moeve to penetrate areas where it did not previously have a presence, especially in Catalonia, the Valencian Community, Andalusia and several regions of Castile. The rise of low cost. Low cost gas stations already represent 20% of all stations in Spain, according to inform the EconomíaDigital medium, with more than 2,400 installations spread throughout the country. As the media explains, the savings for the driver can exceed 0.18 euros per liter compared to traditional brands, a difference that ends up being noticed with each refueling. And the forecasts point high, which could mean a major structural change in the national oil panorama. Ballenoil, Plenergy and Petroprix are leading this transformation, betting on automated systems and simplified infrastructure that allow them to reduce costs. Manuel Sáez, CEO of Ballenoil, declared to CincoDías that the objective is to “exceed 380 operational service stations” in the second half of the year and “reach 500 throughout 2027.” Competence. Ballenoil has reached 350 service stations in Spain, becoming the leader in number of points of sale within the low cost segment. Plenergy follows closely, with 340 gas stations (331 in Spain and 9 in Portugal) and plans to reach 370 this year. However, Plenergy leads in business volume: closed 2024 with 1,385 million liters sold, a growth of 43% compared to the previous year. For its part, Petroprix, with 165 stations in Spain, has opted for a different strategy, prioritizing international expansion in markets such as Portugal, Chile, Panama and Poland. Cover image | engin akyurt In Xataka | Catalonia wants to make variable speed limits a reality. And he is already experimenting to improve the sleep of his neighbors

save on your purchases up to 70 euros with these discount coupons

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It’s Halloween, which means the month of November is just a few hours away. This month has Black Friday, but it is not necessary to wait much longer to go for deals. The reason? When midnight strikes tonight will begin AliExpress Mega Choice Dayan event full of bargains in technology and that, as usual, comes with discount coupons to save even more on our purchases. Discount minimum purchase coupon 2 euros 14 euros ESCD02 4 euros 23 euros ESCD04 7 euros 49 euros ESCD07 12 euros 89 euros ESCD12 20 euros 159 euros ESCD20 35 euros 279 euros ESCD35 45 euros 369 euros ESCD45 55 euros 449 euros ESCD55 70 euros 569 euros ESCD70 The event, which will last until November 7 at 11:59 p.m., It will allow us to get everything at a very good price: from mobile phones to tablets, through consoles, smart watches and more. The offers will not be available for a few hours, but there are some very interesting devices that already indicate the price and that allow us to get ahead tonight to avoid them being sold out. To make your task a little easier, below we leave you a selection of the most interesting offers that we can find: Samsung Galaxy S25 by 590.24 eurosa high-end phone ideal for compact lovers. Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro by 301.17 eurosa powerful and very versatile tablet. nintendo switch 2 by 470.18 eurosthe new Nintendo console in a pack with ‘Mario Kart World’. POCO X7 Pro by 219.61 eurosa very interesting quality-price option. OnePlus Watch 3 by 180.60 eurosa smartwatch launched this year with a very refined design. Samsung Galaxy S25 We start this selection of offers with a Galaxy S25the most economical and compact of this entire family of Samsung phones. It is a perfect option for people who prefer small phones, but without giving up having good performance in our hands. It arrived in stores for over 900 euros, although we can get it on AliExpress for 590.24 euros. Of this device we can highlight its processor, a Snapdragon 8 Elite. In addition, it has 12 GB of RAM and a 6.2-inch screen with 120 Hz. All without forgetting that it has one of the best artificial intelligencehow is Galaxy AIand that has seven years of guaranteed updates. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro We now jump into the field of tablets, and we do so with one from Xiaomi. The Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro It is a tablet with a very balanced ratio of components that, now with this AliExpress offer, is presented as a great option without having to spend a fortune. It arrived in stores at around 600 euros, but now we can buy it for 301.17 euros. In terms of performance, it is at a good level thanks to another Qualcomm chip, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, which is accompanied by 8 GB of RAM in this version. Its 11.2-inch screen is quite interesting, since It has 144 Hz and is also compatible with Dolby Vision. It has plenty of sound power thanks to its 4 speakers compatible with Dolby Atmos and it has a good 8,850 mAh battery. Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro (8 + 256 GB) The price could vary. We earn commission from these links nintendo switch 2 This AliExpress Mega Choice Day also has consoles at a very good price. One of the ones we can find is also one of the last to hit the stores: nintendo switch 2. This new version was released a few months ago and so far we have not seen it on sale too many times. Now we have a good opportunity to get her, since she comes out 470.18 euros and also comes with ‘Mario Kart World’. We are facing a revision that was already necessary and that is already capable of moving games to 4K when we have it connected to the television through its dock. As was the case with the first Switch, we also have the possibility of removing it from this and enjoy your entire catalog in portable modewhich is an incentive. In addition, we have a great game to release, the new title in the ‘Mario Kart’ saga. Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World The price could vary. We earn commission from these links POCO X7 Pro We return to the field of mobile phones with one from 2025 that will probably be one of the best value for money. We are referring to POCO X7 Proa perfect phone for all those people looking for have the best possible and do not want to spend too much in return. The Xiaomi mobile arrived in stores at a quite competitive price (369.99 euros), but now we can take it for 219.61 euros. One of the things that stands out the most about it is that, despite costing just over 200 euros, it comes with a huge 6,000 mAh battery compatible with 90 W fast charging. In addition, its 6.67-inch AMOLED screen has 1.5K resolution, 120 Hz and a peak brightness of 3,200 nits, so we can enjoy it perfectly even outdoors where there is a lot of light. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links OnePlus Watch 3 We close this selection of offers with a smart watch, in this case the OnePlus Watch 3. This device, also launched this year, is a perfect watch for those people looking to have something with a refined and classic style on their wrist. Of course, It also has a great price right now: 180.60 euros (from the 349 euros it cost at launch). This device, which has a Google operating system (Wear OS 5), comes with a 1.5-inch LTPO AMOLED type screen with a peak brightness of 2,200 nits and protected with 2D sapphire glass. It is very resistantsince it has IP68 certification and withstands up to 5 ATM. It also has a very good autonomy … Read more

There is a whale that has been alive for more than two centuries. And it has things to teach us

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Stopping aging is one of the objectives that a field of science has right now that is very focused, above all, on preventing diseases as serious as cancer that can be associated with being older. Now the secret does not seem to be in a hidden book, but on a bowhead whale what is one of the oldest known mammals with a life expectancy that exceeds 200 years. A headache. This combination of size and longevity has been a problem for biologists for decades. Precisely, more cells (due to their size) and more time (due to their longevity), the greater the probability that one of those cells will accumulate mutations and turn into cancer, as happens in humans. However, this does not seem to affect the bowhead whale: it is not particularly prone to cancer. This apparent contradiction is known like Peto’s paradox. And now, a team of scientists from the University of Rochester believes he has found the key to this resistance. The importance. With the passage of time, humans accumulate different mutations in our cells that a priori They couldn’t be more important. The change of one nucleotide for another in a very complex sequence of a protein may not alter the resulting amino acid, and it is very common, since our ‘genetic photocopiers’ such as DNA polymerases they are not perfect and they make mistakes in their work when it comes to replicating DNA. And it is precisely in these errors that the probability of suffering from a major disease such as cancer increases. Above all, it is worrying when these errors accumulate throughout life. This makes finding ‘the secret of eternal youth’ crucial for humans and the control of devastating diseases. When we think about anti-aging we automatically imagine wrinkle-free skin, but beyond aesthetics, science is interested in how young the cells are. And this is where the question is that now focuses on the genome of these whales that seem to hold the key to understanding how to reverse our molecular aging. The hypotheses. Why a whale has such a high life expectancy despite its size has led to different scenarios being considered. The first of them is that the whale can have extra defenses, as happens in elephants that have evolved to have extra copies of tumor suppressor genes, such as the TP53. Basically, they have more “police” monitoring the genome so that, the moment there is a cancer cell, it is eliminated by apoptosis. But when researchers tested the whale’s cells, they got a major surprise. Unexpectedly, bowhead whale fibroblasts required fewer oncogenic “hits” (what we can say are mutations) to undergo malignant transformation than human fibroblasts. That is, they are more likely to develop cancer compared to humans. So how come they don’t develop cancer in the wild? If your cells are, in theory, more vulnerable, where’s the catch? The repair. And the trick is not in have many police officers monitoring our cells to ‘kill’ those that get out of controlbut it is about having a big toolbox to fix everything that is not normal. It is something that the team led by Professor Vera Gorbunova discovered in the cells of the bowhead whale. In this case, instead of eliminating damaged cells in a process called apoptosis, the whale had perfected the art of repairing them. Their cells showed an “enhanced” ability and fidelity to repair DNA double-strand breaks, which are the most dangerous type of genomic damage. This results in lower mutation rates than present in other mammalian cells. A protein. The person responsible for this super repair is a protein called CIRBP (cold-inducible RNA binding protein). And the name is no coincidence. These types of animals spend their entire lives in the icy waters of the Arctic, and it seems essential to activate this repair system that is present 100 times more frequent in these animals than in humans. And CIRBP seems a real swiss army knife of repair for everything it can do within the whale’s body. Something that can be summarized in the following points: It protects DNA from degradation so that it ‘holds up’ to being repaired. Reduces the formation of ‘micronuclei’, a clear sign of genomic instability and chromosomal damage. It increases the precision of DNA repair so that the genetic material ends up well assembled and without any type of error. In short, we are talking about a conservative strategy of nature: instead of discarding cells that may still be useful, the whale invests in meticulously repairing them. This not only prevents cancer, but also contributes to its exceptional longevity, as it keeps tissues functional for longer. In humans. The question in this case is whether we can take advantage of this great repair capacity within our body. To do this, the research team introduced the whale protein CIRBP into human cells and the result was a success: the protein improved the efficiency of DNA repair in our own cells. But the star experiment was done with fruit flies. In this case, the researchers engineered the flies to overexpress the CIRBP protein (both the human and whale versions) and the results showed a much longer lifespan and greater resistance to the ionizing radiation that destroys our DNA. The next step is now to breed mice with enhanced levels of CIRBP to see if it also makes them live longer, and who knows if it finally somehow becomes a drug that could be very useful especially for those people who are more likely to suffer from cancer. Cover | Wikipedia In Xataka | “Guided missiles” are revolutionizing cancer treatment. And they are already giving results

Portugal and Spain have proposed that traveling between Lisbon and Madrid be as comfortable as in 1881. This is excellent news

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31 years after the first promise, we will have a high-speed train from Madrid to Lisbon passing through Extremadura. We will have it, of course, if the plans are fulfilled. And four years later we will be able to travel the space that separates both capitals at high speed. 2030 and 2034. At least that’s what they’ve committed to. Portugal, Spain and the European Commission, who have reached an agreement to bring the connection between Lisbon and Madrid back to life in 2030 with a conventional train and in 2034 with a high-speed line that should make the journey in three hours. The calendar. To launch the line between the capitals, the project requires various phases and actions. Poceirão-Bombel section: new line that will begin construction in 2026 and should be completed in 2029. Évora-Caia section: this high-speed section should be ready in 2026. Lisbon-Évora section: the project study should be completed in 2027. Plasencia-Talayuela section: should be operational in 2028. Madrid-Lisbon at high speed: the new lines should allow travel between the Spanish capital and Portugal in three hours from 2034. In addition, the possibility of opening a Caia-Badajoz-Elvas high-speed line has been raised to reduce times and reach three hours if the planned times are not being met. Target: airlines. One of the great objectives that the European Union has with this new high-speed line is to reduce the number of flights between both cities. They point out in elDiario.es There are currently about 40 daily flights between Madrid and Lisbon. For years, European institutions have been working to reduce the volume of air traffic by improving rail connections. Spain either France These are some of the countries that want to implement policies to reduce them. A 600 kilometer railway line to travel in three hours is exactly the type of trip that can do a lot of damage to airlines if it works correctly. A good example is the Galician runner which, despite requiring more travel time, has made passengers turn their backs on the plane. And Galicia? If travelers who aspire to take their trains from Madrid are the big beneficiaries, Galicia seems to be the big loser. In recent yearsPortugal had insisted that its true intention was to create a high-speed line between Lisbon and Vigo with an intermediate stop in Porto. The project now takes a back seat, however, since they will have to focus efforts on high speed between capitals. In Atlantic They highlight that the European Union has already dedicated more than 250 million euros to promoting high speed in Portugal and more than 750 million euros to do the same in the connection between Extremadura and Madrid, so it seems logical that the first corridor to support this. A continental network. The project to link Lisbon and Madrid on a high-speed line is part of the European Atlantic Transport Corridor. The project plans to link Portugal, Spain, France, Germany and Ireland with intermodal connections that include roads, airports, ports… and railway lines. Regarding the latter, the connection with Madrid would allow connecting Barcelona with Lisbon in less than six hours. It would be a key stage for unite Lisbon with the rest of the European Union by train since, at the moment, the Portuguese capital is isolated by rail. In addition, it would allow rapid connection with other hot spots on the Spanish high-speed rail network, such as Valencia and Alicante or connections with Asturias and Cantabria. The exit to Vigo with the high-speed network that was already planned is the other possibility to reach the north of the Peninsula. The eternal promise. The connection between Lisbon and Madrid is a promise that has been going on for more than 20 years. In The World Order They highlight that the railway connection between both cities is worse today than in 1881 when a train line was opened between both cities for the first time. Between Berlin and Warsaw, they point out, there is a similar distance traveled by seven trains a day. Despite the first promises of having a cross-border AVE ready in 2010the line is still not operational. With the latest advances in the high-speed line, already present between Plasencia and Badajoz, the travel time between Lisbon and Madrid has been reduced to just over eight hours, as explained in The World Order but you have to take three different trains. In 2022, the same trip exceeded 11 hours, collected in The Country. At least 144 years ago, travelers only had to take a train and wait for it to drop them off in one of the two cities. Photo | Phil Richards, Annie Sprat and 야스민 ㄹㅁㅅ In Xataka | A hydrogen train has crossed Spain and Portugal for the first time: 10,000 km of route, including the Pyrenees

be the tallest church in the world

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that the Holy Family It is an architectural jewel, there is little doubt. Which is one of the great icons of Barcelona and one of the obligatory stops for tourists who come to the city, either, as attested by the 4.8 million of visitors it received last year. Now Antoni Gaudí’s temple will be able to boast an added merit: being the highest church of the entire planet, a brand that has just been snatched from the Ulm Cathedral, which held that record since 1890. The key: a little big growth of its central tower. What has happened? That the world ranking of mega constructions has undergone an important change. Above all because of its symbolism for Barcelona, ​​Catalonia and Spain as a whole. Yesterday, almost on the eve of All Saints’ Day, those responsible for the works of the Sagrada Familia they hoisted a piece of the ‘Tower of Jesus Christ’ that has raised the height of the temple to almost 163 m. If the fact were not surprising in itself, it comes accompanied by a surprise for lovers of world records: it has turned the Catalan temple into the tallest church in the world, a merit that has been taken away from Ulm Cathedral. Why’s that? What the temple has just incorporated is part of the cross of the ‘Tower of Jesus Christ’, a centerpiece of the Sagrada Familia. More specifically what they installed on thursday The operators with a crane is the lower arm of the cross (7.25 m and 24 tons), which had arrived in July divided into four panels. Those responsible for the project detail that the piece has a double-turn geometry, a square shape at the base, octagonal at the top and a coating of white glazed ceramic and glass, materials chosen for their “luminosity and resistance to atmospheric conditions.” “Once completed, the cross will have a total height of 17 m, equivalent to a five-story building, and a width of 13.5 m,” they clarify. Why is it important? The Sagrada Familia takes almost a century and a half being built, an extensive period full of ups and downs and marked by milestones such as the death of the father of the project, the architect Antoni Gaudi (1926), the Civil War or the Covid-19 pandemic. Throughout this vast chronicle, the works have celebrated important milestones, but Thursday’s is especially symbolic. The reason? How has he been in charge of remember the Archdiocesan Church of Barcelona, ​​the new piece raises the glonal height of the temple to 162.91 meters. It is expected that in the next few monthsas the works are completed, the ‘Tower of Jesus Christ’ will take another growth spurt until reach 172 mbut the current mark has already been enough to turn the Sagrada Familia into a record building. And who had the record? Right now the tallest church in the world (recognized by Guinness World Records) is the Ulm Cathedrala Lutheran church located in Baden-Württemberg (Germany), built in several phases between 1377 and 1890 and which has a spire that reaches a height of 161.5 m. The difference with the Catalan temple is still minimal, but that will likely change in the coming months as the tower is completed. In summer the temple already conquered another milestone, also thanks to the pinnacle: it surpassed the Mapfre Tower and Hotel Arts and became the largest building from Barcelona. Its construction is possible thanks largely to the money that visitors pay to visit the temple. Last year the 4.8 million of visitors, 2.7% more than in 2023 and even above pre-covid data. Images | Holy Family 1 and 2 In Xataka | Gaudí planned a heavenly staircase for the Sagrada Familia. Fulfilling the project implies expropriating the neighbors

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