activity

“Any planet that has developed intelligence should have noosignatures, a physical history of cognitive activity”

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¿We are looking for evil extraterrestrial life Or are we alone in the Universe? Some experts opt for the former. They believe that it would be quite egocentric to think that we are the only ones who inhabit the immensity of the cosmos. The problem is that we are busy searching for alien intelligence, but perhaps we are not smart enough to find it. Or, toning things down a bit, we haven’t found the best strategies. Normally we look for biosignatures or technosignatures. That is, biological traces or radio signals from some extraterrestrial technology. Now, astrobiologist Julia De Marines, from the University of California, Berkeley, has devised a new term that focuses right in the middle: noosignatures. Smart, but not that advanced. If an extraterrestrial had landed its radio telescopes on Earth during the stone age I wouldn’t have found anything. I would have concluded that, in that direction, there are no planets with intelligent extraterrestrial life. The failure would have been in thinking that any planet with intelligent life must be at the same point of technological development. Seen this way, it is a pretty big mistake. But the reality is that we are doing just that. For this reason, De Marines believes that technofirms are not the best options. As to biosignaturesdo not always point to biological processes. The history of space exploration is full of examples in which it cannot be ruled out that the biosignature has a geological origin. In fact, it is most likely. For this reason, this astrobiologist proposes that intermediate point in which life is not sought, but rather intelligent activity at an intermediate point before developing advanced technologies. Because it may not have been sought at the right time or, simply, that civilization may not have advanced that much. To be able to detect it correctly, the key is in Assembly Theory. Too many pieces to put together alone. Assembly Theory is based on the assembly index of an object. That is, the number of pieces that had to be joined to form it. Sometimes pieces can be assembled by natural processes. However, above a certain threshold, a complexity is denoted that can only have certain intelligent activity behind it. Stone age tools are a good example. No need to look for stone axes. Although we take prehistoric tools as an example, this cannot be sought by launching telescopes and sensors into space. However, there are activities that can be measured from the outside. For example, agriculture left a measurable trace of nitrogen in our atmosphere. Even food manufacturing, such as fermented products, can be detected in waste chemistry thousands of years later. It is not necessary to understand it. Something important about this method of searching for extraterrestrial life is that it is not necessary to understand noosignatures. Returning to examples from our own history, in Phys point out the case of the Indus Valley writing. At the moment, no one has been able to decipher it, but we know that it was not written alone. There was an intelligent mind behind it. In this case the same thing happens. We must look for traces that do not fit with the natural behavior of the planet, even if it is not understood how they could have arisen. The limitations. This method of searching for extraterrestrial life has a major limitation. And noosignatures are ephemeral. If they are not measured at the right time, they can disappear. Additionally, they can be quite complex to decipher. To all this we must add that the study published by De Marines is a preprint. This means that it has not yet undergone review by an independent research team. Therefore, we must take their approaches with a grain of salt. Anyway, the reality is that, since the beginnings of SETIthe search for intelligent extraterrestrial life is not bearing good fruit. Not even the search for life, in general. The twists in methodology can be interesting, so this one deserves, at the very least, the attention of other astrobiologists. Image | Brooke Denevan (Unsplash) In Xataka | What is the Fermi paradox and why the architect of the atomic bomb gave a twist to the search for extraterrestrial life

An entire factory will close after 57 years of activity

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After thousands of complaints, Stellantis assumed in January 2025 that something had gone wrong with its PureTech motors. Seeking maximum cost savings, the company had fallen into faulty production that could cause premature engine failure. Although the monetary cost has been high, the worst thing for the company has been the reputational cost. So much so that the company has stopped marketing this engine and the replacement forgets the word PureTech. With the productive tap closed and without a new award, the controversial engine has also taken another step forward. A factory that was part of the French automotive industry. The PureTech. For months, Stellantis customers have been demanding that the company take care of the breakdowns of their PureTech engines in 2024. The company had no choice but to accept the mistake and in January 2025 it confirmed that the warranty on these engines was extended and they would pay for the repairs of all engines that had failed between 2022 and 2024. The problem is that in the search for extreme cost savingsthe engine design could cause the oil-soaked belt to become contaminated with fuel residue to the point of premature wear that would cause it to break unexpectedly. If the timing belt breaks, engine damage can be fatal. A problem. The problem for Stellantis is that the damage caused by PureTech motors goes far beyond economic damage. The company has been setting aside tens of millions of euros to face compensation for customer breakages but the worst has been the reputational impact. To put up a dam, Stellantis has presented the Turbo 100the replacement for the failed propellants. It has done so after the revised versions of the previous engine were also called to go through the workshop for new problems last year. The solution has finally been to nip the issue in the bud. And goodbye to your factory. With the end of the production of these engines, other news has also come: Stellantis will close the Douvrin plant in France, explain our French colleagues from L’Automobile. The decision is a direct consequence of the poor results of the engines and the change in the company’s strategy. And the 1.2 Puretech engines were not being sold in Europe but they were being sold in other markets. The company, however, will completely cease production before the end of the year. Once they also stopped manufacturing the 1.5 BlueHDI diesel last year, the plant was already mortally wounded. Goodbye to decades of history. The closure of the Douvrin plant is sensitive because it is a factory with 57 years behind it. It had been in operation since 1969 and its construction was born from investments by Peugeot and Renault. However, in 2013 it was acquired in its entirety by PSA (of which Peugeot was a part) and from there it passed into the hands of Stellantis after the merger of FCA and PSA. The company, according to the French media, has relocated 340 employees to another plant to produce batteries and another very similar figure has joined different positions. The fate of 100 workers (half of them temporary) who have not been formally relocated remains to be known. Another European plant that closes. The closure of said French plant is just another example of how the European motor industry is suffering with the conversion to electric cars. Stellantis has stressed on different occasions that production costs in France are too high (and along the way we have benefited in Spain). Volkswagen assures that will have to lay off 100,000 employees of its German plants for the same reason. But it is also the certification that Europe continues to move towards the electric car. Although the French plant produced engines for countries outside our borders, we are not competitive against regions such as Morocco, Türkiye or South America…or Poland (where the PureTech that France abandons is still produced). In these countries, producing combustion engines is still the order of the day and at a more affordable price. Photo | Stellantis In Xataka | Italian workers have been angered by Stellantis’ investments. Those that Morocco has taken from them, specifically

in Cádiz they have decided that playing soccer on the beach is a prohibited activity

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It doesn’t matter the year, the city, or the beach. Every summer on the sandy beaches of Spain there are a series of images that are religiously repeated: the queues in the beach barsthe crowded parking lotsthe tourists who They approach at dawn to the beachfront to hang his umbrella and reserve the best spaces… and the groups of children playing with balls among bathers who just want to lie in the sun, which sometimes leads to the occasional fight. In Cádiz they have decided that they want to save that last one. What has happened? For a few days now, the beaches of Cádiz have been the protagonist of a curious controversy: Balls yes or balls no? Should ball games be prohibited on sandy beaches? Do a group of children who want to have a party in the sand have the same right to enjoy the coast as a retired couple who just want to sunbathe, or should the latter be prioritized? These are questions that tend to be repeated year after year, but a few days ago Canal Sur recovered them in a report in which he reveals that in Cádiz the Local Police have gotten to work to put an end to the little parties on the beach. @zona.cousins 🚨€750 FINE for playing ball on the beach? 😳🏝️ Is it fair or does it seem exaggerated? #zonacousins #fine #beach #cadiz #news ♬ original sound – Zona Primos Why’s that? By pure regulations. The ordinance of Cádiz is very clear and limits the spaces in which you can (and cannot) play with balls in the city’s sandy areas during the summer. The key is that the City Council has decided to move from theory to action and has mobilized local agents to enforce this rule. In a matter of two days they seized 18 balls. And that is the least of the problems for the ‘hunted’ players red-handed. Those who disturb other bathers by playing with a ball may commit a minor offense, for which they risk fines of up to 750 euros. If they are also repeat offenders and are caught twice, the punishment can increase to 1,500. He reportage of Canal Sur shows another reality, just as important: the norm is far from arousing consensus. Their reporter interviews bathers who call it “atrocious” or “exaggeration” that someone is fined 750 euros just for kicking a ball. Also to others who complain about “lack of control.” “The boy with the ball again, I’m going to have to get up because if he hits me with the ball…” complains one of the women interviewed. “What bothers me is that they get close, hit me with a ball and break my glasses.” What does the ordinance say? The most curious thing, as a local Cádiz police officer reminds Canal Sur, is that the restrictions that affect ball games on the town’s beaches are not new. The ordinance It was published in the Provincial Gazette in August 2023 and in its article 29, dedicated precisely to “games and recreational activities” in the city’s sandy areas, it is very clear about it: “The walk, the stay or the bath in the sea will have preference over any other use on the beaches of Cádiz (…). People who practice sports on beaches will make normal, rational and peaceful use of the beach space, without causing inconvenience or damage to the rest of the users or to the natural attributes of the beaches.“. And in case it is not clear, underline: “During bathing season, and in order to avoid possible inconvenience to other users, the activities and ball sports will take place in the areas marked and enabled for this purpose, included in the Operation Plan. When the sports activities in question may cause inconvenience to other users, the sports areas will be provided with protections and background nets, in order to prevent the projection of balls and balls towards the bathing area, walkways over the sand, shower areas, changing rooms, first aid kits or any other facility. Does it only happen in Cádiz? Not at all. Controversy has arisen in Cádiz due to the Local Police campaign and the removal of 18 balls in just 48 hours, but the Cádiz City Council is not the only one that prioritizes bathers over those who want to play with the ball on the beach. At least during the summer months. The municipal regulations de Vigo also clarifies that games with balls or paddles “both in sand and water” can only be played when “they do not pose a nuisance” to the rest of the users. A similar pattern is found in the ordinances of To Coruña, Alicante either Malagato cite a few examples. More or less clearly, permanently or depending on each context, all the rules agree on the same thing: the games cannot interfere with the rest of the people who enjoy the sand. “It is prohibited in bathing areas and waters and during the bathing season (…) to carry out activities, games or exercises that may disturb others,” he clarifies. the Malaga norm. Does it only affect the beaches? No. A quick Google search comes in to find articles and forums in which the loss of spaces is pointed out in which a few years ago one could play without a problem and now they veto the use of balls. “In this park where generations have grown up playing soccer and with a ball in their hands, they have put up this sign prohibiting it,” commented In February, a Reddit user next to a photo showed a sign banning balls. “I can’t help but wonder: where does the city council want to focus children’s leisure? There are fewer and fewer spaces for free play and more regulations.” What is the priority? “Then we worry that children will spend more time with screens, consoles and mobile phones, ‘like zombies’, but what real alternatives are we leaving them if even the most basic … Read more

The truth behind the medical milestone that has returned activity to a frozen brain

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One of the wishes of many people is to live forever and they may have in mind ending up with their head stuck in a jar like in the Futurama series or becoming cryogenized for an eternity until the key to eternal life is found. But we are still quite far from that, although right now science has been able to recover the activity of a brain after ‘killing’ it. Far from the resurrection. In recent days we have been sold the idea that we are facing a new way of ‘resurrecting’ the dead or achieving the wish of eternal life, but the reality is that the latest thing science has done is recover short-term functional activity in mouse brain tissue after subjecting it to vitrification. What was done. Historically, the great enemy of cryopreservation of human tissue have been ice crystals. This is because when we freeze tissue, the water in the cells expands and crystallizes, perforating the cell membranes and destroying the structure from within, making it impossible for that tissue to come back to life. Something that generates a lot of damage and that goes against the famous cryogenization cabins that promise to wake us up in the future when science has advanced a lot. But now, instead of traditional freezing, the latest experiment used powerful cryoprotectants and took mouse brain tissue to -150ºC. This process transforms the liquids into a glass-like state, preventing the formation of these crystals, and when they wanted to ‘awaken’ the tissue again, ultra-rapid reheating was simply done to prevent crystallization from destroying the samples. What was achieved. The original article shows extraordinary results, since the amount of neuronal properties that survived were many by ensuring that the cells did not collapse and the tissue returned to consuming energy normally. In addition, the neurons maintained their ability to fire signals and also the possibility of creating new connection networks, which is essential for learning and memory. Why does it matter? As he warns Nature Newsthese results must be read with caution, since it is mouse tissue, not a complete human brain. And recovering electrical activity in a cut of the hippocampus is not equivalent to restoring the consciousness, identity or life of an entire animal, much less a person. But even if they do not manage to pause our definitive death, the reality is that this can be crucial in the field of research by facilitating the transport and storage of brain samples for study in other places. But it will also allow drugs to be tested on actual brain tissue that has been preserved, perhaps reducing the need to sacrifice so many experimental animals. Images | rawpixel.com on Freepik In Xataka | Alzheimer’s leaves its mark decades before showing its face: keeping vitamin D at bay is already a promising shield

France was moving its aircraft carrier without revealing its location. Until a runner on board uploaded an activity to Strava

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Putting on some sneakers, stretching your legs and running for miles and miles outdoors is not (a priori) a reprehensible habit. Quite the opposite. Neither is recording race data with a smartwatch and then publish them on Stravaan app that is used to share routes, times and performance data. All this, we insist, is “a priori” because things change if the person running is a Navy officer and his publication on Strava ends up revealing the near real-time location of a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. That is what has happened in France. Trotting on the high seas. A few days ago the newspaper reporters Le Monde they found each other with something curious: a publication on Strava that showed someone running in circles in the middle of the Mediterranean, dozens of kilometers from the coasts of Turkey and Cyprus and hundreds from the Egyptian coast. The question was obvious… What the hell was a runner doing trotting like a top in the middle of the sea? A look at Copernicus. Over the last few years Le Monde has published various items in which he warns about how Strava can be used to reveal the position of ships and bodyguards, so the reporters had their suspicions about that publication in the Mediterranean. They didn’t last long. By using the Copernicus online viewer they checked that very close to the location registered by Strava the silhouette of one of the most important ships in France, the powerful aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, could be seen. Click on the image to go to the tweet. What had happened? That one of the officers mobilized alongside the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle was better served by his runner than by the caution expected of a member of the French Navy. As reveals Le Mondethe Strava publication belongs to a young officer who on the morning of March 13, around 10:35 a.m., decided to jog around the deck of his ship. While he covered 7.23 kilometers in 35 minutes, the watch on his wrist recorded all the training data and then shared it on Strava. Once there, since their profile is public, anyone could see them. From his friends and gym colleagues to journalists in Paris. The problem is that with that small gesture he revealed the location of the Charles de Gaulle and its naval escort, which was then making its way towards the northwest of Cyprus. Something more than an oversight. We cannot know if the indiscreet runner was aboard the Charles de Gaulle or one of the ships that escorted him, but one thing is clear: his Strava account gives clues to more than just his sporting achievements. On February 14, the same officer posted another graph with data from a race off the Cotentin peninsula, also in the middle of the sea. Days later he ran in Copenhagen (probably after landing) and on March 13 he can already be located in the Mediterranean, just 100 km from the Turkish coast. A worrying snitch. It is not that the deployment of the Charles de Gaulle and the rest of the French ships was a secret. On March 3, Emmanuel Macron himself ordered publicly that they moved from the Baltic to the Mediterranean after the attack by Israel and the US on Iran and it is known that days later The aircraft carrier crossed Gibraltar escorted by the frigate Christopher Columbus. The problem is that the young officer’s publication on Strava reveals the movements of the convoy in detail and almost in real time, also revealing a worrying security breach in the Navy. Especially if you take into account that in recent weeks Iran has attacked French forces in the Middle East, leaving several wounded and one dead. “The appropriate measures”. The incident may seem more or less serious, but one thing is incontestable: Strava data allowed reporters from Le Monde accurately identify the location of the aircraft carrier and its accompanying frigate. The question that remains is… What if, instead of a newspaper, this same exercise had been done by other people with other interests? The General Staff of the Armed Forces has recognized that Strava’s publication “does not comply with current regulations” or the precautions that its staff must take at the digital level. Hence, it is proposed to adopt “appropriate measures.” But is it so worrying? Once again the problem is not only the race recorded on March 13 in the middle of the Mediterranean, but its context. This is not the first time Le Monde warns that Strava can become a breach for national security, depending on who, when and where uses it. The French newspaper has even coined the term “StravaLeaks”. Maybe it sounds excessive, but in 2025 He already warned that there were publications by French sailors that revealed the activity of nuclear submarines and months before, in November 2024, he revealed that Strava allowed thousands of Israeli soldiers to be identified. They are not isolated cases. The most dangerous oversights They were probably committed by the bodyguards of the presidents of France, the United States and Russia. By sharing their training data publicly, they left a trail that helped to partially anticipate the movements of the leaders they protected. Images | Wikipedia In Xataka | Things have to be bad for the US to have made an unprecedented decision: extending the life of its dinosaur aircraft carrier

Between Tenerife and Gran Canaria hides an underwater volcano called ‘Enmedio’. The CSIC has just detected activity for the first time

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Under the waters of the Atlantic, about 80 kilometers southwest of Tenerife and Gran Canaria, hides a colossus that we often forget about. Is called ‘Enmedio’, a name that has quite a joke behind it, but which is nothing more than an underwater volcano with a base of 3.5 kilometers and whose summit is 1,625 meters deep. And although it has been there for a long time, now a scientific team has detected for the first time signs of hydrothermal activity in its depths. A decade. It has not happened overnight, since the team of geologists has spent almost ten years collecting multidisciplinary data driven mainly through the VULCANA project. And the results of the measurements made between 2015 and 2024 now have ended up published in the magazine Bulletin of Volcanology. Here, through oceanographic campaigns that combine high-resolution bathymetry, seismic and geochemistry, scientists they have managed to confirm what until now was only a suspicion: the volcano has an active circulatory system. What have they found? What the team has confirmed with all this information is that there is low-temperature hydrothermal activity at this location. In simple terms, we can now see that the volcano is releasing fluids through a series of fractures and a depression that is in your franc. Although this does not mean that it will erupt in the next few hours. In order to make estimates, it was decided to analyze the water in the vicinity of the volcano, and here the instruments recorded thermal anomalies of up to 0.5 ºC above normal. That is, the water around the volcano was hotter and was also loaded with nutrients such as ammonium or iron oxide, which causes biological alterations in the rocks in the area. There is no rash. Logically, when we read ‘volcanic activity’ and ‘Canary Islands’ in the same sentence, it is inevitable to think about volcanic eruptions such as that of Cumbre Vieja in La Palma, and even more so taking into account the recent earthquakes in the area. However, the CSIC has been quite categorical in this regard, pointing out that this detection does not indicate an imminent eruption and has no relationship with the recent seismic swarms recorded in the area around Teide. A paradise. In this way it is an endemic and latent process. In fact, these hydrothermal vents are excellent news for deep ocean biodiversity. To understand it, we can look back to see how the Tagoro volcano ended up fertilizing the post-eruptive marine ecosystem. Now, Enmedio’s fluids act as a chemical engine that influences the composition of the local ocean and feeds communities of microorganisms that thrive in the most extreme conditions of the seafloor. And although the Enmedio volcano is not a new discovery, this first evidence that it “breathes” marks a before and after in volcanic monitoring in Spain. It demonstrates that under water, more than a kilometer and a half deep, the Canary Islands continue to be an incomparable natural laboratory that, thanks to science, we are beginning to understand better than ever. Images | CSIC In Xataka | The last time Mount Fuji erupted was 318 years ago. The Japanese government has turned to AI in case it happens again

For less than 100 euros, Xiaomi has this mobile supervants with a gift activity bracelet

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For many, spending a money on a mobile is unthinkable. If you think like this and want a cheap smartphone, this Redmi 13 of Xiaomi Cuesta now 99.99 euros. In addition, it comes with a gift that may interest you a lot, the Xiaomi Smart Band 8. You just have to add the terminal to the basket and the activity bracelet will be included without having to do anything. Xiaomi Redmi 13 128 GB + Xiaomi Smart Band 8 * Some price may have changed from the last review A good, beautiful and very cheap mobile He Redmi 13 of Xiaomi It is an entry range terminal. It has one 6.79 inches with FHD+resolution. It presents a 90 Hz soda rate and reaches a brightness of 450 nits. In addition, it has Corning Gorilla Glass protection. The processor that mounts is the Mediatek Helio G91-Ultra And it comes with an 8 GB RAM and 128 GB of internal storage, which can expand up to 1 TB through MicroSD card. Its photographic system is signed by a triple 108+2 MP camera and a 13 MP front. Works under the operating system Xiaomi Hyperos and its battery admits fast charge at 33 W. It has a fingerprint reader on the side, IP53 certification. Finally, you can highlight its connectivity section, since it has Dual Wifi, Bluetooth 5.4 and also has FM radio. As for the Xiaomi Smart Band 8 That comes as a gift, it has a 1.62 -inch AMOLED screen with a brightness of 600 nits. Your battery lasts up to 16 days and is water resistant at 5 atm. It has Bluetooth 5.1 connection and is compatible with iOS and Android. Some accessories that may interest you to protect this mobile NEW & TECK – COVER FOR XIAOMI REDMI 13 4G + 2 Temperate glass screen protectors * Some price may have changed from the last review QSMQAM 3 pieces screen protector for Xiaomi Redmi 13 4g with 3 pieces chamber lens * Some price may have changed from the last review Some of the links of this article are affiliated and can report a benefit to Xataka. In case of non -availability, offers may vary. Images | Xiaomi In Xataka | The best mobiles, we have tried them and here are their analysis In Xataka | The best price quality price. Your analysis and videos are here

A study has discovered a much more efficient activity for your brain than writing by hand or walking: sewing

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We spent the day with hurry to finish tasks pending, accumulating stress and with an excess of dopamine caused by the Infinite social media scroll that, in the long term, ends up undermining our Capacity for concentration. For this reason, neuroscientists recommend performing activities that give a breath to the brain and reduce stress levels. One of the most popular activities to get the body and mind down It is walkingbut a team of researchers from the University of Cardiff have found A curious alternative that, in fact, it has been put Very fashionable worldwide: sew or weave. The relaxing power of sewing In the midst of that maelstrom of things to do to what they call adult life, the brain needs to find A PEACE OF PEACE in relaxing activities capable of reducing daily stress levels. The hobbies They are not just hobbiesbut they are also valuable tools to exercise the brain activating areas related to creativity, psychomotor skills, coordination and even memory. Either sew, Write to Manoo readthese activities offer a healthy escape for stress and a way of exercising our brain in a pleasant way. An investigation of the Faculty of Occupational Therapy of the University of Cardiff published in the magazine Journal of Occupational Science He points out that sewing or weaving, is not only a mechanical movement, but an exercise that stimulates the brain and exercises the ability to concentrate in a single activity. This ability to focus all the attention on a precision motor activity makes stress levels reduce. For its part, the coordinated and constant movement of the hands activates neurotransmitters, keeping neurons working and our dynamic mind. This activity, far from being only for grandmothers, is a valuable therapy that improves the quality of life and helps to achieve a state of mental calm. As with other activities that involve Coordination skills Eye hand, sew or weaving favors the activation of different areas of the brain and releases neurotransmitters associated with well -being. In fact, the effects of weaving or sewing described by researchers at the University of Cardiff are very similar to those discovered by another group of researchers from Florida State University When washing the dishes. It is true that, after an exhausting day at work, the least can feel like it is to wash the dishes. However, the Study data They revealed that carrying out this monotonous and repetitive activity plunged the brain in a state of full attention that increased up to 25% the abstract thinking activity for the generation of new ideas and reduced by up to 27% the levels of stress and anxiety. In fact, as confessed in a Round of Questions in Redditthis is one of Bill Gates’s favorite activities to get rid of stress. Additional benefits for well -being Apart from the obvious mental benefits, sewing and weaving offer physical advantages that can improve the quality of life. These types of repetitive and mechanical activities provide effects similar to meditation: Reduce stress. When concentrating all the attention on the hands and in the creative process, it is possible to reduce blood pressure, which at the same time decreases the risk of cardiovascular problems. This physical and mental relaxation effect helps to disconnect from the accelerated rhythm of daily life. Analytical thought. Measure fabrics or threads, design garments, choose colors, plan projects, etc. All this contributes to strengthening analytical thinking and developing logical processes by establishing an order of priorities in the steps. Increase concentration. The activity requires attention to details, so the capacity for mental approach and attention is enhanced. Immediate tangible reward. Unlike other activities such as meditating, sewing or knitting provides a reward at the end of the work, which contributes to improving self -esteem. In addition to all that, sewing will allow you to repair the damage of your clothes, so, in addition, you are going to save some money while you relax. How much they knew Our mothers and grandmothers. In Xataka | Feeling over at work is normal, but it is not ideal: six techniques to avoid it and be much more productive Image | Pixabay (Wal_172619), Freepik

China is raising an unprecedented dam where millions of people live. The problem is seismic activity

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Before finishing 2024 we advanced what was known about China’s last megonstruction. Actually, we could not talk about “another” as if it were something else in a long list, because it is possibly one of the most ambitious projects that are reminded of the nation: a super prey so monumental that would leave The three throats relegated to the background, producing three times more energy than the spectacular structure of more than two kilometers long. Of course, there is some problem. The superpress. It is a reality: China advances with the construction of the Motuo Superpress in Tibetan unprecedented infrastructure project that, if completed, will become the largest hydroelectric power plant in the world taking advantage of an abrupt slope of 2,800 meters, exceeding the capacity of the three throats dam (currently the biggest in the world). Located in The Grand Canyon of Yarlung Tsangpoon the border with India, the dam has aroused environmental, geopolitical and humanitarian concerns, especially due to the lack of transparency of Beijing about its development. Experts warn that the project represents a “water pump” for millions of people in India and Bangladesh. Seismic risks. The Tibet is One of the most seismically active regions on the planetit has been known for a long time because it is located in the collision of the Indian plaque and the Euroasy Plate. In fact, a recent 7.1 magnitude earthquake in Shigatse It caused damage to five hydroelectric dams and the death of 134 people, demonstrating how vulnerable infrastructure in the region is. Although Motuo’s work can be designed to withstand earthquakes, landslides and mud alluds could serve as a fuse and unleash, representing a direct threat to nearby populations. We speak, again, millions of people. This risk is aggravated by the phenomenon of Seismicity induced by reservoirs (RTS)where the weight of accumulated water in large dams can trigger earthquakes. An example is the zipingpu damwhose construction was followed by Sichuan’s devastating earthquake in 2008 which charged 87,000 lives. In addition, sediment retention by the dam could reduce the fertility of the soil downstream, causing erosion in the rivers and coasts of India and Bangladesh. Gran_Cañón Yarlung Tsangpo Environmental impact. The dam too would alter the water and climatic patterns Crucial for agriculture in the region. The Tibet, where Brahmaputra is born, is one of the most biodiverse regions of the world and a key regulator of Asian climate. The construction of the superpress could, for example, alter the monsoon rainfallwith devastating effects for agriculture in India and Bangladesh. In addition, the ecological impact of Chinese megaemblses is already evident in other international rivers, Like the Mekong, where the dams have caused droughts recurring and the intrusion of salt water in agricultural deltas. Impact between the premises and (des) information. It is another leg that must tie the project. The Tibet is under a strong control of the Chinese Communist Party, so the magnitude of the displacement of Tibetans that will require the work is not known. In this regard, Beijing has not revealed details about costs (It is estimated that total investment will exceed 130,000 million euros), The companies involved or the number of people who will be relocated. And if we are guided by other cases in Chinese provinces, protests against hydroelectric projects have been repressedit is suggested that any opposition in the Tibet will be silenced. Geopolitics of a superpress. He Brahmaputrawhich flows to India and Bangladesh, is a vital artery for millions of people. Again, that lack of Chinese transparency has generated distrust in New Delhi and Daca, whose scientists have demanded access to hydrological data to evaluate the risks of the work. India, meanwhile, Fears China use river control as a geopolitical weaponrestricting or diverting the flow in case of conflicts. Thus, and in the face of uncertainty, some Indian officials have proposed an alternative: Build a dam in a Brahmaputra tributary to counteract possible flow reductionsalthough this solution does not seem ideal and could also harm the ecology of the region. Imminent risk. Nikei had this week That the possibility of a catastrophic collapse is not a simple speculation. China has suffered hundreds of dam failures throughout its historyincluding the worst disaster ever registered: The collapse in cascade of the Banqiao dam And another 61 dams in 1975, an event that caused 85,000 direct deaths and displaced 11 million people. Even The three throats dam was on the verge of collapse in 2020endangering 400 million people. Therefore, if a strong earthquake hit the region and cause the rupture of the superpress, Millions of people in the Brahmaputra Valley in India and Bangladesh could be affected by catastrophic floods, aggravating. In addition, geopolitical and humanitarian tensions in the region. If you want also, it is feasible to think that with this mega -Obra, China would not only reinforce its control over the water resources of Asia, but also converting Brahmaputra into a geopolitical weaponincreasing their pressure capacity over their neighbors. Image | Harvey BarrisonNASA In Xataka | China prepares the most expensive megaestructure on the planet: a hydroelectric power plant on the most controversial place possible In Xataka | The three throats dam is so huge that it has caused something unexpected: extending the days of the earth

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