aspires

The megacity you haven’t heard of is in China and aspires to be the largest in the world

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In the world there are big, huge, huge cities and then others that are almost a country in themselves, like Jing-Jin-Jithe huge conurbation that has been taking shape in northern China for years. And “country” can be taken in its most expansive sense. If they are fulfilled the forecasts launched by its promoters more than a decade ago, the megalopolis will host between 110 and 130 million of inhabitants, in addition to a robust business muscle. Its size will also take away the hiccups: is spoken of more than 200,000 km2double that of all of Portugal. It may sound like science fiction, but there is a very simple explanation: Jing-Jin-Ji is not a city founded from scratch, but a new way of understanding and organizing Beijing, Tianjin and the province of Hebei to shape an urban titan. Rethinking Beijing. Although it does not reach the levels From Tokyo, Delhi or even Shanghai, Beijing is one of the most populous cities on the planet. Its stable population easily exceeds 20 million of people, more than all Romania or Netherlands. That huge number of people move every day to go to school, the doctor and of course to companies that may be close by. several hours of their houses. If we add to that the role of Beijing as the capital of one of the greatest potentials in the world, the result is an (almost) impractical megalopolis, polluted and in which complications the services. To face such a challenge and prevent the exodus from the countryside from ending up collapsing the city, in recent years the Government has resorted to several solutions. One has been limit the population. Another is to rethink Beijing itself so that it is no longer just the capital of China or a mere metropolis, but part of a much larger conurbation. The objective is twofold: to relieve pressure on the capital and to promote a new industrial hub, one capable of replicating the success achieved in the Yangtze River Delta or Guangzhou and Shenzhen area. A new giant: “Jing-Jin-Ji”. With this premise, a decade ago the Chinese authorities decided to go for what is probably one of their most ambitious projects: Jing-Jin-jia word that hides a nod to the cities of Beijing, Tianjin and Ji, which is how the province of Hebei is traditionally known. That business card speaks for itself idea. The idea is strengthen the bond between those three territories in northern China, distributing part of the crushing burden that now falls on the capital, improving communications and betting on a distribution of specialized roles. The story of Jing-Jin-Ji can soar at least to the National New Urbanization Plan presented by the Government for the period 2014-2020. In it, China, a nation already accustomed to megacities, advocated the promotion of a dozen “urban clusters.” The greatest of all would be Jing-Jin-Ji, in which Beijing would embrace (in an almost literal sense) with Tianjin, which is another of the biggest cities of the country and nearby cities in Hebei province. More than theory (and politics). The project received Xi JinPing’s blessing just 12 years ago, in April 2014and was sold with a display of astonishing data. Its objective was neither more nor less than to bring together a region of more than 215,000 km2 in which some 130 million people would live in 2050, generating a powerful industrial and commercial hub. It could have remained just that, an ambitious idea, but a quick review of the newspaper library confirms the extent to which China was determined to push it forward. The following year, in 2015, The New York Times confirmed that Jing-Jin-Ji was beginning to become a reality. Shortly after Guardian informed of the plans to create Xiongan, a large city located just under 100 km from Beijing that would allow the urban framework of Jing-Jin-Ji to be articulated. It was just one of the measures to consolidate the new megalopolis. The most effective of all was the reinforcement of rail and road communications. In 2016, China actually approved an ambitious investment plan to build kilometers and kilometers of roads and reach the middle of the century with about twenty of railway lines. Is it just infrastructure? No. Improving communications is a fundamental part of Jing-Jin-Ji, but not the only one. Another, equally important, is the distribution of roles between the regions. He starting point It was simple: Beijing would consolidate itself as a political, cultural and technological center while Tianjin would establish itself as an export port and manufacturing hub. As for Hebei, there was a commitment to also orient it towards industry and wholesale trade. In the background, slide China Briefingthere was the desire to bet on industrial clusters focused on emerging sectors, such as electric vehicles, the biopharmaceutical industry or robotics. To achieve this distribution, of course, it was not enough to set guidelines on paper. In 2015, the Beijing authorities announced his plans to refocus the capital, moving certain services, such as wholesale markets and administrative offices, out of the urban center and moving some services to suburban areas or even to Hebei province. The importance of gestures. Perhaps the best proof of the extent to which the Government wants to keep the project alive is that, from time to time, the Chinese press publishes articles reviewing the progress in the creation of Jing-Jin-Ji. It happened in April 2024coinciding with the tenth anniversary of the presentation of the plan, and it happened again in 2025, when CGTN He published an article to make it clear that Beijing’s suburban dream is advancing little by little. His chronicle highlights the increase in economic production in the region, the opening of new stretches of road that allow travel times to be cut, the reinforcement of public transport or collaboration at an economic level and when providing services. The local press also highlights that the region “has become an innovation center” capable of attracting companies. Of course, there are also important challengeshow to achieve greater … Read more

The traffic jams in Valencia are hell. And a bridge over the Turia aspires to resolve the chaos between the V-30 and the A-3

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Traffic jams for miles and with a regularity that seems almost infallible. Valencia has a problem with traffic jams and the connection between the V-30 and the A-3 is one of the hot spots every morning. They explain in The Provinces that the growth of the city leaves 800,000 residents inside… surrounded by 800,000 residents of the surrounding towns. With some infrastructure built decades ago For a much smaller number of residents, roads and the main Valencian roads are clogged with an assiduity that punishes the neighbors day after day. But of all the roads, V-30 is the most marked. The road has problems along its entire length. The new port terminal anticipates more complications looking to the future but other hot spots such as the connection with the A-3 is one of the critical steps usually indicated. To begin to alleviate the situation, the Ministry of Transport has given the green light to the construction of a remodeling of the link between both roads to facilitate traffic between the A-3 and the V-30. A new bridge to alleviate the situation The Ministry of Transport has published approval for the action on the link between V-30 and A-3, which includes a lane expansion and the construction of a new bridge. In total, nine structures will be affected, of which six are newly built. The project will have a budget of 56 million euros (VAT included) and will try to unclog an area that is constantly overwhelmed, especially during peak hours. The remodeling, They explain on the ministry’s websitewill have the following interventions: New planned structures: Bridge parallel to the existing one over the Turia riverbed that will also serve to bridge the crossing over the V-30. Underpass at the A-3 junction and the Puerto-Madrid branch (2 structures). Cycle-pedestrian underpass under the Valencia-Puerto branch. Cycle-pedestrian walkway over the Valencia-Barcelona branch. Existing drinking water pipe protection structure. Planned expansions on existing structures: Expansion of the underpass of 9 d’Octubre Avenue. Extension of the pedestrian walkway over the branches: Madrid-Barcelona, ​​Puerto-Madrid and the V-30 service road. Expansion of the pedestrian walkway over the A-3. In the case of the action on the A-3, the road will be expanded to four lanes towards Madrid. These lanes will be available to drivers from the interchange to the airport access. The objective is to facilitate the flow of traffic on a link that, right now, has become a bottleneck. in the diary Levant They explain that the situation is so complicated that, like a domino effect, the traffic jam usually extends to the V-31 highway as drivers try to find some other alternative route to the junction that forms there. In addition, the expansion of the lanes is also good news in order to save the high volume of trucks that begin their journey in the city port and take this road to begin their route to Madrid. Right now, the volume of cars is so high that the traffic jam is not only found on the A-3 towards Madrid. The branch from V-30 requires a long turn that reduces the speed of the cars. Between an A-3 with very dense traffic and slow access, the right lane of the V-30 ends up suffering all the punishment, being completely collapsed during rush hour. In addition, the residents of Xirivella, next to the road, will have acoustic screens and trees installed to reduce the sound of traffic and mitigate the visual impact of the structures. This was a demand that citizens had been demanding for some time and that had not been executed. Photo | Google Maps and Ministry of Transportation In Xataka | The great dream of Tres Cantos and Colmenar Viejo literally passes over El Pardo: “close” the M-50

Plastic is the great recycling nightmare. Car battery acid aspires to be the great nightmare of plastic

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Have a problem with recycling. Thus, in general and even in countries that the more they try and complicate things. But, specifically, we have a problem with plastic recycling. It is a difficult and therefore expensive process, rather than producing new plastic, which leads to a scenario in which potential waste accumulates. To complicate things further, there are many types of plasticsand some are terribly difficult to recycle. But the University of Cambridge has had an idea: a solar reactor to destroy those difficult plastics. And the secret ingredient is car battery acid. The data. Before entering the ‘invention‘ from Cambridge, let’s go with some context. Recycling is not collecting, and vice versa. An example of this is Japan, a country in which there are areas in which there are 45 different categories of garbage that citizens must separate and where only 20% is recycled. In Spain, with an infinitely less obsessive systemwe are around 39%. And what is not recycled is burned in Japan and sent to landfills in Spain. Focusing on plastic and according to Cambridge researchers, the world produces 400 million tons per year and only 18% is recycled. And, as I say, there are plastics such as nylon or polyurethane that are particularly complex to recycle because their chemical structure is very resistant, which makes breaking them down complex and very expensive. plastic fulminator. This is where the discovery of the University of Cambridge comes into play. What they have developed is a solar-powered reactor that uses a very special ingredient: car battery acid. This component breaks the structural chains of the polymers into more basic chemical blocks and, therefore, easier to assimilate, such as ethylene glycol. Once the new material is obtained, a very special photocatalyst is what allows it to be converted into hydrogen and acetic acid, putting an end to that ‘rebellious’ plastic. By fluke. The team of researchers comments that the discovery was practically an accident since they knew that battery acid could be used for the process, but it was not convenient because, just as it melts plastics, it ‘eats’ the catalysts. Theirs, however, held out, and it turns out to be cheap and scalable. It is a photocatalyst composed of carbon nitride functionalized with cyanamide and integrated with molybdenum disulfide promoted with cobalt. Lots of text to say that it is a hybrid material specifically designed to remain stable in a strongly acidic environment. According to the team, it is economical and solves two problems at once: it dissolves difficult plastics and reuses battery acid that usually ends up as waste after extracting its lead content for resale. Future. In the tests, the team points out that the system has worked for more than 260 hours without losing performance and works with the aforementioned plastics, but also with that of the plastic bottles They are also not particularly easy to deal with. They claim that their discovery offers a potential cost reduction in recycling tasks because, in addition, reusable hydrogen is produced in the process. The key here is finding a way to collect the battery acid before it is neutralized for uninterrupted use to break down plastics. The team comments that they do not promise to solve the problem, but they demonstrate how waste can become a resource. new life. This approach approaches the problem from the angle of decomposition, but there are other proposals to give these plastics a second life. Because ‘melting’ them may be expensive, but if they are put into presses they can be turned directly into bricks or paving stones for the streets. This is what Nzambi Matee proposes, a Kenyan materials engineer who has proposed convert that waste into construction material. Like the University of Cambridge experiment, it addresses two problems at the same time: recycling and creating necessary non-polluting construction elements, and this idea is catching on because the authorities have given the green light to use this 2.0 brick to pave the streets of Nairobi. Returning to battery acid, the business arm of the University of Cambridge is looking to commercialize the company, but now the most complicated thing remains: making it a standard. Images | Cambridge University (Beverly Low) In Xataka | The big problem with nuclear energy has always been its waste. Russia can now recycle them up to five times

a photographic show that aspires to become the best mobile phone of 2026

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Xiaomi has a new workhorse for the highest range. It is the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, one of the most ambitious phones on the market and a clear candidate for best mobile of 2026. On paper, it has everything to compete head-to-head with anyone that comes before it: a camera system that, at least in hardware, sets new benchmarks in the sector, a generous battery and Qualcomm’s most powerful processor. We review the characteristics of the Xiaomi 17 Ultra. Xiaomi 17 Ultra technical sheet xiaomi 17 ultra dimensions and weight 162.9mm x 77.6mm x 8.29mm 218g screen 6.9 inches Xiaomi HyperRGB Resolution 2608 x 1200 LTPO adaptive refresh 1-120 Hz 3,500 nits peak brightness HDR10+, Dolby Vision processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Storage 12 + 256GB 12 + 512 GB 16GB + 1TB rear cameras 50 MP, f/1.67 OIS, 23mm equivalent 200 MP, variable aperture f/2.39-f2.96, OIS, 75-100mm equivalent 50 MP, f/2.2 ultra wide angle front camera 50MP, f/2.2 battery 6,000mAh 90W fast charging 50W fast wireless charging operating system Android 16 based on One UI 8.5 connectivity 5G Wi-Fi 7Bluetooth 6GPSNFCUWBUSB type C price From 1,449 euros The lightest Ultra Regarding the design, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra It is the lightest and thinnest Ultra to date. Xiaomi has left the curvature behind (thanks, Xiaomi) to create a flatter and straighter device, weighing below 220 grams. Not bad considering that we are looking at a phone with a good-sized battery and that measures more than 16 centimeters high. Xiaomi has abandoned the curves and its new Ultra looks better than ever. It’s thinner, lighter, and even more refined It is manufactured in aluminum alloy for its sides, and fiberglass in its rear part. In the Stellar Green finish, the phone is made with mineral particles, giving a very attractive shine effect. The device’s screen is 6.9 inches, flat, with OLED technology and a peak brightness of 3,500 nits. The company has worked especially to make it a panel that is not harmful to the eyes, and has TÜV certifications for blue light emission and flickering. Chicha, lots of chicha About the hardware it is exactly what you expect: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5configurations of up to 16 GB of RAM + 1 TB, LPDDR5X and UFS 4.1 memories, and a 6,000mAh battery with 90W fast charging and 50W wireless fast charging. Perhaps a little more fast charging could be expected given the size of the battery and knowing that some cheaper Xiaomi phones have been using 120W systems for years, but they are not figures to complain about. If you are wondering about the composition of the battery, we are talking about a silicon content of 16%, so we are looking at the technology expected in a phone of this height. The software stars Xiaomi HyperOS 3 and is based on Android 16with an additional layer of artificial intelligence powered by both Gemini and Xiaomi under the name of Xiaomi Hyper AI. The camera, tell me about the camera The reason for this phone is the camera. Because it’s not just any camera. The main sensor repeats the size that every flagship should aspire to: one inch. The lens is signed by Leicaand the resolution is again 50 megapixels. But the magic of this phone, like any high-end phone, is in the zoom. The telephoto lens is one of the most ambitious at the moment: variable aperture, focal range from 75 to 100mm and resolution of 200 megapixels. The zoom is mechanical, allowing you to shoot at 75 and 100mm without loss of quality between focal lengths. It has a Samsung HPE sensor, one of the most current and capable at the moment. To top it off, it has a 50-megapixel ultra-wide angle, and a selfie camera with the same resolution. As usual in the Xiaomi Ultra, this year we can also bet on the photography kit. This not only allows for a better grip and adds a physical button panel to be able to photograph with a more analog experience, it also adds 2,000mAh capacity to the phone so that it can last the day even better. Versions and price of the Xiaomi 17 Ultra The Xiaomi 17 Ultra will arrive in Spain in four color options: Black, White, Starlit Green. We can buy it in two variants: Xiaomi 17 Ultra 16GB+512GB: €1,499.99 Xiaomi 17 Ultra 16GB+1TB: €1,699.99 The Photography Kit It will be available in three color options: Silver, White, Purple for a price of €99.99 in my.com and official distributors. The Photography Kit Pro will arrive in black and will be available for €199.99 on mi.com. In Xataka | You can now buy the Xiaomi Tag: the rival to Apple’s AirTag and that you can use with both Android and iPhone

To no one’s surprise, the fanciful tunnel that aspires to join the Strait of Gibraltar under the sea will not be ready by 20230

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The idea of ​​connecting Europe and Africa with a direct channel that allows us to do without ships and planes is so attractive, so damn sexy, that it takes more than a century warming the imagination of engineers. The same time they have been seeing the Strait of Gibraltar as the ideal point for a Spain-Morocco tunnel. After decades of idling, in recent years the project seemed gain momentumat least as far as the political sphere and the public interest. A few months ago even transcended that one of the leading companies in tunnel boring machines sees the infrastructure as technically viable. He hype around the tunnel it grew so much (and so strong) that there were those who trusted that the 2030 Soccer World Cupcelebrated mainly in Spain, Morocco and Portugal, it would serve you of ultimate lever. They were even read headlines that suggested that it would be executed with a view to 2030. To no one’s surprise, everything indicates that it won’t be like that. Strait Slopes. About a century ago, around 1929engineer Fernando Gallego Herrera a question was asked: Why not ‘suture’ the gap between Europe and Africa with an underwater tunnel in the Strait of Gibraltar? He was not the first to consider the issue, but he did so with a seriousness, a degree of technical level and a vocation, which gave visibility to the approach. Since then the idea of ​​creating a megastructure that allows Spain and Morocco to ‘touch each other’ has continued with comings and goings on the table. And not only on a theoretical level. The idea of ​​establishing a “fixed link” between Spain and Morocco even led to the creation of two entities: SECEGSAon the Spanish side, and the Societé Nationale d’Etudes du Detroit (SNED) on the Moroccan side. In recent years, the project has also attracted headlines that echoed the degree of political commitmentthe investment in studieshis time horizon and even his technical feasibilitya key aspect considering that we are talking about a structure of several dozens of kilometers in a difficult geological area. A small (big) step. In 2024 the project gave one step forwarde that (although very initial) was revealing. At the request of SECGSA, INECO commissioned a study for the “cross-strait fixed link project”. Its objective was basically to analyze “the feasibility” of excavations in the area, especially in the most critical points, such as the Camarinal Threshold that separates the Mediterranean and Atlantic basins. The task fell to a famous company in the sector: Herrenknechta leading German firm in the world of tunnel boring machines related, among other works, to the Brenner Tunnel or that of Saint Gotthard. Viable yes, although not cheap. The conclusions of their analysis have been known in recent months. First in October Populi Voice revealed that the German firm has confirmed that, although extremely complex, the Spain-Morocco pipeline would be viable from a technical point of view. The same media reported that the purpose of Spain and Portugal would be to decide in 2027 whether or not to tender an exploratory tunnel and provided a provisional calendar: just shaping the reconnaissance gallery would require between six and nine years. Regarding the cost of infrastructure, slid that the base bidding budget of the Spanish side would exceed 8.5 billion euros, a figure that includes everything from the base gallery to the tunnels, the terminal and other facilities. The sum is considerable but there is talk of diversifying its origin, including everything from community funds to formulas (concessions, fees) inspired by other megaprojects, such as the Eurotunnel wave Figueras-Perpignan line. Has there been more progress? It seems so. Although again in an initial phase still. At the end of November Populi Voice revealed again that, after the technical endorsement of Herrenknecht, SECEGSA entrusted INECO to complete the updating of the preliminary project of the structure. A deadline was even included: summer 2026. Around the same time, the Government of Spain and Morocco held a summit in Moncloa during which a memorandum was signed to “promote scientific cooperation in the study of seismicity and geodynamics in the Strait area.” In the statement released by Transport there is no mention of the tunnel, but there were those who saw in the agreement a positive nod for infrastructure. Question of deadlines. The tunnel is not only interested in its technical details and cost. Another key aspect is your calendar. Especially since already in the autumn, when the first touches of Herrenknecht’s analysis became known, slipped that the first progress of the project could arrive by 2030, the year of the Soccer World Cup in which Spain and Morocco participate as host countries. The coincidence of dates made it create expectation about how the Cup could influence the project and even if it would act as a stimulus for the subway. It was even raised if I could arrive on time. In recent days those expectations have received a jug of cold water. One more and unsurprisingIn fact. Why’s that? Because 2030 is four years away. And that is a ridiculously short time for a work that, beyond being viable on a technical and logistical level, is more than notable in complexity. First for its ambition and dimensions (more than 40 kmbetween the underwater and terrestrial section). Second because it must be developed in an area highly conditioned by its geology. Although there may be some progress towards 2030, Populi Voice mentioned in October sources close to the project that pointed to 2035-2040 as a “more realistic horizon” to see significant milestones. The idea would be to have gallery design recognition in June to put out to tender the infrastructure starting in 2027. As a reference, the construction of the Eurotunnel (50 kilometers) required some seven years (from 1988 to 19949 and Saint Gotthard (57 km) around 17. Moderating expectation. In recent weeks (and days) media like Huffington Post The reason either ACE They have echoed, citing the technical feasibility study, that the tunnel between … Read more

Tether is the great cover of the world of crypts. Aspires to value 500,000 million for doing something simplistic: save foreign money

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Tether Holdings SA is the company responsible for issuing and controlling the most important stablcoin in the world – also called “Tether” (USDT) -. And those responsible are in negotiations with investors for lift up to 20,000 million dollars. If that round becomes effective, Tether would become a company with an assessment of 500,000 million dollars, and the question is obvious: how can a company be worth so much that nobody has heard? What is Tether (USDT). Launched in 2014, Tether is a cryptocurrency With its own block chain. It is designed to facilitate the use of Fiat currencies (such as the dollar or the euro) digital. Tether is specifically A stablecoina cryptocurrency whose value is strongly linked to the US dollar, which makes its volatility virtually nil. One would think that it is much more interesting to operate with Bitcoins or Ethereum, but care: Tether is a giant for a much simpler reason than it seems. As big as Netflix. If this investment round is confirmed, Tether would be at the level of companies such as Netflix, the 18th company for market capitalization According to Companies Market Cap. Unlike other technological companies focused on future innovation, Tether is a company whose business model is strongly tied to current cash flow. Sources close to negotiations talk that this investment round could be “significantly lower”, so the estimated assessment could be much lower. Interest gains. This is Tether’s main source of income. For each USDT token, the company keeps an equivalent amount in reservations, and does so largely in assets that generate interest, such as US Treasury Bonds. Its current market value is 173,000 million dollars, and thanks to that you can invest those huge reserves and obtain mass profits. In fact Tether is currently one of the great debt holders of the United States government. Extraordinary benefit margin. The CEO of Tether, Paolo Ardoino, He has affirmed Recently the company has a 99%benefit margin. That means that their COESTE operations are incredibly low compared to their income. Tether Holdings Sa is an efficient money to make money. The reference stable. Its success is also based on having become the most popular stablcoin in the cryptodivsis market. Thus, while the current market assessment of Tether S of 173,000 million dollars, the following stablecoin in relevance is USDC, with an assessment of 74,000 million, less than half. But. Although the company has a privileged position and an apparently promising future, Tether He had problems in the past that also threaten their projection. Thus, in 2021 He had to pay A fine of 41 million dollars for a lawsuit for misrepresenting its reserves. The company has also been criticized for the opacity of its reserves: although it publishes quarterly reports, these are not audited by any of the Big Four (such as PWC or Deloitte), but by less recognized signatures. Regulation. The true Damocles sword for Tether is the regulatory tensions. That has left her out of the US market for years, but the company has moved a card hiring a former White House official and it seems that there is now a clear and favorable approach Bajo Trump. However, the US continues Approve laws that will force Tether to restructure its model to access that market. In Xataka | In 2011 a group of investors bought 80,000 bitcoins. They have been sold by 17,000,000% more expensive

Dyson goes for Roborock with a robot that aspires, fiega and uses AI to remove difficult stains

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Dyson has made his appliances become objects of desire. Your hand vacuners are your flagship, but there is a category in which Chinese brands advanced them on the right: that of the vacuum robots. Dyson wants to change the narrative with the NEW SPOT+SCRUB AI. Let’s see what it offers. A little history Dyson marked a trend with his hand vacuners. It has also become strong in other categories such as air purifiers or hair care. However, as far as vacuuming robots, it is enough to make a brief review of its history to see that They were not among their priorities. In 2014 they presented the Dyson 360 Eye And it was not until 2020 that they launched their successor, the Dyson 360 Heurist. Finally, last year, the Dyson 360 Vis Christmas. Although with differences between them, in essence, the three proposals that Dyson has presented us so far are vacuum robots quite traditional. They have no deposit at the base and only aspire. Meanwhile, competition has been adding functionalities and today we have the most complete robots. The bases that self -life and autolimpian are already the norm, But it is also the most crazy proposals as the robotic arm of the Roborock Saros either east of dreame capable of climbing stairs. Dyson Spot+Scrub AI: aspires, fiery and eliminates spots thanks to AI The base has a clean water tank, another for dirty water and another to collect the dirt that it aspires. The Dyson Spot+Scrub AI is the first vacuum robot that has a base that makes us forget to empty or recharge the water. We talked about an advantage that the competition has already offered for years, specifically since 2018 when Irobot presented the Roba i7+. Of course, Dyson’s proposal has something interesting: The dust deposit does not need a bag, It simply opens and throws all the content, very in the style of its hand vacuners. It is also the first Dyson robot with scrubber function. Instead of having a mop system as usual, in this case it is A roller that is self -limpia while fiery Thanks to its 12 -point hydration system. Again, scrubbing is a function that He arrived at the vacuum robots a long time agoAt first it was quite rudimentary, but it has currently improved a lot and there are already robots to which we can delegate that task without fear of leaving the ground worse. Dyson’s most prominent argument to sell us his new robot is artificial intelligence. Has an AI system that Identify the type of spot and thus decide how many past do it to eliminate it completely. Dyson presumes that he can give up to 15 passes and check the ground to make sure there are no remains. If you have used a robot with scrubbing function, you probably have proven that difficult spots are not exactly their strong; For that, it better resorts to the lifetime or an electric. If Dyson achieves a good result in dirty soils that makes us forget about the mop, his robot You can get a hole in the competitive robot showcase. However, although on paper it is its most complete proposal to date, it is still something that its competitors already offer. Another factor is the price. At the moment Dyson has not confirmed it, but knowing his career, he does not look like it will be precisely economic. It will be Available at the end of the year. Images | Dyson In Xataka | The latest Roborock does not aspire to the ground. It is a 1,500 euros washing machine and the confirmation that China goes for appliances

The megabattery that aspires to alleviate the drought of the island in full controversy

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90% of the territory of Gran Canaria will present a high or very high risk of desertification, with increasingly frequent calimas and droughts, According to the Foresta Foundation. In response to this situation, 14 years ago, the Electricity of Spain, with the support of the Cabildo de Gran Canaria, initiated the construction of a project that will supply water and electricity, although not without controversy. The initiative. El Salto de Chira It is a hydroelectric plant of reversible pumping in southwest Gran Canaria, which will use the dams of Chira and Soria. The project consists of a renewable energy storage megabattery and also wants to ensure water supply in the area. The plant, which is still being built (40%), has a budget of 391 million euros. In addition, it has the support of the European Investment Bank and the Government of Spain. It will be ready in 2027. The central will become a 200 MW megabattery with storage capacity of up to 18 hours, According to eldiario.es. In addition, the project includes a desalination company that will supply water to the system and allow pumping between dams, taking advantage of the excess renewable energy in low demand hours and improving the insular electrical system. A very long management. More than a decade to claim that everything works correctly due to the technical complexity of building a reversible hydroelectric plant, as has happened in Galicia, and this is in turn linked to a desalination company, so planning and execution advance at a slower pace. On the other hand, permits and authorizations have been a long process due to environmental impact studies and public consultations. In addition, the logistics difficulty derived from the steep terrain of the island is added. However, a neighborhood group by Barranquillo Andrés and Soria Guapil has declared In the country that 90% of the neighbors support the work for the positive impact on local agriculture and livestock. Also, the Bentorey association has recognized in the same medium the discomfort, instead they positively value the project for its impact on the water supply. There is a rejection. In face B of the matter, various environmental organizations and technical voices have expressed their rejection. The Ecologist Turcón collective They have considered That the central is energetically inefficient, when requiring the desalination and pumping of water from the sea to high areas, which implies a high energy expenditure and a considerable environmental impact. In addition, they have criticized that it is promoted as a clean energy initiative when, in their opinion, it is rather a storage infrastructure that depends on a privatized energy model and controlled by large corporations such as Naturgy or Iberdrola. Other controversies in the islands. Although El Hierro Island can be set as an example of the future of energy self -sufficiency through renewable energies, a couple of months ago jumped to the press that depended on diesel to meet its energy demand. Therefore, it is important that they continue to carry out energy storage projects if you want to achieve a system of renewable with intermittent energies. Forecasts According to the province, the works They are underway with four kilometers of the planned tunnels already executed and the desalination and the completed electricity line. It is expected that, throughout 2025, water discharges will begin in the reservoirs of Chira and Soria, marking a milestone in the execution of the project. Image | Unspash Xataka | A cave in Galicia will be a new energy warehouse: a 1,800 MW macroproject without the need for new reservoirs

In full birth crisis, in the US there is a movement that aspires to turn its demography: pronatalism

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“I want more babies in the United States.” The phrase It’s JD Vance and matters especially for two reasons. The first, because although the Republican had shown before His obsession with birth rates, that specific comment released it in January, during His first public speech as vice president of the country. The second reason is that when Vance pronounced it, he did more than give his personal opinion: he connected with a movement that, although not new, seems to be gaining weight (and visibility) in Trump’s US: Pronatalism. And Vance is not the only media figure (not even in the Trump administration) in tune in with a speech that goes beyond the US and It arrives in Spain. What is pronatalism? Roughly, Pronatalism It is an ideology that advocates Increased birth rate of a country. This is defined by the Cambridge Dictionarywhich affects that its basic objective is to increase the population without having to rely on the arrival of immigrants. That, of course, is the definition with thick stroke. If we go down to detail, many more nuances and a mixture of ideologies that do not always coincide in the background or forms are appreciated. “It can be motivated by cultural, religious, geopolitical or economic imperatives,” comments on The conversation Céline Delacroix, professor at the University of Ottawa, adds: its policies “can manifest in various ways, covering from soft measures, such as stigmatizing those who decide not to have children, other hard, including restricting access to contraceptives.” An objective, several reasons While the pronatalist goal is clear, the argument that accompanies it (and justifies) is not always so much. Under his broad and diffuse umbrella conservatives are grouped with religious motivations that see a social pillar in the family, but also more coincident with Musk. In his case the key is not so much religious as the Fear of demographic collapse and its consequences at a social and economic level. The option to open the doors to migration It would be discarded For them for their fear that It ends up weakening The culture of the country that receives it. Perhaps the best known example of that last profile is the marriage formed by Simone and Malcolm Collinsthe drivers of the organization Pronatalist. Although neither of them arrives at 40, the couple already expects His fifth child and aspires to have at least two more. However, the most striking of their case is not the figures, but it is the ideology that has led them to embrace pronatalism. The Collins They are defined as Tecnopuritanosatheists, anti racist, defenders of LGBTQ+ rights and its vision of pronatalism contemplates the use of in vitro fertilization or genetic selection. Moreover, they themselves They have resorted to both, including the Preimplantational genetic test (PGT) to rule out embryos at risk of cancer or “mental health problems” for which there is no quality treatment. “” We obviously analyze the intellectual coefficient, “they add. Is it something new? No. Natalism or pronatalism exists For several decadesbut in the US it has gained remarkable visibility for several reasons, beyond the expectation that can awaken cases such as collins marriage. One of those reasons, fundamental to understanding its boom, is the Birth decline of the US. The other is the notoriety of certain figures in tune with the main objective of the natives: encourage the birth rate of the country. Vance is one of them. Another is Musk, who has At least 11 offspring and In 2022 came to tweet that “the collapse of the birth rate is, by far, The greatest threat that faces civilization. “Donald Trump himself He has recognized openly that he wants to boost a new “baby boom” in the US. The most revealing movement however has made another high position of Washington, the Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy. Father of nine children, Duffy has gone from rhetoric to the facts when signing A memo which prioritizes projects aimed at communities with high marriage and birth rates. There are those He has interpreted it as a clear example of “pronatalist policy.” The decision of the Transport Department is interesting because, no matter how much Trump pursues a new baby boom or vance you share your desire to see more American babies, there is an issue that is still pending: How to achieve it? After all, the US is not the first country that intends to increase its birth rate and many others, such as Japan, China either South KoreaThey have proven how complicated it results. The jump from theory to facts is also relevant to the natives because it transparent their internal tensions and differences. The magazine The Atlantic reflects it well in An article entitled “The loneliness of the conservative pronatalist”. To encourage birth, there are conservative cutting formulas, such as promoting family values; But also other liberals, such as granting more subsidies to parents or betting on housing promotion policies, a solution that clashes a priori with the efforts of Donald Trump (and Musk) to achieve On the contrary: put the scissors in the administration. Another friction point is what the Collins represent: the use of in vitro fertilization and other practices that arouse misgivings among anti -abortion. The connection with Europe (and Spain) Pronatalism has supporters, but also detractors. And there are a few reasons that explain it. Although people like Collins try to mark distances with racism, even It is not so much The most active pronatals in the US were the white nationalists concerned that other communities surpass them in number. His recent boom is also closely linked to the speeches of figures on the right, such as Elon Musk or JD Vance, who pronounced his famous “I want more babies” during the Life marchan act against abortion. The result is that extreme right formations have capitalized the speech pronatalist as a reaction to feminism and the defense of sexual autonomy that It has been dominating for years In the public sphere. Also to immigration. Spain leaves … Read more

The Chinese car aspires to gain ground in Europe consolidating in the low range. Renault’s response: a diesel engine

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Chinese cars have arrived in Europe with the clear intention of putting a good bite in the electric car market. At this time, Byd is Looking for a third floor To build its future models, the SAIC group has a A good asset with mg and independent companies such as Xpeng either Child They also try to make a hole. But, really, if a market has managed to penetrate the Chinese car is in the cheap car. In Spain we have good examples. Although Byd’s performance has not been bad, the real impulse to its sales has come with A plug -in hybrid that clearly competes in price. While, Omoda enrolled thousands of cars In a few months thanks to a Omoda 5 that he liked for its aesthetics and a competitive price. Mg already knows what it is to do with the First position in sales in our country. It has logic that the real entrance door For these companies it is to compete for price. In Europe, most manufacturers They have turned their backs to the cheapest vehicles and even Dacia has justified claiming that the obligations of The European Union requires them to raise the price of their cars and prevents them from being equally competitive as before. To this we must add that Chinese vehicles with combustion engines They are not affected by tariffsas it happens with the electric ones, which allows them (even more) to play to improve the price of European companies to gain market share, make a customer base and, later, to climb little by little. And to stand up, Renault has opted for a different strategy: to offer a type of clear setback but that allows to compete in price and that, in addition, it has less and less rivals in the market. Yes, in some markets a Renault Mégane has put on sale with diesel engine. A diesel engine as an alternative Among the European companies that have pressed the most in recent months to alive combustion engines, Renault has taken the singing voice. In fact, the company has taken forward Horsea joint company with the Chinese giant Geely to continue developing engines moved by fossil fuels. Those of the rhombus, in addition to betting on the electric with force, have also made it clear that they trust in the future where hybrid and electric living together In harmony with pure combustion engines, the case may be. With this in mind, they have launched the Electric Renault 5 And soon we will see on the streets the new Electric Renault 4. In recent times, the range has been renewed in depth with the Renault southern and the Rafale or an update that has left us to Scenic As a completely electric car. This renewal has had its consequences. Classic models like Mégane have said goodbye because, again, They only have an electric version. Sure? Where Renault needs to offer cars with more tight prices continues to maintain the Mégane Gran Coupéan option of three volumes of the compact classic. And, in addition, he does it with a diesel motorization of which We had to say goodbye in Spain. In countries such as Poland or Czech Republic, where electricity are testimonial and diesel continues to represent an important part of sales, the French are clear that this mechanic is still essential. In fact, it has been in Poland where the company has rescued this car to put it on the street with the format already mentioned next to a 1.5 dci engine of 115 hp, they explain in Auto Swiat. In that market, the diesel offer is being reduced and it is a good occasion to fight with a car that has already been made the investment, it is cheap to put it in the market and, in addition, it has a technology that Chinese manufacturers do not have. Collect in Acea That in Poland although diesel sales have been reduced, in January of this year they continue to represent 8.3% market share but electric and plug -in hybrids barely reach 6%. In the Czech Republic it makes even more sense because the diesel market share is a spectacular 19.4%. And vehicles without electrification of any kind total 67.8% of total sales. However, we must bear in mind that EU emission regulations They continue and although They have been delayed from 2025 to 2027this last year remains red in the calendar because the average emissions that show sales in these three next exercises must be below 93.6 gr/km of CO2. This means that with a car like this, whose engine is 118 gr/km of CO2, they would need to sell 1.5 electric to compensate. Or an electric and a plug -in hybrid. One more reason to understand why Renault only bets on this type of mechanics where it needs to put its cheapest cars on the market and where electrification advances at a very slow pace. Photo | Renault In Xataka | The Renault 5 has entered as a sales missile in France but something very simple has stopped it: a bug that prevents moving the car

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