bomb

A country has literally found the bomb -proof solution to the large electrical blackouts: Ukraine

by

It happened a few hours ago. Among the multiple calls that the Spanish Government has received from countries, worrying about the emergency situation after The national blackoutone did not go unnoticed. Zelensky, president of Ukraine, called Pedro Sánchezand not only to show your support, but to provide all the necessary help. After all, if anyone knows about blackouts, that is the nation of the East. They have learned to survive in the dark and Russian bomb proof. The devastation of the electrical system. From the beginning of the large -scale invasion in February 2022, Russia has directed a good part of its attacks against infrastructure Ukrainian energy. Last summer, Ukraine had lost and in just three months More than nine gigawatts of generation capacity, more than a third of the one it owned before the war. According to Ukrenergo dataThis would be equivalent to the total demand of countries such as the Netherlands at peak hours, or even the sum of Slovakia, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. Winter. All state thermal plants were destroyed and all hydroelectric plants had suffered damage to missiles or drones. The strategy of Russian attacks was clear: it was not only sought to destroy military capacity, but to break the soul of a society through forced darkness, interrupting the most essential: Heating, running water, elevators, communications, operating rooms or the simple possibility of maintaining an organized civil life. Today, and according to the UN agency for refugees, More than 60% From the country’s electricity generation capacity it has been destroyed or useless. In a country where winter is not only a station but an existential threat, running without energy is running out of heating, without water, without communications. For millions, electricity represents the last bastion between dignity and precarious survival. Survive blackouts. He told the last July the BBC that the blackouts in Ukraine had become a presence as constant as the war itself. In cities such as Odessa, Kyiv or Zaporizhzhia, electricity was an intermittent luxury, a resource that appears and disappears under the buzzing of the generators or the sepulchral silence of the fallen network. In that context, electricity ceased to be just a comfort to become the threshold between life and death. Cases like Tetiana’smother of a child with serious disabilities, who lives that truth every day: her son depends on breathing machines, feeding and receiving medication. Without stable supply, his life hangs from a thread. In your home, prolonged blackouts (sometimes twelve hours a day) force to constantly feed a gasoline generator that, in addition, must stop every six hours so as not to overheat. When your child convulses, the minutes without mobile or ambulance coverage are transformed into torture. In words to the British environment“You can die if you don’t receive oxygen. I am missing words.” Thus thin is the line between chaos and survival. Scheduled cuts. In August of last year there was a substantial change in the struggle of Ukraine to the blackouts. A Mondayhundreds of missiles and Russian drones fell on the nation. First the electricity was cut, then the water. That day marked the Greater Russian air attack against Ukrainian energy infrastructure since the beginning of large -scale invasion. The bombing continued the next day, raising the number of deaths to twelve and leaving millions of people throughout the country. The largest private energy company in Ukraine, DTEKmade a decision: Apply scheduled cuts In multiple regions: Kyiv, Odesa, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk. On the periphery of the capital, the neighbors began to live with six hours of blackout followed by two hours with electricity, in the early morning. A rhythm that allowed planning (even if not resting). Loading with energy. The result of the situation is that Ukraine has learned to live with the blackouts. What would have paralyzed the country before, today faced with Decentralized solutions. In Kyiv, the so -called “invincibility points” offer citizens electrical charge and the Internet during the cuts. But many do not even go to them: they have made portable batteries an object as essential as mobile phone or keys. Most shops, from street stalls to shopping centers, already have their own generators. In fact and as we said, that buzz of its engines has become the usual soundtrack of the blackouts. Examples Told the CNN Maksym Holubchenko, a 25 -year -old barista in the capital, that his cafeteria remains open thanks to one of those generators. However, it does not supply to cover all the demand: in winter you can maintain the operation, but in summer they must turn off the air conditioning and parts of the coffee maker so as not to overload the system. Adaptation is not comfortable, it is simply the result of an urgent need, and a resistance without alternatives. For Inna, an 87 -year -old woman from Odessa, the current situation arouses ancient echoes. “I already survived World War, so I have some experience … I bought candles,” He reported. His story underlines a painful paradox: a modern, European country, with full integration ambitions in the West, forced to technologically retreat, to depend on the rudimentary to face the essential. The candles, thermos, the portable loaders, the calendars marked by electric cuts … make up a new normality born of the energy siege. Go to the bank without light. Before prolonged blackouts caused by Russian attacks on energy infrastructure, the National Bank of Ukraine has also launched the Power Banking Projecta network of autonomous bank branches designed to operate without depending on the electricity supply. These “unwavering” offices will be equipped with generators, special communication channels, ATMs, additional and effective personnel available, allowing citizens to access essential services such as money withdrawals, payments, transfers, currency change and financial advice even during prolonged cuts. In addition, a “National Roaming System” Between ATMs, with unified limits and without commissions between banks, initiative already adopted by entities Like Oschadbankto guarantee equitable cash access throughout the country. Broken as a resistance symbol. In short, Ukraine applies preventive cuts Not only … Read more

How to build an atomic bomb at home

by

Almost half a century ago, when there was obviously no internet and geopolitics revolved around The cold wara fact occurred that made alarms jump to society. Actually, that was the preamble of what would later be enhanced with the networks: use the public material and information available to anyone to develop weapons. With an exception: I was in Liza Build An atomic bomb In the house storage. How to become a legend. Year 1977. A little prominent student from Princeton University He surprised the world Entero (and to the FBI) ​​with an academic project that, under the revealing title of “How to build your own atomic bomb”, detailed to chilling precision the necessary steps to manufacture a functional nuclear weapon. Its author, John Aristotle Phillipsa 21 -year -old born in Connecticut, was the son of Greek immigrants and was studying without standing at all: he had repeated courses, he touched the suspense and was better known by Your pet costume of football than for their academic achievements. His transformation into an international figure came from the hand of an unexpected combination of obsession, stubbornness, ability to seek information and the challenge of impressing a legendary teacher. The academic challenge. Phillips faced a final task proposed by the famous physical Freeman Dysonwho taught in Princeton after having worked with figures such as Richard Feynman and Hans Bethe In some of the most complex projects of the twentieth century, including the development of the atomic bomb inside of the Manhattan project. Dyson had asked his students to work on nuclear proliferation, and Phillips, aware of his lack of academic brightness, wanted to stand out with a provocative proposal: to recreate the design of a bomb similar to that of Nagasakiusing only public sources. Dyson, surprised by the audacity, humorously accepted the challenge, promising an outstanding qualification if he succeeded, but also that he would burn the work after reading it. An obsession. For weeks, Phillips worked tirelessly between Princeton Library and his room, collecting Declassified Document Information of the National Technical Information Service, Physics textbooks, government communications and consultations with the Du Pont company about implosion principles. Without using a single classified source, he managed to assemble a 40 -page document where I explained step by step how to make a nuclear bomb. He delivered the work, obtained the maximum note and, far from being destroyed as Dyson had suggested, his project began to circulate from mouth to mouth until he reached the ears of professional physicists and media. A national celebrity. The dissemination of work attracted the attention of experts such as Frank Chilton, a physicist specialized in nuclear engineering, who said that Phillips design was Technically viablewith the exception of access to plutonium, the only obstacle to its materialization. The news It exploded in the media: The boy without an academic future became forever In “The A-Bomb Kid”a media figure that symbolized both unexpected brilliance and the dangers of dissemination without control in the nuclear era. Fame reached a critical point when several pakistani scientific assumptions approached Phillips to offer money in exchange for the document. The FBI intervened immediately: confiscated the work and a model that the student had built, and classified the material as sensitive information. The contradictory inheritance. Far from taking advantage of his sudden fame to continue in the academic or scientific world, Phillips published in 1979 with David Michaelis the book Mushroom: The True Story of the A-Bomb Kidwhere he narrated his experience and the journey of his unusual rise to fame. Over time, his awareness about the risks of nuclear proliferation led him to become an antinuclear activist, dedicating years to warn about the ease with which certain knowledge could fall into wrong hands. In fact, and in a turn of the events that no one expected, its trajectory finally resulted In politics: He was running as a Democratic candidate for the United States House of Representatives in 1980 and 1982, although that, without electoral success. The truth is that never He shone again as he did in that university project. A warning in full “era.” The history of Philips cannot be more relevant now that the world seems more convulsion that never. In fact, Aristotle’s case It marked a precedent disturbing: A student without access to classified materials managed to design, using only public sources, a functional nuclear artifact. In a global context where technological proliferation has only increased, its history continues to be used as an example in debates about information security, scientific education and ethical limits of knowledge. Although he never physically built the bomb, his work showed that the danger does not always come from professional spies or enemy governments, but also from curious minds with a long time, access to libraries … and a typewriter. Ironically, today there is no need for any of the three keys. Image | Rawpixel In Xataka | How to survive an atomic bomb (and why it is better not to run after the explosion) In Xataka | In 1940 USA offered 100 million dollars to Denmark for Greenland. NASA has found the reason: a secret city

A bomb is directed to Ukraine from the US. It is called GLSDB and is Boeing’s antidote to the “offensive triangle” of Russia

by

Two news in the last hours reflect to what extent the war in Ukraine is a nonsense. On the one hand, the United States has confirmed that he is arguing with Putin LAs lands and energy plants that would find the long -awaited fire. On the other, a package is directed from Washington to Ukraine. Inside, some bombs They promise to change the current Russian advantage in the invasion. The “offensive triangle”. They counted several analysts over the weekend that as the war in Ukraine enters its fourth year, Russia has perfected a strategy that, although it has not achieved decisive advances on the battlefield, is Erosioning systematically the abilities and moral of the Ukrainian forces. The approach, called by British experts such as the “offensive triangle,” combines infantry, attack drones and planning pumps to subdue Ukrainian forces at constant pressure. Tactics has been particularly effective due to Current situation of Ukrainewhich faces the reduction of western military supplies, exacerbated by the decision of the Trump administration of freeze shipments of arms and all cooperation in intelligence (now reactivated both). Although Russia still does not achieve significant strategic advances, its approach is achieving an accumulation of small victories at a high human and material cost. The key role of UMPK. One of the most novel and effective elements of this strategy has been the intensive use of UMPK planning pumpswhich have allowed Russia revive your air capacity without exposing your enemy fire planes. These bombs, which transform conventional ammunition into low -cost precision weapons, have been a key factor for Russia since Your introduction in 2023. Unlike western systems such as The JDAM from the United States (used for more than 25 years), Russian UMPK prioritize quantity over precision. Although its accuracy is less than that of its western counterparts, its explosive power is devastating. Plus: These ammunition have proven to be particularly effective against Ukrainian trenches and bunkers, since even a close impact can destroy well prepared fortifications. It is estimated that Russia will increase its production of 40,000 UMPK bombs in 2024 70,000 in 2025which will mean an even greater challenge for Ukraine. American aid: GLSDB. The response of Ukraine to the Russian offensive triangle will arrive thanks to the reactivation of military aid and intelligence cooperation in the United States. To be more exact, a New improved version of the GROUND-LAUNCHED SMALL DIAMETER BOM (GLSDB). The bomb, which debuted on the Ukrainian battlefield months ago, had a disappointing performance, especially due to the advanced electronic warfare capabilities of Russia, which led to its use was suspended. However, with the growing need for long -range armament after the decrease in reserves of Atacms missilesGLSDB has been reevaluated and modified to counteract electronic interference and improve its effectiveness. The modifications. According to Reutersthe new versions of the GLSDB include structural reinforcements to better withstand launch tensions, in addition to an optimization in Your GPS navigation systemwhich would do it more resistant to blocking and supplantation of signals (Jamming/Spoofing). In fact, to validate these improvements, 19 launch tests were carried out recently. We remember that the bomb was developed by Boeing and Saab, a precision weapon released from the ground with remote attack capacity. Its design is based on the combination of two existing components. On the one hand, the small diameter pump GBU-39/B (SDB), used in air attacks. On the other, the M26 rocket engine, which is used in multiple launcher systems m270 mlrs and M142 Himars. How it works. The system allows the GLSDB to be triggered as if it were a rocket to use and, after reaching a certain altitude, displays retractable wings that allow it to plan without propulsion to its target, using its inertial navigation system and GPS. Its scope is approximately 150 kmwhich makes it especially useful for Ukraine in its attempt to attack Russian infrastructure and supply lines at a great distance. The initial problem. Although Saab had ensured that GLSDB had high precision (with a margin of error of only one meter), reports from the front suggest that their vulnerability to the Russian electronic warfare It was greater than expected. Russia has demonstrated an effective capacity to Block GPS signalswhich affected the precision of the GLSDB and reduced its effectiveness. Interestingly, the aerial version of the SDB has worked well in the Ukrainian Air Force, which has raised doubts about why the land version suffered interference problems. It is suggested that the greatest flight distance in GLSDB may have amplified the impact of GPS signal loss. Strategic importance and versatility. Be that as it may be despite its initial problems, GLSDB is still A key piece In the Ukrainian military strategy. Its great reach places the pump above the 227 mm rockets used in the MLRS and Himars, which allows deep attacks without the need for expensive tactical ballistic missiles such as the same Atacms. In addition, it has the advantage of being compatible with multiple launch platforms, including the MLRS M270 and the Himars M142which facilitates its integration into the Ukrainian Arsenal. Plus: Another important factor is the availability of components, since both M26 engines and GBU-39/B pumps have broad “stock” in the US and other allies, which makes the GLSDB pump a viable and scalable option to maintain the pressure on Russia and cope with that moscow wear war with Your offensive triangle. Image | Saab In Xataka | Russia has crowded a surprising blow to Ukraine: 100 soldiers walking for four days inside a gas pipeline In Xataka | The problem of Ukraine is not just the lack of weapons. The US has a “button” to deactivate the artillery already sent

Log In

Forgot password?

Forgot password?

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

Your password reset link appears to be invalid or expired.

Log in

Privacy Policy

Add to Collection

No Collections

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