Brazil

We have been obsessed with Japan for decades to understand people who live over 100 years. The key was in Brazil

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For decades, when science was searching for secrets of aginghe always looked in the same places: Japan’s “Blue Zones”Sardinia or the icy and homogeneous populations of northern Europe. However, researchers have pointed out that all this time we have been ignoring a biological gold mine: Brazil. The study. Understanding why there are people who live to be over one hundred years of age is undoubtedly an objective of science to to be able to unlock possible therapies in the future that will extend our lives much longer. Since it is curious that in specific areas such as Japan the population ages far beyond the normal average, being a mystery to science (although the reasons are already gone). The latest research on the matterpublished on January 6 in Genomic Psychiatry, has identified a genetic mix in the South American country that could contain protective variants invisible in more uniform populations. The Brazilian superhumans. The study, led by geneticists Mayana Zats and Mateus Vidigal de Castro, is based on the analysis of a group of more than 160 centenarians and at least 20 supercentenarians, who They are those people who are over 110 years old. Among these people, some quite relevant figures stand out, such as Sister Inah, who reached the age of 116, and several of the oldest men in the world, according to the LongeviQuest Atlas. But what really makes this group of people who have been analyzed by researchers special is not their age, but their biological resilience. Its biological resistance. The researchers’ main thesis is that the intense Brazilian miscegenation, fruit of centuries of interaction between indigenous populationsPortuguese colonizers, enslaved people of African origin and European and Japanese immigrants, has created a unique genomic diversity. By analyzing this genetic “breeding ground”, scientists have identified millions of variants that do not appear in large international biobanks. The hypothesis suggests that this mixture allows protective variants to emerge that are practically invisible in homogeneous populations. It is, in essence, a search for the genes of resilience in an environment of maximum diversity. COVID resistance. Without a doubt, it is one of the most fascinating examples of this history, since before the arrival of vaccines, three supercentenarians of the study they managed to survive the disease. By analyzing their immune response, the researchers found a concentration of cells related to innate defense that was very efficient. In this way, it was seen that individuals not only live longer, but also have a defense system capable of neutralizing threats that are lethal to people decades younger. Something that seems to be related to an increase in biological processes related to autophagy, that is, the ability of some cells to literally clean the body of harmful components. What was already known. This paradigm shift connects with previous works such as those done by researcher Manel Esteller on the epigenetic profile of the Spanish María Branyasthe oldest Spanish person of all time. In this case, what was done was to understand the “biological clock” of longevity in Europe. Now, the Brazilian project expands the map into the unknown. By sequencing entire genomes in this mixed-race population, scientists have discovered some eight billion undescribed variants, many of which could have a functional impact on how we age and how our cells withstand the test of time. Towards the future. The study of Brazilian supercentenarians is not only a matter of biographical curiosity about who holds the age record, but a critical step towards genomic medicine of the future. By understanding how the mixture of ancestors can concentrate protective factors against degenerative or infectious diseases, science is getting closer to discovering whether there is a biological “formula” for longevity that can be translated into therapies for the rest of the population. Brazil, with its genetic mosaic, is demonstrating that the most complex answers to our survival could be written in the genes of those who, against all odds, have seen more than a century of history pass by. Images | Unsplash In Xataka | The change of year has a weapon to slow down your aging: a list of New Year’s resolutions

Brazil has been pursuing high-speed trains for 20 years. Now it will have the first in South America

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If we see the list of countries with the most high-speed train linesChina is the one cut the codwith Europe and Japan also on the crest of the wave. However, South America is a territory that neither punctures nor cuts. That’s about to change and, although there are several projects in different countries, the first high-speed train in South America will be in Brazil. And it promises to revolutionize transportation in one of the country’s key corridors. It is not (fast) train territory. Connecting South America by train is extremely complicated. Not only do they have a complex topography with mountains and jungles to overcome, but also an enormous geographical dispersion, political instability in some countries and priorities that have changed with different governments. Currently, the territory is experiencing a revolution. There are countries like Mexico either Chili who are waging war on their own with internal projects, but also a project known as ‘Bioceanic Railway Corridor‘ which will unite the Pacific and Atlantic and connect the port of Santos in Brazil with that of Bayóvar in Peru. Apart from that line, Brazil has its own plans. The Brazilian TAV. The Brazilian high-speed project is not without controversy. The TAV (or High Speed ​​Train) began to take shape in 2004. Named ‘Bandeirantes Express’, the idea was to connect São Paulo with Campinas. It came to nothing and in 2007 it was shelved, but with the arrival of Lula da Silva and the perspective of Soccer World Cup 2014HE relaunched. It would have been the perfect setting, but the dates were not met either and, from lost to the river: we took it back to 2016 for the Rio Olympics. Spoiler: it went wrong due to financing problems, doubts about profitability and, evidently, a lack of interest from the private sector that was not clear about how to recover the investment. Chronology. It would have been the first high-speed train in South America, but it seems that it had not said its last word, because in 2023, the private company TAV Brasil got by the National Land Transportation Agency the authorization to link the main cities of the country: Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. The 99-year concession allows them to plan, build and operate the line that, if all goes well, will connect the two cities with intermediate stops between Sao José dos Campos and Volta Redonda. The investment is not clear and is estimated at about 60,000 million reais, which is about 11,000 million euros, and points to a ticket price of around 85 euros for a complete trip. TAV Brazil has announced the following calendar: End of 2026 for the conclusion of feasibility studies. 2027 as the start of construction. 2032 as commercial commissioning. The train. The intention is that the machine reaches speeds of 320 km/h, which would more than meet what is considered the high speed standard (250 km/h) and will allow travel the 400 kilometers between the two megacities in just one hour and forty-five minutes. This is a considerable reduction compared to a current road trip that takes about six hours. Interests. The big question is who will build the system… and the trains. This is a high-stakes project and, as in other parts of the world, geopolitics plays an important role. Historicallythe project has attracted the interest of companies such as the Spanish CAF or the French Alstom (in contention right now for the train in Belgian), but also from Siemens and other leading companies in the sector. TAV Brazil has not closed its doors and is talking with both Spanish companies and Arab funds and, of course, with China, which is becoming a global touchstone in the railway segment. They are revolutionizing Africa, they have a presence in the deployment of the line that will cross South America from Brazil to Peru and getting a piece of the Brazilian high-speed pie would mean another lucrative hit on the table. In any case, the one in Brazil and other projects seem to be beginning to shape the railway future of a Latin America that has had plans for decades, but for various reasons they have not come to fruition. Images | Limongi, Danilo.mac, Mohamed SY In Xataka | The US has been dreaming of its first high-speed train for decades: the California project is being a real nightmare

In Brazil people are changing caipiriñas and cocktails for beer. And they have a good reason: methanol

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São Paulo is famous for many reasons, but probably none as universal as The caipiriñasthe drink made with Cachaza, Lima, Sugar and Ice that has exported to virtually all bars on the planet. For days, however, in the Paulista capital they are served much less caipiriñas. Also It has come down the consumption of whiskey, Geneva and in general any distillate. The reason: fear of Methanol poisoning. São Paulo, without caipiriñas. Something has changed on the nights of Brazil. Especially in those of São Paulocapital of the homonymous state and the most populous city in the country. Instead of asking Caipirinhasthe famous drink based on Cachaza, Lima, Sugar and Ice that is a native of the Paulista state, the young people They ask for beers or wine. Anything but to take a glass with distilled liquor to the lips. “Customers are worried,” Recognize to Associated Press (AP) Edilson Trindade, manager of an establishment of São Paulo. Last week he did not dispatched a caipiriña, when it is usual to serve dozens and tens. And it is not the only one. In A report Posted yesterday, the Paulista magazine Exam He shares testimonies from other bars that have seen how their activity collapsed 80% or young people who choose to stay at home or change cocktails for cans. A percentage: 50%. The Bloomberg agency points That, in general, the bars and restaurants of the state of São Paulo fear that its sales collapse up to 30%, a percentage that falls short if the data already handled by the federation of hotels, restaurants and state bars are taken into account. According to their calculations, last week some establishments saw how the consumption of vodka, whiskey, gin and other distillates collapsed about 50%. “Even beer demand has dropped because there are almost no customers, so general sales have been affected,” regrets The owner of a bar. But … why? That people are consuming less spirits in Brazil (and especially in São Paulo) have little to do with a sudden abstemious zeal. The reason is another: fear. The drop in demand comes after what seems like a OLA of poisoning by methanol caused in turn by the intake of adulterated alcohol. On Sunday, Brazil’s Ministry of Health talked about 255 cases16 confirmed and another 209 suspects. Of them the vast majority were recorded in São Paulo, where the authorities handled 14 confirmed episodes and studied 178. Is it so serious? Yes. Methanol can cause vomiting, blindness and even death. The government already speaks of 15 possible deathsalthough for now there are only two confirmed. “Until there is total clarity about the magnitude of these crimes, the population must refrain from consuming distilled drinks,” I recognized On Friday in an interview with the CNN Brazil chain, the country’s health minister, Alexandre Padilha. “Our recommendation is that people avoid distillates, especially if they are not sure of the origin of the drink.” “Adulterated drinks”. The authorities have not limited themselves to controlling the number of poisonings or giving advice. Also They have increased Their provisions to treat methanol poisoning and above all try to locate their origin. The Government It relates them With alcohol consumption and has inspected bars and distributors to clarify what happened. “We determine that methanol contaminated adulterated alcoholic beverages. So we need to understand how,” Point out Artur Dian, police chief of São Paulo, in statements to AP. Only in São Paulo the state authorities have confiscated since the end of September more than 7,000 bottles To investigate them. They have also closed a dozen establishments provisionally to take samples. Another percentage: 28%. The unknown of whether the drink was contaminated on an accidental way, although the police recognize that there are those who adulterate the liquor with substances such as methanol to improve their benefit margins. “Although we know that small quantities do not contaminate and are not able to cause damage, we do not know the exact amount that could remain in a bottle,” Share Dian. The National Association of Distilled Manufacturers handles studies that show that adulterated drinks are already monitored more than a quarter of the Brazilian market (28%), a high percentage that achieves thanks to prices that reduce by 35% to legal beverages. Images | Nathalia Segato (UNSPLASH), Mark Broadhead (UNSPLASH) and Ian Talmacs (UNSPLASH) In Xataka | The youth of the Elite Tech of Silicon Valley have left alcohol: their new “party” is to work 92 hours

We already know who is going to drink all the coffee that Brazil will not export to the US for the tariffs: China

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If we do not count the water, coffee would be the most consumed drink in the world. It is for his benefits in the agencyby him Caffeine contribution And even for Psychological effects. And a country that has “discovered” coffee is recently China. In fact, consumption has shot in such a way that, in the United States Tariff Vorágineit has become the lifeguard for the main coffee producer worldwide. Brazil. Short. In recent months, the coffee segment has lived A ‘perfect storm’ that has significantly raised the price of the Arabica and Robust varieties. Reasons? Several: storms and droughts that have affected the harvest, difficulties in transport and a demand that could not be satisfied. The last factor to join has been Donald Trump with his tariffs. The threat of tariffs To the main coffee producers, the table has been flying over, but, as he points out Reutersfinally on August 6, a 50% tariff to some Brazilian products. Currently, Brazil sells about eight million sacks annually to the US, assuming a third of the world demand in the North American country each year in a trade valued at 4.4 billion dollars. And we will have to see what happens now that it will be more expensive to buy that coffee. Approaching China more. Brazil not only sells -Mucho- coffee to the United States: it also exports orange juice and a large amount of vaccine meat, among other products, but China is not really so far from the South American country in commercial terms. In fact, in general, it is its main commercial partner. They buy soybeans (70% of the soy that exports Brazil goes to China), vital iron minerals for the huge steel industry and construction of the ‘Asian giant’, oil, meat, cellulose and other products such as sugar, wood or cotton. In June of this year, Brazil exported 440,034 coffee bags to the US for the 56,000 bags exported to China, but the figure will change from now on because, as Reuters confirms, China has approved 183 new Brazilian coffee companies to export their product to the Chinese market. Thirst for coffee. It is something that will come well to Brazil, but that should also influence The cup price In a China where coffee consumption has shot this last decade. It is estimated that its consumption has grown at double -digit rates since 2010, with a growth Annual average of more than 20% that is well above a world average that barely reaches 2%. In 2023, se They consumed Some 5.8 million bags and it is estimated that this 2025 will rise to 6.3 million, a figure that doubles the consumption of 2019 and, although consumption per person is less than in other countries, the calculation is that there are about 400 million people who drink coffee regularly. And growing. Coffee shops like mushrooms. Most of these new consumers are young adults between 25 and 44 years who turn Series of common characteristics. They are inhabitants of large cities with high levels of both education and income. And that popularity that is gaining coffee is due, in large part, to the opening of Thousands of new coffee shops and coffee shops. It is estimated that that Cafeteria boom in China It was more than 50% these last two years, being Shanghai the world capital of coffee shops with about 9,500 shops. And all this translates into a market whose value Keep growingmoving from 38,000 million dollars in 2023 to 43,000 million in 2024. It could be a Starbucks bar, but it’s from Luckin Coffee Changing tastes. There is Other factors that influence that growth of the industry, such as urbanization, the increase in middle class and western influence, with brands such as Starbucks and national competition such as Luckin Coffee turning the drink into a kind of “trend” between new generations. And the “coffee culture” is also planting its seed. It is estimated that instant coffee and drink consumed with others still predominates, as if it were a combined, but the specialty coffee and the consumption of newly ground grain beverages are also making its way to elbows, becoming with more than 40% of the Chinese coffee market in 2023. In short, the ‘thirst for coffee’ in China not only redefines consumption habits, but can also be economic lifeguards for Brazilian producers before an uncertain international scenario. We will also have to see if US consumers will be willing to pay more for coffee or if, as industry personalities such as the Mandamases of the Lavazza group, that consumer, that consumer is already drowned by the price of the cup. Images | Shwangtianyuan, Takeoway, Poon Shuishou Simmonz In Xataka | This Japanese coffee costs the same as a month of rent in many cities. But it is not about the price, but what it represents

Someone ran over a dog in Brazil. The analyzes revealed that the creature was neither a dog nor should it have existed

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The story took place in 2021 and could be the beginning of a film. That year occurs An outrage in an area of southern Brazil. It is not a human, it is a dog to which they move to a rehabilitation center to treat it urgently. The first analysis of the animal attracts the attention of the veterinarians. Subsequent tests left no doubt: he barking and had the appearance of a canine, but they have never seen anything Not remotely similar. Dogxim, hybrid. Yes, that strange dog showed unusual behaviors: he refused to eat croquettes, preferred to hunt rats and climbed shrubs like a fox of the pampas. What at first seemed an individual rarity proved to be A scientific scoop: After months of genetic analysis, a team of Brazilian researchers confirmed that it was the first documented hybrid between a domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) and a fox of the pampas (Lycalopex gymnocercus), two species separated by about 6.7 million years of evolution. The animal, a baptized female as “dogx” (Combining “Dog” and “Graxaim do Campo”, local name of the fox), surprised the scientific community for its mere genetic viability, an extremely rare phenomenon between different genres within the family of canids. The proof of the improbable. To certify the hybrid origin of Dogxim, the researchers began by count your chromosomes: It was 76, an intermediate number between the 78 of the dog and the 74 of the Pampas fox. Mitochondrial DNA analysis revealed that his mother was a fox female, and nuclear DNA confirmed a genetic mixture Between dog and fox. The combination was possible because both belong to the Canidae familyalthough NO TO THE SAME GENDERwhich makes your cross even more unusual. In nature, hybrids tend to emerge among evolutionarily near species, such as coyotes and wolves. However, this case is more similar to a hypothetical viable crossing Between humans and chimpanzeessomething considered biologically unfeasible. In other words, the fact that Dogxim existed, and was functional for at least two years, represented an anomaly of high evolutionary and conservationist interest. Dogxim Human influence. There is much more, since the researchers stressed that the existence of Dogxim seemed to have been facilitated by human pressure About ecosystems. The natural habitat of the fox of the pampas, characterized by extensive plains from the Brazilian southhas been increasingly reduced by livestock and urban expansion. The phenomenon, apparently, has forced greater contact between foxes and dogs, particularly those abandoned by their owners in wild areas. This territorial overlap, added to the abandonment of pets, increases the probability of Reproductive meetings between both species. Although foxes are not in danger of extinction, such interaction raises risks, both for the genetic integrity of the species and for their population health, for example, by exposing it to new diseases or harmful genes. A creature and its limits. While some scientists believe that this type of hybrid will continue to be extremely rare, the Dogxim case put on the table the debate on the Effects of hybridization in accelerated environmental change contexts. Although the creature seemed healthy and was transferred to a state center, He died in 2023 For causes still unknown. Its black color, canine inheritance, contrasted with the light fur of the foxes of its species, which probably did it less suitable for surviving In its natural environment. Plus: the interspecific hybrids They usually present genetic, fertility or behavior problems, which makes them more vulnerable. In spite of this, its only existence suggests that the limits of natural hybridization could be more flexible than what was thought, especially in a world where ecological changes are formed between species that did not interact before. Implications It is the last of the legs to analyze. Beyond its anecdotal value, Dogxim poses crucial questions about the conservation of species and the alteration of its evolutionary dynamics by human influence. While there is no evidence that these hybrids can form stable populations, their appearance can have indirect effects, from the introduction of pathogens to the genetic dilution of wild populations. Perhaps for this reason, the researchers urge deepen the study of the ecological and evolutionary consequences of this phenomenon. The hybrid creature, after all, was not simply a genetic curiosity, was a reminder of diffuse limits between species in a world increasingly alteredwhere the unlikely is no longer impossible. Image | Errazking, Thales Renato Ochotorena de Freitas In Xataka | The cloning of dogs is a reality, but it is only the beginning In Xataka | Large dogs live much less than the little ones. Researchers believe they found the answer to mystery

The US has taught the tariff rope with Brazil again. Embraer has a lot to lose, and its customers too

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If you live in Europe, fly in a Embraer is not the most common. But the truth is that these Brazilian planes are more present than they seem. In airports such as London City, Where only a few models can operate, these jets dominate the track. Even in Spain his footprint was remarkable: Air Europa had several E195 in its regional fleet until the beginning of 2023. Embraer is not a minor actor. It is one of the world’s largest manufacturer in the world and its e-hes-especially the E175– They hold a good part of regional traffic in the US. Airlines such as American, Skywest and other regional United Express operators have clearly opted for them. With Boeing in low hoursEmbraer is emerging as an emerging candidate for the select group of the great manufacturers. A tariff triggers uncertainty President Donald Trump has threatened to apply A 50 % tariff To Brazilian products as of August 1, an unprecedented offensive in relations between the two countries. In parallel, Brazil already mentions a mirror answercovered by a recent reciprocity law. Although there is still no confirmation about which sectors they would be exempt. With a large part of Embraer’s orders aimed at the US market – where almost 95 % of firm orders from E175 come from airlines such as American, Skywest and other United Express operators -, the new measure threatens to significantly increase their products significantly. Not only will the final prices of the jets be affected, but the cost of the Imported components from the United Statesessential for manufacturing, it could also be affected if Brazil decides to apply, in retaliation, an equivalent rate. Among those components are enginesCF34 manufactured by General Electricthe airplane system Honeywell Primus Epicas well as landing trains and actuators supplied, mostly, by Collins Aerospace (USA) and Liebherr (Europe). An essential part of each aircraft that, if more expensive, would also impact the production costs of the aircraft destined for other markets. This dual effect could have broad spectrum consequences. On the one hand, airlines could be forced to Reconsider your purchase strategies If the price jump translates into higher operational costs. On the other, if the manufacturing cost is increased, Embraer’s global competitiveness would be compromised, even in regions where its position is solid. As Flightglobal collectsEmbraer has indicated that he is evaluating the impact of this measure on its operations and has been active in the dialogue with the authorities to try to restore the exemption of the import tax that has historically favored the Brazilian aeronautical industry. However, queen uncertainty. This tariff is part of a Trump communications series to leaders of more than twenty countries, with warnings that rates can modify “according to the relationship.” The lack of regulatory clarity leaves manufacturers such as Embraer – and suppliers, airlines and passengers— In a difficult situation to anticipate. Images | Dave Montiverdi | Marcelx42 (CC by-SA 4.0) | Samuel Costa Melo In Xataka | The US will finally continue selling engines for C919. He has also given China a reason not to need them again

In Brazil there is a fever for babies. The problem is that they are so real that people are confusing them

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The story began as a harmless content in Tiktok, one that quickly climbed to became a national issue in Brazil. A young woman He published a video In which he pretended to take his “baby” Bento to the hospital: he prepared his backpack, lying it in the car, weighed it, gave him the bottle and cleaned his cheek. More than 16 million people saw that scene, but few realized that he was not a baby, it was A Reborn doll. Political chaos. I told this week The Guardian. While Jair Bolsonaro faces a trial for I attempt at once of state and the current president Lula is going through The worst moment of popularity of his third term, the focus of wide sectors of the Brazilian public debate It has diverted Towards an unusual phenomenon: Reborn dolls. We talk about figures Baby hyperrealistscollected and made by thousands of people (mostly women) in Brazil for decades, who have suddenly become white of viral teasingviolent threats and an unusual legislative wave. Laws against dolls. According to The New York Timescurrently there are at least 30 legislative projects presented in Brazil to prevent Reborn dolls from accessing public services such as health or education. Legislators on the right, especially in the state of Amazonas, have even taken Dolls to Parliament claiming that some women are trying to obtain public benefits with them, (although there is no evidence to support it). In a turn of the events that approaches a dystopia, one of the drivers even asked if the next step would be to castrate “Reborn dolls” in veterinarians. Stigmatization As a mockery, the official account of the city of Curitiba warned To the “Mothers Reborn” that their dolls do not give the right to use yellow seats reserved for pregnant women on buses. In contrast, the Municipal Council of Rio de Janeiro proposed to establish On September 4 as the day of the storker Reborn to honor the artists who manufacture them, although the mayor He vetoed the measure on the argument that “this is not happening.” To put things in order, or almost, According to the UOL mediait has only been documented A real case of a woman with a psychiatric disorder who tried to enter a hospital with a doll, which shows that most bills are based on viral fictions. Vinyl body kit From Tiktok to Congress. As we said at the beginning, it all started with a series of virals in networks where a collector had called “Crazy” for taking his doll to a mall. Then, another clip showed a doll being Attended in a hospitalas part of a role -playing game. Although the author of the video clarified that it was A dramatizationthe content was replicated alarmistly as if it were real. From there, social networks exploded with teasing, threats and a torrent of indignation aimed at the so -called “mams reborn.” The controversy reached a disturbing point on June 6, when a man assaulted a real baby four months on public roads by confusing it with one of these dolls. The aggressor was released on bail and the baby is out of danger, but the fact illustrates the climate of hysteria unleashed. Disguised misogyny. What at first glance seems like a lower controversy over eccentric hobbies hides a darker background: the pathologization of female entertainment. It counted at the Guardian The sociologist and political scientist Isabela Kalil, professor at the FESPSP, who warns that while adult men can collect action figures or spend hours in front of video games without raising suspicions, women who interact with hyperrealistic dolls are quickly tildos of unbalanced. The artist Larissa Vedolinknown as Emily Reborn In networks, he has received death threats daily for sharing his creations. “They write to me from anonymous accounts who are looking forward to finding me on the street with a weapon,” He recounts. Vedolin, like many other creators and collectors, defends that the Reborn are not toys, but works of art. Some may take weeks to complete and reach prices of up to 3,000 eurosdepending on the level of detail, such as the width hair implant. Social reflection. He Youtuber Chico Barneywho recorded a collector event in São Paulo for Your documentary Reborn Babies Don’t Cry, He pointed out With surprise the normality of the meeting: “It was only a group of people sharing an interest, with nothing eccentric.” But that contrast between the reality of the phenomenon and the viral narrative highlights a frequent dynamic in contemporary digital culture: the constant search for a target for collective hatred. Kalil summarized it rarely: the fury is not based on real events, but on a need for channel social anxiety through symbolic objects. “This case has served to project contempt, mockery and aggression against women who deviate minimally from conventional expectations,” affirms. Ancient practice. The Times remembered that Reborn dolls exist Since the 90s and his interest is not limited to Brazil. In the United States, Dave Stack, founder of Reborns (an online sales platform) ensures that sales have grown up constantly: 10 dolls a day five years ago between 40 and 60 currently. Prices range Between 200 and 250 dollars For vinyl models, and up to more than 4,000 for limited editions of soft silicone. Among its buyers there are mothers who They have lost childrencenters for patients with dementia, lawyers who use them in judgments, creators for film and television, and mainly people who “simply love babies.” Some clients even take them to medical consultationsThey feed them with porridge or photograph them with Santa Claus. A hysteria as radiography. In summary, the Reborn phenomenon in Brazil has become the closest thing to A mirror of collective anxiety, normalized misogyny and the excessive influence of social networks in political discourse. What is essence is a form of artistic expression or an emotional refuge has been transformed in whitewashing, legislation and polarization. The episode reveals not only the ease with which a moral panic is generated, but … Read more

We have been concerned about what companies with our data do. Brazil will allow money with them to win

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Brazil has just crossed a line that promises to change forever the relationship between its citizens and their personal digital information: digital wallets to moneture their data. Why is it important. The South American country has announced The first national program in the world which allows its citizens to own, manage and monetize their fingerprint. Brazil has decided to convert this information into economic assets for those who generate them instead of simply seeing how their citizens give data to technological ones. The initiative, administered by Dataprev – state technology company – in alliance with the Californian Drumwave, will create personal data savings accounts. Users may deposit the information generated by their daily activities and receive economic offers from companies interested in buying it. In detail. The system works like cookies of third partiesbut with a turn: instead of simply accept or reject, users can choose to make money. When they request a loan, for example, the contract data will be stored in their digital portfolio, and companies will be able to bid for them. “People don’t get anything from the data they share,” explains Brittany Kaiser, co -founder of Own Your Data Foundation and Drumwave advisor, according to the official statement. “Brazil has decided that its citizens must have property rights over their data.” The pilot starts with a small group of Brazilians who will use loan portfolios. After accepting an offer from a company, the payment is deposited in the portfolio and can be transferred immediately to a bank account. The context. This movement places Brazil ahead of the United States, where a similar initiative of the governor of California, Gavin Newsom, It was raised in 2019 But he never took off. If it is completely implemented, it will be the first public-private association that allows citizens-not to companies-to obtain a personal data market share. Yes, but. Some specialists in Brazilian data protection have expressed serious doubts. In a country where three out of ten people are functional illiteratesaccording to official data, there is a risk that vulnerable populations sell their data without understanding the consequences. “We will be asking for half of the country that you don’t know how Rest of World. “People in vulnerable situations will say yes, and that could be used against them.” The background. The Brazilian Congress works on a bill that would classify data as personal property, exceeding the current legislation that considers them an inalienable right. The new regulations would give people complete rights about their personal information, especially that generated “through the use and access of online platforms, applications, Marketplaceswebsites and connected devices “. And now what. If this is consolidated, Brazil will sit a precedent that other countries can follow. The proposal promises “a correction in the historical imbalance of the digital economy,” according to Rodrigo Assumpção, president of Datapre. The idea: transform personal data into assets for those who provide them. For companies such as Google, Meta or Amazon, accustomed to obtaining valuable data “simply” offering their platforms also for free, this proposal is an earthquake. For users it could be the first step towards a world where each clickeach search and each digital movement has a tangible market value. Outstanding image | Samuel Costa Melo and Campaign Creators in Unspash In Xataka | The AEPD already knows where the data of millions of freelancers who were on sale on the Internet have come from: the Chamber of Commerce

Wild urbanization, heat and cockroaches have turned Brazil into the perfect destination of a creature: scorpion

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In Brazil they have realized a serious problem derived from a common evil in a large number of countries. It was intuited that Wild urbanizationadded to the climatic changes And the extreme heat of the planet were an equation that did not predict anything good. The nation has discovered, very much, something else. The atmosphere of many of its cities has led to authentic cockroaches colonies and, after them, those that devour them: scorpions. Silent invasion. Yes, Brazil is currently facing an alarming Scorpion proliferation In many of its cities, a direct consequence of uncontrolled urban growth and climate change, which has transformed urban environments into ideal habitats for these arachnids. How much? According to the study Posted in Frontiersbetween 2014 and 2023, more than 1.1 million bitesa 155 % increase In just a decade, and the projections estimate up to two million new cases between 2025 and 2033. The situation is especially critical in densely populated areas and with precarious services, Like favelaswhere the combination of crowded housing, accumulation of waste and sewerage systems without control has created the perfect scenario for the expansion of scorpions. These creatures find shelter in cracks, debris and pipes, have abundant food (The cockroaches), and enjoy constant temperatures and high humidity. Plus: Some species are capable of reproducing without mate and can survive more than a year Without feeding, which makes them a resistant threat and difficult to eradicate. A public health crisis. The Guardian told that the increase in temperatures, intense rains and prolonged droughts (increasingly frequent patterns in the context of climate change) have favored the expansion of scorpions, whose natural habitat is now complemented by those Modified urban environments For the human being. Previous investigations had already warned of these animals for adapt to citiesbut current data has confirmed that the phenomenon has climbed to become a health crisis. Only in 2024, it is estimated that almost 200,000 people were chopped And at least 133 died, although experts warn that real figures could be much greater, since many affected do not seek medical attention and are treated at home. Although only 0.1% From the bites it is lethal, the most vulnerable victims are children and the elderly, who run a greater risk of dying even with a single sting. For the rest of the population, the symptoms include intense pain, burning, swelling, redness, tingling and nausea, with a recovery that lasts several days. Misinformation and prevention. And here comes one of the legs to deal with the problem. The British media counted That one of the most complex challenges is the erroneous perception of scorpions. According to researcher Manuela Berto Pucca, they are not natural aggressors of the human being, but They act in self -defense. In fact, they perform key ecological functions when regulating populations of urban insects, yes, such as cockroaches. However, its presence in inhabited spaces has generated an understandable and growing fear, especially among the poorest populations, where the fear of a bite is part of everyday life. The key, According to expertsis in prevention: keep the spaces clean and without moisture, seal cracks, place grilles in drains and carefully check footwear, clothing and towels before wearing them. In addition, the Brazilian health system offers Free treatment and antidotes in certain emergency centers, but researchers insist on the need to act quickly at any sting, without waiting for symptoms to get worse. A call to action. Finally, it should be clarified that the phenomenon It is not exclusive from Brazil. Countries like Paraguay, Bolivia, Mexico, Guyana or Venezuela too They have experienced a worrying growth of “Scorpionism”, The medical term that defines the reactions to these bites, making it a health crisis of regional scale. And in Europe? There are more than 35 native species of scorpion, but there are no comprehensive studies on their populations or comparable expansion has been observed. However, what is happening in South America serves as a global warning on the combined effects of that uncontrolled urbanization and climate change. The international scientific community has stressed that this is an avoidable emergency if more sustainable urban policies are applied, effective sanitation systems and public education and prevention campaigns. For Pucca and his colleagues, the current situation should serve as a catalyst for urgent actionsnot only to protect public health, but also to recover the balance between humans and the rest of the urban ecosystem to which these creatures also belong. Image | Aitivamon Natu, Webysther Nunes In Xataka | The United States national dish faces a worrying future if tariffs are maintained: hamburgers In Xataka | Brazil has the only rare earth mine capable of competing with China. The problem for the US is that China has remained

China had been buying tons and tons of soy to the US for years. A country has won in place: Brazil

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China likes American soybeans. A lot. Every year matters from the fields of Illinois, Minnesota or Iowa Millions of tons From a crop that is consumed directly in pod, it is processed or is intended to feed cattle. The problem is that in full Commercial Warand with him Tariff crossing Of more than 100% applied by Washington and Beijing to their respective exports, that American grain will probably stop being attractive in Chinese factories. It has already happened years ago, during the commercial war of the first mandate of Donald Trump. And then, as now, China began to look with increasing interest other sources of soybeans. Which is it? Argentina and especially Brazil. A figure: 27 million. He Tariff pulse Between the US and China, which has resulted in a rise in encumbrances of more than 100% to the commercial flow in both directions, threatens to hit a key merchandise: soybeans. The reason is very simple. American farmers sell a lot, a lot of soy to the Asian giant. In 2024 that flow exceeded 27 million tons metrics, with a value of 12.8 billion dollars. Moreover, oleaginous seeds (group that includes soy) were one of the main US exports to China in terms of value. Two years ago, the US-China Business Council calculated that, together, oleaginous seeds and cereals represent the largest export of the US to China, with a value that was then ascended to 25.4 billion. To have a clearer image of what soybeans supposes in those accounts, The New York Times Precise that last year mobilized nine cents of each dollar of goods that the US sold in China. USDA data shows that the Asian country monopolizes Something more than 40% of the Total US Soy Sales. A percentage: 135%. That is the rise of tariffs that will have to deal with that huge flow of American grain to China from now on. The percentage is the sum of two increases: the 10% imposed by Beijing in March to the importation of certain agricultural products and The extra 125% With which, already in recent weeks, he responded to the escalation of the commercial war with the US. The question they leave by driving those rise in levies is obvious: how will it affect the flow of American soybeans? Will it remain attractive to the Chinese market with that 135% rates? The issue has generated expectation between The analysts And of course Farmers worry From the US, a good part of them installed in states that, such as Iowa, Indiana or Ohio, are important soy producers and last November they voted for Donald Trump. “We deal with bad weather, pests, tractor breakdowns,” he lamented recently Heather Feuerstein, owner of a Tnyt Michigan farm. To all these challenges are now added tariffs, which in their opinion suppose “a threat” for their way of life. One date: 2017. While the tariff pulse with which he has started 2025 is being particularly intense, it is not the first time that Feuerstein and the rest of his colleagues are seen in a similar situation. Years ago, during his first presidential mandate, Trump has already started a commercial war with China that fully affected soy exports. As? Leading Beijing to bet on other suppliers and reducing the flow of grain ‘made in USA’. Nikkei precise which in 2017 was behind almost 40% of Chinese imports. Although the commercial flow remains high, in 2024 that figure was already 20%. Recently the CNN elaborated A detailed graph in which it shows that between 2017 and 2018 the US soybeans exports to China foster from 31.7 million metric tons to 8.24. Since then the flow has been recovered until it is located at 27.2 last year, although the data remains below the one registered before Trump’s first mandate. In general, from the Department of Agriculture (USDA) esteem that the commercial war caused direct losses to the US agricultural exports that exceeded the 27,000 million of dollars between 2018 and 2019. A country: Brazil. Every war has its winners. And the commercial open years between the US and China has a very clear one if we talk about soybean trade: Brazil. He same graph The CNN shows that as US exports lost bellows those of Brazilian grain shot. From 2016 to 2018 the flow destined for China rose to 68.6 million metric tons and in 2024 the 72.5 million tons were exceeded, well above the US export levels. In general, it is estimated that in recent years China increased 35% Its annual imports of Brazilian soybeans while they reduced the Americans by 14%. If the growth is ever seen the growth was Very superior. What does that mean? That in 2017, Brazilian soybeans supposed about 50% of its imports for China, now Round and 70%. A reflection “will have to acquire more”: “If you can’t get it from the United States, you will have to acquire more than Brazil. And they will have to pay more,” Comment to Tnyt Neusa Lopes, agricultural tour directive, an outstanding soy producer of the state of Mato Grosso, in Brazil. The truth is that the commercial war comes after, at the end of 2024, XI made a state visit to Brazil to strengthen ties between the two countries and the Brazilian Association of Soy Producers I confirmed recently that at the beginning of the month the Asian giant signed contracts for millions of tons of grain. Beyond Brazil, There are analysts They point out that Beijing could rely on Argentina, Another great producer. Between what happened eight years ago and the current scenario there is however An important difference. After years of commercial flow between China and Brazil, today the first one has much easier to stock up on the crops of the South American country. The Asian giant has invested in warehouses, railways, ports and other infrastructure that facilitates the transfer of Brazilian soybeans in Chinese ships. The clearest example is the great open terminal this year in the … Read more

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