called

It’s called Null Island and it’s a buoy

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If they ask you about The islands you have visited Your answer can vary. You may have visited one, several or none. We will put the last case in serious. Although you think you have not visited an island, the story that comes next will show you that, you may have been in one (many times). His name: Null Island. His paradox: you will only find it on the maps. The island is not island. Actually, under the name of Null Island we are Before a location Cartographic, although not any, since it is zero degrees of latitude and zero degrees in length. In other words, it is about the intersection where the first Earth meridian meets Ecuador. To be more exact, if that is possible, it turns out to be a point in the Gulf of Guinea, a portion of the eastern tropical Atlantic Ocean off the western coast of Africa. The reason for its existence? That to geolocate any point on a map, the premise is that there is a starting point (or 0-0 place) from which to draw the rest of the points. The choice of this specific point on the map has to do with the fact that the intersection between the Zero and Ecuador It is the starting point of World Geodetic System 1984that is, the cartography on which the GPS system is based. Why the Gulf of Guinea. Because it is part of the South Atlantic Ocean, something like the armpit of Africa. It is the mass of water right off the coast where Western Africa curves south to become central Africa. The Gulf is right in the middle of any standard world map, and that is not a coincidence. It is the meeting point for the two geodetic measurement lines, the first meridian and the Ecuador. Or, expressed in length and latitude: 0 ° N, 0 ° E. And that is precisely Null Island, the Perfect anchor for non -geolocalized dataalthough, as you will have imagined, it is not an island as such, it is rather the colloquial name of the intersection of these two main orthodromes. In mathematical code, and by extension also in Geodesia, an ortododrom (or maximum circle) is the longest possible line drawn around a sphere, dividing it in two halves, or hemispheres, perfectly the same. It is a buoy. It is not a joke. Obviously, it is not a real continental mass, but if you literally sail towards the Gulf of Guinea, towards the intersection between the world’s first meridian and Ecuador, You will find a great buoy. That is the closest thing to Null Island that exists on the planet. Null Island (also known as La Boya Station 13010 – Soul) Known as Station 13010 – Soulthe climate monitoring buoy is part of the prediction and research system tied in the Atlantic (pirate) that monitors the tropical Atlantic ocean. Together with 16 other buoys, the floating weather station measures things such as wind speed, air temperature and humidity to help inform meteorological forecasts and climatic models. Therefore, in the real world, Null Island is a buoy, and in the virtual, a hypothetical point where they stalk data points out of place. The origin of the (no) island. Ecuador, equidistant of the poles, gives the northern and south hemispheres. He Greenwich meridianwhich divides the world into eastern and western hemispheres, is a more arbitrary line. His status as the first meridian in the world It was not established until 1884at the International Meridian Conference in Washington DC the French abstained in the final vote because they had campaigned for the Paris meridian. That was the year zero for our point north north, zero east. What happened? Due to its distance, the location remained culturally insignificant until 2011, when it appeared in The map data set of the public domain of Natural Earth as “Null Island”. As they explained then In a statement On the birth or invention of Null: “We have added a country of debugging of errors with an indeterminate sovereignty class called Null Island. It is a fictitious island of a square meter located off the coast of Africa, where Ecuador and the primary meridian cross. Focusing it on latitude 0 and length 0, it is useful to mark geocoding failures that appear as 0.0 in many services.” Why have you been. Because you have surely wrong, and not only one, but many times, looking for the location of a site. Although there is no null island, it is that convenient place name for a frequently used place. Zero-zero reading arises frequently as an error, due to the lack of data or software failures. In the background, something that we use every day is the real person responsible for our visits to Null: the GPS. When we do an erroneous search, we try to reach a place that does not exist or an error of the system occurs, at which time it relocates precisely there, at the zero-zero point, in Null Island. Image | Graham Curran In Xataka | This is the life on the most remote inhabited island: the improbable history of Tristán de Acuña In Xataka | In Japan, an island has just been born suddenly. Of course, we have the video *An earlier version of this article was published in July 2024

Now we know Russia’s trick to multiply his drones. It is called “cooling units” and comes direct from China

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If the question is how far Beijing’s help comes to Moscow with the Ukraine War in the background, the answer is very wide. We knew through documents obtained By Bloomberg that the production of Russian drones was being favored by the use of intermediary companies with China as main actor bound. Now we know something else. The engineering of deception to overcome sanctions. Clandestine flow. I told it in Exclusive Reuters. Apparently, Russia has managed to maintain and expand the production of its drones Kamikaze Garpiya-A1despite the sanctions imposed by the West, thanks to a sophisticated undercover import scheme that involves Chinese companies. Customs documents, internal contracts and invoices reviewed by the medium reveal that the L550E engines manufactured by the Chinese company Xiamen Limbach Aviation Engine Co. continue to arrive at the Russian state company IEMZ KUPOLnow through a Signature called Beijing Xichao International Technology and Trade. To avoid detection, engines are tagged as “Industrial cooling units” in transport documents, which has allowed Your shipment From Beijing to Moscow (and from there to Izhevsk, headquarters of the Kupol plant) without alerting Chinese customs authorities or formally infringing the country’s export legislation. Mass expansion. An internal Kupol document confirms that the company has signed a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense to manufacture More than 6,000 Garpiya In 2025, tripling the production of the previous year. For April, more than 1,500 units had already been delivered. These drones, long -range and great precision, are regularly employed to Attack civil infrastructure and military deep in the Ukrainian territory. According to kyiv’s intelligence, Russia is using some 500 Garpiya per month. Based technologically on the Iranian Shahed, the Russian model has become a fundamental tool of Kremlin’s war effort, now enhanced by Chinese components that include not only the engine, but also Navigation and control systems. Ghost Companies Network. The path of engines to Russia is carefully disguised. After initial shipping from China, He had Reuters that engines are received by a Russian cover company called SMP-138owned by Abram Goldman, which in turn forwards them to another Russian company, Libss, final responsible for supplying Kupol. A contract between Libss and Kupol Reviewed by means Specifies specifically that the products should be identified as these “cooling equipment” to avoid suspicions. Chinese commercial companies Sichuan Airlines and China Southern Airlines have been used to transport these pieces Criticism of Russia since October 2023, despite the penalties in force. None of these airlines or the companies involved answered the Reuters questions. Ambiguous position. The Chinese Foreign Ministry, in response to the environment, He denied knowledge of these shipments and reiterated that the country strictly apply export controls of double -use goods, in addition to oppose sanctions Unilateral not endorsed by the UN. However, the reality of the continuous flow of military technology towards Russia calls into question that narrative. The Xiamen Limbach company was sanctioned in October of 2023, after an earlier Reuters report that already identified its role in the manufacture of the Garpiya, which caused new intermediaries such as Xichao They assumed the relief. In spite of these measures, or Xiamen or Xichao have given explanations, and the trail of responsibility is more than diffuse among layers of screen companies, documentary opacity and legally ambiguous trade routes. Diplomatic warnings. Plus: Revelation arrives at a time of Growing diplomatic tension Between the European Union and China. The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will meet with Xi Jinping and Li Qiang at a summit marked by Chinese support suspicions to Russian military machinery. European diplomacy, headed by Kaja Kallas, He has warned Beijing that allowing this type of trade puts the security of the continent at risk. China, meanwhile, insists that He has not exported Lethal weapons and that, if Russia uses its civil products for war, the same could be said of Ukraine. However, according to three senior European security officials, the case of Garpiya demonstrates that the Chinese supply It is not accidental or marginalbut part of a functional network that actively supports Kremlin’s military effort. European deterrence and strategic game. Experts Like Meia Nouwensof the International Institute for Strategic Studies, point out that China’s priority interest is to keep the United States focused on Ukraine, thus avoiding a direct confrontation in the Indo-Pacific. The implicit strategy would be to prolong the European conflict to gain margin of maneuver in Asia. For Brussels, however, the immediate priority is Cut the flow of critical components. Although the EU does not require China to break economic relations with Russia, it does insist that it reinforces its customs and financial controls to avoid the transit of sensitive products. For now, the proliferation of undercover engines and fictional companies shows that, on the Ukrainian battlefield, the China’s technological shadow is increasingly difficult to ignore. Image | Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, State Border Guard Service of Ukraine In Xataka | Ukraine has opened Russia’s last drone and does not leave his astonishment: it is the first time that China does something like that In Xataka | Ukraine has found a solution to China’s veto in drones: it’s called Hell, it’s a “home” missile and bends the scope of the attack

Chinese mobiles have batteries 11% higher than those in the rest of the world. The culprit is called sic

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Chinese smartphones have a clear advantage: their batteries are 11% larger than those in the rest of the world. A consolidated suspicion that is now measured thanks to Counterpoint Research. The average in China reached 5,418 mAh in May 2025, compared to 4,900 mAh in the rest of the world. The difference has expanded to exceed 500 mAh in recent months. Why is it important. China is adopting carbon-silicio batteries (sic), a technology that allows greater energy density without increasing the thickness of the device. The rest of the world maintains more conservative technologies even though Two years ago we warn of this impact. The context. Chinese brands have opted to solve one of user’s biggest headaches: autonomy. With larger screens, more frequently soda and applications that consume more energy, including Local generative AIThey need more capacity. 6,000 mAh or more mobiles already represent 35% of the Chinese market, compared to 9% of a year ago. OnePlus leads with the greatest average capacity thanks to Your Ace series, exclusive to China. There is a revealing pattern: brands such as Honor, Huawei and Vivo launch models with larger batteries specifically for the Chinese domestic market. But their global versions maintain minor capacities. Why does this happen? Because China is its test laboratory: SIC batteries certifications are more agile there. In China you can try that technology before facing the expensive and slow western approval processes. It is cheaper to try at home than to risk out with a new technology. And now what. China will maintain this short -term advantage while Western brands wait for SIC technology to mature. The gap will be reduced when more manufacturers adopt large batteries as a global differentiation factor, and not only in China. In Xataka | Buying a mobile in China is a brutal savings compared to Spain. The question is whether it ends out expensive Outstanding image | Xataka

For years we were who we called to ask for information. Now Google’s AI calls for us

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Imagine you are looking for a hairdressing for your dog. You do not have time to call, compare prices or review reviews one by one. But Google yes. His artificial intelligence is in charge. Call for youconsult availability, ask for prices and give you the answer, all without you said a single word. That is exactly What has begun to activate Google: A new function within its search engine that allows the system to contact local businesses in your name. It is not an independent app or an isolated experiment: it appears directly in the search results, under a button that says “Have Ai Check Pricing.” An AI that acts in your name, without changing your way of searching It is not necessary to learn commands or configure anything special. Press the button, answer a series of questions and the system is responsible. Speak for us, collects data on prices and availability and returns them organized. We continue using the search engine as always, but with an AI that is no longer limited to responding: it begins to do things. An interesting point is that companies can control this function from their business profile, which guarantees that they have control over whether or not to receive this type of calls. For now, this capacity is only available in the United States. Of course, Google has not mentioned concrete plans for its deployment in the European economic space or has given dates about its arrival in other regions. If something is clear is that Google is no longer made up of offering links. He wants to execute tasks. Organize data, reason, investigate … And now also contact third parties. Google is also updating a parallel solution called Ai mode. Now it works with Gemini 2.5 Proits smartest model, and the Deep Search tool, capable of making deep searches. Both improvements are only available to those who have registered in the AI Mode experiment through Search Labs, and require a subscription to the pro or ultra plans. These novelties arrive just when the launch of Chatgpt agentsthe new openai system that operates on a virtual computer and Execute real tasksstep by step. And where proposals also stand out such as Comet, from Perplexity, o Computer Use, from Anthropic. What do they have in common? Beyond their differences, these are solutions that seek to do things in the user’s name. Images | Freepik | Google In Xataka | Google is determined to win the war of smart watches with its AI. To achieve this, you will have to offer us a disruptive experience

We thought that the law against the so -called spam had not served at all. But we already have the first fine of 5,000 euros

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Facing telephone spam is complicated, it seems even impossible. Nor the Robinson list nor the Call filters They manage to eradicate them completely. In 2023 we thought we were close to the arrival of The antispam lawbut hopes were diluted today We continue to receive commercial calls. It has taken two years, but something could happen: already They have fined the first company to make unwanted calls. The case. It happened in July 2023, only one month after the law entered into force. The Digital Marketing company Adverbis Spain SL made a call to an individual, who was also registered in the Robinson list. So far as normal, except that this person decided to report him to the Spanish Agency for Data Protection that, two years later, has sanctioned the company with 5,000 euros. Notice a spammers. Although we have talked about Other telephone spam finesthis is the first that applies after the entry into force of the new law. For two years the feeling that the law had not served at all was installed among users and it seems that spammers also, since Calls increased shortly after. It has taken a long time, but this fine feels an important precedent and could be the change we had waiting. The law. The known as antispam law establishes that companies cannot make commercial calls without prior consent And it establishes fines that could reach two million euros, depending on the size of the company that commits the infraction. In the case of Adverbis Spain, it is a small company, so the fine is much lower, but if the offender is a larger operator can find a sanction of many more figures. How to report. We have already seen that, although they take, denounce the AEPD works. Yes too You receive commercial calls and want to reporton your website you have a section called “Receipt advertising phone calls” Where can you do it. You have to take screenshots in which the phone is seen from which they call us and record the call as proof. Image | Mikhail Nilov, Pexels In Xataka | Spam calls are a problem for everyone and Apple knows. Its solution with iOS 26 has been stopping braking

The Ave to Andalusia seemed a perfect alternative to the car this summer. Has encountered a problem called Toledo

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We are on July 14, summer trips to the south of Spain multiply. High speed had to offer a quick exit to the sea from Madrid, connected to Malaga by trains of up to three different companies. But, in what we have been from the month, the problems have multiplied until thinking that the usual is already suffering some type of delay. Catastrophic misfortunes. In case their own problems were their own, this weekend Spanish high speed has suffered more and more delays. Even for reasons that have nothing to do with the trains themselves. Catalonia and suspensions or delays caused by heavy rains They are a good sample of this. But the worst part, again, takes Andalusia. The Autonomous Community has had a first look in July to forget. After 15 days in which the delays have been a constant, yesterday, Sunday, July 13, A fire next to the tracks Among the Cordoba municipalities of La Marota and Santaella cut the circulation again. In total, only Renfe already registered 10 modifications at his schedules. In the afternoon, at 5:49 p.m. they pointed out that The circulation would gradually restore. Own problems. The fire next to the tracks has only been the drop that has filled the glass of a weekend that had already registered problems on Saturday. An incidence in the Adif facilities again caused delays in trains that were directed on the way Andalusia or Madrid. Again, a good handful of trains recorded delays of more than an hour on the ferrous roads of the Andalusian region. The incidence in the facilities was found in the vicinity of La Sagra (Toledo), where at the beginning of July the biggest Ferroviaro problem was recorded in these first two weeks of the month. 13 hours arrested. Julio began his journey in summer in a very worrying way in southern Spain. Thousands of passengers (it is estimated that more than 16,000 people) were affected by a problem in the lines that extended for more than a day. The problem caused a collapse in the high -speed line that resulted in the suspension of services and The stop (without assistance) of more than 13 hours of a train that ended up meeting the night. Over there, An old woman had to be treated For respiratory failure. Many reproaches … Since that stop happened in high Andalusian speed, the government, Adif and Ouigo have been sent Cross messages for the problems caused. The origin of the fault He was in a disconnection of an ouigo train with the signal recognition system, mandatory to continue operating. His stop forced to stop the trains that circulated below. The cluster of vehicles caused an over -line over the line that resulted in a fault of a Renfe train. The latter did not unwill for a problem in their own systems that force disconnection to avoid breakdowns in case of over -overdraft. Ouigo has not rejected his involvement in the incident but he did defend himself from The words of María Jesús MonteroMinister of Finance and Vice President of the Government, to whom open microphones captured her criticizing the company. The French blamed Adif that Insphorastructure had to endure unforeseen Like these. … And few solutions. After the chaos of the first days of summer, Adif announced that he would carry out an emergency action on the line and that he got to work to identify the weak points of the Andalusian connection. A movement that Ouigo pointed out how insufficient. Those actions They were going to be carried out in La Sagra. Yes, exactly at the same point where the over -the end of the month of July was produced that ended with all the circulation stopped for more than 13 hours. There, ADIF plans to perform an emergency action by changing the location of various elements of the catenary. Two weeks later, trains stand up again in the same place. Photo | Nelso Silva In Xataka | Ouigo has partially retired from Madrid-Barcelona. Then, prices have struck in Andalusia

Russia is using a tactic that clashes with war codes. It is called a double impact, and after the drones the worst comes

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In 2025 we have seen changes and adaptations in the offensives of Moscow. Shahed drones have continued to be The spearhead of the invasion, but to them have joined other tactics that from kyiv have been denounced as “implacable”, such as that undetectable sabotage bomb through the mobiles of LUkrainian teenagers. The latest: “double impact” offensives. Calculated terror. In recent months, Ukraine has witnessed the intensification of A Russian tactic particularly brutal: the calls “Double-Tap” attacks or double impact, a strategy that consists in attacking a certain area (frequently a civil objective) and hitting the same place after the arrival of emergency equipment, volunteers and medical staff. This technique, described by the United Nations as “Ruthless”, or ruthlessis being observed on multiple fronts by Air Defenders and Ukrainian lifeguards, who relate How drones are initially used to inflict damage, and minutes later, cruise missiles fall on the same objective when there are already rescue personnel in the place. Relentless. The result not only multiplies the victims, but also seeks to break the morals and paralyze the response capacity of the Ukrainian authorities. According to testimoniesthis form of attack has been used near Kyiv, Bila Tserkva, Járkiv and Jersón, with registered impacts on recreational, residential or strategic infrastructure. Adaptation to the stage. The doctrine behind these attacks It is not new. Russia already She was accused to use the same technique during his Intervention in Syriain support of the Bashar Al-Vasad regime. What makes the difference in Ukraine is the combination of drones and missileswhere the former act as baits or advanced that attract lifeguards, and the latter ensure total devastation. Oleksiy, subcomandante of a Ukrainian mobile air defense unit, He describes it as an intentional use of multiple weapons “to intimidate the population” and neutralize any immediate response capacity. While some cases have involved only drones, others have combined the two vectors with lethal efficacy, as evidenced in a Attack on a complex Recreational near Kyiv in June, where the second explosion hit just when emergency teams tried to contain the fire. Moscow’s silence. For its part, Russia has not responded to requests for information on these incidents, and their Ministry of Defense He has sent to general statements of the exterior spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova. Meanwhile, surveillance images and testimonies on the ground seem to confirm the existence of a recurring pattern. An example provides it A shared recording From the outskirts of Kyiv, where the buzz of a drone is heard followed by an explosion, just when rescue personnel were in the area. Although the total frequency of this type of attacks is still difficult to estimate, the accumulation of cases suggests that they are not accidental, but part of a systematic strategy. Analysts of the Institute for the Study of War They have affirmed that the Russian forces “are most likely pointing intentionally against Ukrainian civilians and lifeguards”, in an effort for demoralize and paralyze The institutional response. Defensive situation. This trend coincides with a General deterioration of the Ukrainian defensive panorama, aggravated by the Temporary suspension of critical armament deliveries by of the United Statesincluding anti -aircraft ammunition and other essential equipment. The decision, adopted within the framework of the policy of containment of American strategic reserves under the presidency of Trump, could have serious consequences for Ukraine’s ability to defend its cities and positions on the front before the Russian offensive. Last week, Moscow launched about 550 ammunition In a single night against Ukrainian territory, a reflection of an increasingly intense air campaign. The Foreign Ministry of Ukraine He has warned That any delay in western support will only be emboldened to Kremlin, while experts warn that lack of backup will accelerate advances Russians on the ground. Under fire resilience. It We have counted: In this context of vulnerability, Ukrainian President Zelenski has held conversations with his American counterpart to try to restore air defense shipments, declaring that both countries “will work together to reinforce the protection of our skies.” However, uncertainty persists, and every day without elevation The risks of collapse defensive in certain regions. Meanwhile, the international community observes with concern the use of prohibited tactics or morally reprehensible by Russia, including attacks on civil areas seconded by A second lethal blow. Beyond the battlefield, these methods question the commitment of the international order to humanitarian law, and demand an answer before the exceptional becomes a norm. Image | Picryl In Xataka | Machines capturing and prisoners were the preserve of science fiction. Until the war in Ukraine arrived In Xataka | We were accustomed to seeing strange things in Ukraine, but this is different: ships and bombers with no one behind the wheel

If you have the feeling that everything is more expensive than ever, it is not your imagination: it is called “Zillow effect”

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Digital platforms promised to make everything easier and cheaper. Actually, they have created the opposite phenomenon: The “Zillow Effect” is taking practically everything What we play online, whether digital or not. Why is it important. When any transaction is digitized, the demand is triggered because it eliminates friction, but the supply remains constant. The result is usually the same: prices go up and competition intensifies for buyers. The panoramic. The effect began in the real estate sector with Zillow in the United States, A real estate platform born in 2006 which allowed anyone to consult the value of their home. Now it extends to university candidates, employment searches, appointment applications, concert tickets, vacation destinations and even second -hand markets. If you can buy it with a click, it is probably more expensive than before. In detail. The mechanism is simple: Before, requesting place at a university required physical effort. Get forms, send them by postal mail, go to pay fees. Now, with a button you can send your application to twenty universities. Result: the best receive many more requests, they can be more selective and the competition to access goes up to the same pace that their access barriers are lowered to the application. The same happens in the labor market: For candidates, there is a paradox: getting a job becomes more complicated. The contrast. There are two large categories of products here: Products with elastic offer. They are the ones that can be manufactured in greater quantities. Clothing, processed food, smartphones. They have been cheaper. Products with limited offer, or by regulation or by their own nature. Housing in good areas, places of universities, more desirable jobs, very attractive sexual couples. They have fisher, financially or symbolically. Between the lines. Great technology benefit from this problem, so they have no incentive to solve this problem. More demand is equivalent to more data, more engagementmore commissions. The case that gives name to this effect has a perfect example: Zillow earned money both if the houses were sold as if notbecause he charged for teaching them. AND Your platform fired your visibilitywith the aforementioned consequence: same supply, greater demand … upward prices. The threat. The Zillow effect has as first victims local and imperfect markets where opportunities could be found before. There are no longer the secret restaurants, virgin and quiet holiday destinations, or jobs that only a few knew. Google Maps, LinkedIn, Instagram or YouTube have democratized knowledge, but have also concentrated demand. An example: Instagram and ‘Tourism of Likes‘. And now what. A possible solution would increase the offer where possible, such as building more housing or creating more university places. Another would artificially limit digital demand. But there are not too many incentives for it. The digital world has connected us in this century, but it has also put us to compete against many more people for the same limited resources. And there is only a great winner: the platforms. In Xataka | 34 futuristic predictions made in the past: erroneous, successful and crazy Outstanding image | Xataka

Chinese dolls of sinister smile are breaking it in Spain. They are called Labubu and they are already falsifications and scams

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Rabbit ears and a very sinister smile. So are the labubu, some small collection dolls that, following the wake of successes like Sonny AngelThey are invading everything. After its success in China, the fever for these collection dolls has left their borders and has arrived in Spain. And with it the inevitable is also coming: falsifications. Context. Labubu are an original creation of the Hongkonese artist Kaising Lung, marketed by Pop Mart, which also markets Other similar collection toys lines. These are small stuffed animals with a keychain hitch, which are usually hung from the bag or backpack. When we buy one, several designs appear on the side of the box and you can touch any of them. This surprise effect and the gamification of the purchase have caused them to become an object of desire for collectors around the world, getting to pay authentic fortunes For them. Viral success. Although there were long before, the Labubu boom occurred in 2024. In China they generated the whopping 3,000 million yuan (about 355 million euros). 2025 is even better For these little elves. Only in China the growth is 100%, but in the rest of the world it would already be in 480%. There is a key factor in this global success: there are more and more celebrities and influencers who show their labubus in public. The first Celebrity that popularized them It was Lisa, from the K-Pop Blackpink group. Now they are hanging from Rihanna, Dua Lipa, Madonna or Kim Kardashian bags. The fever arrives in Spain. We said there is an invasion of Labubus and Spain was not going to be less. At the end of last year They opened a store in Barcelona and the tails to buy one of these dolls were kilometer. In the official store they are exhausted and, although there are other stores that sell Labubus in Spain, the same thing happens: almost all They have hung the ‘out of stock’ poster‘(Yeah, Also Amazon). With this panorama, the sale platforms are being filled with Labubus, with an increase in searches for 856%. Falsifications and scams. Stock -free stores and demand for clouds are the perfect ingredients for counterfeiters to fall in action. According to a Kaspersky reportit’s already happening. Fraudulent websites that sell counterfeit figures have been created and, in addition, they steal data from the users they buy. They always recommend buying official distributors, but since in Pop Mart Spain there are hardly any stock, many users go to Wallapop, Milanuncios or Vinted. There are many available, many of them original, but here another problem is presented: the price. Normally a Labubu costs between 15 and 30 euros. Taking advantage of scarcity, many vendors They swell prices. Precedents. Collecting Figuritas is no news. A few years ago we lived the Funko Pop Fever. In 2019, the North American company He presumed to have tripled its value, Although a couple of years ago we knew that their finances did not happen their best moment. Labubu fever takes advantage of the wave generated by a more recent phenomenon: The Sonny Angelsthose Japanese dolls that many people had glued on their smartphones and that were also a problem by The amount of falsifications that circulated. In ambiguity is success. Although similar to the Sonny Angels, Labubu are pioneers in one thing: it is the first time that China “colonizes” Europe with a cultural and consumerist phenomenon of this type. According to This Chinese journalist, The secret of success would be precisely that Labubu does not seem something Chinese. Its ambiguous design makes it more consumable by a massive audience. The corporate image of its parent company, Pop Mart, is also more ambiguous or “less China”, something that according to this journalist is intentional and would have a goal: “There is less likely that there is a violent reaction if Beijing does something wrong.” And China became cool. They told it in This Economist articlewhere they explore the change of image that China has experienced since the West in recent years. A clear indicator is the success of Chinese cultural products such as The movie Ne Zha 2or video games like ‘Genshin Impact’ and ‘Black Myth: Wukong‘. Tiktok’s success, his leadership in industries such as The electric car or the drones They have contributed to improving the image of the country outside their borders, something that coincides with a growing United States Negative Vision Under Trump’s mandate. Image | Declan Sun in Unspash In Xataka | A new potentially disruptive scenario opens in global energy: China has touched the oil in oil

It is a common phenomenon and is called GTP

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Do you remember when, years ago, stories circulated that used to consider urban legends – until it experienced them – about dreams in which we played tetris or doom, and that were so real that, sometimes, they got to be confused with the periods of vigil? A name came to be given, The tetris effectand the new generations of games and apps, more and more sophisticated and realistic, have taken that phenomenon one step further: after the Tetris effect, the GTP arrives. What is the GTP. Are the acronym for Game Transfer Phenomenathat is, phenomenon of game transfer, and consists of a series of involuntary experiences that players have after intense game sessions, where elements of video games (from images and specific sounds to such concrete aspects as object inventories) are overlap with our real life perceptions. Its characteristics were described for the first time about a decade ago by Angelica Ortiz de Gortari In a doctoral thesis. His inspiration was his own experience: visualize products in a supermarket as if he were using a video game telescopic sight Some of his symptoms. They are very varied: visual perceptions (see life bars or the game of the game) and auditory (soundtrack, special effects), automatic impulses (executing conditioned movements, such as pressing buttons), recurring thoughts and behaviors inspired by video games (speaking involuntarily with concrete games), tactile or kinesthetic sensations (perceive the control in the hands when there is not there) … player can see health bars on people’s heads, or feel the need to grab everyday objects as if they were Power-ups. A frequent experience. It is not about An isolated or unusual phenomenon. Studies in which More than 6,000 players have participated They indicate that most have experienced GTP at least once. And in Another analysis that was carried out in Chinabetween 82 % and 96 % of participants in a survey reported that they had experienced some form of GTP. This BBC article Check the phenomenon and mention Ortiz de Gortari, which describes that, for those who experience it, the GTP can be “disconcerting and potentially dangerous”, although, being relatively natural and simple to explain, most of the time it is passenger and has no greater significance. But why does it happen? On the one hand, video games demand automatic and conditioned responses, which can then be repeated in real life. And of course, the very high immersive capacity of modern games multiplies this possibility of transfer. It is a phenomenon comparable to catchy songsthat we repeat in our head without being able to forget them, but the GTP has a plus of intensity because the brain areas that manage it are linked to action and impulses, not to passive attitudes. It will go to more. Experts such as Ortiz de Gortari affirm that with devices such as virtual reality helmets, phenomena such as GTP could increase exponentially in the future. Without a doubt, it is an area that Science considers that it should be examined thoroughly: Not only because video games are the main form of entertainment globally, but because it delegates, to a large extent, to what extent our minds are vulnerable to increasingly aggressive technological advances. Header | Photo of T in Unspash / Xataka In Xataka | I have tried a virtual reality escape: this is to solve mysteries with your own hands in a very immersive experience

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