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radishes confirm the entry of nanoplastics into the food chain

October 9, 2025 by usatoday24

Living with microplastics It seems like the new normal in our diet. We already see them in things as everyday as bottled water either tapbut also within our body as in breast milk or their own testicles. Now the researchers, who remain very focused on the food chain, have wanted analyze its presence in crops and it has made it clear that the problem is more serious than we thought. The study. Published in the magazine Environmental Researchresearchers have used a technique of radiolabeling to demonstrate, for the first time quantitatively, that nanoplastics are not only absorbed by plants, but travel through them until they accumulate in the parts we eat. And the results, obtained with radishes, are a wake-up call to a very important food safety problem. The marking. The main challenge of studying nanoplastics in biological tissues is to distinguish them from the organic material that surrounds them. To overcome this obstacle, a team of scientists from the University of Plymouth in the United Kingdom synthesized polystyrene nanoplastics and “marked” them with a radioactive isotope: lime. famous carbon-14. In this way, it was possible to accurately monitor the movement of the plastic inside the plant. And precisely the material is more common in agricultural soils. Design. The experiment was meticulously designed to avoid any type of surface contamination. For this, radishes were used due to their rapid growth and their large fleshy root (the edible part), which were introduced into a hydroponic system with a liquid nutrient solution instead of being in their normal habitat, which is soil. This is where the key is: only the fine, non-fleshy roots were in contact with the water containing the nanoplastics. In this way, the edible part and the sprouts were never in contact with the contaminated medium. From here, the radishes were left for five days to absorb the solution and subsequently analyzed to check if the nanoplastics (which emit radiation) had been absorbed and what path they would follow. Results. After the passage of these five days, radioactivity was detected in all parts of the silver that had been exposed, demonstrating the absorption and transport of the nanoplastics. In total, the radishes managed to retain almost 5% of the nanoplastics that were in the water and of these, 65% remained in the non-fleshy roots (the entry point). But the alarming thing comes when in the part that is edible, a concentration of 25.5% of the nanoplastics that the plant had absorbed and transported to this area was found. Even the buds and leaves, the furthest part, accumulated almost 10% of the total absorbed. What does it mean. This finding demonstrates that polystyrene nanoplastics are capable of crossing the Caspary bandan impermeable layer of cells that functions as a protective barrier in the root of the plant, designed precisely to prevent the passage of unwanted substances into the vascular system. Once this barrier is overcome, the nanoplastics have free rein to distribute throughout the rest of the plant. Why it is important. These results open a direct and quantifiable pathway for human exposure to nanoplastics through diet. Unlike animals, which have rapid excretion mechanisms (such as feces or urine) to eliminate part of the contaminants, plants lack these systems. This makes them potential “sinks” for nanoplastics, accumulating them throughout their lives. And for humans, the fact that these particles are so small means that they can diffuse our biological barriers and enter the body to circulate through the bloodstream. Although the effects that these microplastics have on our body still remain to be known, something that is currently still being studied to know exactly their distribution throughout the body. Future research should explore whether other types of plastics behave the same, how soil type affects absorption, and what happens in longer growing cycles. But the door has already been opened: smaller plastics are no longer just pollute our oceans and air, but they have found a way to silently sneak into our food, from the roots. Images | Teslariu Mihai Marc Pell In Xataka | They clean your blood of microplastics for 11,500 euros: the startup that capitalizes on our fear of an invisible enemy

an entry rate that folds its price

April 21, 2025 by usatoday24

Economic, Venice had a problem: his geography did not give for more (tourists), much less if a large number of these hordes that arrived at the enclave daily did it to disappear when the night arrived without leaving any benefit to the city in addition to a large amount of garbage. This was how a series of regulations were born where it was put Bumper to the groups big, se They tracked phoneSo was imposed A pioneering toll. It went so well that they announced Redouble the bet. They did not go lantern. A fragile city against hordes. Since its origins, Venice has fought the forces of nature, raising stone walls against the sea to make its unique lagoon habitable. Today, however, the enemy that threat is not water, but the unstoppable wave of visitors who travel it as if there were no tomorrow with backpacks, sandwiches and, in many cases, little interest in contributing to its economy or preserving its delicate ecosystem. To contain these so -called tourists “Mordi e fuggi” (literally, “eat and run away”) the city has Reinstasurated and expanded Its controversial access rate, a measure destined to discourage overflowing tourism on days of high influx. First applied last year for 30 days, and that, As we countnow it will extend to 54 days (since April 18), and will penalize with a higher rate (10 euros compared to 5) To those who reserve with little or zero in advance, have been active for a few days. The measure, more than a drastic brake, seems to send a message to the world: Venice is unique, fragile and requires more conscious and respectful tourism. Between protection and pragmatism. We have explained before. The entry into force of this rate is justified both for symbolic reasons and for concrete urban management demands. In 2023, Venice was on the verge of being included in the list of patrimonies in danger of UNESCO, threatened by mass tourism, climate change and excessive urban development. Thanks to initiatives such as the rate, the city has achieved (for now) Avoid this ominous label, although the experts of the organization will re -evaluate the situation next July. Meanwhile, the income generated last year by the rate amounted to 2.8 million eurosa figure for mainly to cover the cost of implementation of this system still in an experimental phase. Although the impact on the tourist influx has been questionable (the local government itself admits that the days with a rate registered, paradoxically, More visitors) The authorities insist that the tool has a crucial operational value: it allows more precision to plan municipal services, from garbage collection to urban transport. Criticism, surveillance and tensions. Of course, critical voices are not lacking. Had the New York Times That for figures such as the opposition councilor Monica Sambo, trying to govern Venice as if it were a theme park with a paid entrance is a simplistic and symbolic solution to a much more complex structural problem. Sambo claims more comprehensive policies: A clear limit to the number of hikers allowed per day, firm regulations on tourist accommodation and strategies that promote access to housing and stable employment for residents, thus fighting the “tourist monoculture” that suffocates the Venetian social fabric. To this is added the concern for the control and privacy that we have months ago: to monitor tourist flows, the city uses Location data Telefónica and security cameras, measures that some see as steps towards intrusive surveillance. Plus: They have also been forbidden The megaphones And he has limited to 25 The number of people per tourist group. Imperfect tool to an urgency. As We count A few weeks ago, the rate applies only to single -day visitors between 8:30 and 16:00, and They are exempt Those who stay in registered hotels or rentals, already subject to a tourist tax, as well as those who work, study or visit relatives in the city. All visitors They must register and get a QR code before arrival. For its defenders, such as Simone Venturini, Councilor for Tourism, this rate represents not only a control measure, but a declaration of principles: Venice is not a dead postal or a tourist decoration, but a living city that demands respect. One thing seems clearly clear: its practical effectiveness may be in debate, but in a context where tourism threatens with devour To the city, any attempt to restore the balance between the rights of residents and the desires of visitors becomes not only legitimate, but urgent. Image | Jorge Fraganillo In Xataka | Given the risk of extreme saturation and weather, Spanish tourism already knows where to grow: winter In Xataka | Italy Veta One of the great symbols of mass tourism: the use of keys to make auto check-in is prohibited

Spain opened its lines to Ouigo. France is now doing everything possible to avoid the entry of Renfe

March 20, 2025 by usatoday24

It seemed inconceivable but we had been living with it for almost four years. Yes, Renfe trains circulate on the Spanish railways. The Order arrived from Europe and Spain complied with a guideline that has opened the door to Ouigo and Iro. A door that, for Renfe, seems to be stuck in France. What happened for Renfe to be studying his departure from the neighboring country? A liberalization. It arrived in 2021. First Renfe had to face the competition with Ouigo. Shortly after it was Iro. And when we wanted to realize, in the Spanish roads these three companies are competing in high speed by some clients that, if we add Avlo, have four options on top of the table. Liberalization came ordered from the European Union. From Brussels it was voted in favor of opening the railroads and that any company could operate on the roads of the entire continent. A liberalization that has its peculiarities because the demands in terms of security and approval to meet the protocols follow in the hands of the authorities of each country. You don’t pass here. The latter is especially important and we have seen it in Spain. For example, When Ouigo wanted to get to Andalusia has had to adapt its trains to the protocols of the LZB systemsince they do not resemble those of the rest of the continent. When the Madrid-Seville line was created for the 1992 Expo, it was decided to use said system that would later fall into disuse and failed to impose itself on Erts that we see in the rest of Europe. These types of regulations, in addition to the payment of a fee for the maintenance of the roads and other services to ADIF are those that have put on a war footing to Ouigo and the Government. The first when pointing out that Adif charges excessive rates for the service they offer. The second because they ensure that Ouigo throws prices Below the market. What do we have? High speed with four operators and the lowest prices than ever. Where The competition has been greaterprices have dropped. They have not dropped where the demand is very high (such as the Madrid-Barcelona corridor) but in lines where you have to fight more to catch customers as in the Andalusian runners or in Madrid-Aliante where the supply was not extended until 2023. In your latest reportthe CNMC pointed out that the volume of passengers has not stopped increasing. Where new options have been opened have generated a greater number of journeys and a price drop until reaching more than 10 million passengers in the third quarter of 2024. A conflict. In this context Renfe has proposed to open new lines in France. Taking advantage of liberalization, the Spanish company has wanted make Ouigo competition In his own home. The movement began with controversy, with Renfe selling Nine euros tickets. In Spain, Ouigo defended himself saying that they were in a launch phase and that they expect be profitable this year. The promise is about to be fulfilled while SNCF, owner of Ouigo, has already put its conditions to enter to compete in the market of Cercanías y Medio Distancethe other great liberalization that we have ahead. The fight for the really interesting. Ouigo in Spain is competing in the big runners for lament of Óscar PuenteMinister of Transport, which indicated that these companies can focus on profitability While Renfe also has to Fulfill your public service position. Ouigo does compete in Madrid-Barcelona, Madrid-Sevilla or Madrid-Aliante, for example. And in those same conditions he wants to play Renfe in France. At the moment, the company operates in the Lyon-Barcelona and Lyon-Marsella runners but the great yearning is still to reach Paris. The capital is especially juicy because most of the great French lines leave from there and could join Madrid and Paris in a single corridor. And here is the great conflict. You don’t pass here (2). Renfe a The avant -garde that France is doing everything possible to torpedo the expansion of the company on its way to Paris. The first intention was to reach Paris before the Olympic Games last summer but it was not possible. And the technical approval still does not get what he is doing to the company to rethink if they must move on. They explain that the problem is in the technical approval of trains. The approval of them usually takes about six months of work but at this time they are already going for three years. Coincidentally, the approval to operate in the Barcelona-Tooulouse corridor as of April 2025 is ready. Renfe is, for the moment, notice in the southern and southeast zone of France. And according to the company, the project does not paint well. To the point of Paloma Baena, general director of Renfe Operadora Global Strategy, demanded in the French Senate A few weeks ago equal conditions in the deal and pointed out that they did not expect to function normally until 2029 if everything followed. The excuse. What they say from France is that the trains that Renfe has presented to operate in the lines that have Paris as origin or destination are incompatible with the technology of their tracks. First tried with trains 100F series of ALSTOM which are those operating in the south of the country. After rejection, he has tried with the Talgo 106 Series with which Renfe operates in Spain. And, in addition, François Durovray, already former Minister of Transportation in France, also pointed out that he wanted to force companies to enter the country Operate in deficit lines. Exactly the type of runners where Ouigo does not operate in Spain and what Oscar Puente Moles ago lamented. Photo | Xataka In Xataka | Renfe trusted Talgo’s trains to overcome Ouigo and Iro. With your arrival, breakdowns, delays and controversies accumulate

Elon Musk fired 6,000 employees two weeks ago. Now the US faces the massive entry of invasive species

March 20, 2025 by usatoday24

Elon Musk had several weeks ago that his efficiency department (Doge) has an advantage over the rest: they work 120 hours a week. Incredible that their words are, the facts seem to be proved, because the strenuous working days have led more than an alarming calculation error between mass dismissals and dismantling key programs. Latest: release To so many people that the country’s health controls have weakened. Administrative errors. It Wired counted in a report where he took stock since the creation of the Doge office. In just a few weeks, their actions had included the publication of classified information by accidentthe desperate dismissal and recontraction of Nuclear Safety Expertsor the erroneous inflation of governmental “savings” In 7,992 million dollars. For the medium, the failures They reflect a combination of technological arrogance and absolute ignorance of the government’s functioning, with potentially catastrophic consequences. Risks in food safety. Doge has implemented an unprecedented purge within several government agencies, but few dismissals reflect the climate of chaos such as the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) such an excessive scissors that has triggered a Crisis in Food Safety and trade, leaving the country vulnerable to invasive species and the increase in food. The reason? With the elimination of 6,000 jobs in Februarythe USDA lost a significant part of its highly trained personnel, including inspectors, biologists and coaches of detector dogs that protected American agriculture of pest and zoonotic diseases. In fact, Derek Copeland, former National Dog Detection Training Center coach, warned that the reduction Personnel affects the ability to detect threats such as the giant African snail or the Asian beetle of long horns, which could have devastating consequences for local crops and ecosystems. Blow to inspection and biosafety. There are more. The protection and quarantine units have been of the most affectedwith the loss of hundreds of inspectors, which has significantly reduced controls on agricultural imports. According to experts, this lack of personnel has converted inspections into A chaotic and disorganized processespecially in key ports such as Los Angeles and Miami, who have seen 35% reductions in their quarantine staff and up to 60% in their smuggling detection team. This, in turn, has generated delays in merchandise processing, which could translate into a price increase in supermarkets and a massive waste of foods that are spoiled while waiting to be inspected. Impact on economy and commerce. The damage is not limited to agricultural security. Mike Lahar, regulatory affairs manager at the Deringer customs broken National Security. It’s not A trivial theme. A single error in the detection of a plague I could tithe whole cropswhich would affect not only farmers but the entire food supply chain. In addition, the accumulation of containers without inspection is affecting other industrial sectors, as shipments are being stranded, reducing the availability of essential goods and raising costs for consumers and companies. Legal uncertainty. Trump’s government has defended cuts as An efficiency measurebut the repercussions have generated alarm. Republican senators, like Joni Ernst, previously They supported the program Of pest detection with dogs, but they have avoided ruling on the dismissals. Two federal judges have ordered reinstallation Of dismissed employees, but the White House has described these decisions as “absurd and unconstitutional,” leaving thousands of workers in uncertainty. Meanwhile, the USDA has announced a 45 -day break in the dismissals, but without guarantees of rectation for those affected. Collapse in agri -food security. If the crisis persists, experts warn about a possible scenario similar to that of pandemic, with a shortage of certain products and a Food inflation driven by lack of control in the ports. In this regard, Joe Hudicka, veteran of the supply chain industry, anticipates that large cities and supermarkets can better absorb the impact, but rural communities and small businesses will be the most affected. For his part, Kit Johnson, director of Commercial Compliance at John S. James, warns that the reduction of inspections could lead to An agricultural catastrophe If invasive species manage to establish themselves without being detected. Undecatization? Wired counted that experts slide two hypotheses to try to explain the disaster caused by Doge. The first is that the initiative never intended to make the government more efficient, but simply dismantle agencies to pave the path to privatization and obtain access to sensitive government data. Under this logic, the elimination of regulations and administrative chaos would favor the intervention of private companies in key sectors such as defense, agriculture and security. The second hypothesis is that Musk and his team really believe in their mission, but they completely lack the skills to execute it, replicating that arrogance that is presupposed to Silicon Valley by assuming that the ability to build software translates into competition to handle the government apparatus. In other words: Musk can be a genius in certain areas, but his performance as a “de facto CEO” of the government is increasingly close to a failure. Consequences. Thus, the destruction caused by Doge not only affects government efficiency, but can have economic and geopolitical implications In the long term. The purge of thousands of employees has triggered unemployment and generated instability in key sectors, which could have recessive effects on the economy. The decision to dismantle critical areas such as those of the USDA have weakened key plots such as Food security and agricultural protection of the nation at a time when the supply chain already faces challenges such as The aviar flu and the Commercial disputes with China. Meanwhile, as ports begin to feel the effects of the lack of inspections, concern grows between farmers, merchants and consumers. If the situation is not reversed, the country could face an unprecedented agricultural crisis. Image | Gage Skidmore, US Department In Xataka | In his eagerness to attack the public sector, Elon Musk has crossed a line: distorting the story of Hitler and Stalin In Xataka | Elon Musk has revealed the formula of his team’s success. The problem is that they barely have time to sleep and … Read more

Venice invented an entry rate to stop mass tourism. It has come out so well that it will double the price

February 11, 2025 by usatoday24

Tourism is equal to massification in Venice. It is nothing new and, in fact, the enclave has been a pioneer in some regulations that have sought to put the hordes to combine the life of the premises and that their ecosystem does not end up engulfed victim of their own success. His geography simply does not give for more, and that’s why they have imposed Bumpers to large groups with fines Whoever passes, or even They have tracked phones. They also imposed A pioneering tollan entry rate that went so well that They doubled the days. Now also the price. The experiment is consolidated. As we said, Venice is a pioneer in the imposition of An entry rate for single -day visitorsand success has been such for the administration that They have decided to duplicate the rate in 2025, raising it from 5 to 10 euros for those who enter without accommodation reserve. In addition, and as we explained a few months ago, The measure will be applied in 54 days a year, almost twice the 29 days selected in 2024. The dates include a continuous block from April 18 to May 4, followed by every Friday, Saturdays and Sundays until the end of July. The collection will remain from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm, and those who reserve at least four days in advance may pay only 5 euros. What do politicians say. The Tourism Councilor, Simone Venturini, gave a track of the announced change. Apparently, at the Milan Bit fair, he said that the 2024 pilot project was so successful, achieving its goal of managing tourist flows and discouraging massive tourism of a single day, which they have decided to enhance it. In fact, International destinations such as Formentera in Spain either Kyoto in Japan They have shown interest in replicating the Venetian initiative. Impact on the tourist rate. In 2024, almost half a million tourists (485,062) paid the entry rate, that is, that They generated 2.4 million euros in revenue to public coffers (The cost of the system or the destination of the funds collected) has not been revealed. The registration data indicates that, after the Italians, the main tourists were Americans, Germans and French. In addition, the measure achieved a slight reduction in the number of visitors from the Véneto region, although the authorities have not given figures. We also remember that despite this tariff increase, access remains free for those who spend the night in the city, although They must register online in CDA.ve.it to obtain their exemption. Travelers who only transit Piazzale Rome, Tronchetto or Stazione Marittima, as well as those who visit the outer islands of the lagoon (Lido, Murano and Burano) without going through the center are also exempt. The future in Venice. It is the big question. The authorities admit that the rate alone is not enough to manage mass tourism, but they do consider that The created system feels the bases for future regulations stricter. Venice, that Receive tourists from 194 countriesremains one of the destinations most affected by tourist overexploitation, which has led to the implementation of increasingly restrictive measures in an effort to protect its fragile urban ecosystem and preserve its historical character. One more than difficult equation. Image | Hervé Simon In Xataka | Given the risk of extreme saturation and weather, Spanish tourism already knows where to grow: winter In Xataka | Italy Veta One of the great symbols of mass tourism: the use of keys to make auto check-in is prohibited

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