expected

Meteorologists expected 80 mm of rain in Grazalema, which was already a lot. They are already going for 180 mm

by

This Wednesday the storm Leonardo is showing all its strength in a good part of Andalusia, something that has forced to cancel classes or even to mobilize the UME due to the possible floods that may occur. One of the focuses of this storm is set in the Sierra de Grazalema in Cádizone of the places where it rains the most in Spain. The point here is that a large number of liters per square meter was expected to fall, but reality has surpassed everything previously calculated. The data. As collected the user in X @Vigorrothe discrepancy between what the model “saw” and what has fallen from the sky is massive: from a forecast of 60 to 80 mm accumulated at 7 in the morning, has moved to a reality of 180 liters per square meter. And this makes us have many questions in our heads… How is it possible that in the era of Big Data and high-resolution models, we fail by more than double in such a short-term prediction? The answer is in the orography. Harmonie’s failure. The technological protagonist here is in Harmonie-AROMEthe mesoscale model used by the AEMET to predict local phenomena. Unlike global models such as the European IFS, Hamonie is designed to see detail down to resolutions of a few kilometers to calculate, for example, how many liters will fall in a specific location. However, today it failed in the Sierra de Grazalema with the differences that we have seen before. And although the AEMET reacted activating the red warningwith an extreme risk of receiving up to 200 liters in one day, the real-time evolution during the early morning hours was much more explosive than the model output indicated. And the worst thing is that there is still a day ahead. A “wall”. To understand why the software falls short, you have to look at the mountain, and the Sierra de Grazalema acts as a formidable physical barrier against the humid winds of the Atlantic. In this way, when these storms hit the mountains, the air is forced to rise abruptly, cooling and condensing all its moisture in a very small space and gives what is known as orographic enhancement. In this peculiar storm, two factors have come together that have undoubtedly magnified it. On the one hand, we have had an atmospheric river which acts as gasoline for the clouds, intensifying precipitation much more than models anticipate, especially when they collide with a mountain. It fails on the scale. On the other hand, we also have the limitations of the numerical models that we use on a daily basis such as collected in the Stormchaser forum. Here they point out that these models continue to have problems resolving short-duration, high-intensity events in complex orographic areas. And they are good at saying that it is going to rain a lot, but they fail when we talk about the magnitude of a specific flood. It rains in the wet. The problem of this underestimation is not only meteorological, but also hydrological since this torrential rain falls on terrain that no longer supports even one more drop. The context in this case is critical, since the month of January already broke historical records in this area with accumulated amounts of around 1,300 liters per square meter. That is why the soil, which is composed mainly of clays is completely saturated, which means that the infiltration rate is zero, causing everything that falls to immediately run into the bed of the Guadalete River and others. Images | Freysteinn G. Jonsson In Xataka | Spain is preparing for a “festival” of storms in February: with more rain than normal and hardly any cold

La Niña is going to be meteorologically “less intense” than we expected. And that actually hides a problem.

by

There is a 55% chance that the world will cross the La Niña thresholds in the coming weeks. And although The World Meteorological Organization insists that it will probably be a weak and brief episode, that does not mean that it will not cause us problems. Many problems, in fact. First because it is going to catch us with a changed pace. When world meteorological agencies indicate that La Niña will be low in intensity, what they are also doing (often inadvertently) is telling authorities that it won’t be that bad. And that is technically true, but socially speaking it is a mistake. WMO A global event… Let us remember that, with the exception of the seasons, ENSO (of which La Niña is a phase) constitutes the most important source of annual climate variability from all over the planet. It is true that the cold phase usually has less impact than the warm one, but the teleconnections of The Girl They are still huge and so is their impact. …with an impact worthy of its size. In fact, under “normal conditions”, with a 55% chance of it arriving this quarter, many countries would be preparing for its consequences. Above all, because, under “normal conditions”, there are many: For example, in the southeast of the American continent temperatures become warmer than normal. Likewise, they get colder in the Northeast. Less rainfall than normal is expected in Ecuador and Peru, and torrential rains are expected in Northeast Brazil. In Mexico, it is common for La Niña to cause (or make more intense) drought in the north and center of the country, while increasing torrential rainfall in the Pacific, the southern Gulf of Mexico and the Yucatan Peninsula. In Spain, for its part, it is usually synonymous with less rain. In other words, bad news. But we are not in “normal conditions.” As I say, the WMO messages they are precise; but they act as confusing signals: the administrations are not preparing. And that, whether we want it or not, can turn even the most lukewarm of Las Niñas into thousands of problems on a regional scale. But we must also take into account the global scenario. Because, as the WMO also points outLa Niña may bring slight global cooling. However, this should not motivate a reduction in efforts against climate change: the accumulated warming is so great that temperatures will most likely remain above average. That is, climate change is still underway. And, unlike other years, not even La Niña can do anything to contain it. Image | Climate Reanalyzer In Xataka | 2023 was the year in which El Niño and climate change competed. In the Amazon we already know who won

a supermassive black hole older than expected

by

Since the James Webb Space Telescope opened its infrared eyes towards the universe, the truth is that everything beyond our atmosphere has gone from being something calm and a stranger to become in a frantic puzzle For all astrophysicists. Their latest discovery points to the oldest supermassive black hole ever detected, something that gives us more data about the origin of the universe. It has arrived to break the mold. This black hole is located in the galaxy GHZ2and its most relevant fact is not that it is really far away, but when it was formed. Approximations place it just 350 million years after the Big Bang. Something that breaks the classic schemes that experts used, since in theory there would not have been enough time for a gravitational monster of that caliber to grow so much. His discovery. As we say, the protagonist of this story is the galaxy GHZ2/GLASS-z12. A discovery that has been made thanks to the observations of JWST and to the ALMA radio observatory in Chilewhich has confirmed its location through different parameters that place it as the most distant and oldest structure that has ever been confirmed. But what has set off alarm bells is not only its distance, but also its composition, since extremely intense ionized carbon emission lines have been detected. To understand the importance of this finding, you have to know that ionizing carbon at these levels requires a large amount of energy. This means that younger and more massive stars have the capacity to do so, but it is not enough to explain the intensity that has been observed in this galaxy. This means that you have to sign up for a Active Galactic Nucleusthat is to say, a supermassive black hole that is gobbling up matter at a frenetic pace. The time problem. The study suggests that this black hole would have an enormous mass compared to its host galaxy. While in the local universe (ours) the ratio between the mass of the black hole and the stellar mass of the galaxy is around 0.1%, in GHZ2 this ratio could shoot up to 5%. This is something that challenges the training theories that are currently are divided into two sides: Light seeds: black holes are born from the death of the first stars and grow little by little. The problem here is that 350 million years is not enough to reach this size. Heavy seeds: huge clouds of primordial gas have collapsed into black holes to form them, but without becoming a star. The finding of GHZ2 points directly to the second option or to “super-Eddington” feeding episodes (eating faster than radiation pressure theoretically allows). Its importance. If this finding is finally confirmed, we would be facing the absolute record for an active supermassive black hole. Until now, this record was in the UHZ1 galaxy about 470 million years after the Big Bang. But now GHZ2 pushes us more than 100 million years back in time, bringing us dangerously close to the very moment it all began in our universe. What really seems clear is that the universe in its beginning was not a boring or slow place. It was a dynamic, violent and rapid time where galaxies and black holes evolved at a great speed that we are now beginning to understand. Images | BoliviaIntelligent In Xataka | Bad news, the Universe has entered its dying phase. Good news, we won’t be here to see it

an AI that decides when to shoot has hidden where it is least expected

by

In recent months, Ukraine has seen technological leaps that until very recently were more typical of the realm of science fiction. Of the machines capturing and taking prisoners went to drones attacking on his own in a matter of weeks or even the arrival of a “general AI” capable of converting soldiers in “invisibles”. The latest: a kind of cross between Terminator and Predator. From improvised anti-aircraft weapon to autonomous system. Yes, Ukraine has turned urgency into advanced military engineering by developing what they have called like Predatoran automated machine gun turret initially created for the Magura naval drones could face Russian helicopters and fighters that They patrolled the Black Seaa space where air pressure on Ukrainian operations increased after the success of unmanned attacks against the Russian Fleet. The Predator debuted in combat end of 2024when its sensors and target acquisition capabilities allowed two helicopters to be shot down using missiles fired from other naval drones, and months later it helped shoot down a Russian Su-30, demonstrating that an unmanned explosive vehicle could also provide anti-aircraft cover. A twist. Once the success of the machine was seen, Ukraine decided to “hide it” where it would be a surprise to the enemy. It turns out that integrating this turret into a maritime platform was a complex challenge which made it necessary to guarantee stability in adverse conditions, precision in a moving hull and compatibility with guidance processes that combine optical sensors, artificial intelligence and gyroscopic systems. The Predator turret equipped on a small tracked vehicle Naval technology adapted for drone warfare. Thus, although it was born for the sea, recent tests of the Predator have confirmed its usefulness in the dominant theater of modern warfare: the FPV drone combat loaded with explosives, responsible for a growing share of Ukrainian losses on the ground. With 7.62mm ammunition, optical sensors, gyroscopic stabilization and automatic detection alerts, the system can be mounted on track vehicles or in the bed of a pick-up, shooting on the move and following minimum targets of just a few centimeters at 100 meters. And more. Artificial intelligence allows the turret identify threats and present options to the operator, who maintains the final decision to avoid fratricidal fires, while the new versions incorporate laser rangefinders and precision improvements adapted to drones controlled by radio frequency or fiber optics. From Ukraine to NATO. The rapid industrialization of the Predator (more than thirty units built and a plan to produce a hundred a month in less than half a year, with a unit cost of less than $100,000 for the Ukrainian forces) makes this system one of the most agile developments of the Ukrainian military complex. In fact, its success has awakened the NATO interestwhich invited the company to an Innovation Challenge and put the system to the test at an evaluation event in France, where the manufacturer presented it remotely as a modular and immediately deployable solution to threats that evolve with weeks, not years, of margin. Additionally, UGV Robotics plans a larger caliber model, the Apex Predatorwith .50 ammunition and the ability to intervene against heavier aerial threats, aiming to turn these turrets into an exportable standard for Western allies. The new paradigm of Ukrainian defense. The story of this turret illustrates how Ukraine is integrating naval and land capabilities into the same combat ecosystem automation basedmodular sensors and systems capable of operating on unmanned platforms, a strategy driven by constant pressure from Russian drones and the need to protect both infantry and exposed vehicles. In this context, a design conceived so that an explosive drone would not be shot down from the air is now transformed into a ground defense against cheap and lethal swarms, making the Predator a symbol of Ukraine’s shift towards a distributed, adaptive defense focused on neutralizing asymmetric threats before they reach their objective. Image | UGV Robotics In Xataka | It’s not that the war in Ukraine has been gamified, it’s that there are now “hero points” to exchange for exclusive weapons In Xataka | In the midst of rearmament, Europe has realized an unimportant detail: it does not have enough bullets

The only advantage Apple could have in AI was its private cloud. It has been copied by the person we least expected

by

Google has presented Private AI Compute, its cloud infrastructure specially designed so that our conversations remain totally private and cannot be accessed by anyone else. Not even Google. Why is it important. The deployment that Google has announced will allow users of models like Gemini to use them without fear that their sensitive data – finances, health, private conversations – could end up being rescued and accessed by third parties. Idea copied from Apple. This type of infrastructure is an adaptation of the platform that Apple presented more than a year agoPrivate Cloud Compute, and that precisely focused on protecting those conversations by using the company’s future AI models. There are some differences, and for example Apple makes use of a concept of “verifiable transparency” that allows external researchers to audit security and privacy at any time cryptographically. At Google they use third-party verification, which is somewhat more limited as it is not open to the public to verify the running software. Tranquility as a sales argument. AI models are becoming more useful and also more personal and proactive, and that means that we also end up using them with data that may be more personal and sensitive to help us with a very specific question. Beyond ZDR. The problem is that when using the models everything we ask and they answer you can see —and even deduce—. There are ZDR (Zero Data Retention) modes in enterprise accounts from some AI providers, but having a cloud that “privatizes” those conversations is especially promising when it comes to being able to talk about everything with AI without restrictions. no fear of that data coming out of there. How this “privatization cloud” works. Those responsible for Google they explain that Private AI Compute is a “secure, fortified space for processing your data that keeps your data isolated and private to you.” The system uses several layers involving its TPUs and its Titanium Intelligence Enclaves (TIE) security chips. Our devices connect to that secure cloud environment through encryption and a cryptographic security mechanism called “remote attestation” that verifies the identity and integrity of that hardware environment to which we connect. Google also offers a detailed technical report on the operation of this infrastructure. Similar to running local models. The result is theoretically that for the user everything runs “locally” in terms of privacy. Features such as translation or audio summaries that Google offers in its services run directly on our devices: there is no data that travels to the cloud. The best of both worlds. The problem is that local AI models have limited performance, and Private AI Compute will allow you to have the best of both worlds: the power of the best AI models—which run in gigantic data centers—and the privacy guarantee of Google’s Private AI Compute. A surprising twist. This type of infrastructure means that these conversations are completely protected and that not even Google can access them. It’s a surprising turn of events, especially since for the last 25 years Google has made a living by collecting our data to apply it to its advertising model. This type of option goes in just the opposite direction, and it only remains to be seen how it will market such capability. Strategic approach. Curiously, this announcement comes days after we learned that the new version of Siri with AI It will be powered—at least, initially—by Gemini, Google’s AI model. Both companies have had a multimillion-dollar agreement for years to make Google the default search engine in Safari on iPhones and Macs, and now that alliance is apparently reinforced with the use of Google’s AI model to power the future version of Siri. In Xataka | The key to making the iPhone competitive in AI was right next door: imitating what Android had already done

Years ago Alicante opted for an artificial island with a luxurious restaurant and taxi boat. It hasn’t turned out as I expected

by

The idea was good. AND on paper It was fable. Set up a restaurant an artificial island in the heart of the port of Alicante, a benchmark in the Valencian hospitality industry where people could eat paella or have a drink with views of the Mediterranean (directly on it, rather), surrounded by sailboats. So that clients could reach the island, it was even thought to build a taxi boat. The idea sounded so good, in fact, that the Port of Alicante decided to invest heavily in it, dedicating millions of euros to it. Now instead of an idyllic island to drink mojitos and coffees in the middle of the mouth what it has is a huge mess. An artificial island? That’s how it is. To understand it you have to go back a few years, to beginning of 2022when the Alicante Port Authority awarded Vías y Construcciones (subsidiary of the ACS Group) one of its most ambitious projects, at least as far as the interrelation between the docks and the city is concerned. What the Port entrusted to the company was the construction of a large platform at the mouth of its inner dock, a sort of artificial island of 669 m2 (34.8 x 20m) that would be supported with the help of three large 14 m concrete piles anchored to the seabed. The contest was launched with a budget of 2.7 million (taxes apart) and aroused the interest of several companies. The AC Group firm ended up imposing itself on the rest with a project of 2.1 million. And what did they want it for? The platform was just a means, not an end in itself. Its objective was to support a future restaurant located in a privileged enclave, a place that would offer food and drinks not with views of the sea (many bars in Alicante already have that) but directly over the sea. If the island measured 669 m2, the idea was that the building dedicated to hospitality uses would occupy 393 m2 on the ground floor and rise two levels (ground and first floor). The remaining 260 m2 would be dedicated to public access, with a three-meter wide promenade. So that people could reach that privileged enclave, it was also planned a taxi boat. The idea was once again ambitious: a purpose-built, sustainable boat managed directly by the restaurant. Did it stay in theory? No. The Port of Alicante took important steps to make the project a reality. The main one was the awarding of the works for the island platform, which ended up being erected, as can be verified today on the docks. The problem is that what should have been a simple work in theory ended up becoming complicated in a bad way, as recently recognized the Port itself. In 2023 one of the support pillars partially sank, requiring reinforcement work to be carried out on the seabed. From there the project entered a loop that now threatens to condemn it. In fact, the Port insists that it “has never received” the work, which is why it has not considered it good. “Once the work was completed, the contractor company refused to carry out a load test that would allow its stability to be evaluated, as provided for in the contract, and as an essential procedure for the port to sign the acceptance of the work,” remember from the organism. What’s more, he claims to have a report of CEDEX (an entity linked to the Ministry of Transportation) that “strongly advises against” carrying out the tests due to “the high risk of collapse of the structure.” And now what? After years of the open platform crisis and after the latest CEDEX report, the Port has decided to make a radical decision. Its last Board of Directors has given the green light to activate the procedures to “resolve” the construction contract for the island. That is, the organism wants break the agreementsomething that has been communicated to those responsible for Roads and Construction. Now the company has ten days to present allegations. Once that period has passed, “and after years of technical and negative incidents”, the proposal will return to the Board of Directors, something that will probably happen before 2026. “In recent years the Port has commissioned audits and expert reports that confirm the irreversible deterioration of the structure and the impossibility of meeting safety standards to locate the restaurant proposed in the original project,” the organization argueswhich in its 2024 accounts already contemplated “impairment losses” of 2.7 million euros, which it has invested in the platform. Is there anything else? Yes. The Port does not only propose to terminate the contract. He also wants the original seabed to be “restored” to “recover the navigable conditions” that existed before the platform works. If the contract finally ends up being broken, it is not unreasonable to think that the conflict will reach court, but the Port Authority assures that it has already touched all possible sticks, so it sees “all avenues to remedy the situation exhausted.” Are there more affected? The Port of Alicante not only awarded the works on the platform. In April 2022 it launched another contest which completed the project with its second fundamental piece: the building that was to rise above the artificial island to act as a restaurant. The one selected for its construction and management was a business alliance between Alicante Gastronómica SL and Restaura Gestión Forty SL, which from that moment became co-protagonists of the project. In fact, they would not only be in charge of the building, an elliptical, glass-enclosed block with a large interior garden patio, a restaurant with views of Alicante and a terrace for cocktails. Another of its functions would be to assume the “maintenance and governance” of the taxi boat that would connect the island, a ship whose investment, precise Alicante Plazatook over the Port and was commissioned for 460,000 euros (taxes included). In January the organization started to try it. Now … Read more

Ana Boria has tested all her effort just before the expected trip

by

When we think of Domotize our house The first thing that comes to mind is that it will be a great idea. And probably it is. Who has not dreamed of automating daily tasks and controlling devices from the mobile? The promise is clear: to make our lives easier. However, when it is time to put it into practice, unforeseen events appear. And that is where the real challenge begins: to overcome obstacles for the plan to meet. A good example is in our series’Domotize or die in the attempt‘, Available in the Xataka YouTube channel. In this chapter, Ana Boria He faces a challenge with a deadline: Leave everything prepared before leaving honeymoon without worries. The main protagonists are two feeders Xiaomi Smart Pet Food Feederalthough they are not the only ones. As already anticipated in the previous episodewill also try to install a presence sensor on the terrace and an irrigation system for plants. All under the watchful eye and comments of your partner Angela Blanco. The question is inevitable: will it get it? A trip to counterreloj: leave the house under technological control before going on a trip One of the strengths that Ana of smart feeders stands most is their ability to weigh the exact ration of feed. A key detail for those who live with several pets that do not eat the same. “The right -wing feeder is always that of the cat and the one on the left that of the cat. So this work we have done. Now it is simply that they get used to this what gives them eating every x hours,” he explains. Everything painted well after Unboxing. Remove them from the box, configure them in the living room and then take them to their final place. Until the first problems arrived: “No, it is restarted, but it does not enter Wi -Fi mode, which I should do and I don’t know why and I don’t know what else to do. In the other it has worked.” The typical situation in which you are convinced of having followed the manual to the letter and still something fails. Luckily, the solution was close. The action then moved to the terrace. On paper, installing the movement sensor seemed simple. In practice, not so much. “What happens is that it needs food and I only have one plug Here on the terrace that is here behind the column, ”Ana details. Relocating it was an option, although it was not simple either.” A lot of people passes here, especially in summer, and we will have to limit very well the Mapita of this sensor so that it does not give us or false positives and it works well. “I had to check if the system responded as it should. And, surprise! At that moment Angela put the humor note with a direct comment: “But look, what would be of this series of videos if Ana got the whole first?” The closure of the chapter returns us to the terrace. He had to refine the irrigation system. Ana began to make accounts to calculate with precision how she should work. But once again everything did not go to the first. Had to move the site pump to fulfill its function. Before the expected trip, with the idea of ​​leaving everything under control, Ana spent a week at her family’s house. There he advanced a detail that leaves the intrigue served: “There is good news and a bad one.” To know what happened, The answer is in the video. The question is clear: did you get the house dominated before the honeymoon? We invite you to discover it and tell us your experience, both here and on YouTube. Images | Xataka In Xataka | For years I have had YI security cameras. His app has become so insufferable that I have gone to competition

A laptop that follows me, revolves, goes up, down and dances is the last thing I expected to see in Ifa. Not only have I seen it, I’ve tried it

by

If something has each and every one of the portable of this world is that they do not move. It would be strange, I say paranormal research, that a laptop moved. We can tip the screen up or down, but if we move the screen it does not follow us. If we get up, the screen does not get up. If we sat, the screen does not turn down alone. But what if he did? What if our laptop could follow us, so that we moved where we move, the screen always looks towards us? That is the question that has been asked from Lenovo. The answer? A multidirectional intelligent support of the most curious. Inside the dock there is an engine that rotates the base and elevates and inclines the portable | Image: Xataka Lenovo Smart Motion Concept. This device, Iteration of the views last yearIt is not a laptop, but a support. One motorized and with the ability to put the laptop in virtually any position, follow us in real time and place the device always in the perfect position. It does, of course, integrating with the components of the computer so that everything works as a single device. What is this about? This support is connected to the laptop and integrates with the camera, microphones and speakers to, according to Lenovo, offer automatic facial tracking, voice control and Ergonomic health. This detects our face and follows us in real time rotating to the sides, climbing, going down and bowing up or down depending on our movement. In addition, the support detects gestures, such as a click of fingers or the movement of the hands, to do actions. Image | Xataka So that? The idea is simple. There are times that we need to have visibility of the computer being in motion. Let’s think about making a presentation to customers, for example, or being constantly framed. With this support, Lenovo gets precisely that. In addition, it is a device that fulfills a double function: not only moves the laptop, but can help us have the screen in the correct position and height at all times, which will obviously have an additional keyboard and mouse connected to the laptop. And in that sense … The Chinese firm has not neglected anything. The rotating support is, at the same time, a Dock of USB-A ports (two), Ethernet, HDMI, Displayport (two) and USB-C. The ports better than to miss. The support zone is also a dissipator to prevent the laptop from hot, something that can happen since the support increases the tdp of the laptop between five and ten watts. Below has a dissipator to avoid temperature increases | Image: Xataka At the base it has a good handful of connections to replace those that the laptop may not have | Image: Xataka Although this accessory has a character, say, professional, the truth is that it could make sense for those users who telework. I use a desktop with a monitor hung by an arm, which allows the monitor to always height and position. However, when I work with a laptop I always miss having the screen above. These types of accessories solve that problem that, in another context, would solve putting the laptop on a pile of books or an Ikea support. And how does it work? Quite well. At first I tried it with many people around, which made the camera go crazy and change the face that continued constantly. Later I had the opportunity to put the glove more calmly and the thing was very different. The support followed me without any problem if I moved to the sides, if it bent to me and even if I put on tiptoe. Image | Xataka The internal support of the support is really fast on the Y axis, but something slow on the X axis. If we get out of the camera’s field of vision, the system stops. It does not seem to be able to anticipate the trajectory that we will follow, something that would be useful. This engine is also heard. It has that classic “ñiiii” mechanical when turning, which even more evidenced its conceptual nature. And what to dance? As if it were a stress test, the software has a dance mode that makes the support move in all directions. He will not win any award, but serves to check the robustness of the device. It is, speaking in silver, quite large and apparently heavy, it is not intended for us to take it there. The counterpart, of course, is that it shows resistant and capable of moving portable portables. It would be necessary to see how it behaves with a heavier devices. Image | Xataka On its launch. Lenovo has stressed that the Lenovo Smart Motion Concept is that, a concept. It is not expected to be launched in the short or medium term. Moreover, we may never see it or, if we see it, we see it as part of another product. However, the idea seems to me the most interesting not only for the professional world, but for teleworkors who use a laptop and, rather than wanting a support that follows their heads in meetings, helps them maintain a good cervical posture. Images | Xataka In Xataka | 45 minutes with the Lenovo CEO. The Chinese giant has the obsession with leading the era of AI

Gas reserves advance faster than expected

by

Europe enters September with an unexpected energy mattress: gas deposits are already 76% of its capacity. Just a few months ago analysts doubted that the continent reached the legal threshold of 80% before November. Today, it not only seems safe, but it is even forecast that reservations could touch 90% if the weather accompanies. Short. According to Bloomberggas injections during spring and summer have been constant, thanks to a calmer market. The result is a level of reservations that, at least at least, the ghost of another energy crisis moves Like 2022-2023. Volatility has been reduced and European prices are maintained below those registered in August of the last two years. The Europe Infrastructure Gas (GIE) confirms that European storage was 76 %, equivalent to about 85 BCM, a level of less than 92 % last year, but aligned with the average of the last decade. A paradigm shift. First of all, Community regulations flexible. According to a June article by Bloombergthe EU will allow up to 2027 deviations of ± 10 percentage points compared to the objective of 90%, also extend in two months the deadline to complete it. This reduces the seasonal pressure of buying in summer at all costs, which in previous years fed speculation. For its part, the global LNG market played in favor of Europe. As an analysis of Ron Bousso for Reuters points outthe fall in Asian demand released cargoes that flowed towards the continent. China, traditionally one of the largest buyers, reduced its imports due to an increase in internal production and commercial tensions with the United States. In fact, Beijing It is promoting Massively the extraction of shale gas and deep perforations, which points to a lower dependence on external LNG in the coming years. Finally, the international offer grew. Bousso has pointed out that the worldwide capacity of LNG will expand from 550 BCM in 2024 to almost 890 BCM in 2030, led by the United States. Only in the first seven months of this year, their exports rose 22 % compared to the previous year, thanks to new plants on the Gulf coast. Germany, the weak link. However, the photo is not uniform. Germany, the largest European consumer, remains the most vulnerable link. A report from the anadolu agency points out that German reserves They are 67%, well below neighbors such as France or Belgium. The installation of Rehden – the largest in Europe – barely reaches 23 % filling, According to Bloomberg. The German delay has history: last winter left his deposits at 7%which forced to spend billions in their recharge. Berlin insists that his four floating terminals of LNG mitigate the risk, but the opposition warns of problems if a particularly cold winter arrives. The Russian unknown. The war in Ukraine continues to weigh on the energy board. Although Russian gas imports have been drastically reduced, LNG cargoes still arrive, sometimes under interposed flags. However, the European Commission presented in June a plan To gradually eliminate all Russian gas and oil imports before 2027, prohibiting new contracts since 2026 and ending existing ones no later than 2027. According to EurostatRussia’s quota in EU gas imports collapsed from 45% in 2021 to less than 20% in 2025, replaced by US flows, Norway and Algeria. The United States enters the equation. That turn has reinforced Washington’s dependence. A July of Reuters report explained that Brussels studies grouping the demand for European companies to negotiate joint purchases of American LNG, within the Aggregateeu mechanism. Under the objective of ensuring sufficient volumes and fulfilling the commitment to acquire up to 250,000 million dollars annually in American energy over the next three years. The Plan evidences EU’s strategy to replace Kremlin with Washington, although analysts cited by Reuters warn that the objective could be too ambitious and leave Europe vulnerable to political swings on the other side of the Atlantic. Forecasts The immediate panorama is more serene: traders expect a winter without shocks if the weather does not give surprises. But in the medium term, the dilemmas persist. As Ainvest has pointed outthe EU has added 70 BCM of new regasification capacity since 2022, but many terminals work at low capacity. There is the risk of assets stranded if the demand remains stagnant and the transition to renewables is accelerated. The possible output is in conversion: several projects seek to adapt gas infrastructure to hydrogen transport, within the decarbonization strategy. More robust reserves. Before a calmer market, at least for now. The continent has gone from the Russian dependence on a more diversified framework, with the US as a key partner and China releasing pressure in global markets. However, vulnerabilities persist: Germany as weak link, overcapacity in LNG infrastructures and the unknown of a climate that could alter the most optimistic forecasts. The 2022 nightmare seems distant, but the European energy transition remains a race against time. Image | Unspash Xataka | Natural gas has become essential in the AI ​​era, and this chart exposes countries with the largest reserves

Sending electricity without cables seemed to the future. Darpa has done it again, and the test has gone better than expected

by

What are 800 watts? More or less what a microwave consumes running at medium power. And 8.6 kilometers? It is an approximate distance between the stations of Atocha and Chamartínin Madrid. It is actually somewhat lower, but it serves to get an idea. That is the scale of Darpa’s last experiment: a system that managed to transmit real energy with a laser, in a straight line, without cables and with a receiver that turns the light into usable electricity. It may seem little, but it is not. The important thing was not the amount, but the test. And it worked. What exactly Darpa has done. The United States Advanced Defense Research Projects (Darpa) has successfully completed The first phase of a program called Power, designed to explore new ways of transmitting long distance energy. In their most recent test, carried out in New Mexico, they managed to send a laser beam that delivered about 800 watts for 30 seconds to a receiver located 8.6 kilometers. The figure is important because it exceeds the previous records: until now, the best documented result was 230 watts at 1.7 kilometers. Although the agency has not revealed how much power it was originally issued, it is known that the system was able to maintain energy flow for periods even longer than those officially reported. According to those responsible for the project, it was not about demonstrating efficiency, but viability. The essential thing was to check if it was possible to build a functional system in a short time. And they did it in just three months, from the initial design to the final execution. The receiver was developed by Technc Technologies and uses commercial solar cells already available in the market. The objective was not to optimize performance to the maximum, but to prove that this technology can be launched with accessible components and without complex manufacturing processes. How this technology works. The idea behind the experiment is simple to understand, although technically complex: send energy through the air with a beam of light, and that when it arrives it can be used as electricity. The DARPA system is based on an infrared laser that points directly to a receiver composed of a conical mirror and solar cells. The mirror captures the ray and redirects it towards the panels, which convert light into electrical energy. Part of the equipment used during the test The interesting thing is that no exotic components or photovoltaic cells were used to measure, as in many laboratories. Commercial cells were used, ready to use, which reinforces the idea that this technology can be viable out of paper. As we say, the performance, for now, was not the priority. Receiver efficiency is around 20 %. The Power Receiver Array Demo system achieved a new record by transmitting laser energy with more power and greater scope than ever During the test, diffractive optics were also used, an unusual resource in this type of transmissions, and an integrated cooling system was implemented directly in the optical parts, manufactured with additive printing techniques. None of these innovations was scheduled at the beginning. They were solutions that arose on the march, as they faced the challenges of the experiment. Why do it with laser and not with radio waves. Transmitting long distance energy is not a new idea. For decades it has been investigated how to do it with radio or microwave waves, but these technologies have physical limitations that include their effectiveness. As IEEE points outto work, they need large antennas and systems of Beamforminga technique that allows the signal to be concentrated in one direction. The longer the distance, the greater the issuer must be, and the more difficult it is to focus the beam with precision. Compared to radio waves, the laser can focus much better: a narrow beam can be created almost without dispersion, at least in ideal conditions, According to Eric YeatmanVice President of the College of Science and Engineering of the University of Glasgow. Of course, not everything is advantages. The lasers also disperse with fog, clouds or dust. In adverse atmospheric conditions, microwaves remain more reliable. But for certain applications, especially if we talk about aerial networks or transmissions in clear environments, the laser is difficult to match. For the Power project leader in Darpa, Paul Jaffe, if it does not work with optics, it will not work in any way. What does this advance mean (and what is not). Darpa’s experiment did not solve all the challenges of wireless energy transmission. Efficiency remains low, the system is not yet prepared to operate in adverse conditions, and the transmitted power, although notable, is far from what a commercial infrastructure would need. But that was not important. The important thing was to demonstrate that technology can work outside the laboratory, with accessible components and in realistic terms. Images | Darpa (the main image shows an earlier test in 2019, at a lesser distance) In Xataka | Antimony under another flag: the Chinese mineral that continues to enter the US disguised for Thai or Mexican export

Log In

Forgot password?

Forgot password?

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

Your password reset link appears to be invalid or expired.

Log in

Privacy Policy

Add to Collection

No Collections

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