face

In the face of the fires that devastate Madrid, Ávila and Toledo, Starlink supports free with its satellite internet service

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The fires that They devastate the Community of Madrid, Ávila and Toledo They have become hell for thousands of families. The list of evacuees and confined almost reaches 100,000 peoplebut it has not been the only aggravating factor, since many of them have also lost the possibility of communicating with other people. Given this blackout, starlink communicated to users who will be able to connect directly with the mobile phones of those affected through their satellites, without the need for antennas or additional applications. What has happened? The fire has destroyed antennas and fiber cables, in addition to generating interference that has further complicated communications in the area. While Movistar, Orange and Vodafone worked on the ground to restore their networks, from BandaAncha confirmed that many users were beginning to witness a change in their networks. And several people claimed to see the “Orange Space X” network on the interface of their mobile phones. Satellite connectivity. Starlink itself confirmed through its official account on X, ensuring that “Starlink Mobile is providing free connectivity to MasOrange and Movistar customers in the regions affected by the forest fires near Madrid.” The same goes for Movistar, Orange and Vodafoneteleoperated companies that have confirmed the activation of this emergency satellite service in their networks. The company explains that families, communities and companies with compatible LTE phones can continue to communicate by SMS even if terrestrial networks do not work, since mobile phones automatically connect to this satellite network. Of course, they warn that the service “will work better with a clear view of the sky”, since it requires a direct connection with satellites in low orbit. Months in testing. According to they count From Broadband, Orange had been testing for months in Valladolid to offer mobile satellite coverage directly to conventional terminals, thanks to a special permit from the Ministry to use its terrestrial frequencies from space. Everything indicates that this technology being tested has been advanced and urgently activated through an agreement between the Ministry, Orange, Movistar and Starlink, also opening the signal to other operators in roaming mode to provide coverage in the fire area. Without European alternatives would you be. The service is not suitable for browsing the internet or making calls. Its capacity is limited to sending SMS and very low data usage. But in an emergency situation, that connection thread can make the difference, allowing you to notify that you are safe, coordinate an evacuation or for rescue teams to locate someone, just when traditional telephone towers have been disabled by the fire. In the absence of European alternativesStarlink is positioned as one of the most effective solutions to obtain satellite connection in domestic environments. Today there are several European agencies that are sending satellites to low Earth orbit, although most projects are not aimed at offering Internet connection on a commercial level, but rather are specialized constellations for companies, governments, teleoperators, defense or aviation. Some well-known proper names are OneWeb, the Luxembourg SES either Hispasatthe latter being a relevant actor in Spain, Portugal and Latin America. All of them are beginning to move, but at a pace and efficiency that is still much lower than SpaceX. This means that in emergency situations, such as the one thousands of families in Spain are experiencing with the fires, communication depends on a completely private company. Hence, the fact that there is a European alternative, detached from the control of a private company of the stature of SpaceX, is important and makes sense as part of the technological sovereignty strategy of the continent. And now what. Starlink had already resorted to this same free connectivity formula in other disasters, such as the earthquake that shook Venezuela just a few weeks ago. In Spain, for now, the service remains as an emergency measure and not as a commercial launch. Orange had already planned to market this technology in the future, but its actual deployment as a public network has arrived earlier than expected, driven by the magnitude of the fire. It will be necessary to see if, once the flames are controlled, the service is withdrawn or if this crisis accelerates its definitive release to the market. Cover image | The reason and Starlink In Xataka | The Ministry of Labor reminds that no one has to “choose between their security and their job”: four days of paid leave

If your password is stolen, you change it. If they steal your face, you have no other choice

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Google launched yesterday a new way to regain access to your account when you lose your phone or computer. All you have to do is record a selfie video by turning your head in several directions, and then send it to Google servers and use it as biometric verification if you want to recover that lost access. What’s really interesting is not this launch, because Google is just the latest big technology company to join the trend. And that trend, although interesting on the one hand, is very, very disturbing on the other. Google and your face as a method to recover your account. In Google’s announcement, those responsible explain the system for scanning and sending that selfie video to its servers, and how this system will allow users to recover their account if they lose access to it. Privacy and security by flag. Google promises that they will keep that information encrypted and use it for other purposes unless you actively allow it. The option can also be used to log in to your account (as Microsoft has been doing for years with its Windows Hello technology), but it cannot be used in Workspace accounts, nor in child accounts or in accounts that are part of the Advanced Protection Program from Google, aimed at journalists, activists or businessmen with especially sensitive information. Meta already tried it and had to abandon it…. Facebook had a facial recognition system —the one that suggested tags of people in photos— and closed it in 2021 erasing more than a billion faces after pressure from regulators and privacy organizations. …to get it back again. In October 2024 They resurrected technologythis time to recover Facebook and Instagram accounts that had been hacked. In December 2025 they had already made it the standard recovery method, and Meta assures that has improved by more than 30% the recovery rate of hacked accounts in the US and Canada. A Trojan horse called “age verification”. If account recovery is a gateway to giving up our “face”, the other, much more widespread, is to protect minors. That excuse has served to promote facial recognition as a verification measure. In July 2025, Roblox He started asking for a selfie video. to teenagers ages 13 to 17 who would like to unlock unfiltered chat with their circle of “trusted friends.” The system, managed by the company Personestimate the age based on facial features, and if you are not sure ask for official identification. Discord and its troubled system. In February 2026, the company advertisement that its more than 200 million monthly users would have to verify their age with a facial scan or an official document. The announcement came a few months after uploading a hack which exposed some 70,000 user IDs, which generated a lot of skepticism and notable criticism to the initiative. Discord had to delay the rollout of the measure until the second half of 2026, and shortly after a user shared a way to cheat the system with a 3D avatar controlled with an Xbox or PlayStation controller. TikTok, in the spotlight. The platform combine the estimate with a behavior and activity system (videos watched, usage patterns) and another for verification by selfie or official document when the system suspects that a self-declared adult user is actually not one. From 2021 has several lawsuits like the one that recently occurred in Florida because according to the accusation, TikTok deliberately modified your age rating to bypass parental controls. The vetoes that, for example Australia imposed on minors to enter social networks have also driven these efforts, which TikTok rushed to implement. Risky intermediaries. On French porn sites like Xvideos, verification provider AgeGO (a Spanish company based in Barcelona) offers to verify age with a live selfie. An AI Forensics investigation discovered that this data was sent directly to Amazon Rekognition, AWS’s facial recognition service, along with the user’s IP and the information that they were accessing an adult website. It is a clear example how biometric data that theoretically serves to verify your age ends up being used to create user profiles that can violate your privacy. What changes with a leaked password. If your password is stolen, you can change it. But if your facial scan, generated from the selfie video with various angles, expressions or lighting, is filtered, you cannot change your face. That’s the fundamental difference between “something you know” and “something you are,” and it explains why regulators and privacy activists are very clear that biometric data represents a category of data with a very different sensitivity than any other personal data. Interesting and above all very disturbing. Each of these companies insists that the video selfies they allow users to take are used only for the proper purpose—recovering an account, verifying age—but the truth is that the option, while interesting, is disturbing. Although it presents a valid and even very attractive alternative to recover an account, the risks that this biometric identification imposes are enormous. The privacy scandals proposed by this type of system are already beginning to appear —Let them tell Meta and his smart glasses—. Added to all this the threat of deepfakes which the EU will try to mitigate with your AI Law. Image | Taan Huyn In Xataka | Instagram tried to generate images with AI from its users’ photos: now Meta has had to retract it

soldiers who return with a different face after a medical leave have been shot

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A few years ago, a survey carried out among young South Koreans revealed a fact very unusual in any other country: a significant portion of respondents believed that receiving cosmetic surgery as a graduation gift It was something completely normal. In fact, in cities like Seoul, clinic ads take up entire buildings and some neighborhoods. hundreds of centers accumulate specialized a few meters from each other. The hype has now reached the military. An unexpected problem. Yes, the South Korean military is discovering a problem that just a few years ago would have seemed absurd even there: more and more soldiers are returning from leave. with aesthetic operations recent events that directly affect the functioning of military units. The Korean Times said that there is everything from recently operated noses to swollen eyelids or faces still recovering that are forcing officers to exclude soldiers from training, night guards or physical tasks for medical and security reasons. What was once a relatively exceptional thing reserved for the last months of military service has become in a trend much broader among South Korean Generation Z. And the phenomenon reflects the extent to which the country’s aesthetic culture no longer affects only to civilian lifebut also to one of the most rigid and traditional institutions of the State: the army. The aesthetic pressure. Basically, something that we have counted before. South Korea has been one of the world epicenters for years of cosmetic surgery. Eyelid operations, rhinoplasties or facial retouching are part of an extremely competitive culture where physical appearance influences in social relationships, employment and status. What is new is that this logic has fully penetrated young soldiers on active duty. Many apparently take advantage of higher military pay and leave to save and submit to operations while they remain deployed. Some even prioritize surgery over any other personal expense. Gangnam District Clinics Offer specific discounts for the military and use social networks to attract young clients, while online forums are filled with questions from soldiers about recovery times compatible with military life. Clash between military discipline and culture. The problem for the commanders is not only medical, but organizational. When a soldier returns with swollen eyes after eyelid surgery or a rhinoplasty still healing, someone has to cover his guards, exercises or physical duties. South Korean officers they start to describe uncomfortable situations where they must reorganize entire training sessions to avoid risks or possible legal liabilities if a recent operation becomes complicated. Furthermore, some commanders are even receiving parent calls asking for special treatment for their children while they recover from cosmetic procedures. The scene reflects a very profound cultural clash: an army designed around collective discipline and sacrifice that begins to confront much more individualistic values. typical of Generation Z. Absence of clear rules. The Times remembered that one of the biggest problems is that the South Korean army practically has no specific regulation to manage this phenomenon. Military regulations cover medical discharges and injuries, but not situations where a soldier voluntarily decides to have surgery for cosmetic reasons in the middle of service. That leaves officers caught in a difficult position. If they allow certain exceptions, they generate discomfort among other soldiers forced to assume more workload. If they are not allowed and a medical complication occurs, they may face disciplinary or legal responsibilities. The result is an organizational void which is beginning to directly affect the operational preparation of some units. A transformation that worries the army. Beyond the specific surgeries, the case reveals a transformation much deeper within South Korea. If you will, the army is discovering that digital culture, social networks and aesthetic obsession of South Korean society are even changing the way young people live military service mandatory. For many recruits, improving their appearance is no longer something secondary that is left for after the army, but an immediate priority integrated within their own personal and social identity. And that is forcing the armed forces to adapt to a completely new reality: a generation that can accept military discipline, but at the same time still considers it perfectly normal to return from leave with a different face. Image | RawPixel, Unsplash, Republic of Korea Armed Forces In Xataka | Military submarines as “five-star hotels”: this is South Korea’s bid to enter the Western market In Xataka | In 1995, South Korea suffered one of the great architectural disasters of the century. The culprit: the air conditioning

Chinese manufacturers of OLED panels for mobile phones face an enemy they did not expect: memory shortages

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Chinese companies whose business is based to a greater or lesser extent on the manufacture of OLED panels for mobile phones They are suffering. BOE, Visionox, Tianma or TCL CSOT are some of the companies that the shortage of memory chips has placed in a very delicate position. In fact, the market for OLED matrices for smartphones is going through its worst quarter in years, according to DigiTimes Asia. Global shipments fell 12% year-on-year and 20% compared to the previous quarter during the first quarter of 2026, according to data managed by the consulting firm. UBI Research. A priori it might surprise us that the memory market is degrading the business of Chinese manufacturers of small format OLED panels, but if we dig beyond the surface it is easy to understand precisely what is happening. And what is happening is that Android mobile phone manufacturers are buying many fewer organic matrix screens from their Chinese suppliers because they need to offset the increase in memory prices by reducing the cost of the screen. This scenario mainly affects entry- and mid-range Android smartphones, which are the ones that mostly opted for moderately priced OLED matrices manufactured in China. High-end Android terminals and iPhones usually have OLED screens from Samsung Display or LG Display, although Apple also uses BOE for some models. South Korean manufacturers are taking this blow much better The origin of this problem lies in a decision made by SK Hynix, Samsung and Micron Technology, the three companies that control more than 95% of global DRAM productiona year ago. The rise of data centers for artificial intelligence (IA) has skyrocketed the demand for HBM memories (High Bandwidth Memory) that coexist with GPUs. For the three large memory manufacturers, HBM chips leave a greater margin than conventional DRAM memories, which is why they have focused on the production of the former and have largely sacrificed the latter. The most surprising thing is that this situation has triggered an asymmetric problem This strategy has caused the price of DRAM and NAND memories to increase sharply, but the most surprising thing is that this situation has triggered an asymmetric problem. As we have seen, sales of Chinese OLED panel manufacturers have fallen, but Samsung Display and LG Display are taking the hit very well. And they are doing it because their most important customers are Apple and Samsung Electronics. These two mobile phone manufacturers work with wide margins and have agreed long-term supply contracts with Samsung Display and LG Display, which gives them greater room for maneuver. At the moment they have not been forced to cut the cost of their screens. Be that as it may, market shares during the first quarter of 2026 speak for themselves, according to Korea Herald. Samsung Display led the global market for OLED panels for smartphones with a share of 44.4%, up from 42.8% in the same period in 2025. LG Display reached 9%, rising from 7.6%. Both gained quota despite the fact that its absolute shipments also fell. Among Chinese companies the picture was mixed: BOE maintained the largest Chinese share at 16.3%, and Visionox rose to 10.7% from 9.3%. Tianma fell to 9% from 12.1%, and lastly, TCL CSOT fell to 7.8% from 9.8%. Image | Xataka More information | DigiTimes Asia | Korea Herald In Xataka | The US remains committed to stopping China. Now it has targeted the second largest Chinese chip manufacturer

The complex of the wide face and the unusual solution that obsesses South Korea: elf ears

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Jung Da-yun was not satisfied with what the mirror returned to her. At 31 years old, this influencer South Korean woman felt she had an unusual defect: her ears were not big enough. According to a report from Wall Street JournalJung went to a clinic in Seoul, paid the equivalent of about $70 and underwent hyaluronic acid injections into his cartilage. The result was immediate: his ears leaned forward, rising above his face. Suddenly, his face looked slimmer, younger, and proportionate. “I was very happy with the results,” she confessed. This scene, which in the West could seem like the script of a satire, is a latent reality in East Asia. While in the United States or Europe, people with prominent ears go to the surgeon to hide them or glue them to their heads — a practice that in Korea is “creepy” in the eyes of some, as explained by the influencer Korean-American Krystal Lee—in Asia, the projection of the ears has become the Holy Grail of aesthetics. The magazine MEGA has baptized him such as “silent retouching”. “When I was in China, one of the dermatologists told me that this is one of the procedures he performs the most, and I couldn’t believe it,” dermatologist Jenny Liu tells the same medium. And the true art of this intervention lies in sculpting the face, hiding the trick in plain sight: behind the ear. Although they have coined it with the name “elf ears”, the goal is not to emulate the sharp and fantastic point of the elves of The Lord of the Rings. The clinical and informal term is closer to the concept of “fairy ear” (fairy ear), a procedure that seeks to alter the natural position of the pinna. According to Dr. Jung Gyu-sik in the studio Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery – Global Openthe technique consists of injecting between 1 and 2 milliliters of hyaluronic acid filler in the most lateral part of the helix and in the auriculocephalic sulcus. The goal is to increase the angle between the skull and the ear. It is fast, non-invasive, almost painless and its effects last between 6 and 12 months. Dr. Jung himself confesses in it Wall Street Journal having performed up to 20 of these injections in a single day. Where did this fever come from? The trend germinated in China about five years ago, where the hashtag “Aesthetic elf ear surgery” today exceeds 780 million views on the social network Weibo. However, the definitive outbreak occurred in South Korea when Mimi, a well-known singer of the K-pop group oh my girlconfessed to using special adhesive tape to simulate this effect. Overnight, searches for “ear filler” exploded 1,200% on BarbieTalka popular South Korean aesthetics platform. Those who don’t want needles turn to these adhesive tapes that cost just $3. The terror of “pancake face” To understand this fashion you have to look away from the ear and focus on the cheek. South Korean researcher and academic Leem So-yeon sums it up perfectly in Wall Street Journal: “It would be reductionist to frame it simply as an obsession with ears. Ultimately, it’s a procedure to make the face appear smaller. The ears are just the middle.” This is an optical illusion trick based on negative space. Dermatologist Danny Guo details in the magazine MEGA Asian patients often have naturally prominent cheekbones (zygomas). Since they do not want to increase the volume of their cheeks, injecting behind the ear creates a “lateral structure” that visually slims the contour of the face. All this is born from a deep cultural complex. In East Asia, wide faces and large heads are heavily penalized. While in China they make fun of what they call “tortia faces”, in South Korea a sharp “V” shaped jaw is idolized, details the WSJ. But it is not a mere narcissistic whim; It is a tool for work and social survival. As John P. DiMoia explainsa professor at Seoul National University, young people do not operate out of ego: “It’s about looking my best for my job interviews.” This pressure It is better understood under logic that, in South Korea, “presenting the best version of oneself is a sign of respect for others.” The “Bai Fu Mei” canon Science supports that although there are universal beauty traits such as facial symmetry, the perception of attractiveness varies dramatically by ethnicity. A study of the medical journal Clinics in Dermatology points out that traditional Asian beauty prefers wider faces but with lower vertical height, an inverted triangle shape and a reduced projection of eyebrows and chins. Hence the obsession with fine-tuning the structure at any cost. But the sociological background is even darker. As we detail in XatakaSouth Korea’s strict standards are a form of “cultural racism.” It is a system that excludes different bodies and skin tones under the protection of neo-Confucian traditions, where whiteness and delicacy symbolized social status (the Chinese concept bai fu mei: white, rich, beautiful). By going global through K-pop and K-dramas, the Korean aesthetic or K-Beauty industry has attempted to impose an exclusive standard on the rest of the world. In fact, Korean brands They had to apologize publicly or drastically expand their makeup palettes (such as the TIRTIR brand, which increased sales by 55,000% by offering 40 shades after complaints from black content creators) because, simply, the most innovative industry in the world did not make products for dark-skinned people. “Elf ears” are not born in a vacuum. They are the symptom of a hypertrophied body modification industry. Seoul hosts the “Belt of Beauty”a neighborhood smaller than Central Park but with more clinics than Los Angeles, Miami and Rio de Janeiro combined. As much of the Korean population has already widened their eyes, raised the bridge of their noses and sharpened their jaws, the industry desperately needs to invent new areas of growth. And foreigners are answering the call. According to data from the Ministry of Health cited by the specialized platform Seoulzin … Read more

Vivo X300 Ultra vs Xiaomi 17 Ultra, we put two of the best phones of 2026 in photography face to face

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If you value the photographic section of a mobile phone above the rest, this year we are seeing very good proposals. Therefore, now that we have a greater variety of phones, we are going to take the opportunity to put two of the most notable of this year face to face: the Xiaomi 17 Ultra and Vivo X300 Ultra. Vivo X300 Ultra (1 TB) – Photography kit The price could vary. We earn commission from these links The price could vary. We earn commission from these links The differences between the Vivo X300 Ultra and the Xiaomi 17 Ultra Camera configurations Before getting into the matter, it is advisable that we take into account which sensors come in each of the mobile phones. Furthermore, it may not be the biggest claim, but we will also mention the front sensor in each case. Vivo X300 Ultra 50 MP front camera, f/2.45. Rear camera module: 200 MP main sensor, f/1.85, OIS. 200 MP telephoto, f/2.67, OIS. 50 MP wide angle, f/2.0, FOV 123.4º, OIS. Xiaomi 17 Ultra 50 MP front camera, f/2.2. Rear camera module: 50 MP main sensor, f/1.7, OIS. 200 MP telephoto, f/2.4 – 3.0, 3.2x to 4.3x, OIS. 50 MP wide angle, f/2.2. main sensor Perhaps the most attractive thing about this section is the difference in megapixels in both main sensors. The Vivo X300 Ultra has 200 MP and the Xiaomi 17 Ultra with 50 MP. Is one better than the other? Well the truth is that no. To give you an idea, having more megapixels is relevant especially when we want to crop an image, since what we want is to be able to enlarge it without losing too much detail. But it is not the only thing we should focus on, because megapixels do not really equal image quality. The Xiaomi 17 Ultra has a one-inch sensor, being the largest on the current mobile market. This means it can capture much more light, offer truer colors and a much more natural blur effect. In this way, the Vivo It is also especially relevant to stop at the focal aperturebecause it is different in both cases. The Vivo mobile phone offers an f/1.85 aperture while the Xiaomi phone has an f/1.67 aperture. The lower the number, the more light enters through the lens, which makes for better photos in low-light conditions. Telephoto lens In the telephoto sensor there are many points to discuss. First of all, both brands are betting on 200 MP sensors, which, as we have already mentioned, serves above all to not lose so much detail when enlarging an image to crop it. In the focal aperture of this sensor we do find differences and some other peculiarities. The aperture of the Vivo is f/2.67 while that of the Xiaomi is f/2.4 – 3.0. And… what does this mean? The Xiaomi 17 Ultra can vary its focal aperture between f/2.4 and f/3.0, which allows it to adapt to different light conditions automatically. We must also point out something important and that is that the Xiaomi 17 Ultra allows you to vary between 75 and 100 mm through zoom, which allows you to change between 3.2x and 4.3x. This previously had an impact on the image quality, but the mobile processing works very well, so it is practically not so noticeable. In addition, we also have a 200 mm, which is a sensor cutout, which approaches optical quality. ultra wide angle camera In both cases we find two 50 MP ultra-wide-angle sensors, so they offer the same detail. What does vary is the focal aperture: the Vivo’s (f/2.0) is more open than the Xiaomi’s (f/2.2), so more light will enter and it can perform better in difficult conditions. The attractive thing about the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is that it offers a 115º field of viewwhich means you can capture more information in a single photo. However, our recommendation is that to take close-up photos, we move away a little and take them at 100 mm and crop the image. The result is much better. The accessories Both phones have their respective photographic kits; However, they are very different. Xiaomi is betting on an accessory that, in general terms, is a case with a battery and physical controls to take photographs. There are two with different prices, with the most expensive being the one with the most controls. On the other hand, the Vivo X300 Ultra comes with a much more attractive photographic kit, since in this comparison it is the only one that has a teleconverter. In this case, it is 400 millimeters and, although it works well for photographing at long distances, we loved the quality it offers in portraits. Prices Price is a key factor when choosing a mobile phone and here we are going to find a big difference. The Xiaomi 17 Ultra (512 GB) is on sale right now for a price of 1,249 euroswithout the photographic kit. On the other hand, the Vivo X300 Ultra (1 TB) can currently only be purchased with the photographic kit, so the price shoots up to 2,399 euros. To understand the price difference between both phonesthe Xiaomi is located by 1,249 euros without kit. If we wanted the photographic kit, we would have to pay additionally 280 euros for Photography Kit Pro or 116 euros for the Photography Kit. The first has more buttons and a larger battery to function as a powerbank. On the other hand, the Vivo X300 Ultra comes with the photography kit included in the price of 2,399 euros. That is, in addition to the mobile phone we find a Vivo ZEISS Gen 2 Ultra teleconverter with an equivalent focal length of 400 mm, a grip with an integrated battery to function as a powerbank and an adapter ring for a tripod. In summary: In any case, we are talking about two mobile phones with very powerful photographic sections. It is difficult to assess which is better and which … Read more

the true enemy has the face of a “friend”

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Tas the downing of the flight Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 In 2014, international investigators analyzed the remains of the missile involved and discovered that many of its parts came from production lines distributed in different countriessome originally designed for completely different uses. That analysis left an idea that is difficult to ignore, and in Ukraine hasn’t stopped to repeat again and again. A new missile, a “new” surprise. When Ukraine has been able analyze in detail one of the latest models of missiles used by Russia has happened to him like with dronesthe surprise has not come only because of its design or its capabilities, but because of what it had inside. The S-71Kone of Moscow’s most recent bets to sustain its offensive, has revealed an uncomfortable reality that is repeated on the front: beyond direct confrontation, part of the technology that makes it possible does not apply only from Russia. This realization introduces a different dimension to the conflict, one in which the origin of the components becomes a key clue to understanding how current weapons are being built. A weapon to mass produce. The S-71K is part of a new generation of air-to-ground missiles designed with a clear objective: reduce costs and facilitate volume production. Integrating existing elementslike a Cold War bomb adapted to a structure with discrete shapes to reduce its detection, the system combines relatively simple solutions with specific improvements in range and survivability. With a compact engine, a basic guide and an optimized design, it fits into a strategy that prioritize quantity available on the battlefield versus the extreme sophistication of previous models. The air intake of the S-71K engine Global and “friendly” technology. However, the most striking aspect is not in its architecture, but in its bowels. He ukrainian analysis indicates that the vast majority of its electronic components come from abroadincluding countries in Europe, especially Germany, but also in Asia and the United States. As we have been countingthis pattern is not isolated, but that repeats in other Russian systems, suggesting that, despite sanctions, Moscow continues accessing international technology through civil markets, intermediaries or indirect routes. The paradox is more than evident: in the middle of a war, part of the operation of these weapons depends on parts manufactured in countries that, in theory, seek to limit that same capacity. The real challenge. He findFurthermore, it focuses on the real difficulties of controlling the global flow of technology. Sanctions, although broad, do not always completely block access to critical components, especially when these They have civil uses and circulate in complex supply chains. For Ukraine and its allies, the problem is no longer just stopping Russian production at source, but identify and close those cracks that allow key pieces to continue arriving. In that sense, the battlefield extends far beyond the front, reaching factories, distributors and international markets. A war in supply chains. If you will also, the S-71K case illustrates how modern conflicts depend as much on global logistics as on direct military capability. As Russia seeks cheaper, more scalable solutions to keep up the pressure, Ukraine faces not only new weapons, but a system that continues to feed on distributed technology all over the world. The image that remains at the end is, to say the least, complex: the visible adversary launches the missile, but part of its effectiveness is built with pieces that travel much wider routes and are sometimes difficult to control. from “allied” territoriesturning the global economy into an indirect actor in the conflict. Image | GUR In Xataka | The war in Ukraine continues to make science fiction useless: we already have drones that kill like a hunter In Xataka | Russia has an unprecedented enemy in the Ukrainian war: Japan has just landed with a weapon to take down its shaheds

Alzheimer’s leaves its mark decades before showing its face:; keeping vitamin D at bay is already a promising shield

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Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia remain one of the most complex medical puzzles of our era, standing out above all for the absence of treatments that completely stop the disease or even reverse it. But science continues to advance and has now focused on a preventive factor that could be in our hands from a young age: vitamin D. It keeps moving forward. The main study that has sparked interest was published at the beginning of this month of April in the magazine Neurology. And the objective of this was none other than to shed light on how our brain behaves decades before the classic symptoms of dementia appear. To get here, a total of 793 participants from the renowned Framingham Heart Study with an average age of 39 years were monitored. From here, the serum vitamin D of the patients began to be measured between 2002 and 2005, and then, at the age of 16, they underwent different scans to check the state of the brain. What was seen. In conclusion, the study pointed out that maintaining higher levels of vitamin D, greater than 30 nanograms per mL, during the ages of 30 to 40 is associated with less subsequent accumulation of the tau protein in the brain. Because it matters. The relevance of this discovery is crucial and to understand it, you just have to know that Alzheimer’s occurs because two factors mainly come together: Beta-amyloid protein plaques, which accumulate outside neurons. Neurofibrillary tangles of tau protein, which form within the brain cells themselves and are closely linked to neuronal death and cognitive decline. In this way, the effort of science right now is focused above all on blocking the formation of beta-amyloid plaques around neurons or preventing the tau protein from accumulating in our neurons. Although it is something really complicated. There is a nuance. Interestingly, the study found no association between midlife vitamin D levels and beta-amyloid accumulation. The protective effect is limited exclusively to the tau protein, especially in the brain regions where Alzheimer’s usually strikes its first blows. This is good news, as it narrows down the biological mechanisms involved and suggests that vitamin D could play a specific role in the pathways that regulate how tau is produced or eliminated over the years. There is small print. As they warn in the press release itself, this is a simple observational study. This means that it is true that people with higher vitamin D in middle age accumulated less tau protein, but the study cannot categorically state that vitamin D destroys tau protein on its own. Furthermore, the authors of the study themselves are categorical: this finding is not a medical prescription. There is no current evidence to justify that massively supplementing with vitamin D pills at age 40 will protect the brain against dementia. This simply paves the way for future research to truly test this relationship in a clinical trial and lead to new treatments. Images | catalyststuff freepik In Xataka | More than half of the population in Spain has a vitamin D deficiency. Now a study questions the benefits of supplementation

The new Siri will not be Gemini with another face. Apple has helped Google to build what it could not do alone

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The new Siri, according to rumors, was going to land with iOS 26.4. This version arrived on compatible iPhones yesterday and, to no one’s surprise, there is no trace of Gurman’s prediction. What we have woken up with is new details about the agreement between Google and Apple related to access to Gemini. And there are interesting details. The agreement. Quick context: Apple and Google have teamed up to give Apple access to Gemini. The company has been promising for years that Siri, integrated into Apple Intelligence, will be an assistant that lives up to expectations. But after delays and more delays, it became clear that Apple needed help. The multi-year collaboration allowed Apple Foundation Models to rely on Gemini models, running on the platform Private Cloud Computing from Apple. Beyond this, no details about the agreement were revealed. The new. According to The Informationthe collaboration between Apple and Google will be somewhat deeper than expected. So much so that Apple would have full access to the Gemini model within its facilities. One of the company’s main purposes would be to produce smaller models designed to run locally and oriented to specific tasks within Apple devices. Distillation. Apple would not have agreed with Google to access Gemini with an integrated Siri interface. The objective is to use the main model to “distill” more efficient models, with lower requirements and fast operation. In other words and based on this information, Apple has made clear Google’s superiority in its AI models. So much so that he has needed to access them directly to be able to create the solutions that he has been promising for two years. What’s coming. According to Gurman, Apple is finalizing the changes to Siri to present it on June 8 at its WWDC, the developer conference it holds annually. In it, we will supposedly see Siri as a chatbot integrated into iPhone and Mac, as a real alternative to ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini. Late, very late. Apple’s problem is not being late with AI. It is coming at a time when giants like Claude iterate practically daily and when it is more than difficult to surprise the world. All the promises of Apple Intelligence, that contextual Siri, and that deep integration with the phone are already achieved by some of its rivals, since Apple has been waiting for two years. The big question is whether or not it will be worth the wait. In Xataka | Apple confirms the date of WWDC26 and hints at something important: AI will not be the only focus

It is pure resilience in the face of a broken world.

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If you were born between the early 80s and mid-90s, it is very likely that you have already crossed the barrier of 30 years (or even 40) and still have a controller on your living room table. Traditionally, society has stigmatized this habit in adulthood, calling it “Peter Pan syndrome”, immaturity or inability to assume real-life responsibilities because ‘playing games at 30 is not normal’. However, science and sociology They have a radically different perspective.: It’s not immaturity, it’s pure resilience. A frustration. These stigmas that are on the table, the truth is that they are very established (especially among the elderly), thinking that video games are only for the youngest, but the reality is that a video game is a creative work such as a book, a series or a movie. But the stigma that continuing to play at 30 or 40 is an ‘immature’ attitude is still on the table, and psychology has said something very different. Its origin. To understand why millennials cling to interactive entertainment, you must first understand their economic reality. The prestigious Harvard University economist, Raj Chetty, document in 2017 a devastating phenomenon: the plummet of absolute social mobility. And while those born in 1940 had between a 90 and 91% chance of surpassing their parents’ income, for those born in 1980 this success rate plummeted to a mere 50%. And we are facing a generation that was promised that higher education and constant effort would guarantee its economic prosperity, but the reality has been marked by a financial crisisjob insecurity and a real estate market that generated a deep feeling of deception. The well-being. In a living environment where control is minimal, video games offer fair systems, clear rules and rewards proportional to the effort made. This was evidenced in a macro investigation published in March 2025 where it is categorically denied that playing is “unhealthy escapism.” After analyzing over 140,000 hours of data of Nintendo players, the OII concluded that gaming time does not correlate negatively with mental health. What really matters is the “quality” of the game, since players who report positive motivations, such as the autonomy to make their own decisions or the feeling of feeling that they are improving, see their general well-being increase. More well-being. This is a thesis that has been consolidated for a long time, since in 2021 another study analyzed 39,000 Animal Crossing or Plants vs Zombies players, concluding that playing more hours was correlated with better emotional well-being. Many advantages of playing. Video games not only relieve stress, they shape our ability to deal with adversity. According to a 2018 survey50% of millennials surveyed said they played games daily to relax and relieve stress. But even more revealing is the 47% of participants who said that the success they had achieved in video games increased their confidence in solving problems in real life. There are better genres. A 2022 study showed that multiplayer games improve our social connection, while RPGs are strongly linked to improvements in autonomy and competence, especially in women. And surprisingly, even the survival horror have been shown to have cathartic benefits. In this way, dedicating an hour a day to playing is related to adult profiles that are more sociable, optimistic and, above all, more emotionally resilient than those who do not play at all. Your conclusion. In this way, the set of several articles with a high reputation behind them suggests that adults who dedicate their free time to exploring large maps, managing virtual farms or completing raids with their friends are not running away from their responsibilities due to immaturity. They are using tools to regain their mental health or satisfy their psychological needs like someone watching a series on Netflix when they get home from work. And no one tells these last people that they are immature. In Xataka | If the question is “how does Nintendo make money” the answer is not video games: it is a much more ambitious emporium

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