glass

A New Jersey neighbor kept the remains of a meteorite in glass jars. This gesture has given us new clues about the origin of life on Earth

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On July 19, 2026, a meteorite shook New York City: Ferrán Torres’ goal in the 106th minute, against the Argentina team. Well, okay, it wasn’t a meteorite, although for many, the emotional shock wave was comparable to the physical shock wave left in its wake by the meteorite that did shake the city of the Statue of Liberty two years earlier, on July 16, 2024. That asteroid fragment broke up 35 kilometers away, releasing a multitude of debris that fell unseen in various parts of the state of New Jersey. One of them, weighing almost 1 kg, went through the roof of a house in the town of Hillsborough. Two years later, an international team of scientists has published the analysis of the composition of the New York meteorite. It is a very rare type of meteorite, known as a CM ½ carbonaceous chondrite and is characterized, among other things, because it can provide a window into the history of the origin of life on Earth. A very rare type of meteorite. The meteorite is a carbonaceous chondrite. That is, a fragment of a primitive objectrich in carbon, which can be associated with different organic molecules. Generally, these meteorites are classified according to their degree of aqueous alteration. The lower the number, the more water has altered its structure in the original object from which it came. The carbonaceous chondrites that have fallen most abundantly on Earth in the form of meteorites are those of type CM 2. 20 have been documented. Of type CM 1, none are known. However, there is an iconocidal range such as CM ½, which is in the middle and had been previously found, in a meteorite that fell in 2020 in Indonesia. The Hillsborough meteorite, therefore, has been the second, but also the best preserved, thanks to the quick intervention of the owner of the house in which it fell. A hole in the roof and the smell of sulfur. The Hillsborough meteorite is actually one of many fragments left after a larger rock broke apart 35 kilometers up. He fell with such force that he managed to break through the ceiling, landing in the main bedroom of the house. Its owner stated that, upon entering his room, he saw a hole in the ceiling and he smelled a strong smell of sulfur. He then found his bed and carpet covered in debris and black dust. He decided to put on some gloves and store all the debris in glass jars with aluminum foil. Thanks to their quick and scrupulous action, the scientists were able to analyze the meteorite as intact as possible. Following the path of the Hillsborough meteorite. Before falling in Hillsborough, the meteorite crossed the skies of New York and other cities in the United States. 60 observersspread across the states of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Pennsylvania, reported seeing them to the American Meteor Society. Additionally, 16 others in New York and New Jersey said they felt the shock wave. Taking into account all these testimonies, plus the detections from astronomical observatories, it was possible to follow its trajectory to the lower asteroid belt. Ingredients for life. We have already seen that this was a CM ½ emteorite. However, a more detailed analysis of the meteorite allowed us to find some fragments of CM1 rich in salts inside. This indicates that it was formed in some area of ​​the surface of the parent asteroid where liquid water evaporated and salts were concentrated. It is known that the high concentration of salt in saline fluids can create molecules crucial for life on Earth. In fact, many studies suggest that, in the past, CM carbonaceous chondrites delivered to Earth some of the ingredients that gave rise to life. That’s why the Hillsborough meteorite is so interesting. At the moment, it has been seen to have 1.8% by weight of carbon and 0.07% of nitrogen, in addition to carbon and nitrogen isotopes typical of CM type meteorites. A more detailed analysis of the latter will help understand the extent to which these objects helped life proliferate on our planet. The owner of the house was not aware when he saw that hole in the roof that it not only had a huge leak. I was also looking at a window to the past. Image| SETI In Xataka | The ship that collected the Bennu samples is now flying towards Apophis, the asteroid that will pass just 38,000 km from Earth

“A glass is not reusable because it is thicker”

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If you usually go to concerts and festivals, it will have happened to you. more than once. If you want to order a drink at the bar, in addition to the soft drink, beer or big cup you have to pay for a special glass, one supposedly “reusable”although in practice most people never use it again. It remains as a memory of the festival. And that is in the best of cases. Many others end up in green bins or thrown on the floor, just like single-use plastic cups. There are those who believe that It’s time to change that. What has happened? That the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (Miteco) has just received a small slap on the wrist from the more than 130 social, environmental, neighborhood and consumer organizations that are part of the Zero Waste Alliance and the #LeydeResiduosYA platform. In a statement issued a few days ago by Greenpeace (one of its members), both groups complain about the “legal loophole” that exists around supposedly “reusable” glasses at festivals and concerts and ask the department headed by Sara Aagesen to improve its regulation. What is the problem? That often the packaging distribute sold at festivals with the label ‘sustainable’ are anything but. Hence Zero Waste and #LeydeResiduosYa talk about “false ‘reusable’ glasses.” In theory the RD 1055/2022 points out that from July 1, 2023, the promoters of any “festive, cultural or sporting event” (whether or not it has public sponsorship) must “implement alternatives to the sale and distribution of beverages in single-use containers and glasses”, in addition to guaranteeing access to unpackaged water. That’s the theory, of course. Greenpeace and the rest of the organizations that have addressed Miteco they denounce that, “in practice, the reusable cup has become a mere product of merchandising that is charged to attendees, but that lacks a real collection and circulation system. Is it a problem? Of course, this is what Julio Barea, head of Greenpeace’s waste area, considers, who regrets the “legal vacuum” and that a concept as seemingly simple as ‘sustainable packaging’ has been degraded. “A cup is not reusable because it is made of thicker plastic or because it has a sustainable message printed on it. It is only reusable if it is systematically returned, washed and recirculated,” warns the expert “Without a real return circuit, we are faced with just another single-use waste, disguised as green.” The most curious thing, as environmental organizations highlight, is that there is already legislation (Law 7/2022 and RD 1055/2022) on the topic. The problem is, in your opinion“the lack of operational development and inspections”, which has caused the spirit of the laws to be “evaded”. “Large festivals and events cannot continue to wash their image at the expense of the consumer’s pocket. Charging one euro for a glass without offering the real option to return it is climate fraud.” Is it just theory? No. There are practical cases that help to better understand the problem. In November 2025 Facua revealed that the Seville City Council’s Consumer Service planned to fine a concert promoter 20,000 euros precisely for not allowing users to return glasses that were supposedly “reusable” and charged at 1.5 euros. “People who wanted to drink the cold drink were forced to purchase the official glass of the concert for an added amount of 1.5 euros. In the case of beers, there was no alternative to buying these glasses, since the only option was on tap,” details Facuawhich denounces that, despite RD 1055/2022, the supposedly reusable glasses were not allowed to be returned. Why are they denouncing him now? That the Zero Waste Alliance and #YAWasteLaw have raised his voice right now it’s no coincidence. And not only because we have just entered summer, the quintessential time of festivals and open-air concerts. The organizations want the ministry to take advantage of the opportunity provided by the upcoming reform of the Royal Packaging Decree to “implement effective collection, washing and traceability systems.” “The imminent adaptation of the state legal framework to the new European Regulation 2025/40 on packaging, applicable from August, represents the ideal opportunity to correct this anomaly,” underlines Zero Waste and #LeydeResiduosYa, which ask that the new regulatory framework address several points: define what a “reusable cup” is and oblige organizers to enable visible return points and be clear when providing information. Furthermore, they require concert promoters to report how many containers they have used, how many they have recovered and what their actual reuse cycles are like. They also claim that their way of acting influences issues such as authorizations, sponsorships or public subsidies. Images | Noland Live (Pexels), Jess Low (Pexels) and Lukas Eggers (Unsplash) Via | DAP In Xataka | A week of air conditioning is 70 liters of “dirty” water wasted: this way we can recycle it for other things

2,000 years ago the Romans sold perfumes in glass doves that could only be opened by breaking their necks.

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Despite their great efforts, the cities of the Roman Empire they didn’t smell good and well, it makes sense: they lived in conditions of high fecal contamination and also they used feces as medicine. Of course, to Caesar what belongs to Caesar: they had bottles to store their ointments and oils that, like the best current perfumes, promised a lot. Without going any further, the two bottles you see above these lines date from the 1st century AD, are from the Roman Empire and belong to the MET collection. Because from then on they knew that the (good) smell, coming from anointing oneself after bathing in hot springs, from incense from temples or from burials, was something more: it could be a language of status, identity and power. So for those smells they needed a container at their height that would turn the task of perfuming themselves into almost a ritual. For example, a dove. Dove-shaped jars. The ointments of the Romans were, in a nutshell, something like today’s ampoules: small ceramic or glass containers where they stored oils, commercial products or substances for funeral practices. blown glass arrive In the 1st century BC and 200 years later, the Romans were true virtuosos of glass manufacturing both in quality and quantity: according to the Penn Museummanufactured up to 100 million containers a year. These curious zoomorphic specimens in the shape of a bird and the size of which fit in the palm of the hand became so popular that they constitute a subcategory in themselves within their unguentary and it is common to find it in deposits. The method of use was practically identical to a vial: you have to break that small neck to access the contents inside. In this case, literally breaking the bird’s neck. In addition to its aesthetic value, they met their goal when storing valuable ointments: it protected the contents from excessive exposure to oxygen and helped to dose the amount poured. Why is it important. Converting ointment bottles into something more sophisticated in the shape of a bird constitutes one of the first and most striking cases of packaging and user experience (imagine that unboxing of an influencer of the time). Have a glass jar and also with this type of shapes It was a status indicator.as witnessed by the art of that period, where we see men and women perfumed after a visit to the hot springs. On the other hand and leaving aside the shape, these jars are the vestiges of the imperial commercial network: spices from India, resins from Arabia and locally grown flowers were used to make perfumes and ointments. If they also go to the laboratory, they constitute a valuable source of chemical data on Roman civilization and its customs. Without going any further, a laboratory analysis allowed identify a primal patchouli in an exhibition in Carmona (Seville). Context. Among these zoomorphic glasses the dove was the star: archaeological evidence suggests that the dove was one of the first birds domesticated by humans, so people learned its habits and characteristics and used it for messaging. On the spiritual level, they introduced it into their religious rituals and mythology. Thus, the dove was the sacred animal of Venus and she was often represented in statues with a dove perched on her hand or on her head. However, this relationship is much older: already in the Bronze Age, in Sumerian Mesopotamia, consists the association between doves and the mother goddess. Storing perfume in a container in the shape of your sacred animal is a fully conscious and coherent act. Yes, but. Many of these readings of the dove-shaped glass jars are hypotheses based on what we know about the Romans, but we don’t know for sure: these perfumes could well be for everyday use or for funeral rituals. Likewise, they were not exclusive objects of the wealthiest classes: the simplest ointments were within the reach of the popular classes and their shapes were refined over time. In short, the dove could have different meanings depending on who had it and what for. In Xataka | The fall of the Roman Empire has obsessed us for centuries: some economists believe they have the answer in 400,000 coins In Xataka | Almost 2,000 years ago a Celtiberian soldier visited the most remote frontier of the Roman Empire. Then he returned to Soria with a souvenir Cover | MET

The duel over the new glass air fryers is decided on size and power

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Until recently, air fryers were dark, noisy drawers that were simply used to reheat chips frozen. Today, smart cooking requires versatility, speed and, above all, the ability to adapt. In this field, Ninja It has become a fetish brand for technological cooking enthusiasts. Ninja CRISPi Portable Air Fryer, 3.8 l, 4 in 1 The price could vary. We earn commission from these links XL Ninja CRISPi PRO Glass Air Fryer, 7 Functions – Blue (2 Containers) The price could vary. We earn commission from these links With the launch of its latest range, the firm has put on the table two heavyweights that share DNA but aim for different profiles: the Ninja Crispi Pro and the standard Ninja Crispi. At first glance, both promise to retire your traditional oven and reduce oil use by 75%. However, when we fully enter into your specificationswe see that the battle is decided in the technical details and what you are willing to pay. We put two of the best air fryers of the moment to discover which is the smart purchase. Technical data sheet for both Ninja air fryers feature Ninja Crispi (Standard) Ninja Crispi Pro power 1,700W 2,050W larger container capacity 3.8 liters 5.7 liters (XL size) small container capacity 1.4 liters 2.3 liters cooking modes 4 (Air Fry, Roast, Reheat, Dehydrate) 7 (Add: Bake, Grill and Ferment) temperature range Up to 185°C Up to 240°C price from 123 euros 249.99 euros Design and capacity: from individual format to family feast Both models share the same revolutionary idea that is changing kitchens: the CleanCrisp. Instead of the typical plastic and Teflon basket that gets scratched just by looking at it, Ninja opts for borosilicate glass containers in which you can prepare ingredients, cook them with the hot air head, serve them directly on the table (since they have a very aesthetic design) and put an airtight lid on them to store them in the refrigerator. However, size does matter here. The standard Crispi model includes a 3.8 liter main bowl and a 1.4 liter secondary bowl. It’s a very portable and compact formatideal for singles, couples or to take the airfryer even to a second home. On the other hand, the Crispi Pro makes the leap to family format. Its XL container reaches 5.7 liters of capacity, enough space to roast a whole chicken with vegetables for up to six people, and its small bowl goes up to 2.3 liters to make generous side dishes. Power and temperature: the Pro breaks the 185ºC barrier This is where the Pro version gains muscle and where the price difference is justified as well. The standard Ninja Crispi is somewhat limited in power (1,700 W) and has a thermal limit of 185ºC. This makes it a perfect ally for reheating leftovers and leaving them crispy (thanks to the function Recrisp) or make everyday dishes, but it may fall short or take longer if you are looking for extreme browning on thick meats. For its part, the Crispi Pro goes up to 2,050 W and set the thermostat to 240ºC. That extra heat allows the airflow to seal the food much faster. Additionally, the Pro expands the menu from four to seven functions, adding key modes for cooking lovers such as Bake (bake), Gratinate (Grill) and Ferment masses, something impossible to do in the base model. So…Which model to choose Seeing the differences between both models of Ninja Crispi air fryers, you may be wondering which one to choose. If you don’t know which one to choose, this is what we advise you: Buy the standard Ninja Crispi if: You are looking for an ultra-portable system, you cook small portions for one or two, and your main objective is to use it for side dishes, quick dinners or reheat food giving it a crunchy touch without using the microwave. Ninja CRISPi Portable Air Fryer, 3.8 l, 4 in 1 The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Buy the Ninja Crispi Pro if: You want to completely replace your home oven, you need the capacity to feed a family (5.7 liters) and you don’t want to give up baking recipes, powerful gratins at 240ºC or homemade dough thanks to its advanced functions. XL Ninja CRISPi PRO Glass Air Fryer, 7 Functions – Blue (2 Containers) The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Some of the links in this article are affiliated and may provide a benefit to Xataka. In case of non-availability, offers may vary. Images | Ninja In Xataka | Two years ago I bought my first air fryer. I wish someone had told me I needed these plugins too. In Xataka | Cosori vs Cecotec air fryer: differences and which one to buy

Skyscrapers are full of glass, so some Spanish researchers have had an idea: let them serve as "solar panels"

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Every 60 minutes, the Sun bathes the Earth with enough energy to cover the world’s consumption for an entire year. The data, remembered by the Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM)it’s overwhelming. But there is a problem: harnessing all that energy in our cities hits a literal wall. Classic solar roofs are becoming too small for us in increasingly dense cities, and hanging rigid and heavy panels on the facades of buildings is not a realistic option. To avoid this aesthetic and space blockage, the laboratories have found a pioneering solution: using new two-dimensional materials. These are microscopic layers that will allow the windows of any skyscraper to be converted into totally invisible solar panels. With Spanish seal. The Silicon and New Concepts for Solar Cells (SyNC) research group of the Solar Energy Institute (IES) of the Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM) has managed to manufacture micro-prototypes of ultra-thin and highly efficient solar cells. The secret of this technology lies in the so-called two-dimensional photovoltaic materials. Imagine a sheet so thin that it is only a few atoms thick; For all practical purposes, it is so thin that physics considers it to lack a third dimension. Science knows this family of compounds with a complex name, transition metaldicalkogenides (TMDC), among which molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) and tungsten diselenide (WSe2) stand out. Their great rarity—and their greatest virtue—is that, despite being an almost invisible layer, they have an extraordinary capacity to absorb sunlight. In Xataka Solar panels have an invisible and very brief moment in which they do not work. And solving it is key to your future The actual scope. To understand this technology, researchers published a study in the scientific journal Nano Energy. In it, they simulated what would happen if the façade of a real skyscraper, the Torre Picasso in Madrid, were covered with semi-transparent windows made with these materials. The results estimate that between 16% and 23% of the building’s daily electricity consumption could be covered. If this technology is also combined with areas of opaque modules, the generation could exceed 30% of the energy needs of the skyscraper. Natural light, real colors and savings on the bill Historically, the big “but” of solar windows has been the poor visual quality. Alternative technologies, such as organic or perovskite cells, often act as a filter that colors the light entering the room in unnatural reddish, yellow or brown tones. As explained by UPM researchersthe structure of TMDC materials solves this root problem: they allow a very balanced absorption of visible light, which eliminates the problem of unwanted “coloring” of light. The result is lighting with a natural and warm tone, achieving a Color Rendering Index (CRI) greater than 90, a very high quality metric for work spaces. In addition to generating electricity, in very sunny places like Spain, these glasses naturally block excessive glare. This means that the skyscraper not only produces its own energy, but also saves a lot of money by not having to turn on the air conditioning as much. From the microscopic laboratory to the factory. Creating these ultra-thin solar cells is a work of very high precision. To manufacture the prototypes in the laboratory, the UPM team has used a technique called hot-pick-up. Using this method, they use a small transparent bubble to select, collect and deposit fragments of the materials, creating tailored stacks that combine the best properties of each one. But the goal is not to stay in the laboratory. IES-UPM researchers are already working with new techniques to scale this process and cover large areas, such as entire windows. According to the scientists themselves“through spraying and deposition techniques of these solutions, manufacturing processes could be scaled, reducing costs and allowing the industrialization of this disruptive technology.” The ace in the hole: catch the lost heat. The potential of these two-dimensional materials goes far beyond solar windows. Another investigation from the same team, published in the scientific journal ACS Applied Energy Materials, demonstrates that by modifying molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) with an element called niobium, the material acquires impressive thermoelectric properties. More simply, this means that in the future, these materials could not only capture sunlight, but could also have applications in thermal sensors or in the recovery of energy from the heat wasted by machines or buildings themselves. {“videoId”:”x81qnhf”,”autoplay”:false,”title”:”Is it possible to generate energy at zero cost?”, “tag”:”Energy”, “duration”:”109″} The new skin of the city. The lightness, flexibility and low manufacturing cost of these solar cells makes them one of the most promising options to achieve the desired “green cities”. Two-dimensional photovoltaic technology shows us that the ecological transition in dense urban environments no longer depends only on finding space on roofs to place large rigid panels. The real paradigm shift consists of transforming the very “skin” of buildings – their windows, their walls, their facades – into active sources of clean energy, ensuring that any surface can be an ally against climate change. Image | Photo by Arthur Mazi on Unsplash  Xataka | Plastic solar panels have always been more of a dream than reality: China has just changed that (function() { window._JS_MODULES = window._JS_MODULES || {}; var headElement = document.getElementsByTagName(‘head’)(0); if (_JS_MODULES.instagram) { var instagramScript = document.createElement(‘script’); instagramScript.src=”https://platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js”; instagramScript.async = true; instagramScript.defer = true; headElement.appendChild(instagramScript); – The news Skyscrapers are full of glass, so some Spanish researchers have had an idea: let them serve as “solar panels” was originally published in Xataka by Alba Otero .

How to safely defrost your car windshield glass

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Let’s explain to you how to defrost your car windows quickly and safelywithout risking them breaking or having any damage. Because on these extremely cold days we may have to go out in the car and encounter this inconvenience. When this happens, we can be left not knowing very well what to do, especially when we are in a hurry. This can lead to dangerous mistakes such as using hot water or adding salt, which can damage the windshield. Therefore, we are going to try to give you several tips that are safe. Use the car heater This is perhaps one of the slowest methods, but it is the safest. Simply put the car in gear, activates the air conditioning heatingand put your car’s defogging mode so that the air flow goes to the glass. This will progressively soften the ice, something that It will make it easier for you to remove it with a cloth or scraper.. It may take several minutes, but it prevents the most damage to the glass. Use plastic scrapers There are plastic scrapers designed specifically for carsand to avoid damaging the windshield glass. These will help you remove the surface layer of ice with firm and smooth movements. You should avoid any type of sharp or metal scraper to avoid scratching the windshield. If the smell is very thick, you can combine the plastic scraper with the car heater from the previous point and with the defrosting liquid. Use deicing liquid It is also useful use commercial deicing liquids specifically prepared to melt ice. They are fast and efficient, and are formulated not to damage the glass or paint of your vehicle. This is the best solution, although in order to use it you must have remembered to buy this liquid and carry it in the car. If so, you just have to spray it on the windshield and wait a few seconds for it to work, and then scrape it off. Be careful with warm water When the car glass is frozen, the great contrast in temperatures resulting from pouring hot water can cause the windshield to break instantly due to thermal shock. But if you use warm water with caution, then it can serve. What you have to do is avoid making the water too hot, just lukewarm. Then, pour it slowly and evenly to melt the ice little by little. Always with care. In Xataka Basics | How to see the warnings for extreme cold and snow anywhere in Spain

Apple admits under his breath that Liquid Glass transparencies do not allow notifications to be seen: iOS 26.1 will solve it

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It has already been a month since Apple released the final version of iOS 26. The last major update promised “the biggest redesign in years” and debuted the Liquid Glass interface with that obsession with transparencies that we already saw that It didn’t do many favors for the readability of the icons and notifications. It wasn’t just our thing. The next iOS update will bring a new option to minimize the problem. The problem of transparencies We can argue if it looks good or not, but what cannot be denied is that the texts do not read well, or at least they read worse than before. It happens with the icons and, above all, with the notifications. For example, an image of the first beta of iOS 26: With dark backgrounds the problem is not so serious, but it is still less readable than if the background of the notifications were opaque. In its day we already told you a trick to return to having a more opaque designbut now the solution comes from Apple. The solution arrives with iOS 26.1 They tell it in 9to5Macwhere they have downloaded iOS 26.1 beta 4, which will be the next major system update. In it, there is a new option to adjust the interface design to make it more opaque. It is found in the Screen and Brightness menu and allows us Choose between a transparent or opaque look. Click on the image to go to the post in X. In the images you can see the difference between both options and how the entire appearance changes. According to Apple: “Choose your preferred look for Liquid Glass. Clear is more transparent and lets you see the content underneath. Tinting increases opacity and adds more contrast.” They don’t say there is a readability problem directly, but the simple fact that they release this option is a way to recognize the criticisms. Having more customization options is always good news. Yes indeed, Apple could have given us the option to choose the intensity between the two options. By applying one of the two, it will affect the entire system and also the apps that have implemented Liquid Glass. At the moment there is no confirmed release date for iOS 26.1, but taking into account that there are already four beta versions, it is expected to arrive very soon. According to 9to5Mac, that could be at the end of this week. In Xataka | iOS 26: 19 functions and some tricks to get the most out of the new operating system for your iPhone

I have tried iOS 26 for the first time and I have removed the transparent icons in minutes, but Liquid Glass is much more than that

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The day has come, iOS 26 It is already available and last night I left my cell phone updating while I slept. I did not installed the public beta, so when I woke up I have encountered A totally changed mobile. With the illusion of who opens new shoes, I have begun to navigate All news And these are my first impressions. Liquid Glass is more than icons (and less bad) Design is the great novelty of iOS 26. This is the most important change since iOS 7 in 2013, there is nothing. Apple has redesigned the entire interface, menus and native apps with the new design language to which Liquid Glass have baptized. My feeling in these first hours is that I had a wrong idea. Let’s see why. Icons by omission, dark, translucent and tired. The most striking thing is that we can now change the icons and, in addition to putting them with a light or dark background, it allows us to make them completely transparent. Transparent icons completely change the interface and is the first thing I have tried. I think it took three minutes to return to the “by omission” mode. Beyond tastes, transparent icons make everything be applauded and cost a lot to differentiate some apps from others. A design that costs us to read, is not a good design. If I had left them, I would have ended up getting used to where each app is, but it seems to me an unnecessary effort for something that I also do not find it especially groundbreaking. More than iOS, they remind me of any Personalized android theme. They called her Liquid Glass because “I can’t find my apps” it didn’t look good. The icons are optional, but transparencies affect the entire interface. My partner Ricardo was in charge of trying the beta when she was announced and had to suffer a much less polished interface. The contrast problem has been minimized And now notifications and other elements are more legible. Of course, if you choose a clear wallpaper, readability worsens. I recommend betting on a rather dark background. The Glow is subtle, but left over in normal icons What is still there is the effect Glow Around buttons and icons. With transparent icons it is necessary for us to see the edges well, but in normal icons with a clear background It gives the feeling that the edge is not well defined. Again, it is perceived more if we use clear wallpapers, even becoming annoying, as if there were a glare effect. Another striking novelty of the new design is the lock screen, especially the New elongated watch. This has seemed more interesting to me and I have left it configured. In addition, the depth effect is very achieved and is especially good if you use a portrait or a photo of your pet as a wallpaper. I had come countless times the starting screens with transparent icons and, without realizing it, I had formed the idea of ​​the interface was going to be illegiblebut beyond the icons, I think the design language is consistent and there are very interesting changes in some apps. Camera app and photos System applications have also been redesigned for the new visual language of Liquid Glass and I want to stop especially in the camera app and the APP photos. The camera app has changed a lot The first thing you think when opening the app is what has happened to the portrait or slow camera mode. Apple has reduced the options that are seen on screen to video and photo, which now look larger. Only when you slide on them the others appear. I don’t think it’s an especially intuitive solution, But it is not a drama either. The camera options has also changed and now a floating window with quite large round icons is deployed. Design is coarse, although a priori it seems quite a lot more comfortable than the previous one. However, I find it inconsistent that these buttons are so large and instead the direct access to the flash or the night mode (up to the right) are tiny. In fact, trying to open the emerging menu I have activated the flash unintentionally. The good news is that we can also open it sliding from the bottom. The APP photos makes more sense in iOS 26. On the other hand, the photos apptho has received a redesign that I loved and that It finally makes sense. I had become accustomed to using it in iOS 18, but it has been to install iOS 26 and realize that The previous version was a real disaster. With iOS 26 we have two eyelashes again, one with all the photos in chronological order and another with the collections, that is, albums, memories, prominent photos, etc. The interesting thing about this second tab is that it is customizable. If we go down to ‘reorder’ we can choose what we want to be shown above. If you let us eliminate some of these options, it would be ten, but at least we can leave them folded so that there is not so much noise. Most accessible menus Settings, notes and app store with the search at the bottom. Another novelty of the new interface is that the Search Bar in the system apps and menus is at the bottom. Here is a lot more comfortable access to it With one hand, especially if you have an iPhone of the biggest. Another change that I liked of the APP adjustments is that now Apps settings are grouped into a block. We no longer have that endless list on the main screen, but is nested in its own section. I think it makes much more sense. The new safari design can be customized. Safari is one of the apps that has been completely redesigned and also bets on the search bar and controls at the bottom, with a Very compact … Read more

China seeks that each glass facade produces clean energy

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In recent decades, electric self -consumption has grown unstoppable in many countries. First were the roofs covered with photovoltaic panelsThen they arrived The solar balconies. Now, innovation points even higher: converting each glass window into a clean and transparent energy generator. A team of Chinese researchers has just presented a technology that could transform the glazed facades of buildings into invisible solar centrals. A panel that is not a solar panel. The research of the University of Nanjing, Posted in Photonix magazinepresents a transparent, colorless and unidirectional solar concentrator (CUSC). The device is applied directly to the standard glass of a window and allows you to capture sunlight without altering its appearance. How does it work? A simple explanation of the process would be that the window looks the same as always, but the special coating causes part of the sunlight to “slide” to the edges of the glass. There, small solar cells transform that light into electricity. In summary: the window is still transparent, but behaves like a hidden solar panel. From a more technical point. The secret is in some layers of colestric liquid crystals (CLC), which redirect sunlight selectively. The glass maintains a visible transparency of 64.2% and a chromatic reproduction index of 91.3, very similar to that of a normal window. The tests are promising: a prototype of just an inch moved a 10 MW fan under the sun. And the simulations show that a two -meter window could concentrate the light 50 times and reduce by 75% the amount of solar cells necessary, As explained in the investigation. Self -consumption reinvents itself. The rise of these innovations fits the global bipv tendency (Building Integrated Photovoltaics), the integration of photovoltaic into architectural elements. As we have detailed Xatakathere are already solar railings such as the solar system, developed by the Canadian Miterx, which turns balconies into electric generators. Europe will also force all new construction buildings to be zero emissions from 2030. This accelerates the search for solutions that not only produce energy, but also respect urban aesthetics and take advantage of each possible surface. China steps on the accelerator. It is no accident that this innovation arises in China. The country has become the largest World Laboratory of Solar Energy, with a deployment at an unprecedented pace. As we have indicated Xatakaonly in the first quarter of 2025 installed 36 GW of solar energy on roofs, more than Europe in several years. In total, there were 60 GW in just three months, figures that show the magnitude of its bet. With this context, the transparent solar window is not only a laboratory experiment, but one more piece in a national large -scale electrification and decarbonization strategy. While Europe progresses with bureaucratic procedures, China seems determined to cover roofs, balconies and now also facades with technologies that generate clean electricity. Forecasts The Nanjing equipment already works to improve broadband efficiency, optimize polarization control and apply this technology beyond skyscrapers: agricultural greenhouses and transparent solar screens are two of the fields in which its use is raised. “The design of the CUSC is a step forward in the integration of solar technology in the environment built without sacrificing aesthetics,” He has underlined Eurekalert Professor Wei Hucorresponding author of the study. A future of generating facades. The cities of the future could be covered with glass that not only lets the light pass, but also feeds with it. From solar balconies to photovoltaic railings, self -consumption is evolving towards complete integration in urban architecture. The window that does not seem solar panel, but it is, is emerging as one of the most promising innovations to meet the climate challenge: each facade as an invisible solar plant. Image | Freepik and Center for Liquid Crystal and Photony/ Nanjing University Xataka | One of the most arid areas in China is reverde. The reason: a plant with seven million solar panels

We have been listening for years that “a glass of wine a day is good for health.” Science is clear that

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Many times we have heard that “a glass of wine a day is good for our health.” We have also heard that “the Recommended alcohol amount It is zero”Who is right in this debate? The debates about the benefits and prejudices of a food are not exclusive to fermented drinks such as wine or beer. The relationship between eggs and cholesterol is a classic example but we can also find apparent contradictions regarding the consumption of coffeehe rice or the potatoes. Human health has many dimensions and our nutrition is very varied (even the poorest diets involve the consumption of a wide range of compounds present in the ingredients of the product or in their additions). Studying in detail The effect of each product is difficult precisely for this reason. That is why science often advances slowly, with the succession of seemingly contradictory studies that are actually simply refining the aim. However, the accumulation of these experiments is granting us a better idea of what happens in our body when we consume alcohol, even when this consumption is restricted to “a glass or two” wine. To better understand the debate, we can start asking us, what is good for wine? The idea that wine can be beneficial to our health is mainly based on polyphenolsnon -nutritious substances but with antioxidant capacity. These compounds present in grapes of which the wine is fermented, they can be beneficial to our health. The problem here is that There are non -alcoholic alternatives where these compounds are also present, such as must or grape itself. In part due to these compounds, it is usually attributed to wine Potential benefits About our cardiovascular health. Experts believe that this improvement could be due to the fact that these compounds favor the reduction of blood pressure and reduce cholesterol. Still there is some discrepancy in this regard among the different studies. A drink with risks Cancer is One of the main risks that are associated with excessive alcohol consumption. AND There are several types of cancer which have been associated with this consumption: in addition to the liver, alcohol consumption has been linked to oral cavity cancer, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, colorectal and, in the case of women, with breast cancer. “The response to whether the relationship between alcohol consumption and cancer risk is clearly established is that there is sufficient evidence,” said Marina Pollán, director of the National Epidemiology Center, in statements collected by Science Media Center (SMC) Spain. The risk, of course, “is proportional to the amount of alcohol ingested, being lower for moderate consumption.” But beyond cancer, excessive alcohol consumption has been conventionally linked to the appearance of the Hepatic cirrhosis (which can also lead to cancer). This disease It arises with the formation of “scars” in our liver, and can also be caused by hepatitis. While we link moderate consumption of wine to an improvement in heart health, alcohol consumption can have an opposite effect. This has also been related to the appearance of alcoholic myocardiopathy, arrhythmias and other heart problems. It should not forget the relationship between alcohol consumption and mental health problems such as addiction itself, being able to exacerbate existing problems. Various studies made in recent decades They have pointed out Alcohol as psychoactive substance More harmful In social terms. One of the most outlined studies in this field was carried out in the United Kingdom and Posted in 2010. Posted in The Lancetits results indicated that this was not so much to the damage it generated in the individual (in this sense it was overcome by heroin, the crackand methamphetamine), but for its social cost. However, these risks are generally manifested after consumptions that we consider “excessive”, in contrast to “moderate” consumption that is often promoted. The problem is that, beyond social conventions or recommendations perhaps without excessive scientific foundation, we do not know if there is such a thing as moderate consumption. According to the Monograph Alcohol 2021. Consumption and consequencesof the Spanish Observatory of Drugs and Addictions, this border does not exist, or in the words of the text itself: “There is no level of risk consumption free of risk.” That is why the health authorities speak not of “moderate” consumption but “low risk” consumption. The risk is never zerobut it is possible to keep it low. And how much is considered “low”? According to the report limits of low alcohol risk consumption, this would be two standard drink units (UBE) in men and one in the case of women. These “standard” measures are equivalent to 10 g of alcohol or, in terms of wine, approximately a 100 ml glass. It is not the same to ensure that moderate alcohol consumption is compatible with a healthy life than to say that this moderate consumption is beneficial to health. Nor is it the same to say that wine can generate a specific benefit in our well -being with ensuring that this possible benefit can be greater than the risks involved in this or other alcoholic beverages. As we pointed out at the beginning, alcoholic beverages (like any other food) contain a myriad of compounds, some harmful, other beneficial for their operation. The general consensus is that the damages of compounds such as alcohol are superior to the benefits that others such as polyphenols can provide. In short, a glass of wine a day can hardly kill us, but We must be aware of the risks They are associated with her. As always, a balanced diet and an active life can always help us reduce our risk of suffering certain diseases, perhaps even helping us to compensate for these small excesses that we can incur. In Xataka | The forbidden dish of Italy: a cheese so extreme in its preparation that the European Union had to put limits In Xataka | The industry has determined to coin the “healthy ultraprocesses.” Science is clear about what is behind Image | Helena Lopes *An earlier version of this article was published … Read more

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