helping

urine is helping solve the fertilizer crisis

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I never imagined that one day I would find myself in the position of calculating how much human urine Spain produces each year, but here we are: adding permanent residents and international tourists, the country produces 23,948 million liters of urine per year. 23,000 million that we are literally flushing down the toilet and that, in short, could help us solve the enormous problem that is approaching us with the fertilizer crisis. Use urine as fertilizer? It’s not a new idea. In fact, it has been around for more than fifteen years and there are already commercial fertilizers on the market (the Swiss Aurin, for example) and others that are under development (one in Spain by the ICTA-UAB). In places as diverse as the United States, France or the International Space Station, the use of urine is the order of the day. For years the Rich Earth Institute Vermont (USA) has a program dedicated to examining the safety and efficiency of using urine for this purpose. As they themselves explained on the BBCthe idea of ​​recycling urine responds to two basic reasons: the first is “the fertilizers it produces, which are valuable for agriculture”, the second is “the pollution it avoids”. Resolved. As if that were not enough, as our DAP colleagues explainthe University of Surrey has just solved one of the key processing problems: clouding of membranes in the concentration process. And then? If we have been working for 15 years, why do we still depend on the Gulf? Because the barrier is not scientific, the barrier is infrastructure and regulation. Let’s think about it for a moment: yes, Spain produces almost 24,000 million liters of urine, but how the hell are we going to collect it? We would need an entire circuit of toilets with urine separation, a channeling, collection and processing system on a national scale. Plus, if we had all that, there would still be a ton of regulatory issues and associated risks (like pharmaceutical waste). The thing is moving. That is true: the rising price of Gulf urea makes all these alternatives more attractive. And it does it automatically. In that sense, the 473 liters of urine produced by each adult can be a small ‘gold mine’. The issue, as I say, is that it is not simple: studies indicate that in the sewer urine is diluted up to 100 timesso it must be separated at source and collected with separate circuit toilets (something that, well, right now is anecdotal in urban environments). But it starts somewhere. Because, as said Siddharth Gadkari, lead author of the study published in the Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, human urine hides a kind of paradox: “although it contains the essential nutrients we need for agriculture, we currently treat it as waste.” With a little luck, these connection tests will move legislation and in a few years we will begin to see how that begins to change. Image | Philippe Murray Pietsch In Xataka | Going to the bathroom is a waste: urine is the real liquid gold and is full of valuable things

helping to bring down the US

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Currently, a military satellite It can detect movements of vehicles or facilities with a resolution of just a few centimeters, and that information can reach an operator thousands of kilometers away in a matter of minutes. In current conflicts, that information advantage has become one of the most decisive factorseven above brute force. An absence that is not such. At first glance and during the first stages of the war in the eastRussia seemed to be outside the conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran, limiting itself to diplomatic condemnations and avoiding direct involvement that could escalate the war. However, this apparent passivity has proven misleading, because Moscow has never been a formal military ally of Tehran and its strategy is not to intervene openly, but rather to maximize benefits (geopolitical, economic and strategic) while avoiding direct risks, in a balance where the visible distance hides a much more active involvement. in the shadow. The invisible support. I told a few hours ago exclusively the wall street journal that, far from sending troops or deploying forces, Russia is providing one of the most decisive assets in modern warfare: information and technologyincluding in the equation satellite imagestarget positioning data and drone improvements that allow Iran to fine-tune its attacks against US and allied systems in the region. This type of support, similar to what the West has provided to Ukraine, has improved the precision and effectiveness of Iranian attacks, especially against radars and command centersdemonstrating that the advantage on the battlefield no longer depends only on direct fire, but on who sees better and earlier. And round trip. The truth is that the relationship between both countries has evolved towards a two-way exchange where Iran initially provided the Shahed drones that have transformed the war in Ukraine, while Russia has returned the favor by perfecting those technologies and returning them improved. The result is something of a tactical convergence in which Iranian attack patterns begin to look more and more like those used through Moscow in Europeconsolidating along the way a kind of “closed circuit” of military innovation outside the Western ecosystem. Keep the war alive. They remembered in the Journal that, for the Kremlin, the conflict offers advantages clear enough: diverts US attention and resources away from Ukraine, raises the energy prices that sustain its economy, and weakens the West’s ability to sustain multiple fronts simultaneously. Not only that. At the same time, prolonging the war without bringing about the fall of the Iranian regime allows Russia maintain a key partner within his vision of a multipolar order, one where Tehran acts as an important player against Western influence. Balance calculated against Washington. This support, however, is deliberately kept in a contained levelenough to help Iran, but without crossing lines that provoke a direct confrontation with the United States. In other words, Moscow calibrates its involvement to erode and wear down the American position, but it does so without exposing itself excessively, in a strategy that combines plausible deniability, indirect pressure and selective transfer of capabilities. The war that is not on the maps. If you also want, the complete photo reflects a scenario where the russian position reveals a new form of participation in war conflicts: one where not being physically at the front does not imply being outside of the war, far from it. Thus, through data, technology and experience Tactically, Moscow aims to help shape the battlefield from a distance, demonstrating that in today’s conflicts decisive influence can be exerted without the need to deploy soldiers, but through what allows others to fight more effectively. Image | vantor, IDF Spokesperson’s Unit In Xataka | The war with Iran is leading the US to a plan B that no one imagined: avoiding the nuclear objective at all costs In Xataka | The US nuclear supercarrier has a problem: its marines are sleeping on the ground in the middle of the war with Iran

Helping children with up to 200,000 euros to buy an apartment does not count as a donation

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The housing crisis is one of the main problems for young people (and not so young) in Spain. In this context, family support in the purchase of a home is a key element: many young people need the help of their parents or relatives to be able to assume the entrance of a house. The main obstacle to this family aid is that the Treasury consider it as a donation and, therefore, is subject to tax obligations. A measure of the Government of Extremadura that has entered into force in 2026 seeks to eliminate this obstacle and allows parents or direct relatives of young people can donate to them up to a maximum of 200,000 euros without having to pay the Inheritance and Donation Tax. However, this exemption is not a blank check. There are strict rules that must be followed to avoid a tax scare. Donation for first home. The Government of Extremadura has updated its regulations on the Inheritance and Donation Tax (ISD) to allow a 100% reduction in this tax for the first 200,000 euros donated to descendants, provided that this donation is intended for the purchase of your first habitual residence in Extremadura. He article 21 of the new tax regulations establishes an exempt limit of 200,000 euros that covers cash donations as help for the purchase of housing, but also extends to direct transmission of homes or plots of land to build it (in this case it is limited to 120,000 euros). In this way, the exempt amount of 180,000 euros that was already contemplated by the previous regulations is increased and new requirements are added. It is not a blank check. To benefit from this exemption, the recipient must be under 36 years of age when the donation is formalized and tax base in personal income tax It cannot exceed 28,000 euros individually or 45,000 euros jointly. This focuses help on young people with medium or low incomes who do not have the necessary capital to make a down payment or build their own home. This exemption does not apply if the recipient already has assets greater than the first tranche of the state ISD scale, set at more than 402,678.11 euros. Furthermore, the donation must be registered in a public deed before a notary, specifying that it is intended for the first home and habitual residence, the purchase of which must occur within a maximum period of six months. On the other hand, the beneficiary must be listed as the owner of the home for a minimum of five subsequent years, except for death or justified causes such as job transfer. Other conditions to take into account are that that first home and habitual residence must be in Extremadura, which has a double usefulness since it not only contributes to eliminating fiscal barriers to facilitate this donation, but also seeks the reduce depopulation of the territory. Practical cases. Suppose that parents donate 190,000 euros to their 32-year-old daughter in Cáceres to buy her first apartment in February 2026. The beneficiary meets the age, income and personal income tax requirements, formalizes the donation before a notary and signs the purchase of her home on time. This family must complete the Inheritance and Donation Tax settlement process, but the payment will be zero euros as it is 100% subsidized. However, the daughter must live in and be the owner (even if it is shared ownership) of the apartment she has purchased for at least five years. If you sell it after a year due to an unjustified move, you will lose the tax credit and must regularize the donation with a surcharge. In Xataka | The Great Wealth Transfer: the movement from boomers to millennials that will transfer millions between generations Image | Unsplash (Christian Dubovan)

There are dozens of influencers obsessed with helping us choose the perfect can of tuna. The problem is that what they say doesn’t make much sense.

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There is a fine line that connects volcanic eruptions, oil combustion, and waste incineration with our kitchens: mercury. A mercury that is produced in dozens of activities (mostly human), which ends up deposited in the waters, transformed into methylmercury by millions of microorganisms, stored in fish and, finally, in our stomach. It was only a matter of time before it became the huge food scandal it is today. Methylmercury also reaches social networks. The problem is so big that there is no shortage of experts and influencers that defend messages such as choosing cans of “tuna” over cans of “light tuna.” The music is that of institutions such as the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) that recommends avoiding large fish; The lyrics hide many problems. At the end of the day, the viral message mixes correct intuitions, with more than debatable scientific evidence (it uses, to begin with, commercial classifications that do not have direct Spanish correspondence). This is not the first time that an idea that sounds good ends up giving us headaches. And why is that a problem? Because, like it or not, fish is a centerpiece of many diets. Not only for its protein contribution, but as a priority source of certain fats that are very difficult to replace by any other means (e.g. omega-3). The thing is, with all that, comes methylmercury. And exposure to methylmercury is a tricky thing: it can harm brain development and be toxic to the nervous system. In fact, it can cause symptoms such as tremors, memory loss, and cognitive dysfunctions. The most vulnerable groups are pregnant women, nursing mothers, babies and young children. Do all fish have the same amount of mercury? No, it doesn’t. According to the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutritionthere are four really dangerous species: the swordfish or emperor, the bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus), the shark (dogfish, mako shark, dogfish, dogfish and blue shark) and pike. These are problematic in women who are pregnant or planning to be pregnant, nursing mothers and children under 10 years of age. In fact, AESAN recommends directly avoid its consumption. The rest of the species are not problematic for the effects of mercury: they are safe and healthy. And the AESAN recommends between three and four servings a week even in the at-risk population. And aren’t there more differences according to levels? That is, are there only dangerous and non-dangerous species? No no. It is true that each species contains a different amount of mercury. In fact, each copy has different levels. That’s where the problem comes from: we need simple ‘rules’ to help us deal with uncertainty. On a practical level, according to the available studies, we can only define species with low mercury content as those on this list: Pollock, Anchovy, Herring, Cod, Bacaladilla, Cockle, Mackerel, Squid, Shrimp, Crab, Cane, Coquina, Carp, Squid, Clam, Choco/Cuttlefish, Lobster, Coquina, Sea bream, Sprat, Prawn, Horse mackerel, Lobster, Prawn, European sole, Dab, Sea bass, Mussel, Merlan, Hake, Razor clam, Oyster, Pomfret, Flounder, Squid, Octopus, Shrimp, Atlantic salmon, Pacific salmon, Sardine, Sardinella, Sardinopa, Plaice, and Trout. Everything else has medium levels and making distinctions between them is impossible on a practical level. So it doesn’t make sense to follow these types of recommendations? In general, any attention we pay to food is good. The system is configured in such a way that, if we let ourselves goour diet gets worse. However, we know that Obsessing over diet is also full of problems.. Using heuristics that complicate the purchase without substantial improvements is not as good an idea as it seems. Image | Tobias Tullius In Xataka | The scientific reason why miracle diets don’t work is you

and that is helping us understand DNA

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Can a person end consuming cannabis in your life according to your DNA? This is the question asked by a research team from UC San Diego and the genetics company 23andMeand the response has been incredible: they have found a direct connection between our genome and cannabis consumption. The study. After analyzing the genetic data of 130,000 people, have managed to identify two specific genes like CADM2 and the GRM3which are not only linked to the probability of trying the substance, but also to the frequency of its consumption. But the most important revelation is how these genes correlate with more than 100 mental and physical health traits, including schizophrenia, impulsivity, diabetes and chronic pain. The ultimate goal: to finally find a way to prevent and treat cannabis use disorder by ‘attacking’ the DNA itself. Genetics of addiction. Cannabis is one of the most used substances in the world, but its long-term effects and the biological mechanisms that lead to cannabis use disorder remain largely unknown to science. The lead author of the study points out in this case that “although the majority of people who try cannabis do not develop a cannabis use disorder, some studies estimate that almost 30% will.” And in order to make a more correct estimate, the most powerful genetic tool available today was used: a genome-wide association study GWAS. The method. Using genetic data and surveys from 131,895 participants from the company 23andMe, the researchers looked for patterns. These were based on the premise that there are different genetic factors that influence people whether or not a person will try drugs, how often they will use them, and the risk of becoming addicted. But now they wanted to specifically identify the molecular systems that were connecting cannabis use to brain function and behavior. Two genes. The analysis identified two genes significantly associated with lifetime cannabis use. The first of them is CADM2, which includes how neurons connect and communicate in the brain. Previous research already pointed to a relationship between this gene and impulsivity, obesity and cancer metastasis. This new study confirms that it is also linked to both prove cannabis ever like frequency with which it is consumed. The second gene affected is GRM3, which influences neuronal communication and brain adaptation. Its involvement is notable, as it has previously been connected to serious psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Beyond cannabis. This is where the study becomes more complex. The researchers did not stop at those two genes, since a secondary analysis revealed another 40 genes associated with the use of this drug. But the most revealing thing was when they cross-referenced these genetic findings with two huge independent health databases (from the program All of Us from the NIH and the Vanderbilt Biobank). In this case, it was discovered that the genetic predisposition to cannabis consumption was correlated with more than 100 different traits such as: Psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia. Cognitive traits such as having low executive function. Have diabetes or chronic pain. Greater likelihood of using tobacco. Increased risk of having infectious diseases such as HIV. Treatment? This study is one of the first to genetically analyze behaviors previous to the development of a cannabis use disorder. In this way, before an addiction to this type of substance occurs, a genetic prediction can be made of how having specific genetics will directly affect the consumption of addictive substances. Currently, there are no FDA-approved drug therapies to treat cannabis use disorder. Although with these discoveries it is expected in the future to have treatments that can inhibit or attenuate this type of genes that reduce the behaviors that may arise from having this genetic predisposition. Images | Rick Proctor In Xataka | We believed that there was no drug more addictive and destructive than fentanyl. Until the nitazenos returned

The EU spent more in Russian oil and gas that in helping Ukraine

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They are fulfilled three years since Russia began its invasion In Ukraine. During this time, The economic impact is still deep In both countries. Although general attention has been logically focused on human suffering, these days economic figures have been disclosed that reveal the magnitude of the damage: Ukraine records An annual inflation of 12%, while in Russia it reaches 9.5%. Numbers that show the persistence of economic deterioration on both sides. And next to this, another fact: Europe has invested more in Russia than in Ukraine. The “dependence” to Russia. A recent Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA): The European Union has allocated More money to the purchase of Russian fossil fuels than to direct financial support granted to Ukraine During the third year of the conflict caused by the Russian invasion. According to the analysis presented on the occasion of the third anniversary of the war, the EU spent approximately 21.9 billion euros in Russian oil and gas Only in the last year of conflict, significantly higher than The 18.7 billion euros delivered to Ukraine In financial aid for 2024, according to data from the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IFW Kiel). The data has many readings, but the main one is paradoxical, since the situation highlights a deep contradiction between the European verbal support to Ukraine and the concrete economic actions that indirectly benefit the Vladimir Putin regime, providing essential income to sustain its military campaign. Historical figures and comparisons. The numbers are even more striking when the total expenditure on Russian fossil fuels by Europe is observed throughout the last year (2024), which exceeded 39% the financial aid assigned to Ukraine. In addition, the report emphasizes that Russia has obtained global income equivalent to 242,000 million euros only for energy exports During the third full year of the conflict, bringing their total profits from the beginning of the invasion to figures near the billion euros. In other words, European agency is especially critical when considering that Russia receives up to half of its fiscal income directly from the energy sector. The economist Christoph Trebesch of the IFW Kiel, although he did not participate directly in the analysis, The surprising gap remarked between the help mobilized for Ukraine and the economic support granted in previous historical conflicts. For example, Germany was considerably more generous during Kuwait’s liberation (1990-1991) compared to the provisions of Ukraine so far, measured proportionally in terms of national GDP. Consequences of energy dependence. The data leads to the same conclusion: the report underlines how this unit follows indirectly promoting war in Ukraine by economically sustaining the Russian government. Vaibhav Raghunandan, co -author of the study, explicitly declared that buying Russian fossil fuels It is practically equivalent to finance the Kremlinfacilitating the continuity of his military aggression. In addition, the Russia’s ability to overcome sanctions economic imposed by the West through its so -called “shadow fleet”of which We have spoken before (A fleet of old ships) allows the country to maintain approximately one third of its income from fossil fuel exports. The European response: sanctions and challenges. It is the last of the legs to be treated: what does Europe do? In reaction to these realities, European ambassadors recently approved new measures in its 16th round of sanctions against Russiadirected specifically against that “shadow fleet.” The report also warns that, strengthening existing sanctions and closing some legal gaps, The EU could reduce Russian income up to 20% from these fuels. In particular, he recommends close the so -called “refinement lagoon” (Through which Europe can acquire Russian oil processed in third countries), as well as even more restricting the Russian gas flow Through the Turkstream gas pipeline. In addition, the report indicates another emerging problem in European energy trade: The growing dependence on Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG). Although The EU has considerably reduced imports Russian gas channeled since the beginning of the conflict, partially compensated this decrease through greater imports of Russian LNG, which reached record figures in 2022, placing Russia as The second most important exporter From this type of gas to Europe. The war three years later. I counted in A report the Guardian On the economy of both countries since the beginning of the conflict that, in a Moscow key, traditional economic indicators seem to favor Russia. Although initially the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) fell -1.3%, has shown a solid recovery in the last two years, growing at 3.6% annual according to data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Instead, the Ukrainian economy suffered a dramatic collapse of 36% in mid -2022, closing that year with a 28.3% drop. Although Ukraine has managed to partially recover with growth rates of 5.3% in 2023 and 3% in 2024, its national income still remains 20% below the levels prior to invasion. Resiliation and perspectives. Despite adversities, Ukraine resilience has been remarkable. Christopher Dent, professor of international economy, argues that Ukraine has better long -term perspectives of what Russian propaganda affirms. A concrete example is the recovery of the Ukrainian electricity sector, which after The attack on the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station in 2023 (which caused losses of at least 2 billion dollars), has significantly increased its electrical exports to Moldova, Hungary and Romania, integrating more closely into the European energy network. Maritime trade through the Black Sea and the Danube continues to work, and agriculture also shows clear signs of recovery. The future potential of Ukraine also lies in its wide mineral resources, including metal deposits valued at about 11 billion dollars. On the other hand, tax collection has improved substantially, with significant increases in corporate taxes and consumptionalso supported by international IMF and Western agencies. Bad? On the other sidewalk and despite these advances, the Ukrainian economy faces huge structural challenges. The most important: the labor market remains negatively affected, with An unemployment rate of 16.8%aggravated by mass migration abroad and mandatory military recruitment. The adaptibility of Russia. For its part, Moscow, Despite international isolationhas demonstrated a … Read more

Intel has a bullet in the bedroom. A bullet capable of helping you compete from you with TSMC

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The possibility of Intel ending chopped and its semiconductor factories become part of TSMC production infrastructure It is on the table. As we explained two days ago, this producer of Taiwanese integrated circuits and the American chip designer Broadcom are interested in getting two fundamental parts of Intel. TSMC is preparing an offer that would allow you to control Intel integrated circuit manufacturing plants with the purpose of developing your manufacturing infrastructure Beyond Taiwan’s borders. On the other hand, Broadcom is also preparing an offer to get the integrated circuit design and marketing divisions of Intel. In any case, if the TSMC initiative will finally prosper will stumble The opposition of the government led by Donald Trump. Currently it is unlikely that the administration approves the purchase of such an important division of an American company by a foreign company. Discordant voices are being raised within Intel Ben Sell, Vice President of Intel Technology Development, confirmed At the end of last September that the 18A node already has the maturity necessary to enter large -scale production in 2025. and also assured that it will benefit from the resources that have been reallocated since the 20A node. In the current scenario the 18A node will be the true protagonist. In fact, and this is really important, Intel has confirmed which will receive a maximum of 3,000 million dollars within the framework of the ‘Chips and Science Act’ program to manufacture semiconductors for the US government in a reliable way. The 18A node is the best opportunity that Intel has to resume the course and improve its competitiveness The name of this plan, “Safe Enclave”, reflects one of the requirements required by the Administration: Chips must occur in the strictest confidentiality. And, as we can intuit, these integrated circuits will be manufactured in the 18A node. Definitely this integration technology is the best opportunity that Intel has for resume course and improve your competitiveness. In fact, voices are being raised within the company itself that demand a little patience to give this node the opportunity to place Intel on the path of recovery. This statement by Joseph Bonetti, main manager of Intel engineering programs, expresses this vision very well: “Intel leaders, Board of Directors of Intel and Donald Trump’s administration, please do not sell or give the control of Intel Foundry to TSMC just when Intel is taking the technological front and starting to take off. It would be a terrible and demoralizing error” . Bonetti also maintains that Intel is not lagging for its competitors, and that the advances that their engineers are achieving in the field of chips production are very important. At the current situation there is no doubt that the 18A integration technology is the best Intel asset to recover health, but it is important that we do not overlook that its technicians have been calibrating more than a year and adjusting their first lithography equipment of extreme ultraviolet (UVE) and haute opening manufactured by ASML. Intel has them in its Hillsboro plant (USA). The first tests with this machine presumably carried out them at the end of 2024, and in 2025 the preliminary tests that pursue to manufacture circuits integrated in the 14A node will begin. It sounds exciting. We will follow the track to this machine very closely to keep you aware of all progress. Image | Intel More information | Tom’s hardware In Xataka | Bill Gates has radiographed Intel. And his diagnosis is overwhelmingly accurate

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