increasing

If the question is whether AI data centers end up increasing temperatures in a region, the answer is: 2.2ºC

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A group of researchers from Arizona State University have published a study striking. They wanted to estimate the impact of AI data centers on the average temperatures of the region in which they are installed. Their conclusion is disturbing, because this increase can be up to 2.2 ºC. The massive use of AI raises another problem. There is already a clear debate about the water and energy consumption of AI data centers, but this study has focused on an equally important problem: thermal pollution. It’s hot. The researchers focused on the Phoenix metropolitan area, the hottest in the entire US. There, their analyzes indicated that data centers expel air from their cooling systems at temperatures that are between 14 and 25 degrees Fahrenheit above ambient temperature, creating thermals that can affect nearby neighborhoods. The air says it all. This is the first known research to use high-precision vehicle-mounted sensors to compare air temperature before and after passing through the facility. The data was clear: Downwind areas of a data center had average temperatures 1.6ºF higher, with peaks of 4ºF (2.2ºC) compared to the reference areas. Heat island effect. The impact of this increase in temperature is also notable in terms of the distance affected: these increases were detected even 500 meters away from the source, which is equivalent to about five “blocks” of homes in the city of Phoenix. Vicious circle. The very design of data centers causes this problem to feed into itself. A single data center can generate as much waste heat as a small city of 40,000 homes, and the vicious cycle is clear: The data center blows very hot air to cool its servers The air warms the surrounding neighborhood Neighbors use their air conditioners more Air conditioners expel even more waste heat Location is the key. David Sailor, who led the study, indicated that what they seek with their conclusions is not to prohibit data centers, but to rethink their integration with urban centers. To avoid or mitigate problems, solutions are proposed such as reorienting air outlets or creating parks that cushion these increases in temperature. The key, these researchers say, is urban planning: these facilities must be treated as sources of industrial thermal emissions, because that is what they are. Prevent before cure. The projected computing capacity for data centers to be built in the US will double in 2030, which according to this study makes it necessary to take action. The challenge, they say, is to apply these solutions before the waste heat generated by data centers becomes a public health problem. Spain may also have that problem. Projects that affect our country should also take this circumstance into account. In recent months we have seen how the Autonomous Community of Aragón has focused part of the protagonism of agreements with large technology companies, and both Amazon and Microsoft have data centers planned in the metropolitan area of ​​the city of Zaragoza. The towns of Villamayor de Gállego and Villanueva de Gállego are less than 20 km from Zaragoza, and both already have data centers planned. These initiatives promise to boost the region’s economy, but they also bring doubts. Not everyone is in favor of such centers, of course, and there are even judicial processes trying to stop its construction. Image | David Vives and AWS In Xataka | The great paradox of Madrid: the region with the largest energy deficit in Spain is losing the data centers

On its way to increasing military production, Spain already has two new candidates: Seat and Ford

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Europe rearms. The war in Ukraine and the constant pressure from the United States Government for European countries to increase their defense spending has driven a rearmament that crosses Europe and has raised blisters among the nations that invest the least in defense. One of them is Spain. But Spain, like many other European countries, is already looking for spaces to increase its weapons production. And he has an idea: car factories. What has happened? Spain is already considering using car factories to promote its military modernization programs. That’s what it says Expansiona medium that points to internal Defense sources as the voices that advance the conversations that the Government would have had with companies such as Ford and Seat. According to this medium, the conversations are part of the implementation of “the budgets and sizing of the new military modernization programs (PEM) that are going to be launched.” The objective is to define the budget to be used and where it could go, with the intention of presenting them around summer and assigning them at the end of the year. Seat and Ford? That Seat and Ford are the first to be mentioned makes a lot of sense. With its conversion towards the electric carMartorell planned to reduce staff and resize its facilities. In 2022 they estimated a surplus of almost 2,000 direct jobs and with a commitment to new technology, the El Prat plant focused on gearboxes is one of the most notable. For its part, Ford seems to be looking for a new future to its Almussafes plant or, at least, part of it. The company has significantly reduced its production and, although it has confirmed the assembly of a new modeleverything indicates that Ford does not fully trust the plant. In fact, the latest rumors suggested that The Chinese company Geely wanted to take over part of the facilities. With a view to Defense. Although there is now open talk of converting part of the plants of these two companies into spaces to produce military material, the truth is that this idea has been floating around Seat for a few weeks. Last March it already emerged that Seat negotiated with Indra to manufacture light military vehicles. The agreement, they assured in Five Dayswould have the approval of the Government, which already stated last year that the reconversion of the automobile industrial sector could involve, at least in part, supporting Defense. It also coincides with the increase in Indra’s investments in the military field. Not only in Spain. Reconditioning automobile facilities to produce war material is not an idea that was born in Spain, far from it. In Germany, there have been negotiations that one of the Volkswagen plants begins to manufacture tanks. Last year there was also talk of Renault’s turnaround, pioneer in tank productionto manufacture drones bound for Ukraine. And not just vehicles. Last March there was already talk of the possibility that Volkswagen will start producing parts for missiles at its Osnabrück plant, according to Financial Times. The intention is that trucks would leave their facilities to transport them but also basic equipment such as shuttles or electrical generators to activate them. A key moment. If governments are looking with eager eyes at European automobile plants, it is because they know that the industry is not going through its best moment. The conversion to electric cars points to massive layoffsespecially because they lack a good part of the mechanical components that are present in any combustion car. Furthermore, its simplification points to shorter assembly times, a greater presence of robots and less human capital. These massive layoffs could be saved, at least in part, with the reconversion of these plants. It must be taken into account that manufacturing in Europe is more expensive than doing so in Asia or countries with preferential trade agreements with Europe such as Morocco either Türkiye. This is moving part of European production to these countries. Especially the smaller ones that are more complicated to make profitable. Spain is of the countries that are suffering the least from the blow because, at the level of salaries and energy costs, we are more competitive than plants from Germany or France. However, both Volkswagen with Seat and Ford, Stellantis either mercedes They have dropped that they are willing to reduce their workforce and production in our country. Photo | Caesar and seat In Xataka | Ford invested 1 billion to produce electric cars in Europe. Now it will invest money in laying off 1,000 employees

They have found a bacteria capable of increasing your risk

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We often think of the health of our mouth as something completely isolated that has no more significance than the odious cavities that we get. forced to go to the dentist or the bad breath. However, science has been warning for years that the mouth is the gateway to much more complex systems, such as the possibility that a bacteria from our gums travel to the breast tissue and may accelerate tumor growth. An unwanted traveler. The protagonist of this new discovery is the bacteria Fusobacterium nucleatum, an old acquaintance of dentists. We are talking about an opportunistic bacteria that thrives in dental plaque and is one of the main culprits of periodontitis, which is undoubtedly one of the most recognized gum diseases. What the team led by Dipalo Sharma has recently demonstrated is that this bacteria does not stay still on the gumsbut it has the ability to travel through the body to the breast tissue or even also is already linked to colon cancer. Its effect. The study In this case, he used mice to simulate two different scenarios in order to see how this very common bacteria behaved. The first of them was to inject the bacteria into the breasts of healthy mice, where precancerous inflammatory lesions began to be seen. In the case of injecting into existing tumors is where the alarms go off, since in these mice the presence of the bacteria tripled the size of the cancer and caused lung metastases in 100% of the cases observed. How he does it. It’s the million-dollar question: how does a bacteria from the mouth know that it has to go to the chest and how does it manage to do so much damage? Science has found an explanation at a molecular level that begins with inflammation of the gums in periodontal disease, since this causes the bacteria to enter the bloodstream. Once in the stream, the bacteria begins to travel and takes advantage of a very specific protein, called Fap2, which acts like a key that searches for a specific lock: a sugar called Gal-GalNAc, which turns out to be very abundant on the surface of breast cancer cells. Creating a shield. Once the bacteria adheres to the tissue thanks to this specificity, it begins to colonize, but it also has the ability to suppress the cells in charge of our defense. And specifically those that defend us from cancer cells that bypass the body’s checkpoints. Furthermore, it induces direct DNA damage and preferentially colonizes cells that have mutations in the BRCA1 gene, exacerbating the risk in genetically predisposed people. Dental hygiene. The result of this research leads us to a very clear question: does not brushing your teeth cause cancer? Logically not. In the field of health, causality is not as simple as ‘do this and that happens’, but rather it works as an accumulation of risks that increase the chances of generating a problem such as cancer. A risk factor. In this case, science suggests that having periodontitis, due to poor hygiene sustained over time, is associated with an increase of around 22% in the risk of suffering from breast cancer. And it is not the first time that dental disease is a risk factor of this type. A well documented case is in the relationship between deep dental caries and bacterial endocarditisan infection of the inner lining of the heart. That is why the recommendation here is always to maintain good oral hygiene and always treat cavities as soon as possible when they appear. Images | Caroline L.M. In Xataka | AI is no longer a promise in breast cancer: the largest clinical trial confirms that it detects more and reduces the burden on the radiologist

Colon cancers are increasing alarmingly among young people. We have a suspect: sedentary lifestyle

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colon cancer It is one of the tumors that has increased its incidence the most in young adults over the last few decades, a trend that is very worrying because has made science need to answer why. One of the most important points are the factors that are influencing more and more young people to begin to have tumors in their digestive system. A big problem. Colon cancer is undoubtedly one of the most aggressive diseases that we endure, and also really frequent among the population, with a really aggressive treatment with surgeries that can mean the removal of part of the colonbut also with a high mortality behind them. Its early diagnosis is so relevant that in Spain there are many autonomous communities that have screening programs either screening (although sometimes they fail like in Andalusia) to begin treatment in the case of positive cases, as soon as possible to increase their chances of survival. The problem is that this horrible disease is becoming increasingly prevalent, and science is seeing many factors that are important to take into account to try to reduce the chances of suffering from it. Quantified. This trend has been reflected in a published study in Annals of Internal Medicine which has detected that in many countries the number of cases among those under fifty years of age has grown up to four times faster than in older people. In the end, it is a phenomenon that has revived the debate about the causes and future strategies that must be taken in prevention and early detection. This is extremely important, since a timely diagnosis can mean a big difference in life expectancy who has a patient. The reasons. As stated in the Institute for Cancer Research, London After studying forty-two different countries, two main explanations have been identified. The first is the screening that is done among adults. Although it is very positive to do screening among the population for this disease, the reality is that there is an age limit from which these tests are carried out. This does not occur among the younger population who do not receive this type of screening tests on a regular basis, which may explain the accelerated growth in this group, since cancers are not diagnosed in the early stages. The second reason given is obesity. In this case It is considered a very important risk factor which drives the increased probability of suffering from colon cancer in young people and adults of all ages. Although it remains to be seen if there is an increase in its relationship with the younger population. Environmental factors. In addition to these two causes, the research led by the CNIO Digital Genomics Group in Spain provides new evidence about why this may occur. In his published study In Nature, the influence of the intestinal microbiota, particularly certain strains of E.coli intestinal, producers of the toxin colibactin. As we already sawthis can cause great genetic damage to colon cells that can accelerate tumor development. But other factors associated with the patients’ lifestyle are also being considered. In this case, the increase in type 2 diabetesespecially when there is a sedentary habit and unhealthy diets that seem to increase the risk of having this type of cancer. A Swedish study with a national cohort showed that people with diabetes reach an equivalent risk of colorectal cancer at younger ages than those who do not suffer from it, requiring prevention and monitoring before the standard screening age in the general population. But ultra-processed diets also come in here, excessive consumption of alcohol or even sugary drinkswhich can be an important risk factor. Prevention. Experts agree that there is no single and definitive cause, but rather a combination of genetic, biological, environmental and social factors. While research continues, it is proposed to implement comprehensive prevention policies that adapt to these realities. To do this, they aim to apply personalized screening that includes risk factors such as obesity, diabetes or family history. But we must also focus on research into how our microbiota can have an important implication in this. This forces us to have to take great care of what we eat and maintain adequate intestinal health. But the most relevant thing is to adapt the recommendations for starting screening for high-risk groups, such as young people who have diabetes or a family history so that they begin surveillance at age 40. Images | Ramon Inciarte Julia Koblitz In Xataka | Until now, different types of cancer required different types of treatment. A new vaccine wants to change that

The chaos of streaming is causing a phenomenon that we thought was in recession: downloads are increasing

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The market fragmentationhe price increase of subscriptions and a user experience increasingly less friendly are the main factors pointing to an uptick in unauthorized downloads. Since Netflix began raising rates and banning shared accounts, customers have raised the threat of a return to downloading. Now, for the first time in years, the numbers seem to back them up. Temporary drop. The emergence of services streaming like Netflix devoured unauthorized downloads. With the promise of a wide and accessible catalog for a fixed rate, the platforms significantly reduced the consumption of movies and series outside of conventional channels. However, the utopia of that completely legal market subject to companies has faded. Recent reports show an uptick in access to this type of content, reversing the trend of the previous decade. The data. According to the Observatory of Piracy and Consumer Habits of Digital Content of 2024, digital piracy in Spain increased by 9% last year, reaching a record figure of 42,782 million euros in value of content defrauded through 7,330 million illegal accesses. In addition, the study indicates that for the first time access to platforms has been recorded through apps, social networks and decoders, growing the aggregate figure even more (an additional 14% compared to the previous year).​ Because? As we pointed out, this rebound is due to a series of circumstances that have changed the outlook for the streaming: Streaming is no longer convenient. Although perhaps the main reason for the public’s disenchantment with the streaming is that the supply is increasingly dispersed– To access all relevant content, the user must subscribe to multiple services. The exclusivity strategy that studios use to attract and retain subscribers has broken that ideal convenience of accessing content legally thanks to the streaming. To watch a series with multiple seasons, the user may need to subscribe to different platforms or wait months for the service to change. This dynamic clashes head-on with the immediacy that consumers expect from digital content. All of this is made worse by the licensing war: each studio wants its own titles on its platform exclusively, and leads to the need to subscribe to very specific platforms to access such popular franchises as Marvel, Star Wars or Stranger Things, for example. Technically poorer service. In addition to price and fragmentation, the service offered by some platforms has also worsened, further eroding user loyalty. Many services They have reduced the bitrate in their transmissions to save costs, leading to worse image quality. This loss of quality is often a trigger for users to search for an illegal version that offers a better viewing experience, which makes no theoretical sense: an unauthorized copy of a film often looks and sounds much better than the one available online. streaming. lUnauthorized downloads have evolved. But in addition, traditional downloads by torrent consumption on websites is now added streaming built outside of unofficial platforms, unauthorized IPTV services and the distribution of content through social networks like Telegram and WhatsApp. 96% of movie and series consumption in 2023 was done through streaming Unauthorized: you no longer have to download anything, which reduces the risks. It is a very tempting panorama. Gabe already said it. Specifically in 2011, Gabe Newell said that “Piracy is not a price problem, it is a service problem“. Faced with a legal market that is expensive, fragmented and inconvenient, users see unauthorized downloads as a kind of alternative “service” that offers all the content with better quality and for free. It can be said that it is a problem that the industry itself has partly created. In Xataka | Spaniards “torrenteros” around the world: when you go to live in Germany and discover that you can’t download anything

an increasing problem for the wine industry

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In early February, The Civil Guard dismantled An international network dedicated to illegal wine from La Rioja. That is, a network dedicated to falsifying wine bottles and selling them in Vietnam and China. The funny thing is that they have operated for years and only the alarm has jumped because a Spanish tourist saw a suspicious bottle in a gourmet store in Vietnam and bought it to bring it to the country and analyze it. A problem that does not stop growing. For years, illicit trade and fraud in the wine sector and spirits keep growing. In 2023, Spanish customs and police authorities seized Almost 15 million liters of illegal drinks. Globally, although there are those who estimate that up to fifth of the wine that is sold could be false, more conservative estimates They say that annual losses in drinks of this type amount to 1,300 million euros. Of course, it is something that worries (and much) the most important wineries who see not only how they lose income, but how the low quality of falsifications affects their brand image. In fact, there are lawsuits specialized in intellectual property that They offer service to the wineries throughout Europe to monitor the market (ON and Offline) and detect this type of falsification. What exactly is that is falsified? To start the same wine. There is Fine fakes that combine lower quality wines To try to pass them through higher bottles, but normally it is about replacing. But there is much beyond the “dilution” and “replacement of ingredients”, there is a lot explained in the Spanish A few years ago Fabián Torres, Director of Business Development of SICPA Spain. Complex. Be that as it may, counterfeiters play with one thing: the world of tastings is a complicated world. Although it seems that it is true that There are supercatters capable of overcoming the most difficult teststhe truth is that for most human beings there are no major differences between wines. Not enough, at least, to detect a falsification achieved. And this has more crumb than it seems. Because many people have begun to ask that why pay a disproportionate amount of money for a flavor profile that, in short, can be achieved “falsified” at a much lower price. The best example is the case of Rudy Kurniawan, perhaps the most famous counterfeit in recent years. After leaving prison in 2021 he has set up a business in which FALSIFY VINES ‘ON DEMAND’. In your case, organize tastings to buy exclusive broths with your own falsifications. Normally, they win their wines. Of “falsified wine” to “duplicate wine”. It is a phenomenon very similar to the calls’duplicated perfumes‘(legal fragrances designed to smell like other design perfumes): we have seen it in supermarkets with Cheap versions of the most popular wines of the moment, like Verdejo frizzante. However, The potential of this type of products It is much greater. After all, we live in a world in which LOS DUPLAS WITHOUT ALCOHOL No They stop growing. We have gone from an industry in which the flavor was inseparable to the historical manufacturing process to a flavor profiles laboratory. And, in Spain, one of the world’s world leaders, this revolution will make the foundations vibrate of the industry. Image | Kelsey Knight | Klara Kulikova In Xataka | If the question is what is the future of wine, more and more Bordeaux wineries are clear: the without alcohol

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