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a 100 square meter spider web where two enemy species live in peace

November 15, 2025 by usatoday24

He fear of spiders is one of the most common phobias. So much so that there are video games that allow you to change the design of spiders for that of other animals and there is even research into how. recreate them in less scary ways. With this I want to tell you that, if they give you the creepswhat they have discovered in a cave between Albania and Greece will be the new scene of your nightmares: the biggest spider web in the world, a megacity that has more than 111,000 spiders. And the most curious thing has nothing to do with the size of the structure. In short. A few days ago, in the magazine Subterranean Biologya team of researchers described their great discovery: in the Sulfur Cave between Albania and Greece, they had found a mega city of spiders. Actually, the initial discovery was made by speleologists from the Czech Speleological Society in 2022, but scientists from Transylvania University were the ones who visited and documented the cave in recent years. What draws the most attention is a nightmare scenario: a ‘silk’ structure that covers about 106 square meters and in which a whopping 111,000 spiders live. It is located about 50 meters from the cave entrance, in a very narrow, permanently dark area, and researchers believe there are thousands of individual funnel-shaped spider webs that have come together to create the structure. The colony. For that reason alone, the find is worth mentioning, but the most interesting thing is not the size, but rather the people responsible. If we were talking about a single species, well, it would be impressive due to its dimensions, but what is relevant here is that there are two species that coexist in the megacity: The curious thing is that both are solitary species and have never before been documented to form colonies. Furthermore, under normal conditions, the domestic tegenaria would hunt the Prinerigone vagansmuch smaller, but the researchers realized that both coexisted peacefully. Paradise. The reason? The total darkness may be inhibiting the spiders’ senses, allowing coexistence, but the toxic sulfuric environment may also be playing a role. What they are clear about is that the ecosystem is perfectly oiled: There is no photosynthesis as there is no light, so the microorganisms that are present are sulfur-oxidizing bacteriaconverting inorganic compounds into organic matter that sticks to the walls. There are chironomid larvae that feed on these biofilms. From the larvae, Tanytarsus albisutus emerge, mosquitoes that do not bite and that form dense swarms in an inland stream and of which there are an estimated 2.4 million individuals. By accident, they fall into the webs of the spider megacity and estimate that each spider touches 200 mosquitoes, so they are well fed, they do not need to hunt or leave the structure and they continue to expand the colony. The two species in love and company Implications. One of the researchers, István Urák, has commented that they often think they completely know a species “to the point that we think we understand everything about it, but even then unexpected discoveries can happen.” And he does not say this because the two species coexist, but because they have carried out DNA analyzes that have revealed that the populations of the Sulfur Cave are genetically different from their conspecifics that inhabit the surface. This means one thing: in the evolutionary line, those on the surface have gone one way and those in the cave have gone another, remaining isolated enough to evolve in another way and adapt specifically to the hostile environment they inhabit. These differences mean that microbial diversity is lower in cave spiders and females produce fewer eggs per sac than those on the surface, possibly because since they do not have predators, they do not have to produce as many offspring. a mine. Urák’s team is working on a follow-up study that may shed more light on these spiders, but in addition to the silk megacity, other teams have documented another thirty species of invertebrates that have adapted to this peculiar environment. Among them, another spider: the Metellina merianae who, unlike the other two, prefers to live in solitude. And, regardless of curiosity and even scientific interest, researchers have stressed the importance of protecting this colony. For this reason, the exact location of the cave has not been shared, but the situation is complex because it is located on the border between Albania and Greece and it remains to be seen which country has the power to protect it. In the end, they have been developed in a very specific way and any external element that is introduced can be a contaminant. Beyond the rejection that spiders produce for many of us, this discovery puts on the table that, even in conditions as hostile as a cave without light, with little oxygen and the presence of toxic gaseslife not only makes its way, but “enemy” species can form enormous communities that live in harmony. For the sake of the Prinerigone vagansmay there never be a lack of mosquitoes… Images | Marek Audy, Subterranean Biology In Xataka | We have genetically edited a spider to produce a fluorescent red web. And the implications are promising.

a giant 17 meter nail drill

October 25, 2025 by usatoday24

After years of comings and goings, on January 15, 2025, they began some works that are both expected and necessary in Madrid: the burial of the A5. It is one of the arteries of the city, an urban highway on which 80,000 vehicles circulate daily and which, after being completed in 1968, separated the residents of the neighborhoods of Aluche, Las Águilas and Lucero from those of Batán and Casa de Campo. The works will not be simple or quick, but there is a trick: the ‘cut and cover’ technique. This technique is nothing revolutionary. It is one of the oldest and most used methods for tunnel construction superficial. When a tunnel has to be excavated to a certain depth or that passes through complex elements, the ‘boring machines’ or tunnel boring machinesbut when it is not necessary, this false tunnel is simply made. In essence, the ‘cut and cover’ technique consists of excavating a trench from the surface, building the new road inside it and, later, covering it with fill material. And there are two variants: From bottom to top: The trench is excavated with the necessary support from the ground and the tunnel is built inside. Once the structure is completed, the trench is backfilled and the surface is restored. From top to bottom: First, the lateral retaining walls and the crowning beams are built at ground level. Subsequently, the roof is excavated and prefabricated beams are installed. Thus, the surface is reinstalled early to restore traffic as soon as possible while the excavation work and construction of the permanent roof are completed. In the video above, a piloting machine in action. Basically, like a giant “drill”. Each has its advantages and disadvantages, and are used depending on the terrain and conditions, but for tunnels at depths of about ten meters, these ‘cut and cover’ methods They are more economical and practical than tunnels drilled with deep tunneling methods. The ‘cut and cover’ of the A5 and Castellana in Madrid As we say, the technique was designed to hinder daily traffic as little as possible, and even more so on such essential and busy roads, but the reality is that on the A5, the works have converted one of the entrances to the capital into a ‘Mario Kart’. Through a series of detours, a succession of tight curves have been created at very slow speeds that have provoked that the Madrid City Council collects multiple complaints. Such is the commotion that a guide to avoid getting lost with this burial of the A5but in any case, both the highway and part of Castellana have a few months of noise and excavators ahead of them. In the case of the A5, 3.2 kilometers of the highway are being buried using the construction technique of concrete containment screens to then install the covering slabs. There are 600 people who work daily on the site along with a hundred machines such as the striking ‘pilots’. These machines are specialized in the construction of “piles”, which are nothing more than buried columns that can be built in the ground by injecting concrete into a metal reinforcement or that can be prefabricated. On the route of the “new” A5, there will be more than 6,000 piles of reinforced concrete. But the highway is not the only area of the city in which this technique is being implemented. In the Parque Castellana project, a tunnel of about 675 meters long is also being built that will have 2,041 piles. In the end, and as we mentioned, it is not a new technique (in fact, it was used to build the Paris metro in 1900), but of the possible options for creating tunnels, it is one of the least disruptive to traffic in cities. Although those who are suffering from the works on Parque Castellana and the A5 will surely see it with different eyes. Images | Xofc, Madrid Diary In Xataka | 20 years later, Europe faces one of the greatest engineering milestones in its history: the longest railway tunnel in the world

The bidet is dead. The square meter killed it and Scandinavian design buried it

October 23, 2025 by usatoday24

In Spanish bathrooms, a classic element is quietly disappearing. The bidet was in almost every home, as inseparable from the toilet as the mirror from the sink. But something has changed. Today, in new urban apartments and modern renovations, the bidet has become a spatial luxury. Instead, as detailed by interior designer Pia Capdevila in Architecture and Design: “Some time ago we replaced them with sanitary showers, which take up less space and are much more functional in small bathrooms.” What do you mean, a faucet? The change has been progressive but unstoppable. Around the 60% of Spanish households They still have bidets, but in new constructions and renovations their disappearance is almost total. The reasons are simple, as interior designer Ana García explains for El Mueble: Bathrooms have been reduced – in cities they are usually around 4 square meters – and every centimeter counts. Maintaining a bidet means reserving about 60 centimeters of width next to the toilet, a space that can be used for a larger shower, a piece of furniture with drawers or simply to gain comfort. In this context, the hygienic shower or “sanitary shower” has become the great substitute. “They are faucets with a small hose and sprayer that are installed next to the toilet. They require almost no space and are very functional,” adds García. In fact, in countries like Thailand or Indonesia, this system—popularly known as boom gun— is the standard of domestic hygiene. A new aesthetic that invades everything. Saying goodbye to the bidet is not just a matter of space, but of cultural and generational change. The architect Carlos Alonso thus sums up the phenomenon in an interview for El Muble: “A client who already has a bidet will surely want to keep it. But one who has never had one will probably not even consider it.” Personal hygiene is understood in a different way, faster and more functional, without additional pieces that interrupt the clean aesthetics of the bathroom. Homes, increasingly smaller and more versatile, prioritize visual order and efficiency. The architect Miriam Gómez in the same medium he points out: “Placing a bidet in the bathroom is a very typical mistake. It takes up a lot of space and is hardly used. We replaced it with a sanitary shower next to the toilet.” Only some cases – large bathrooms or homes with elderly people accustomed to its use – justify maintaining it. But the classic bidet, that low and robust toilet, is already a piece from another era. So what is better? The dilemma is no longer “bidet yes or no?”, but how to maintain the same hygiene without losing space or style. In today’s bathrooms, where the square meter is worth gold, the solutions include compact and functional options. The most common are hygienic showers or side showers, small taps with a hose that are installed next to the toilet and allow you to wash with water without taking up more space. “When space does not allow a bidet, we recommend a faucet attached to the toilet, with two water channels. It is more aesthetic, takes up less space and is just as functional,” explains the architect Carlos Alonso. However, if what you are looking for is one more step in comfort, the future is already here: Japanese toilets – also called smart toilets or washlets – are gaining ground in Spain. According to Architecture and Designmore and more homes are incorporating them, especially in new homes, due to their functionality and compact design. They integrate washing, drying, temperature control and even automatic deodorization functions. Designer Eva Mesa, from Tinda’s Project, explains it with personal experience: “The first time I tried a Japanese toilet I understood that it was a more coherent, cleaner and more evolved system. Once you get to know it, there is no turning back.” And what is more hygienic? Although the bidet has lost ground, medical experts continue to advocate the use of water as the most hygienic method for personal cleansing. According to Dr. Cindy Kina colorectal surgeon at Stanford University Medical Center, water is the standard treatment for removing body dirt in almost all contexts. In addition, it points out that those who use bidets or water showers have between seven and ten times less bacteria on their hands than those who use only toilet paper. Finally, it details that water prevents the irritation that dry paper can cause and is especially recommended for people with sensitive skin, hemorrhoids or in the postpartum stage. The future of the bidet depends on the map. A publication of The Big Data Stats that went viral On networks it showed how more than 60 countries in the world still use the bidet or some similar water hygiene system. The map did not reveal anything that we could not intuit, but it did confirm it with data: the bidet is still alive, although not everywhere in the same way. In Spain, specifically in Zamora, its installation is still mandatory by urban planning regulations, an exception that surprises even municipal architects. Looking towards our Italian neighbors, the bidet is also law: since 1975 it has been mandatory in all bathrooms. For its part, crossing the Atlantic, in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, the bidet maintains a strong cultural presence, as deeply rooted as mate or the water bottle. On the other hand, in much of Asia and the Middle East, the custom remains, but in another format: that of the side faucet or manual shower, as occurs in Thailand, India or Egypt, or even in Brazil, where the version with a hose prevailed over the traditional bidet. The bathroom of the future. The trend is clear: the bathroom will be more compact, technological and sustainable. Perhaps in a few years we will remember the bidet as a domestic relic, like the landline or the record player: something that was essential and barely survives today. But its essence—hygiene with water—is still more alive than ever. Because in … Read more

If anyone thought that no one was going to want the statue of a 300 meter bull in Spain, it is because they know very little about Spain.

October 23, 2025 by usatoday24

in summer we count the beginning of something that was difficult to catalog. The Spanish Academy of Bullfighting launched the proposal to build a monumental sculpture of none other than 300 meters in the shape of a bulla statue that aspired to become a tourist and cultural icon comparable to structures such as the Eiffel Tower or the Statue of Liberty, taking as its hallmark a symbol historically associated with Spanish imagery. If there was any doubt about the reception, there are already cities giving everything for “their” bull. A symbol. What we know: that the project foresees an open metal structure, of a modular type, with viewing points on the horns and a commercial and cultural complex at its base, financed with private capital but conditional on the receiving municipality giving up a large plot of land (at least 650 meters long) and assume urban integration and permits. Although the idea started as a sectoral initiative aimed at reinforcing the public presence of bullfighting, the mere announcement, of course, has generated opposite reactions: while for some it is an opportunity for international projection and an economic claim, for others it is an aesthetic and ethical provocation that aims to whitewash a controversial practice with art. The race begins. At this time we know something else: there are “cakes” to be obtained monster. After the initial rejection of Madrid, Castilla y León has taken advantage by concentrating the majority of the candidates and placing Peñafiel and Valle de Valdebezana in an advanced phase by having delivered specific location plans, which places them ahead of other municipalities that have only expressed political will without proving technical feasibility. Peñafiel, with a deep-rooted bullfighting tradition and an urban environment that already has the Plaza del Coso as a singular element, it has claimed to have a “privileged” location that would meet the requirements and that could also be provided with complementary services in the future, avoiding the need for provincial or regional support by having a PGOU that allows it to grant licenses on its own. Extra ball. The Academy demands, as a next step, the higher institutional support except in those cases in which municipal planning allows acting without this filter, which has redoubled the interest of competing municipalities in ensuring their administrative legitimacy as soon as possible. The economic argument. The promoters defend that the structure would be a tourist attraction engine capable of activating commerce, employment and notoriety for the host town, especially in territories of inland Spain with problems of visibility and population flight. It is proposed that the monument would act not only as a visitor attraction, but also as a consumption anchor in its immediate surroundings thanks to restaurants, shops and thematic cultural programming that would allow the tourist flow to leave local income and prolong the stay in the destination. Hence municipalities like Peñafiel or interested towns in Zamora and Salamanca see this option as a way to complement or reorient their tourist offer beyond seasonal campaigns or specific events, without direct budgetary cost if the bulk of the investment ultimately remains in private hands as the promoters promise. What people say. The initiative is not exempt from rejection: Opposition public officials consider it extravagant, disproportionate and out of context, while animal rights groups and critics of bullfighting denounce that the sculpture constitutes a symbolic glorification of a practice associated with animal suffering, disguised as monumental art and intended to provoke rather than unite. This front further argues that the scale distorts the landscapeimplies extreme visual impact and transfers to the public space an identity icon that does not have social consensus, which would turn the monument into a permanent focus of dispute. The tension between both narratives (territorial revitalization vs. symbolic imposition) has already accompanied the project since its embryonic phase, anticipating a debate that could intensify if the choice of headquarters crystallizes in a specific location. Peñafiel one step ahead. Thus, Peñafiel is currently positioned as one of the more serious candidates by having that bullfighting tradition, explicit political will and apparent urban planning capacity to house such a structure, to which is added the identity argument of being able to go from being known for its unique Plaza del Coso to hosting what would be the greatest architectural symbol of modern bullfighting. Meanwhile, local authorities recognize the magnitude of the challenge logistical and anticipate a long process, although they consider that the reputational and economic return would justify the bet. The Bullfighting Academy continue evaluating plans, accessibility, impact and viability, while other localities finalize institutional support to avoid losing position. The project thus enters a decisive phase in which vision, land, permits, social legitimacy and strategic impact are confronted before a destination is selected for an object that, not yet built, already produces political, aesthetic and cultural effects. Image | Spanish Academy of Bullfighting In Xataka | Someone thought it was a great idea to propose a sculpture of a bull over 300 meters high. There are already cities waiting to welcome it In Xataka | The “cayetans” are going to make noise in the squares. And it’s not just because of the love of bullfighting.

has built a 152 -meter floating warning to the rest of the world

July 19, 2025 by usatoday24

China has just signed a new chapter in the global race for renewable energy. This time, it is not an oil platform emerging in front of its coastbut of a floating wind turbine of huge proportions. A structure so massive that its blades exceed the height of most Spanish skyscrapers, designed to resist typhons and float in deep water. More than a technical advance, it is a strategic statement: the country not only wants clean energy, wants to control it from its own shipyards. Uploading the bet. The Asian giant has presented The most powerful offshore wind turbine in the world. The unit, with a capacity of 17 megawatts (MW), has been developed by the state of China Huaneng Group and Dongfang Electric Corporation, and has left the production line in Fuqing, coastal city of the province of Fujian, According to Global Times. Test process. The turbine will be towed soon to the waters of Yangjiang, in the province of Guangdong. From Esdnews They have detailed That the scale of the new wind turbine reaches 262 meters from the rotor diameter, a record that allows it to sweep an area of 53,000 square meters. Its height to the axis rises to 152 meters. According to figures from the Huaneng Group itself collected in the same medium, a single unit can generate up to 68 million kilowatt-Hora (KWH) of clean electricity per year, sufficient energy to supply about 40,000 homes. Not everything is the size. Although yes, since the wind turbine has been designed to withstand extreme maritime conditions, including waves of more than 24 meters high and winds of category 17, with speeds greater than 200 km/h, as They have collected in Chinadialy. In addition, it has an advanced stabilization system and smart sensors that allow maintaining production even when the platform suffers significant inclinations. It is not the first time that China Explore this technology. Last year, the Mingyang company installed Oceanx, a 16.6 MW floating wind turbine with double rotor, designed to resist hurricanes of category 5 and waves up to 30 meters. Located in Guangdong, Oceanx was a pioneer in extreme efficiency. However, the new Huaneng and Dongfang Electric model exceeds it in power, in size and in annual generation, with 68 million kWh, compared to the 54 million Oceanx. More than a giant turbine. This project fits a broader strategy that seeks to reduce the technological dependence from abroad. According to Global Timesall the main components – palas, generators, converters, transformers and even a new high diameter axis bearing – have been designed and manufactured in China. In addition, the turbine allows access to a resource so far used: the wind in deep water. In those areas, where it is not possible to install fixed structures, the only option are floating platforms. According to the Energy Research Institute of the National Development and Reform Commission, these areas have between three and four times more wind potential than the less deep coastal regions, According to China Daily. Float to get further. The Chinese advance is part of a global energy transformation. According to the World Wind Energy Council (GWEC)more than 80 % of the planet’s marine wind potential is found in waters of more than 60 meters deep. In this context, the development of large -scale floating platforms and national production places China in a leadership position. With a renewable capacity installed of more than 2,090 GW in May 2025, the Asian country already obtains one in three kilowatts-Hora from clean sources, such as Global Times explained. And keep accelerating. The wind as a flag. The new Chinese floating turbine is not just an engineering feat. It is a declaration of intentions. It represents the convergence between technological ambition, industrial sovereignty and ecological necessity. In a world that still seeks how to mitigate the climatic crisis without sacrificing development, China seems to be saying: the wind blows in our favor, and we know how to take advantage of it. Image | PIQSELS Xataka | In Peru, a company has had an idea to take wind energy directly to your home: turbines as a lay way

Boadilla del Monte wants to be a pilgrimage place. So he has decided to build a 37 -meter colossal

June 25, 2025 by usatoday24

Boadilla del Monte is known by the Palacio del Infante Don Luisyour source of Three pipes or the Convent of the incarnation, among other monumentsbut if the plans of an association of Catholics in the area go ahead in a short time it will be for something different: an effigy colossal of Christ that will overcome in size a The famous figure that crowns the Cerro Corcovadoin Rio de Janeiro. Your drivers, yes, will have nothing easy. They need to raise 17 million of euros. Not only do they want their sculpture to be the largest of its kind. They aspire to be a representation based on The holy sheet and with a huge mobile heart. Breaking molds. Throughout the world there are many, many effigies of Jesus, but few as iconic as the Redeemer of Corcovado, in Rio de Janeiro, a huge monument of Around 30 meters high (almost 40if the pedestal is taken into account) that was inaugurated In 1931. In Spain there is, however, who wants to make the competition with an even greater monument: a sculpture of Christ with open arms of 37 m high and 60 wingspan. With you, the Christ of Boadilla. The initiative starts from the Association of Devotos Heart of Jesus of Boadilla, a Catholic group that He wants to lift in that municipality of the Madrid community “The Sacred Heart of the world”. Its intention is to build the effigy between M 50, the Financial City and M 501, on a field of public ownership. For now, They assurehave the Plecet of the City Council, which in 2019 approved the project No opposition. A colossal work of 17 million. The location is not, however, the largest challenge of the company. Its drivers calculate that to get it ahead they need close to 17 million euros16 for construction itself and the remaining million to face “the management, communication and financing of the project”. They also want to raise them through donations from individuals or private organizations, without public funds or any institution such as the Catholic Church. For the moment, Precise The worldthey are quite far from that figure: today their crowdfunding has managed to gather around 95,000 euros. An objective: June 2030. The association not only handles an approximate budget. On its website also includes A schedule How you want to carry out the project. The first phase of financing started at the beginning of the year and will run until February 2026 with the aim of leaving the sculptural project ready, the general preliminary project and starting the crowdfunding campaign. During that first stage they hope to gather 135,000 euros. The second aspires to add five million, will last until June 2028 and will focus on the architectural project and permits. The objective of the association is that the construction of the effigy can begin in mid -2027 and the works last for about three years. If the Planning, It could be inaugurated during June 2030. For this, it will be necessary to carry out the third phase of the financing, of 11.86 million. The collective Recognize in any case that are “self -imposed” deadlines. “Nothing will prevent anticipating the result or that it suffers some delay.” And how do you want to do it? The monument draws attention for its size (37 meters high and 60 of size), but also for its approach. Input and although the association acknowledges that it has not yet defined “the constructive phase”, its Initial idea It is that the effigy combines various materials: the trunk and head would be built with reinforced concrete and arms extended with fiberglass or carbon. The most striking thing is what there will be within the figure. The interior of the effigy can be visited and will include a huge golden heart of around 2.5 meters in diameter that will rise and fall during the day. “Every morning, when the first rays of the sun cross the sore of its side and illuminate the heart, it will slowly descend to the ground with a pulleys mechanism. Then, when the night falls, the heart will return to its anatomical position and retro-pile it will light and light up,” They explain From the association. “With scientific methods”. It is not the only surprise. To shape sculpture, those responsible have decided to take as a reference a symbol of Christianity: Turin’s shroud. “The Holy sheet will be our guide to model sculpture and rebuild with scientific methods the true face of the man who left his mark on the canvas,” they claim. “The wounds and the site of the side will become cracks for which the light will cross the monument. The music will accompany us during our visit and we will listen to the heartbeat.” Your goal, emphasize The association is to create “a world pilgrimage place”, joins huge effigy that becomes the largest “largest heart in the world”. The nuance is important because if we talk about Christ’s sculptures, in general, there are much greater monuments. Not long ago Indonesia inaugurated a colossal statue of the “Salvador” of about 60 meters high In the same country there is another effigy, Buntu Burakearound 40 m. Images | Heart of Jesus Boadilla In Xataka | Cáceres is building a gigantic Buddhist statue 47 meters high (for some reason)

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