middle

240 km without curves, in the middle of the desert and with truck traffic

by

Imagine driving for more than two hours without turning the steering wheel even a single degree. No curves, no noticeable slopes, no changes on the horizon. That is the reality of Highway 10 (Highway 10) of Saudi Arabia, which holds the Guinness record as the longest straight road on the planet with a completely linear section of 240 kilometers. A highway born for a king. Highway 10 stretches 1,480 kilometers from Ad Darb to the border with the United Arab Emirates, but it is its segment between Haradh and Al Batha that has received all the attention. The road was originally built as a private road for King Fahd of Saudi Arabia, although today it has become a fundamental artery for the transport of goods between the center and west of the country with the Emirates. The Empty Quarter desert as a setting. The road crosses the Rub’ al Khaliknown as the Empty Quarter, the largest sand desert in the world. The area itself explains why it is possible to build such a straight line: there are no mountains to surround, valleys to cross or geographical features to avoid. Just sand and more sand as far as the eye can see. The infrastructure is completely paved and has mainly two lanes in each direction, supporting intense truck traffic that crosses the desert. Speed ​​limits adjusted for heavy traffic. The maximum speed allowed on this highway varies depending on the type of vehicle: passenger cars can travel up to 120 km/h on fast sections, buses 100 km/h and trucks 80 km/h. Although in 2018 were announced Upper limits of up to 140 km/h for light vehicles in certain sections, the constant presence of heavy transport makes maintaining these speeds complicated in practice. A mental challenge more than a physical one. Believe it or not, driving on the straightest road in the world is not as easy as it seems, especially due to fatigue. The monotony of the desert landscape and the total absence of visual stimuli can cause drowsiness and even a dangerous disconnection while driving. Added to this is the occasional threat of camels wandering across the road. So, although the route is ‘easy’ to handle, mentally it can become a nightmare. Not for nothing is it found in Dangerous Roads website. Reinforced security measures. Aware of the risks involved in driving on such a monotonous road, the Saudi Ministry of Transport and Logistics has implemented various improvements safety features, including paved shoulders, reflective pavement markings (known as “cat’s eyes”), protective barriers, kilometer signs, and directional and warning signs. Here the driver’s attention must be vital, especially on a road with so few changes. Other legendary straights. Before Highway 10 snatched the title, the Australia’s Eyre Highway boasted the record with a 146 kilometer straight stretch through the Nullarbor Desert. Although almost 100 kilometers shorter, this Australian road remains one of the most unique driving experiences on the continent. Also noteworthy are roads such as ND-46 in North Dakotathe United States, or some sections of the Argentine Route 40which although they do not compete in length of absolute straightness and offer a great variety of landscape that softens the eye, also encompasses endless kilometers of monotonous movement. Cover image | City Vibes In Xataka | Yes, the V16 beacons transmit your position in the event of an accident. No, the DGT cannot “spy” on you with them A version of this article was published in 2025

Millionaires are fleeing the Middle East. And their unexpected destination is a small Swiss canton called Zug.

by

In 2011, during the Arab Spring, several European private banks detected an unusual phenomenon: Within days, high-net-worth clients began transferring large sums from the Middle East into accounts in Switzerland without prior notice. It wasn’t the first time something like this happened, but it was one of the fastest. That left a clear lesson in the financial sector: when stability falters, money does not wait to understand what happens, it simply moves. War moves money. we have been counting. The war in the Middle East is not only altering military and energy balances, it is also causing a silent movement but massive capital. What were previously fiscal decisions or lifestyle They have become urgent security decisions, where the priority is no longer optimizing profits, but protecting assets. In this context, an idea begins to prevail: billionaires do not wait for the situation to get worse, they go aheadand that movement is redrawing the global map of wealth in real time. Dubai is no longer an unquestionable refuge. For years, Dubai was the natural destination for international fortunes seeking stability, tax benefits and a secure environment in a complex region. However, the conflict with Iran has introduced a variable that previously seemed controlled: the direct risk. That perception has been enough for activate discrete outputs but constant numbers of businessmen, executives and large assets who are now looking for more predictable alternatives outside the gulf. This is not a collapse, but a change in mentality: when security is no longer absolute, attractiveness quickly erodes. Aerial view of Zug And, suddenly, Zug. In this displacement, the place that is attracting attention is not a great global capital, but a small swiss canton of just 135,000 inhabitants: Zug. Traditionally known for its role in commodities trading and, more recently, in crypto ecosystemhas become the first destination that many of these capitals look to. Reasons? counted the financial times that both wealth managers and bankers agree that demand has grown significantly since the beginning of the conflict, to the point that for many clients the request is direct and automatic: move there. The call effect. This growing flow is having immediate consequences in an already limited market, especially when it comes to housing. Demand has rapidly outstripped supply, generating intense competition for any property available and lines even for modest rentals. Added to this are administrative barriers that make entry difficult, especially for those who do not belong to the European Union, forcing residence to be linked to employment, investment or specific tax agreements. Zug attractsbut it does not absorb without friction. Switzerland reinforces its role in the geopolitics of money. What is happening in Zug is not an isolated phenomenon, but rather part of a broader dynamic in which Switzerland consolidates again as a refuge in times of uncertainty. Its political stability, its legal framework and its financial tradition make it a almost automatic destiny when overall risk increases. In fact, other cantons like Lugano have begun to capture part of this growing demand, expanding the phenomenon and confirming that the movement has only just begun. A map of wealth that changes with each conflict. In short, the result is a progressive movement of money from risk areas to safe enclaves, where each crisis acts as a catalyst. The war in the Middle East is accelerating this process and leaving one conclusion abundantly clear: global fortunes are no longer driven only by opportunity, but for threats. And in that new balance, places so small and discreet like Zug They can become, almost without noise, the great beneficiaries of an increasingly unstable world. Image | Schulerst , IDF Spokesperson’s Unit, LohriPR In Xataka | The most buoyant market right now is selling streaming and satellite images of US movements to Iran. In Xataka | Commercial aviation is based on very old aircraft. The Iran war is going to make it even worse

In the Middle Ages there was a very expensive culinary trend that today would make your food inedible: they bathed it in spices

by

For tastes, colors. But if you were the guest of a landowner from the Middle Ages, a wealthy count or baron who wanted to impress his diners with a sumptuous banquet of fish, meat, wine and sweets, it would be best if your tastes leaned towards hyper-spicy food. After all, it was not unreasonable that on the table you would find a tray of pheasant swimming in a sauce made with 17 different spicesso many that its flavor would hardly please today’s palates. Maybe that expectation seems unappetizing to you, but for medieval diners it made perfect sense. Better with spices. Medieval diners liked spices. A lot. So much so that their banquets were an authentic display of dressings of ginger, cinnamon, black pepper, nutmeg or saffron, among a long and well seasoned etc. As an example, Michael Delahoydefrom Washington State University, explains that a meat sauce could contain about 17 different spices. In another recent example The Country spoke of recipes up to 15 and plenty of sugar. Everything on the same plate. Combined. Forming a mixture of flavors that would make the foods that gave luster to the great banquets of medieval nobles hardly edible for 21st century diners. And that (culinary ironies) has never been as easy to find spices as it is today: it comes with entering any supermarket to find full shelves. A gastronomic window. If we know what and how medieval nobles ate, it is thanks to the work of historians and works such as ‘The Book of Sent Soví’a manuscript that stands out for several reasons: it is the oldest recipe book of its type in the Iberian Peninsula and for a few days it has been starring an exhibition about medieval food in Valencia. The work contains 72 recipes and dates back to the 15th century, although experts are convinced that the work is based on a previous original, now lost, that was written in 1324. The work is interesting not only because of its recipes. It is also because it tells us about what the diners of the Late Middle Ages were like, perhaps somewhat different from us in tastes, but not in terms of attitude. In addition to appreciating the good taste of the dishes, they liked to show off, using gastronomy as a status symbol. They appreciated kitchens with large stoves, the carvers who cut and distributed the meat among the diners, spices and sugar. Cooking and marketing (medieval). “We all have to eat, every day, but in the Middle Ages they did not have the ways of distinguishing themselves that we have. They turned food into a liturgy, a ritual in which they demonstrated their wealth and that was seen even outside because they gave leftovers to the poorest classes. It was a way of demonstrating status,” comment to The Country Juan Vicente García Marsilla, professor of Medieval History and curator of the exhibition. The 15th century recipe book preserved in Valencia has much of that pomp and prestige that was sought among kitchens and pantries. In its prologue it slips that the original work was prepared some time ago by commission from an English kingbut the recipes speak of another reality: an author probably Valencian or Catalan accustomed to the gastronomic tradition of the Mediterranean. “Marketing hype of the time”, summarizes García. By attributing the work to a foreign and ancient chef, the recipe book sought to imbue itself with exoticism and prestige. Why so many spices? Partly because of the above. Status. Today we may find them in any Mercadona, but spices or sugar centuries ago They were luxuries that were not within reach of all the tables. “Spices were a sign of luxury and opulence. They denoted prestige,” comments Delahoydewho reflects on the peculiar value of medieval cookbooks: probably not all cooks knew how to read and the recipe books were not used in the kitchen either, but rather were kept in private collections. Therefore… Were they useful for those responsible for provisions? Were they a sign of status? A way to learn about the exotic ingredients in each dish, garnishes that might otherwise go unnoticed by diners? In search of flavors… and names. Analida Braeger slips some interesting reflections in Medievalist.neta platform founded in 2008 and specialized in medieval history. In a comprehensive article On the subject, he points out that the medieval palate became accustomed to foods heavily seasoned with spices, a symbol of power increased in part by its exotic origin and the imports from the East. In the extensive list included cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, ginger, pepper, saffron, mace, cardamom or galangal. insatiable demand. “Europe’s insatiable demand for spices in the late Middle Ages is a notable example of a drastic historical shift brought about by consumer preferences,” pointed out in 2012 Paul Freedman in an article published in ‘The Oxford Handbook of Food History’. The result is recipes like chicken with sugar which we can read in the 15th century manuscript preserved in Valencia. Furthermore, spices were not only used in cooking, they also had medical applications. There is who assures that despite their limited availability and high cost, a very high percentage of the recipes in cookbooks from the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries include spices and that at least some works cite up to 40 different types. In any case, it must be clear that the cuisine of the aristocracy and that widespread among the popular classes are not the same. Among the latter it was not strange that cold food for a matter of costs. Revisiting old topics. As happens often With everything related to the Middle Ages, the use of spices is overshadowed by clichés and prejudices that are not always accurate. Delahoyde remembers the “common myth” that cooks of the time relied heavily on seasonings to mask the taste of spoiled meat. After all, there were no refrigerators or freezers to keep meat fresh, right? Why not season it well? It is not likely that … Read more

While everyone was looking at the Middle East, North Korea has had time to do what Iran has not been able to: go nuclear.

by

It happened a few years ago, when in the midst of increasing tensions with North Korea, the Japanese government came to send alerts to millions of mobile phones through the J-Alert system when it detected the overflight of a missile, causing unusual scenes in which trains stopped and citizens took refuge in stations without knowing exactly what was happening. That reaction, almost automatic and difficult to imagine in peacetime, left a clear image of the extent to which certain global balances can be strained without warning. The regime that did not fall. I told a few days ago in an extensive special report the wall street journal the story of the surprising source of North Korea’s enduring power, a nation that has survived the demise of the Soviet Union and the transformation of China because it ceased to be just a communist state and became something more resilient: a closed ideological structurehereditary and almost religious. There it is impossible not to start with the Kim dynasty that managed to consolidate a system in which power is not only exercised, but also believed, internalized and transmitted as a faith. That model, built from Kim Il Sung and perfected by his successors, has made it possible to maintain extraordinary internal cohesion even in conditions of extreme isolation. While other regimes eroded as they opened up to the world or collapsed under external pressure, Pyongyang consolidated a base of control much deeperdifficult to dismantle from the outside. From ideology to state religion. I remembered the Journal that the core of that system is not only political, but also symbolic and emotional, with elements that clearly recall an organized religion. The Juche ideology It progressively replaced classical Marxism, incorporating rituals, symbols and an almost messianic narrative around the leader. The omnipresence of Kim Il Sung, his conversion in “eternal president” and dynastic continuity have generated a structure of loyalty that goes beyond political obedience. This model, influenced indirectly through Christianity that once dominated Pyongyang, allowed the construction of a system where loyalty to the leader is perceived as an absolute truth, something that largely explains its stability and capacity for resistance. The silent military leap. On that internal basis, North Korea has developed a pretty clear strategy: to arm oneself militarily until one becomes practically untouchablealthough no one knows exactly how much of it is true. Today it is recognized that it has intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of reach US territory and has reinforced its arsenal with increasingly sophisticated systems. Not only that. The recent tests, just a few days ago from their new destroyer, with high-precision cruise and anti-ship missiles, they clearly show that it is no longer just a matter of accumulating weapons, but of integrating them into a modern military architecture, with rapid response capacity and systems resistant to interference. In fact, accelerated construction of new warships It aims at a transition from isolated platforms towards a structured naval force, which expands its projection capacity and complicates any containment scenario. Nuclear expansion in full noise. I told it this week Guardian through internal analyzes held by the UN nuclear watchdog. While much of the international attention was focused on the conflicts in the Middle EastNorth Korea has been taking advantage of this context to advance its nuclear program without restraint. As? Activity at key facilities such as Yongbyon has intensifiedwith new reactors, reprocessing plants and possible undeclared facilities to enrich uranium. The agency’s estimates point to dozens of warheads already operational and a growing capacity to produce enough material to between ten and twenty weapons additional each year. In other words, this rhythm, sustained over time, indicates that the objective is not only basic deterrence, but rather reaching a volume that guarantees the survival of the regime in the face of any attempt at forced change. The power that Iran has not consolidated. The key difference here is that North Korea has achieved what other countries in similar situations have achieved (call it Iran) have not been able to: convert their nuclear program into a fully integrated tool in their survival strategy. While other powers under international pressure have seen limited or braked its development, Pyongyang has moved closer to a point of no returnone where its capacity is broad enough to deter any intervention. In this context, it is possible that the real change is no longer just quantitative, but strategic: because when it reaches a surplus of nuclear capacity, the risk will cease to be solely regional and will have global implications, opening the door, at the very least, to new proliferation dynamics. Image | DPRK In Xataka | The US has activated plan B before Iran knocks down its last radar: disarm South Korea against the North’s new nuclear “toy” In Xataka | If the question is what has North Korea achieved in the last four years, the answer is simple: an unimaginable arsenal

science is in the middle

by

In the crowded nutrition and supplements market, the collagen Hydrolyzed has emerged as one of the products that many people take daily with the thought that it will improve their joints and bones so that they become rejuvenated again. And it is no wonder, because there are promises of unbreakable articulations, eternally young skin and fracture-proof bones flooding social networks. But science has a lot to say here. Some statements. Skepticism can be maximum when taking these supplements that are sold to us as almost a miracle for health. In this way, there are some voices like that of Santiago Segura that they point to speeches of disappointment: “I was taking collagen for my bones, but I read that it’s like eating a computer to be smarter.” But… Are you right in saying that it is useless? The science here is quite clear: it is not a miracle, but it is not something harmless that we take every day. Collagen in the body. At a purely biological level, type I collagen functions as the main protein of the structural matrix of bone tissue, that is, as if they were the scaffolding for later bricks. Once we took this into account, science wanted to see how its construction works. The supplement problem. Within scientific logic, when we swallow a collagen pill and it reaches the stomach, it is literally broken down by stomach acids. In this way, when it is decomposed, it loses its main function, since it has to be absorbed into small amino acids that make up proteins such as collagen. The problem here is that the body does not know that we have taken collagen, but instead it detects that there are a series of amino acids that are like its bricks for future proteins. In this way, very varied proteins can be built in the blood, but it may not end up forming this collagen that we want to go to the bone or cartilage. And this is what explains why some are big detractors of taking collagen. What does science say? Here the studies have not been so catastrophic in pointing out that the body is capable of absorbing protein peptides in the intestine and they can act in target areas. Here the difference is that peptides are a small protein fragment of several amino acids, which does not resemble collagen, which is the complete protein, but it does something. We have an example in a meta-analysis published in 2025 which concluded that supplementation with hydrolyzed collagen significantly increases bone mineral density in critical areas such as the spine and neck of the femur. In the case of postmenopausal women. an acquaintance 2018 clinical trial showed that a dose of 5 grams per day of specific collagen peptides for 12 months managed to increase bone mineral density and improve biomarkers compared to a placebo group. This is something fundamental, because we are talking about a group of people who are very prone to bone problems. Furthermore, a 4-year follow-up published in 2021 confirmed these long-term effects in this same demographic group with osteopenia or osteoporosis. More evidence. A 2026 large systematic review on musculoskeletal health group tests pointing to consistent and clinically relevant benefits for both bone and muscle, although it warns that the level of evidence is intermediate. And once again we see that it is not at all a miracle for everyone, nor does it replace good treatment for bone problems. The small print. Despite these positive data, science also puts a handbrake on the excessive expectations that they sometimes try to sell us. In this case, many of the studies carried out to date are relatively small, of short duration or have a very heterogeneous design without focusing on a similar population. In addition to all this, we must remember that we are not dealing with a drug, but rather a dietary supplement. For health problems, once again we must remember that you should consult a doctor who will evaluate the medical treatments currently approved for osteoporosis, such as bisphosphonates. But ‘take for the sake of taking’ is not the best strategy, as with other supplements. A winning combo. If you are going to take collagen expecting real benefits in your bones, science indicates that it is not enough to take an isolated pill and wait for a miracle. In this case, it must be taken into account that the best collagen is the one that is specifically hydrolyzed, and its composition is also validated and supported. Patience is also essential here, since it has to be taken for several months and the positive effects are much more relevant when collagen is combined with a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D, added to physical exercise. Images | GRANAT In Xataka | There are people obsessed with magnesium as a supplement when the best way is to put it directly into your diet

the day ships stop arriving from the Middle East

by

There is a date marked in red on logistics calendars across the continent: tomorrow, April 10. According to the projections of the analysis firm Argus Mediaaround this day the last shipments of aviation fuel (jet fuel) that managed to cross the Strait of Hormuz before its closure will dock in European ports. From that date onwards, entry volumes will plummet. The impact is no longer a theoretical threat. According to TVP Worldthe shortage is already palpable in Italy: the airports of Bologna, Milan Linate, Treviso and Venice have issued notices warning of possible restrictions on refueling due to the limited availability of fuel from their supplier, Air BP Italia. It is the first major warning of a domino effect that threatens to paralyze the European skies. The perfect storm in the Gulf. Since the start of the Third Gulf War on February 28 more than 20% has been canceled of the world’s seaborne jet fuel supply, and no less than 42% of seaborne imports from the European Union and the United Kingdom. The recent news of a “two-week truce” announced by US President Donald Trump has been received as a mirage in the industry. According to Politicalthe ceasefire will not solve the shortage in the short term. Willie Walsh, director general of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), warned that rebuild damaged refining capacity in the Middle East will take months. Among the infrastructures hit is the Al-Zour refinery in Kuwait, responsible for providing approximately 10% of Europe’s jet fuel imports, as pointed out BBC. Furthermore, maritime logistics is unforgiving. In the most idealized scenario where Hormuz is completely reopened today, ships would take 25 days to reach Europe sailing through a Red Sea where the Houthis remain a threat, or up to six weeks if they are forced to go around the Cape of Good Hope. Prices are skyrocketing. The price of aviation fuel in Europe reached last week an all-time high of $1,838 per ton, compared to 831 dollars before the start of the war. This increase translates into an immediate logistical problem on the landing strips. Anita Mendiratta, special advisor to the Secretary-General of UN Tourism, explains to Euronews a crucial technical detail: airports cannot store aviation fuel in large quantities. The entire system is designed to rely on continuous deliveries through refineries and pipelines. Any slightest interruption breaks the chain. The consequences are already visible on the exit panels. Just two weeks ago, we reported in Xataka that more than 25,000 flights canceled over the Middle East, while European airlines such as Scandinavian SAS have canceled at least 1,000 flights in April alone. For their part, giants like Delta Air Lines plan to absorb $2 billion in extra costs during the second quarter alone due to fuel, according to Reuters. How does it affect the passenger? Analysts of Barclays, in statements collected by Politicalthey end the era of “super normal” prices and cheap tickets. Airlines will also have to make drastic decisions about their fleets: Willie Walsh, in an interview with Bloomberganticipates that companies will be forced to evaluate the accelerated retirement of high-consumption aircraft, such as the gigantic A380. United States to the rescue (at the price of gold). In this survival scenario, Europe has found a lifeline on the other side of the Atlantic, although at a very high price. According to Financial TimesAmerican fuel already accounts for half of British imports (compared to the usual 7%). However, Europe is waging a fierce bidding war with Asia over shipments that, as it warns, Argus Media in the British environment, they will barely cover half of the gap left by the Middle East. Internally, the resistance goes in other directions. While countries with their own refining such as Poland are more protected, the calculations of Argus Media collected by Euronews They estimate that, without new shipments, commercial reserves will be exhausted in three months in the United Kingdom, in four in Portugal and in seven in Spain, Italy or Germany. Faced with this fragmented map, the EU is in tow: its spokesperson, Anna-Kaisa Itkonen, has acknowledged to the same medium that Brussels still lacks a “complete image” of national reserves to be able to organize a solidarity plan. The lessons of a dependent industry. Beyond the April emergency, the crisis has uncovered deep structural flaws in global aviation. According to Aviation WeekMarie Owens Thomsen, IATA’s chief economist, was astonished at the world’s complacency in living “under the domination of this monopolistic industry that is oil.” Thomsen denounced the very serious lack of investment in Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF), pointing out that capital is overwhelmingly directed to sectors such as artificial intelligence. For his part, Willie Walsh launched a direct criticism of governments: while States maintain immense strategic reserves of crude oil to cushion global crises, “it does not seem that we have any strategic reserves of jet fuel,” collects Aviation Week. The underlying fear is not just a difficult summer, but a permanent paradigm shift. According to a European executive in the energy sector to Politicalthe “worst case scenario” is that the Strait of Hormuz is reopened, but under new rules: with Iran applying permanent restrictions or charging tolls that alter global energy dynamics forever. A summer on the wire The high summer season is just around the corner and the market is walking on the wire. A firm analyst Vortexa warns in the BBC that, if these interruptions persist, maintaining the current level of flights will be logistically unsustainable without drastic route cuts and massive fare increases. Starting tomorrow, when the last ships that managed to escape the blockade unload their precious fuel in the continent’s ports, European aviation will begin to fly with the reserve light on. The era of absolute vulnerability of the European sky has just taken off. Image | Unsplash Xataka | The canary in the mine of the new oil crisis are the airlines: they are already canceling flights due to lack of fuel

Iceland has solved it in the middle of the desert

by

Trapping carbon dioxide emissions and literally turning them into stone seems like an invention straight out of the blue. Futuramawhere in the future everything is recycled. The problem is that this trick of underground alchemy hid a terrifying small print: his exorbitant thirst. To get carbon to mineralize underground, the system needs to swallow absurd amounts of liquid, specifically between 20 and 50 times more water than the mass of CO₂ we are trying to store. However, a new industrial-scale study published in the magazine Nature just rewritten the rules of the game. An international team, with researchers from Iceland, Saudi Arabia and Italy, has shown in the western Saudi desert that it is possible to petrify CO₂ without wasting a single drop of external fresh water. Salvation under the sands of Saudi Arabia. As the authors of the research detail, this area is a real challenge: it is full of large facilities that emit a lot of CO₂, such as refineries and desalination plants, but it lacks the underground saline aquifers or sedimentary traps that are traditionally used to inject carbon. Salvation was under his feet. About 24 kilometers from the Jizan Economic Complex and Refinery, geologists took advantage of an immense bed of highly fractured volcanic rocks (basalts) that have been there for between 21 and 30 million years. There they tested an ingenious system for recirculating subsoil fluids. The gigantic “soda” trick. To carry out the experiment, the engineers used two main wells, separated by just 130 meters: one functions as a “production” well (extracts water) and the other as an “injection” well. The process is a closed circuit and isolated from the atmosphere so that oxygen does not enter or gas escape. They extract the water that already lives in the depths, circulate it through pipes and, 150 meters underground, inject pure CO₂ into it in the form of bubbles until it completely dissolves. According to the project scientists, dissolving the gas in water has two brutal chemical and mechanical advantages: It gets heavy: CO₂-laden water is denser than regular still water, so it creates a non-buoyant fluid, greatly limiting the risk of the gas migrating to the surface and back into the atmosphere. It becomes acidic: This liquid is acidic and greatly accelerates the dissolution of the silicate minerals present in the basaltic rock. As the rock dissolves, it releases metals that provide the cations needed to form stable minerals, such as calcite. A question of geopolitical survival. The data from this pilot is a resounding success. The team injected 131 tons of CO₂ into the subsoil. After monitoring the area with trackers, they discovered that approximately 70% of all that injected carbon had been mineralized within ten months. Measurements showed that the concentration of dissolved inorganic carbon in the returning water had been reduced by 90% compared to what was initially injected. Reusing water from the reservoir itself offers substantial advantages. Not only do you forget about bringing external water, but you also reduce the risk of the pressure of fluids underground increasing dangerously. Furthermore, by injecting water that has the same composition as the original underground reserve, the risk of compatibility problems, such as losses of permeability in the reservoir, is reduced. The current dimension. As we recently analyzed in Xataka In the wake of military escalation in the region, the real Achilles heel of the Arabian Peninsula is not oil, but thirst. Countries like Saudi Arabia depend 70% on their desalination plants to survive. In a scenario where the supply of fresh water is a strategic vulnerability and a matter of biological survival, allocating massive volumes of water to bury emissions was simply unfeasible. Therefore, this advance opens the door for the Middle East – where a large part of global oil production is also concentrated – to be able to use its basalt rocks to store carbon without sacrificing a vital resource. A providential accident. Sometimes setbacks are the best of tests. In September 2023, the submersible pump in the extraction well broke down. When the technicians brought it to the surface, they found its interior full of rock grains cemented by up to 14% calcite, as well as other minerals such as siderite and ankerite. The isotope analyzes made it clear: these solid cements were formed from the CO₂ injected during the pilot project. The gas had literally petrified in the very bowels of the machine. An “energy bargain”. As if that were not enough, we must add energy savings. As the research details, injecting CO₂ with this method requires a surface pressure of only 12 to 14 bars. That’s 8 to 16 times less pressure than conventional carbon capture plants require. Basically, CO₂-laden water is drawn into the system driven by gravity. Regarding its future potential, engineers calculate that the underground pores of this particular area (estimated between 24,000 and 43,000 m³) would have enough space to house between 22,000 and 40,000 tons of mineralized CO₂. Geology dictates: the limit of the stone. Every geological technology has its own physical limits. As experts explain Natureas water, CO₂ and basalt interact, the total volume of solid minerals increases. This means that the pore space is reduced and can end up blocking water flow paths in the long term. To get around this problem, the researchers propose that we may have to resort to fracturing the rock (fracking), an option still little explored in basaltic systems. What is clear is that this technological innovation is proposed as a great complement to conventional capture systems, not as an exclusive alternative, since in the end it is the geological conditions that rule. But thanks to this pioneering experiment, there is something we can take for granted: the lack of rivers or fresh aquifers is no longer an excuse for not returning our emissions to the subsoil and turning them into stone. Image | Eric Gaba and Nature Xataka | Neither oil nor gas: if a total war breaks out between the US … Read more

In the middle of 2026, a childhood without mobile phones sounds impossible. A town in Ireland is doing it

by

Greystones is a small town on the coast of Ireland, more specifically in County Wicklow. 22,000 inhabitants, semi-detached houses, coastal landscapes, a railway network which allows you to reach Dublin in just over half an hour… A priori, it is the perfect town to enjoy a peaceful life just a stone’s throw from the bustling Irish capital, where companies such as Google or Apple. However, in recent years the town has been in the news for another, very different reason: his crusade against the use of smartphones among the children. His case shows that it is still possible to live a cell phone-free childhood. What has happened? That the small town of Greystones (Ireland) has strived to teach the world a lesson: to show that in 2026 it is possible to keep children away from mobile phones, Instagram, TikTok and the rest of social networks. We just need to join forces to change the sign of social pressure. The initiative is actually not new. Greystones launched their crusade in 2023when it already aroused the curiosity of the rest of the world. However, the unknown remained as to how the experience would turn out. Now we already know. Where does the idea come from? The debate around what age Children should start using mobile phones or social networks and the influence that these have on them is not new. It’s not a concern unique to Greystones, either. There however it happened something interesting during the pandemic. When students returned to classrooms after lockdown, Rachael Harper, headteacher at St Patrick’s School, found that some children were having trouble sleeping or struggling to concentrate. She wasn’t the only one to notice. Other colleagues confirmed that they perceived similar attitudes among their primary school students. What caused them? It didn’t take long for teachers to focus on the use of cell phones. They even encountered children who controlled their calories with apps. Eoghan Cleary, a teacher at another Greystones school, also found that his students admitted seeing violent content on the Internet. The sum of all these factors led several primary schools to send a survey to around 800 parents When asked about the topic: more than half acknowledged that they noticed their children were anxious. In some cases they had even sought professional help. It was enough for the city to decide to make a move. What exactly did he do? We mentioned it before: join forces. Eight primary schools in the Greystones and Delgany area came together to launch an initiative they named ‘It Takes a Village’ (‘It takes a whole village’). Its main tool was the ‘voluntary code without smartphones’, a community pact that basically encourages residents to prohibit children from using mobile phones during their primary education period. In practice this is equivalent to keeping young people away from networks and smartphones until they turn 12 and enter secondary school. The pact is of course voluntary, free and failing to comply with it does not result in fines, but the idea is that whoever signs it applies it both at school and at home. Were you that worried about the issue? It seems so. “As principal of St. Patricks Elementary School I have observed growing concern among parents and teachers,” Harper admitted in 2023 in a column opinion published in Guardian. “The level of anxiety of children in schools has grown steadily, since easy access to online and mobile content has become a threat to childhood. We felt the need to act. The process started with a realization: childhood is becoming increasingly shorter.” Has it worked? That was three years ago. Now we finally know how the initiative is working. Recently The New York Times dedicated an extensive report in which, among other issues, it confirms that the campaign has had a more than reasonable reception. They have supported her 70% of parents and above all it has penetrated the town, moving to businesses and politicians. He has even made his mark beyond Wicklow. Shortly after it was launched ‘Smartphone Free Chilhood’a citizen movement that advocates delaying children’s access to smartphones at least up to 14 years. How has he achieved it? In 2023, Harper herself insisted in that, if it really wanted to work, the initiative had to go beyond the classrooms. “It’s not about enforcing a code. It’s about building a strong network of services that helps children, families and teachers deal with anxiety-related challenges.” The report of The New York Times suggests that goal is also being achieved at Greystones. Beyond what parents do at home, the campaign is completed with training workshops and events such as phone-free beach parties. Even with the commitment of local businesses. For example, one store has offered to help children who need to locate their parents. Is it so important? Yes. And for a simple reason. The very name of the initiative (‘It takes a whole village’) makes it clear that, to succeed, the campaign must play with collective pressure. And it seems that he is achieving it. “In networks everything is collective. Addressing it jointly is the best option,” recognize Jennifer Whitmore, member of the Irish parliament and mother in Greystones. In other words: delaying a child’s access to mobile phones and social platforms is very easy when they are surrounded by other kids of the same age who also do not use them. “What Greystones demonstrates is that parents and communities are not powerless,” agree Clearly. Is it that dangerous? Harper insist in that the initiative is not based on “anti-technology stances” nor does it want to deny children the use of smartphones. The key lies rather in rethinking the times and what it means to have a mobile phone. “Our goal is to ensure that they are adequately prepared and emotionally capable to take on the responsibility that comes with having a smartphone when accessing secondary education”, claims before citing a UNESCO report that suggests it can take up to 20 minutes for a child to concentrate … Read more

In the Middle Ages it was common to sleep inside wooden closets. The big question is why we stopped doing it.

by

Today the idea may seem to us claustrophobicextravagant and even a little uncomfortable, but in its day, a few centuries ago, sleeping locked in a closet was the best guarantee of spending a pleasant night. Pleasant, relaxed and comfortable. Our ancestors had so many good reasons to curl up in a kind of wooden closet with sheets that the curious thing is not that they did it, but that we—since the 20th century—have abandoned the habit. In fact, there are those who propose recover the concept in the 21st century. Although, yes, with a technological point and betting on a much more modern aesthetic than the one that was popular in the times of our great-great-great-grandparents. Beds in closets? Exact. Today it may sound strange to us. To our ancestors, not so much. As I remembered recently told the BBC, there was a time, a fairly long one, between the Middle Ages and the beginning of the 20th century, when wardrobe beds were popular throughout Europe. In the 21st century, such a piece may seem curious to us, but the names with which we designate these pieces of furniture —“box bed” or “closed bed”—cannot be more descriptive. Although there were variations, with more or less elegant models and the details could vary, these items were nothing more or less than that: drawers with beds inside. Wardrobe beds were popular enough that even today we can find some important samples or references. For example, in a museum in Wick, north of Scotland, they preserve a curious bed wardrobe of pine that helps to decorate, along with other period furniture, one of the rooms where the fishermen who arrived in the region during the herring season in the 19th century stayed. Other equally curious examples can be seen in places as diverse as Austria, Holland either France. There, in the lands of Brittany, they were known as lit-clos. Even in the Rembrandt House Museumin Amsterdam, you can see today a “drawer bed” like the one used by the painter and his wife, Saskia. The writers have told us about them Emily Bronte and Thomas Adolphus and Frances Eleanor Trollope and they have even shown them to us with their brushes Pieter de Hooch either Jacob Vrel. That’s not counting the multiple references to this type of furniture, both in stories and written texts. The representations show that its details could vary, but the philosophy was always the same: overhead cabinetswith legs and often doors or a small window that could be covered with curtains. Sometimes they even had two levels different. And they always contained beds for their owners to rest. “It is the resting place of the maid or any other member of the family. The opening, which is left as the only means of access to the interior of this retreat, is provided with sliding doors, generally (as well as the entire front of the bed) beautifully carved. So that the occupant may, if he so desires, completely enclose himself,” they related circa 1840 Thomas and Frances Trollope. From peasants to aristocrats If today it is possible to find so many references it is because, clarifies the BBCthis type of structures was quite popular in homes throughout Europe, both in Great Britain and on the continent, from medieval times until the early 20th century. The British network also points out that all types of families used them. From peasants who wanted to rest after long days in the countryside to fishermen or distinguished members of the nobility. At the end of the day, its purpose could always be the same, but among furniture beds—as is the case with furniture today—there were also relevant differences. There were simple ones. And there were some with engravings worthy of a palace. But… Why did they use them? The correct question could be another: Why do we stop using them? Over time they went out of fashion and became rarities, but for centuries they guaranteed a comfortable way to spend the night. The reason? They offered privacy, were versatile, made it possible to make good use of space and to top off their service record, they helped to spend warm evenings in homes where, as remembers the historian Roger Ekircj, it was not unusual for the sap from the logs in the fireplace or even the inkwells to freeze. The teacher remembers that between the 14th and 19th centuries Europe and part of North America suffered a Little Ice Age which froze the waters of the Thames River on almost twenty occasions. With such temperatures the prospect of locking oneself in a box at night didn’t seem like such a bad idea. Especially if you take into account that it could be shared with other people. Extravagant perhaps, in the eyes of 21st century families; but the box beds were also smart. The most elaborate ones offered a seat and drawers in which clothes could be stored, just like today’s folding couches. Not to mention that they were a great option to convert places that a priori had been designed for other purposes into bedrooms. For example, the Wick Society says that in 1980, a family from the Scottish Highlandsinstalled one of these beds in the barn so that part of its members could sleep there. The room designed for family rest had become too small and the design of the wardrobe bed gave them a great solution. TIt was also not unusual for them to be offered to seasonal workers and immigrants and for them to be shared among several family members or co-workers. Perhaps this way they would be less comfortable – not to mention privacy – but on one of the nights of the Little Ice Age that hit Europe in the 17th century with icy temperatures, those wooden sarcophagi were an effective way to avoid the cold. Or that it was at least more bearable. Perhaps that is why, even today, in 2024, there are those who look at … Read more

Thousands of people have fallen in love with seven dogs abandoned and on the run in the middle of China. It was just another AI video

by

The image was undeniably powerful, almost cinematic. In the freezing darkness of the night, with temperatures below zero, a pack of seven dogs walked in formation on the shoulder of a highway. The video of just 11 seconds, published in chinese platform Douyinshowed a motley crew: a German shepherd, a golden retriever, a Labrador, a small corgi, and several mixed breed dogs. The clip went viral, quickly racking up more than 230 million views. The audience, saturated with news about wars and disastersfound an emotional balm in these animals. But what the network hailed as a miracle of loyalty and survival, the real version of the Disney movie Homeward Bound or the children’s series Paw Patrolturned out to be a completely prefabricated story. The birth of a viral myth. It didn’t take long for the internet machinery to build an epic narrative. From there, speculation became “truth.” Rumor spread that the seven dogs had escaped from a traffickers’ truck that was taking them to a dog meat slaughterhouse, and it was even claimed that they had walked 17 kilometers together. The anthropomorphization of the pack reached extraordinary levels. As illustrated by the comments of Internet userssocial networks assigned a role to each dog in this pack: the injured German shepherd was the “General” whom everyone protected; the golden retriever was the “guard” that was placed near traffic to shield them; Chinese rural dogs were the “guides” with a sense of direction; and the little corgi was the brave leader and “nurse” who walked 50,000 steps—twice as many as the rest—retracing his steps to make sure no one was left behind. The truth behind this story. The event, however, was much less romantic and lacked villains. Extensive field research carried out by reporters City Evening News dismantled the theory of the great escape. There were no meat traffickers, no kidnapping trucks, nor a 17-kilometer trip. Reporters located the village in Shuangyang district where the animals came from. Three of the most famous dogs belonged to Mr. and Mrs. Zhang: the corgi, affectionately called “Big Fatty” (Dapang); the German Shepherd, “Four Treasures” (Sibao); and the golden retriever, “Long Hair.” As the family explained, around March 13, the German shepherd simply went into heat. Since the dogs in the village usually roam freely, the males in the area were attracted to her and began to follow her, going just 4 or 5 kilometers away until they reached the highway. The rescue was not out of a movie either. Although volunteers from rescue bases such as Tong Tong or Bitter Coffee (led by Professor Liu) used drones to search for the herd, the resolution was purely customary. As detailed City Evening NewsMr. Zhang had a dream in which he was feeding his dogs. Convinced that they were alive, he went out to look for them in neighboring towns and found them safe and sound in the walled patio of a house where they had entered to take refuge. The other dogs in the video turned out to be pets of other neighbors in the area, such as Messrs. Guo and Jing, who returned home on their own. The engine of deception. If the story was so simple, how did it become a global phenomenon full of false details? The answer is in technology. According to an in-depth analysis of cnnalthough the original clip of the dogs walking on the highway was authentic, the story was hijacked and inflated using Artificial Intelligence. After the video went viral, AI-generated “spin-offs” proliferated: cinematic posters of the seven dogs, fake trailers showing their “exciting escape” and hyper-realistic images of the animals tearfully reunited with their supposed owners. The reason is purely economic, since “attention is money on the Internet”, as TJ Thomson explainsassociate professor of digital media at RMIT University. Content creators saw a golden opportunity to capitalize on a trend. As Tama Leaver, a professor at Curtin University, adds, inventing or embellishing these stories using AI is “a very effective way to increase an account’s numbers quickly.” The implications beyond. Although it may seem like an endearing and harmless anecdote, this viral hoax has tangible consequences. On the one hand, it perpetuates stigmas. Although since SCMP contextualizeciting the Dalian Animal Protection Association, that pet theft for meat is a real problem in some areas of northern China (which prompted genuine concern from many), in this specific case the false narrative fueled the fires of racism. As pointed out cnnthe invention of the “meat factory” fueled negative stereotypes against Chinese citizens, something especially dangerous in a climate of growing xenophobia. On the other hand, there is the damage to our information ecosystem. Chinese state media and the Jilin tourist office had to intervene to deny the rumor. as quote Guardianauthorities warned that this incident “reflects deficiencies in the dissemination of information online, where subjective speculation is easily taken as fact.” Professor Tama Leaver warns about danger of complacency: If we let our guard down and accept AI-generated images without questioning them because they are “cute dogs”, our critical skills will be atrophied when faced with false images about serious topics, such as war conflicts. @cnn A viral video showed a group of dogs in China who were purportedly captured to be eaten, escaped, and made the long journey home. The problem? The story’s not real. CNN’s Jessie Yeung explains how this kind of misinformation can spread. #cnn #news ♬ original sound – CNN The fragility of our eyes. The ending of “The Adventures of the Seven Dogs” in Changchun did not require an epic soundtrack, but a leash. Owners now leash their dogs during the mating season. However, the trail they leave on the network is deep. In an era dominated by AI and the desperate search for clicks, our need to consume happy endings it makes us deeply vulnerable to manipulation. The true story of the German shepherd or the corgi teaches us a hard journalistic and social lesson about the contemporary internet: as Professor Thomson … Read more

Log In

Forgot password?

Forgot password?

Enter your account data and we will send you a link to reset your password.

Your password reset link appears to be invalid or expired.

Log in

Privacy Policy

Add to Collection

No Collections

Here you'll find all collections you've created before.