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China urgently needed a train station, so it was built in nine hours with 1,500 workers and 23 excavators.

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Anyone who has done a work at home will have already experienced firsthand that they know when it starts but not when it ends, something that happens in domestic works and that we also see from time to time with public works. And large infrastructures take time, although we have seen real records such as this 10-story building in just 29 hours. Of course, in China. Precisely there, in the city of Longyan in the southeast of the country, is where they have made a train station overnight. Literal. And although the work is a milestone in 2026, the reality is that this reform in record time took place in January 2018 and that left Elon Musk with his mouth openwhich had no qualms in stating that “China’s progress in advanced infrastructure is more than 100 times faster than that of the United States.” As China Central Television narratedat 6:05 p.m. the station closed and only 17 minutes later the remodeling kicked off in an action that more than a construction seems like a synchronized swimming number until 3:30 in the morning, the time of the end. A kind of “open heart operation” in public works Only nine hours for a project that, although it is true that it was not a new station from scratch, was not exactly small: it consisted of a remodeling and connection of roads between a new high-speed line between Longyan and Nanping and three existing railway lines. Furthermore, they decided to do it at night so as not to interrupt daily rail traffic. Because at 6:22 p.m., 1,500 workers grouped in seven units were executing seven different simultaneous tasks, such as Zhan Daosong tolddeputy manager of China Tiesiju Civil Engineering Group, China’s leading railway construction company. To carry it out, they relied on seven trains and 23 excavators. Thus, while one group installed monitoring and signage equipment, another paved the land. The millimeter precision and rapport is such that Reminiscent of open heart surgery but transferred to public works: with workers distributed over a range of 1.5 kilometers in their assigned places and 23 coordination teams to ensure compliance with deadlines and processes. Something like this is not done overnight, but before the day of truth They did six large-scale drills to prepare. The decision to do it at night has an explanation: not to interrupt the day’s rail traffic because in fact, at 1:56 in the morning they already had the first test train accessing the new station. Because they had also estimated a verification period of three and a half hours in which three other trains accessed the facilities. At 5:53 in the morning the rehearsals were over: K297, a normal passenger train, arrived at the station. As impressive as the speed of the project, which involves enormous planning work and prior studies, was the achievement achieved: reducing the travel time between both cities from seven hours to just an hour and a half thanks to the high-speed train that travels along the track at 200 km/h. In Xataka | 100% autonomous factories where it is not necessary to turn on the light: China is already considering manufacturing cars only with robots in 2030 In Xataka | Tesla’s dwarfs continue to grow: the Model 3 is no longer the premium electric that sells the most in China Cover | CGNT

Thousands of workers were needed to build the colossal Golden Gate. Just to maintain it you need 200 people

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There are few symbols as recognizable of the United States as the golden gatethat colossal orange bridge inaugurated in 1937 that crosses the San Francisco Bay. And no wonder: 1,280 meters of bridge hanging on two 227-meter-high towers with 600 thousand rivets each. It enters through the eyes and also, it also sounds. The subject of countless photographs and an extra in numerous films and series, it is also the place chosen by many people. to end his life. The colossal construction of the Golden Gate. When the Golden Gate opened almost a century ago, it was considered an architectural landmark that combined engineering and modernity. And no wonder: the work lasted more than four years, cost more than 35 million dollars (from the 1930s) and the construction techniques were cutting-edge. However, they faced challenges such as the turbulent currents, the hurricane winds and the dense fog in the area. Not to mention its proximity with the San Andreas and Hayward fault. One of the solutions was to make the structure of the Golden Gate something dynamic and not rigid, which allows it to better deal with wind and tide (literal). In addition, it is designed so that the two towers absorb the tension generated by the passage of vehicles through the suspension cables. One of those towers had to be built in the middle of the open ocean, something exceptional at the time. High turnover and a lot of security. Although its construction is carefully documented and there is an extensive graphic archive, there is no record of how many people worked on its construction beyond the fact that there were 10 contractors with their respective subcontractors, there was a lot of turnover (note: we were in the context of the Great Depression) and that at the peak of the work there were hundreds of men working, with critical roles such as structuralists, divers, spinners to weave the cables and painters and riveters. Unfortunately, 11 people died during this imposing construction. And this despite the fact that its chief engineer, Joseph Strauss, stood out for its commitment to job security: They installed a safety net under the bridge that would save those 19 workers who became part of the Halfway-to-Hell club (halfway to hell). 200 people for maintenance. Although the exact figure is unknown precisely due to the turnover and number of contractors, there are estimates which point to figures between 4,000 and 8,000 workers who participated directly in the construction between 1933 and 1937, which seems plausible. What is most striking is that for its maintenance about 200 workers are needed among engineering professionals, metal workers, painters, mechanics, electricians, communications technicians, street and garden maintenance, among others. The maintenance team. In the age of AI and automation, San Francisco Bridge Maintenance pulls trades with a multidisciplinary team led by a captain who oversees patrol activities 24 hours a day. As a curiosity, since 1937 there have been 11 captains. As a summary, these are the main positions and their functions: Painters and metal workers. They work at height and in confined spaces. They are responsible for painting, sandblasting old paint, and repairing corroded steel and rivets. Structural Engineers: They carry out visual and sensor inspections of each of the thousands of rivets and cables, in addition to ensuring the operation of the machinery. Safety and Traffic: With a flow of 100,000 vehicles daily, accidents and breakdowns are the order of the day. It is a 24/7 operational service to avoid collapsing the city. Why so many people. As we have seen in the previous point, maintenance logistics is specialized and has a certain complexity being at altitude, it requires always being available and the environment is aggressive. Paint the Golden Gate It has its own, hence it has its own section within the bridge website. To begin with, it is not painted every so often, but rather it is painted continuously and in parts. And maintenance is selective and based on priority: it is a battle against corrosion. The combination of the humidity of the Pacific and its high salinity is a ticking time bomb for steel. Although they chose the International Orange tone because of how well it integrates with the environment and its visibility, this paint protects the steel from UV rays and humidity. On the other hand, inspections of its expansion joints and seismic dampers are frequent to ensure that it can flex without breaking due to vibrations and earthquakes. In Xataka | More than 2,000 people had committed suicide at the Golden Gate. The solution has been as simple as it is shocking for those who throw In Xataka | In 1976 Boston built its most amazing skyscraper. Until its windows became lethal guillotines Cover | Photo of Maarten van den Heuvel in Unsplash

NASA needed to get to the Moon and had a problem with an insulating material. So it was put in the hands of the surfers

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Now that we are immersed in the space race to reach Mars, it is worth looking back to see one of the most surprising anecdotes of the other race with which the United States achieved taking man to the Moon for the first time. And to achieve this they did not hesitate to use all available resources, from their best scientists to their best… surfers? Although it may seem like a joke, it took surfers to perfect the Saturn Vthe space rocket with which the Apollo missions took off between 1967 and 1973. The POT He had created a honeycomb-shaped insulator for his rocket, and needed specialists in the use of honeycomb-shaped materials… like that of the surfboards of the time. This story It was kept secret for years. But even though it ended up coming to light after a NASA engineer told it in an interview, it remains one of the most curious and unknown anecdotes of the space race. There are also references to it in documentaries such as one of the chapters of ‘Moon Machines’, available at YouTube. Surfers at NASA The second stage of the Saturn V, the S-II, was built by National American Aviation (NAA) in Seal Beach, California. It was composed almost exclusively of two tanks of oxygen and liquid hydrogen that, for logistical reasons, had to be placed almost close together and separated only by a thin layer of aluminum. But there was a problem, that the liquid hydrogen had to be kept at a temperature of about 20º above absolute zero, so They had to create a new insulator to cover your tank. They created one in the shape of a honeycomb, since the hexagonal design is the strongest and lightest in nature and we have been using it for thousands of years, but they could not get the insulating layer to stay stuck to the aluminum. Fortunately for the NAA their facilities were in one of the surfing capitals on the west coast, and their engineers realized that the surfers They also used honeycomb-shaped materials in their boards. They were therefore more experienced experts than any scientist when it came to dealing with these types of insulators, which is why they hired a few to design an effective way to apply it to the tanks. The surfers recommended applying the insulation with sprays with a foam that solidified forming hexagonal cells. The idea worked, the NAA finished the S-II, which was assembled with the rest of the parts of the Saturn V. The rocket took 24 astronauts to the Moon without any loss of useful shell, having only engine problems with Apollo 6 and Apollo 13. Image | POT In Xataka | How many times have we gone to the Moon and why have only 11 military aviators and one geologist set foot on it in all of history? In Xataka | The far side of the Moon hid an icy secret. We finally know why it is so different from what we see

Mexico desperately needed Mexicans to care about axolotls. So he put them on the bills

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The cultural phenomenon around Mexican axolotl It began with an apparently modest gesture: its appearance on a bill, part of a design process in which specialists in Xochimilco advised the Bank of Mexico to faithfully represent this unique species and its chinampero ecosystem. The initial intention was pedagogical and symbolic, but it ended up unleashing an unexpected enthusiasm of unknown dimensions. The creature that conquered a country. As we said, the emergence in 2021 of the axolotl on the Mexican 50 peso bill completely transformed the country’s relationship with a species that, until then, was known only by specialists and inhabitants from Xochimilco. From the first day of circulation, the design captivated millions of people, not only for its aesthetics, but for the soft and enigmatic figure of the amphibian that, unintentionally, embodied a mixture of tenderness, identity and cultural pride. Without millions in circulation. The bill became an immediate phenomenon: collectors, families and young people began to keep it as a small treasure, which explains why, more than four years later, the Bank of Mexico (Banxico) has announced through a report that 9.8 million Mexicans They keep or collect this bill as if it were a treasure and they have decided to remove it from circulation. In fact, the bank has detailed that 68% of those consulted, who responded that they keep or collect this paper currency, have one to five units. According to the calculation, if 9.8 million Mexicans keep a 50 bill, it is estimated that around 490 million pesos of this currency, or its approximate equivalent of more than 26 million dollarsare out of circulation. Hallucinatory. Awards. Its success even led to it being internationally awarded as ticket of the yearconsecrating what was already intuited: the image of the axolotl had connected with a collective sensitivity that went far beyond the economic. And behind that image there was a real animal, an axolotl called Gordaselected after a careful process of documentation and photography, which ended up becoming a national figure without anyone planning it. The daily life of la Gorda. Gorda currently lives in Axolotitlán, the National Axolotl Museumwhere she remains in a deep and well-kept fish tank where she is no longer constantly exposed due to her advanced age. Even so, those who visit it can recognize it by small white spots on its head, a feature that ended up becoming its hallmark. Its fame has generated a parallel ecosystem of objects and souvenirs (from stuffed animals to mugs and clothing) that have reinforced its presence in the country’s daily life. But beyond popular culture, specialists have remembered that admiration also implies responsibility: the axolotl is a extremely fragile speciesdependent on a specific environment, and its sudden notoriety only makes sense if it translates into greater awareness about its conservation. Gorda’s story shows that a single specimen can become a bridge between citizens and nature, but also that collective emotion must be accompanied by decisions that guarantee the survival of the species. An extraordinary creature. The qualities axolotl biologicalfrom its ability to regenerate limbs, tissues and even parts of the brain, to its breathing through gills, skin and mouth, or its condition as a salamander that does not complete metamorphosis, have made it a unique animal in the world. However, this singularity coexists with a critical situation: he Ambystoma mexicanum It is classified as extremely endangered and the destruction of its habitat has been constant for decades. Xochimilco, the only place where this species exists naturally, faces a combination of threats: accelerated urbanization, water pollution and the presence of invasive species that have decimated native ones since the 1980s. And more. Added to this are improvised interventionssuch as the release of axolotls without scientific protocols, which end in almost immediate mortality due to thermal shock, poor water quality or competition between specimens. The specialists they insist in which the conservation of the axolotl is not an act of isolated goodwill, but a technical process that requires strict control of the environment, genetic evaluation, slow acclimatization and comprehensive protection of the channels. The fragility of the animal reflects the fragility of the ecosystem that supports it. Restore Xochimilco. Scientists say that the conservation of the axolotl is inseparable from recovery of Xochimilcoand that evidence has led researchers and chinamperos to undertake shelter projects that recover ancestral agricultural techniques. These restored chinampas act as safe microecosystems where axolotls can remain free of contact with invasive species and with adequate water quality. The objective is not to create artificial reserves, but return to the environment its original balance so that the species can survive without eternally depending on human intervention. Xochimilco is not just a historical heritage nor a tourist postcard, it is a living system that regulates floods, stabilizes temperature, supports traditional agriculture and houses a biodiversity that depends on its continuity. The axolotl is only the visible tip of a problem much broader: if your home disappears, ecological functions on which the entire region depends will also disappear. The hype. Be that as it may, the social phenomenon of the 50 peso bill demonstrated that an image can change public perception of an entire species. Gorda became a symbol recognized by millions of people, capable of arousing curiosity, affection and an unexpected sense of identity. But the real impact is not in the collection of banknotes or in the objects inspired by the axolotl, but in the opportunity it opened to understand that conservation is a deeply cultural act: Only what is known is protected, and only that with which a bond is generated is cared for. The challenge in Mexico now is to convert that emotion into a sustained commitment. The bill gave visibility, and the restoration of Xochimilco will decide if that visibility has a future. The axolotl, meanwhile, has already occupied a place in everyday life, and now it is the country that must decide if it will also occupy a place in its future. Image | Dgzvs2012 In Xataka | We … Read more

Google has solved problems in two hours that would take three years on a supercomputer. It’s the quantum advantage we needed

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Google has taken a notable step into the field of quantum computing with a new algorithm called Quantom Echoes. This algorithm has been able to demonstrate for the first time a “practical and verifiable quantum advantage” that makes its quantum computer make fools of today’s large supercomputers. 13,000 times faster than a supercomputer. The new algorithm, called Quantum Echoes (“Quantum Echoes”), has made it possible to demonstrate that a quantum computer – based on Google’s Willow quantum chip— successfully executes a verifiable algorithm that exceeds the capacity of today’s large supercomputers. Thus, that computer managed to execute that algorithm 13,000 times faster than the best current classical supercomputer when executing similar code. “Quantum verifiability”. Google’s quantum supercomputer solved the problem in just over two hours, when in the second supercomputer most powerful in the world, Frontier, would have taken 3.2 years. But it also did it in a verifiable way: the result can be repeated in the quantum computer itself or in any other of similar caliber. Quantum echoes. The algorithm resembles an advanced echo: you send a signal to the quantum system, perturb a qubit, and then precisely reverse the evolution of the signal to “listen” to the resulting echo. This echo is special because it is amplified by constructive interference, a quantum phenomenon where waves add up to become stronger, which allows this effect to be precisely measured. The algorithm allows modeling the structure of systems in nature, from molecules to black holes. An achievement with a lot of Nobel Prize behind it. The milestone is based on decades of research in this area, including that carried out by the recent Nobel Prize winner, Michel H. Devoretwho is part of the Google team. Together with his colleagues John M. Martinis and John Clark he laid the foundations for this advance at the University of California at Berkeley in the mid-1980s. “Quantum verifiability”. Google’s quantum supercomputer solved the problem in just over two hours, when in the second supercomputer most powerful in the world, Frontier, would have taken 3.2 years. But it also did it in a verifiable way: the result can be repeated in the quantum computer itself or in any other of similar caliber. Quantum echoes. The algorithm resembles an advanced echo: you send a signal to the quantum system, perturb a qubit, and then precisely reverse the evolution of the signal to “listen” to the resulting echo. This echo is special because it is amplified by constructive interference, a quantum phenomenon where waves add up to become stronger, which allows this effect to be precisely measured. The algorithm allows modeling the structure of systems in nature, from molecules to black holes. An achievement with a lot of Nobel Prize behind it. The milestone is based on decades of research in this area, including that carried out by the recent Nobel Prize winner, Michel H. Devoretwho is part of the Google team. Together with his colleagues John M. Martinis and John Clark he laid the foundations for this advance at the University of California at Berkeley in the mid-1980s. Hello qubit. His discovery: the properties of quantum mechanics could also be observed in electrical circuits large enough to be seen with the naked eye. That gave rise to the creation of superconducting qubitswhich are the basic blocks with which Google has created (like other companies) its quantum computers. Devoret joined Google in 2023, thus strengthening the company’s trajectory in its search for the now famous “quantum supremacy”. Promising practical applications. The advance is directed directly to the solution of important problems in fields such as medicine or materials science. Quantum computing remains an experimental technology and faces a key challenge with error correction, but Quantum Echoes demonstrates that “quantum software” is advancing at a pace parallel to hardware. Google applied Quantum Echoes to a proof of concept experiment for Nuclear Magnetic Resonance. This technique acts as a “molecular microscope”, a powerful tool that will help design drugs or, for example, establish the molecular structure of new polymers. a marathon. This new milestone demonstrates the progress that this technology has made in recent years, but Google is not alone here. Microsoft or IBM have also made notable advances in recent years, and of course there are numerous startups both in the US like in china who work in this area. In Xataka | Decoherence is the biggest problem with quantum computers. This superconductor wants to end it

they needed to be a perpetual soap opera

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In Spain we like a good story of rise, fall and recovery, but all very passionate and Mediterranean: backstabbing, toxic abysses and a discography that marked a generation. Van Gogh’s Ear once again has Amaia Montero in frontleaving Leire (and some other unexpected martyrs) along the way. We review this roller coaster of successes and failures, detailing all the lore of this story that now opens a new chapter. First successes. Amaia Montero was the original vocalist of La Oreja de Van Gogh from its beginnings in 1996 until 2007. During that period, the group achieved massive success with best-selling albums (Copperpot’s Journey, 2003, sold two and a half million albums in Spain and Latin America, where the group had a significant presence) and awards as important as a Latin Grammy and several Ondas Awards. Amaia’s characteristic voice marked a before and after in Spanish pop with songs prior to the steamroller of Latin sounds that was about to reach our music: ‘El 28’, ‘Cuéntame alhear’, ‘Cuídate’. ‘The beach’, ‘Pop’, ‘You can count on me’, ‘January 20’, ‘Roses’, ‘Rag doll’, ‘Sweet madness’… Amaia comes out. On November 19, 2007, Amaia Montero announced her departure from the band to pursue a solo career, a decision motivated by her desire to grow personally and professionally. That was the official version. Apparently, there were no conflicts or fights, but simply the desire to explore new musical horizons. La Oreja de Van Gogh continued with a new vocalist, Leire Martínez, while the relationship between Amaia and her former colleagues deteriorated: there were statements that reflected a cordial relationship but with some unresolved difficulties. Amaia free. Amaia Montero He started his solo career very soon.in 2008 (perhaps that was what disturbed the calm in the band?) with a self-titled album that reached number one in sales, and with a single, ‘ Quiero ser ‘, of considerable impact. But at this stage Amaia experienced complicated moments, with criticism of her appearance and concert recordings where he did not show his best physical condition. In 2020 he moved away from public life to “cure himself” and in 2022 he entered a clinic for a strong stress and anxiety. In 2023 things did not seem to improve: she was admitted to the ICU of a Madrid hospital for a cut on her hand. Now she seems to have recovered from these setbacks ahead of her new stage at LODVG. Leire lives, the fight continues. Van Gogh’s Ear has operated for sixteen years with Leire as the front, which is said to be early. His albums with the band, no less than five, performed well in sales (although without going overboard: in the best cases, around 500,000 copies, although we already talked about the era of streaming) and continued filling large venues. The group evolved, thanks to the quality of its singer, towards a more intimate and less strident pop, but they stopped appearing on the front line, as was the case with Amaia. Leire’s departure from the band, officially on October 14, 2024was peaceful although it was not lacking in bitterness: Leire has always stated that her former colleagues did not discuss her departure with her. And he sold his memorabilia on Wallapop, in a promotion with very bad grapes. Rumors begin. Above Amaia’s health problems and her lyrical drifts, the soap opera begins here thanks to the connotations of the replacement, not as oxygenated as the group wants to make it out. To begin with, the replacement was on the table before Leire left, which would undoubtedly strain the relationship between the new singer and her colleagues. Different signs were multiplying the rumors, such as Amaia’s appearance at a Karol G. concert to perform ‘Rosas’, certifying de facto that she was ready to front her old band again. Amaists against Leirists. The announcement of Amaia’s return occurred on October 14, 2025, just one year after Leire left the band. Classy. And on social networks, the group’s bio has changed to “Only together makes sense”, a phrase with more substance than it seems: the group used it when They decided to continue without Amaia). The deletion of Leire’s farewell from social networks and the replacement by a blank post has unleashed a war of comments between fans of both vocalists, something unexpected for a band with a style as pop and melodic as that of La Oreja de Van Gogh. Such dedicated fans would love Insane Clown Posse. Fans on fire. “I was never a fan of Van Gogh’s Ear, but I was always a fan of Leire Martinez”, “Van Gogh’s Ear is not coming back, Judas’s Kiss is coming back”, “The Queen of Pop is finally back!” or “Getting back with your ex is the worst thing you can do” are some of the niceties that are being read to accompany the first post of the second era with Amaia at the helm. A stark war which we will continue talking about in the coming weeks, without a doubt: to begin with, Pablo Benegas, one of the founders of the group, has decided to abandon training without giving further explanations. This return is going to bring a queue and more than one soaked face. In Xataka | The 51 musical gems to listen to if you don’t want to miss the best of the 21st century

In the E3 of 1995, PlayStation only needed two seconds to destroy Sega. And changed video games forever

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On September 29, 1995, many Spanish buyers were made with a new console, the first of a company known for its camcorders, Walkman, Discman and TVs. 30 years ago, Sony launched the PlayStation In Europe, but before arriving he had already left a victim on the way: Sega with his Saturn. And everything was forged for two seconds in the First E3 in history With one of the oldest trolls of video games: that of “299”. From an audio chip to the PlayStation. Before reaching that point, we go with some context. Sony was not a video game company. In fact, within the Japanese giant, few believed they painted something in that segment. However, there was Ken Kutaragi, PlayStation’s “father”. He was watching his daughter play family, Our neswhen Kutaragi realized the potential of video games. He raised it, but Sony went on the subject. A few years later, Nintendo needed an audio chip for the Supernesand there was Kutaragi, secretly working on the design of the SPC700 which contributed so much to the history of video games and the audio of the Nintendo console. He did not end up fired from Milagro, since his bosses enraged when they found out. But well, little by little they were entering and Kutaragi had to be a heavy championship because he got Sony and Nintendo to collaborate in the development of the CD super nes, or the Nintendo PlayStation that today is a museum piece. Nintendo’s betrayal. The problem? Nintendo did not see with good eyes that a company like Sony won power in the world of video games and, just when the great association was going to make the world known, Nintendo hit a flying: he associated with Philips and gave them five of their franchises to do what they wanted. It was Nintendo’s biggest error. Not only Philips shattered ‘Mario’ and, above all, ‘Zelda’ With tremendously bad games for CD-Ibut it enraged Sony in an unimaginable way. If they were not fully convinced, they were now clear that they should humiliate Nintendo. They got to work and, from that betrayal, the PlayStation was born. Now we had to present it well, and the First E3 in historythat of 1995, was the ideal scenario. … at “299”. Nintendo went with the failure of Virtual Boy under the arm and with rumors of Nintendo 64 (Which had a few years of development), but there was another company that did new: Sega. The other Japanese video game giant would be a stone on the Sony road if things did not do well, and within “doing things well” comes to put an attractive price. It was the first console, I had to work. In fact, both were the ones that had to win the most and lose at the fair because they had already launched in Japan, but the price they would mark for the United States would be key. Sega crossed the puddle with his Saturn and announced that it would cost $ 399 (also 399 pounds in the United Kingdom and 79,990 pesetas in Spain). Sony needed a blow of effect, and that was when this moment happened: THE GREATER TROLLE OF THE VIDEOGUES. What you just saw is well known, but no less shocking 30 years later. After a long speech on the history of the company and about the benefits of both the machine and the CD, a new format at that time, Steve Race, president of Sony América took the stage and, of course, you will imagine that someone like that would rise to give another long monologue. But not. “Two Nine Nine”. 299. And got off the stage. Those two seconds, followed by applause and cheers, were enough for PlayStation to “win” that first E3. Already My partner Rafa Márquez commented in Vidaxtra: The best possible mixture between a troll and a masterful marketing. It was 100 dollars cheaper than Sega Saturn, had the favor of many developers, was a good CD player and there were not only Japanese games, but others very focused on the western public. In addition, it was the fact that everyone was going to highlight, the one who wanted the press and the players. The tip. It was a master play, but although the story has given a good weight when it came to make Sega stumbled, the truth is that Sega itself had made many merits to end as it ended. To start, Saturn was a face, but also very complicated. The 2D games and Arcade conversions were great, but to squeeze the machine you had to develop for the two processors it had. Besides, The launch in stores was disastrous when produced by surprise. It was a complication because the tools are not as simple and accessible as today, but on the other side you had a playstation for which it was much easier to develop, in addition to giving some other advantage in Royalties. And with Saturn, but above all with DreamcastSega lived an internal civil war between the divisions of the United States and Japan. That is, the “299” was a push that accelerated the fall of the company, but that Sega did not need anyone to stagger. History. In the end, the market put each in its place. For less than ten million Sega Saturn, Sony placed more than 100 million of that first playstation. Only ‘Gran Tourism‘He sold more than Saturn herself and, although Nintendo was better with the almost 33 million Nintendo 64 sold, she was late and with cartridges, losing the favor of companies such as Square Enix and many other developers who saw that the CD was a more favorable format. That “speech” of Race is medium history, but also of marketing and one of my favorite moments in these video game presentations. As a curiosity, as we are condemned to repeat history, in 2014 something similar happened with results, again, favorable for Sony. Microsoft announced that its Xbox One It would cost … Read more

They have needed six years, dozens of patrols and a helicopter

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Czech police He has managed to arrest To the driver who for years surprised all the Internet for appearing sporadically on the highways of the country at the wheel of a car. The 51 -year -old man was arrested after a persecution that involved several patrol cars and a helicopter. One last time. It all started last Sunday 8:15 in the morning when the agents They received the notice of a formula 1 car reposting in a gas station near Dobříš, about 40 kilometers southwest of Prague. Two minutes later a second call arrived: the vehicle circulated at high speed on the D4 highway in the southern direction. In just 15 minutes, the driver was intercepted in the town of Buk. There was resistance. The images of the arrest, where the police claim that they were recorded by the driver himself And his son shows a tense confrontation of almost ten minutes. The pilot, dressed in his red monkey and helmet, refused to leave the car arguing that the police were invading a private property. “There is a policeman everywhere,” you hear screaming in the recordings. He finally gave up and was transferred to be interrogated, although he refused to declare. Six years of search. The persecution of this “ghost pilot” It began in 2019when the first videos of the car appeared circulating on Czech highways. In 2022 he was sighted again, but on all occasions the helmet prevented the driver. The speed radars captured the images, but the investigation stagnated again and again. According to Czech police, They had already located And questioned the vehicle owner in the past, who denied having driven him by road. The legal problem. In case there was any doubt, circulating with this type of vehicles on public roads is prohibited in the Czech Republic. The car lacks lights, flashing, registration and other mandatory security elements. “Race cars of this type cannot legally circulate on the roads because they do not meet the legal technical requirements,” They explained The authorities. There is also the theme of the sharp edges of the vehicle, since they represent a danger for both the driver and the people circulating around. The truth about the Ferrari. Although the driver himself and the media have described him as a Ferrari of Formula 1, automobile experts They have identified The vehicle like a Dallara GP2/08, a car developed by the Italian manufacturer for the GP2 series, a category that functioned as prelude to Formula 1 and that is now known as Formula 2. It is commented that the driver came the entire car to look like a F1 ferrari. The consequences. The case has now passed to the corresponding administrative body to determine the sanction. The driver faces a fine of between 5,000 and 10,000 Czech crowns (between 200 and 400 euros) and the withdrawal of the driving license for a period of six months to one year. The detainee’s son think That the police response has been disproportionate, with “several dozen patrol cars and a helicopter for an alleged traffic infraction.” In Xataka | For Shaquille O’Neal the biggest obstacle to conducting a supercar is its height: they have manufactured a tailored corvette

It is the illusion that the industry needed

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There were unbelievers who claimed that the expectation around ‘Silksong‘, the hopeful sequel to’ Hollow Knight ‘, was more a meme than a real craving for the players community. The launch has been in charge of shutting up Bocas: the hurricane of ‘Silksong’ has blown with such force that it has not only brought records of concurrent players, but has momentarily left out of service to stores more than prepared to withstand avalanches of people. Perhaps they are just the first moments of glory that Silksong intends to provide. Digital collapse. The fury for ‘Silksong’ on its exit day was such a caliber that collapsed the main digital platforms In their first hours for sale: Steam, Nintendo Eshop, PlayStation Store and Xbox Store suffered falls and errors, preventing thousands of users from completing the purchase or download of the game. Even services such as Game Pass recorded saturation, reflecting an unprecedented demand for an indie title. In fact, this demand level can be measured with AAA games belonging to successful franchises, rather than with independent partners. Concurrent records. ‘Silksong ‘also burst all Prior records of simultaneous players In Steam, exceeding 535,000 concurrent players in just 15 minutes after the premiere and touching the 600,000 just hours later. If we compare with your precedentthe first ‘Hollow Knight’ took years to reach a peak of 73,000 simultaneous players. These figures place ‘Silksong’ as one of the most powerful premieres in Steam’s recent history, exceeding AAA releases such as ‘GTA V’, ‘Baldur’s Gate 3’ or ‘Elden Ring: Nighttreign’ on its first day. It was seen coming. This expectation had already resonated for months, or even years. Recently, ‘Silksong’ had become the most desired game in Steam, with almost 5 million users, pointing it on their desire list. It was an amount greater than that of Grabonds Blockbusters like ‘Battlefield 6’. You cannot say that we have caught us by surprise: as our life -estate companions say, We know perfectly what we come with ‘Silksong‘. We are going to find a perfectly polished metroidvania, with exquisite mechanics and a graphic finish on the line of its precedent. And yet, players have formed never seen in an indie title. There are reasons. And the main one is the price, we are not going to fool ourselves. The less than 20 euros that Team Cherry asks is a commercial maneuver (not all indies – or want – to allow such a low price), it is clear, but also, Cas we count a few days ago, A sleeve cut to the industry. In times when even a company mainstream With good reputation as Nintendo gives the impression of swelling more prices of the account, the price of ‘Silksong’ is almost a love letter to the environment, above commercial interests. And he claims indie ethics, the only sector of the industry where plays are not covered with a halo of cynicism. Save the mystery. Although the first and frantic contact shots are beginning to appear on the Internet so as not to lose the thread of today, ‘Silksong’ has also wanted (again, not everyone can afford it, but the expectation generated has left the waist to Team Cherry for something like that) that we all enjoy the game at the same time. There have not been previews for press, there have been no codes for media that lead to unwanted leaks. ‘Silksong’ is in the ‘Hollow Knight’ line, we already knew that but has dozens of secrets to discover, and without a doubt that has also increased the expectations and desire of the players. A mixture of maneuvers calculated to the millimeter and honest vocation to like and surprise, completely oblivious to the great mastodon of the industry. ‘Silksong’ deserves the success it is having and more: we did not see so much honest and simple illusion for a launch in recent years, so again we believe in video games. And that is priceless. In Xataka | This game has been scheduled by only one person, and there is already talk of him as one of the great shooters of the year

We needed more than ever a way of predicting better storms and hurricanes. AI has solved the problem

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Among the areas in which Google Deepmind works, Meteorological prediction It is one of the most precision is obtaining thanks to the refinement of artificial intelligence tools designed for it. And the company has just demonstrated that AI can overcome traditional methods in hurricane prediction. And is that your model Weather Lab managed to forecast more accurately The trajectory and intensity of Hurricane Erinwhich went from tropical storm to Category 5 in less than 24 hours A few days ago. The first real exam. Until now, the meteorological models were a promise. Hurricane Erin became the first real -time fire test for the Google system. During the first three critical prediction, the artificial intelligence model exceeded the official forecast so much of the National Center for American Hurricanes such as several traditional physical models, including the most reliable Europeans and American. How it works. Traditional models are based on complex physical equations that recreate current atmospheric conditions: humidity, pressure, temperature. Google’s approach It is radically different. Its AI has been trained with a massive data set that includes historical weather information of the entire land and a specialized database with details of almost 5,000 cyclones observed during the last 45 years. “They match these long historical data with details about how hurricanes behave and statistically combine them to see patterns that the human eye could not detect,” Explain James Franklin, former head of the Hurricane Specialists Unit of the National Hurricane Center. Why does it matter so much. The precise prediction of hurricanes is vital to know what type of measures are needed to protect themselves from them in case of emergencies. The three to five forecast days are crucial to make decisions about evacuations and preparation measures. In Google’s internal tests With storms of 2023 and 2024, its model managed to predict the final location of the cyclones with about 140 kilometers more precision than the European model (ECMWF), considered the most exact available. Exceptional performance. Franklin stands out The performance of the Google system: “It really surpassed the other guides in terms of intensity. It captured the general form of the change of the life cycle almost exactly. practically without error.” The model not only succeeded in the trajectory, but predicted with surprising precision how Erin’s intensity would evolve throughout his life cycle. Still in development. Despite success, the Google model is not ready for public use. Weather Lab includes a warning that recommends trusting the official forecasts of the National Hurricane Center. However, Franklin It is optimistic About the future: “For next year, you will receive a very serious look and will really play a role in the forecasts that leave the Hurricane Center.” Cover image | Brian McGowan In Xataka | It is no longer necessary to pay to transform our photos into what we want. The latest Google offers it for free for everyone

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