night

Baba Yaga was an old woman who devoured skulls at night. So Ukraine just turned Russia’s worst nightmare into a drone

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In Slavic folklore, Baba Yaga She is an ancient figure associated with nocturnal fear, a witch who devours skulls and flies in the dark, punishing the reckless and inhabiting a territory where normal rules no longer apply. It is not a spectacular monster or the usual one, but a persistent presencedisturbing, impossible to ignore. Ukraine remembered it… and transformed it into a drone. The nightmare in war. This symbolic load explains why the name was not born in Ukrainian propaganda, but in the Russian channels themselves: when the soldiers began to describe night attacks that fell almost silently from the sky, the collective imagination did the rest. Today, “Baba Yaga” does not designate a fairy tale creature, but a family heavy bomber drones Ukrainians who have transformed the night of the front into a permanent hostile space for Russian forces. What really is a Baba Yaga. Under that name is grouped an entire class of heavy multicopters, many of them derived of agricultural platforms and others already designed for military purposes, capable of transporting from 15 kilos in their most common versions to several dozen in larger configurations. Unlike the kamikaze FPVs, the Baba Yaga They are reusable systemsconceived as aerial bombers themselves. They can launch mortar mines, fragmentation charges, adapted munitions or even converted anti-tank mines with remarkable accuracy from several hundreds of meters high. Its distinctive feature is not only the load, but the combination of thermal and optical sensors which allows them to operate at night, in fog, rain or wind, and remain effective where light drones begin to fail. This capacity has made them go from being a tactical complement to becoming a structural piece of the Ukrainian device. A Baba Yaga captured by Russian forces The night stops being a refuge. For months, trenches, concrete shelters or fortified buildings offered Russian infantry a relative sense of security from artillery and light drones. The Baba Yaga break that logic. If a point appears marked on a thermal image or reconnaissance map, no cover guarantees survival. A single drone can perform cascade attacksreleasing ammunition successively and dismantling a position section by section. The effect is cumulative: it not only destroys material, but forces units to disperseto rotate more frequently, to invest time and resources in camouflage and fortification, and to avoid concentrations of troops or vehicles. In a war of attrition, that behavioral change is as important as direct destruction. From tactical weapon to major system. Although they were born as a short-range solution, the Baba Yaga have been integrated into operations increasingly complex. They do not act in isolation, but as part of a drone ecosystem that includes FPV, long-range UAVs and, in some cases, naval platforms unmanned. In Crimea, for example, we have seen how maritime drones are used as advanced shuttles to allow heavy multicopters to reach radars and air defense systems like the Nebo-Mattacking antennas, technical installations and command posts. This logic is revealing: first the target is blinded or disorganized by other means, and then the Baba Yaga finish the job where it was previously considered too risky or inaccessible. Thus, these drones have ceased to be “flying artillery” and have become tools that connect the immediate front with the operational rear. Technical evolution. The development of these drones has not stopped. Ukrainian volunteer engineers and teams they have been improving engines, propellers, structures and suspension systems for ammunition of different calibers, while communications are reinforced with redundant channels, separate antennas and, in some cases, satellite links that expand the radius of action at the expense of payload. Russian electronic warfare has forced experimentation with system duplication control and backup plans to prevent the loss of a link from dragging down the entire set. This adaptation race explains why, even when Russia manages to shoot down some of these drones, the problem does not disappear: The threat materializes again the following night. Psychological impact. Beyond the technique, the Baba Yaga hits morale. Its low, recognizable hum does not announce an immediate explosion, but rather a tense wait– Someone, somewhere, is peering through a thermal scope and choosing the next target. Unlike artillery, there is no clearly safe haven or predictable pattern. Combined with FPV attacks and indirect fire, these drones create a sensation continuous pressure from above, from the front and from the rear. Military analysts match in which this constant stress accelerates organizational wear and tear, makes coordination difficult and forces commanders to focus on maintaining basic cohesion instead of planning offensive maneuvers. Lessons for the future of war. For Western observers and for NATO itself, the Baba Yaga are a practical demonstration of how future conflicts will be fought with swarms of relatively cheap, reusable and rapidly adapted platforms. It is not a miracle weapon, but a component within a system that combines intelligence, communications, flexible production and accelerated training. Ukraine has managed to assemble that system under extreme conditions, relying on industry, the State and voluntary networks. For Russia, the result is clear: the “witch” of folklore has returnednot as a myth, but as a technological presence that redefines the battlefield and makes it impossible to return to a war according to the standards of the 20th century. Image | Telegram, ArmіяІнформ In Xataka | Ukraine has asked Russia if they stop for Christmas like in the First World War. The answer could not have been more Russian In Xataka | Europe wanted to expropriate Russian funds on the continent to finance Ukraine. Until Belgium took the lead

One night in 2000, Jennifer Lopez debuted a historic dress. And then Google changed the internet forever

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If you have a moment, go to Google and type something like “Jennifer Lopez 2000 Grammy dress.” Leave that new AI Mode section aside and tap on the ‘Images’ tab to find a green Versace dress with a jungle print that caused a real sensation in both the fashion media and the world of technology. In fact, that dress marked a before and after on the internet. Because before February 23, 2000, when we wanted to see what clothes the current star had worn to an event (to give an example), we had to wait for the news to appear on TV, browse through magazines or go to the Internet to Google it. And there you didn’t find the photo, but instead you had to wade through a sea of ​​blue text links to search through. There was no Google Images. We’re not even talking about videos. Before JLo’s Grammys dress, this was all field text Why it is important. Google’s decision to organize information based on images and not only on text not only changed the world of fashion as the work of a European brand went from being seen on the catwalks and little else, to reaching the entire world. It also modified our way of accessing information, laying the foundations for an Internet (and later, social networks) focused more on audiovisuals than on pure and simple text. These were the dawn of the internet of content. What started in July 2021 with an index of 250 million images, went to one billion images in 2005 and by 2010, exceeded 10 billion. Later, Google stopped offering that figure to focus on quality over quality. Paradoxically, in 2025 it is following the opposite path, massively deindexing images by considering them low quality or generated by AI. The context. In the year 2000, the Google search engine was not what it is now: the undisputed leader with almost 90% share. And the “almost” thing is something about the post-internet – ChatGPT had been overcoming that barrier for more than a decade. In fact, with just a couple of years of life, he was beginning his rise at a time when there was no hegemony as he managed to impose later, with others like Yahoo! and Altavista with greater weight. And then she arrived on the red carpet at the 42nd Grammy Awards, nominated that year for Best Dance Recording for “Waiting for Tonight.” Jennifer Lopez wore a semi-transparent green dress with a dizzying V-neckline that fell to her navel. If you already existed at that time and were old enough to watch TV, you surely saw it because because her dress was viraleven before that concept was used for matters other than biology. Seeing it once wasn’t enough, so people went online to look for it en masse. “People wanted more than text (…). At the time, it was the most popular search we had ever seen” counted Eric Schmidt for Project Syndicate. The former Google CEO explained that at the time “we didn’t have a sure way to get users exactly what they wanted: J.Lo wearing that dress.” Between the lines. That’s when started to cook Google Search Image. According to Cathy Edwards, director of engineering and product at Google Images, it wasn’t something that happened overnight, but JLo lit the fuse. There were few employees, but like Edwards explained In 2020, it was clear to everyone that they needed to build a photocentric search engine. The question was knowing what priority to give it. That same summer, Google hired a newly graduated engineer, Huican Zhu, and put him to work with Huican Zhu, who was the executive director of YouTube and who at that time was responsible for product. The two stood hand in hand and, According to Edwardsthey practically developed it alone to launch Google Search Images in July 2021. In Xataka | People are so fed up with the current Internet that they are returning to MySpace. Not out of nostalgia, but out of rebellion In Xataka | All the times that throughout the 20th century we imagined ourselves on the Internet

turn off cell phones when night comes

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On the Ukrainian front, the battle for the networks It has been escalating in importance over the months. Ukraine has been clear about this since a date to remember its troops took place. It happened with Operation Spiderwebwhen the Ukrainian Security Service smuggled small FPVs near five Russian air bases in trucks. The drones were launched and controlled via the Russian telephone system. The result: the destruction of at least ten strategic bombers. That was recorded in Moscow, and now they are using it. The transformation of the telephone. The war in Ukraine has turned something as everyday as mobile phones into a decisive system combat, revealing a profound change in the nature of modern conflict: civilian networks have become de facto military infrastructures, and every signal, every SIM, every tower and every data packet can be an offensive tool or a weak point. Tension has escalated to such a point that Russia, unable to fully control how Ukraine exploits its cellular network to direct precision drones over long distances, has begun to cut off mobile service at night in entire regions. The situation illustrates a disturbing paradox: without mobile phones the aerial threat is limited, but with them civil life, emergencies, commerce and governance itself are kept functioning. For the first time, a great power is openly assuming a social and economic cost in exchange for stopping the advance of the connected war. The tactical revolution. The ability of Ukrainian drones to use Russian infrastructure as if it were their own has been one of the most striking developments in the conflict. Cheap devices, such as DJI cellular donglesturn an FPV drone into a platform capable of operating hundreds or even thousands of kilometers from the pilot, as long as there is 4G coverage. As we said, that same technology allowed the famous Operation Spiderweb. The pattern now repeats itself: Iranian Shahed modified with 4G modems that transmit video in real time, Ukrainian FP-1/2 drones that avoid defenses thanks to cellular links, or Russian Molniya that act as aerial nurses to transport FPV above electronic interference waists. The drone no longer depends on the range of its antenna: it depends on the telephone infrastructure, turning each tower into an involuntary military node. The Russian response. Faced with this new front, Russia has tried close the gaps without disrupting the entire digital ecosystem… but intermediate solutions are failing. His first step was block for 24 hours any SIM that had been roaming, a measure designed to detect Russian cards clandestinely sent to Ukraine. Then it expanded the blocking to inactive cards for 72 hoursa sign of growing fear that thousands of Russian SIMs are involved in attacks without their users even knowing. Finally, in several border regions the most extreme measure– Cut off mobile data at night, when attacks typically occur. This dynamic not only harms to the civilian populationbut also illustrates the loss of control of a State that sees its commercial infrastructure turn against it with disconcerting ease. The historical precedent. The West already knew about the problem of telephony as a weapon, although never on this scale. In Iraq, a simple Nokia 105 could detonate explosive devices improvised with a reliability and range that would have seemed like science fiction in the nineties. To counteract this, jamming systems were deployed. as Warlockcapable of blocking signals in the surroundings of military convoys and columns. Today, that same logic reappears with more complexity: any drone that uses a cellular network can be neutralized by blocking the signal, but doing so involves simultaneously blinding ambulances, firefighters, security forces and millions of users. What was once a tactical dilemma has become a strategic one: what can be blocked without leaving an entire country in operational silence? An even more difficult future. The next technological leap makes this equation even more fragile. Both Russia and Ukraine already operate drones equipped with Starlink receivers or other direct satellite connectivity services. This marks the end of the absolute dominance of the electromagnetic territory: a drone that receives orders from orbit is immune to cell towers and to classical terrestrial interference patterns. As direct-to-satellite terminals for civilian use proliferate, it will be nearly impossible to distinguish between benign communications and command signals for hostile drones. In that scenario, an operator located on another continent could direct an attack with surgical precision without depending on any network national security or expose oneself to foreseeable countermeasures. The battlefield ceases to be geographical and becomes a global digital space, where physical borders matter less than the availability of orbital constellations. Control the spectrum. If you also want, the case of mobile phone in Ukraine illustrates how modern warfare has infiltrated all layers of civilian life, blurring the lines between public infrastructure and military capability. The Russian decision to turn off the network at night is not only a symptom of technological vulnerability, but also a advance of the type of conflicts that are coming: wars where each smart device is an antenna, each user a possible vector and each network a battlefield. In this new paradigm, the question no longer points to how to defend a country, but rather to how to defend an infrastructure designed to connect millions of people without turn it into a weapon involuntary. Image | Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Ministry of Defense of Ukraine In Xataka | Hybrid warfare in Europe has crossed a red line: drones have reached France’s nuclear submarines In Xataka | 40 nations built a fortress to contain a deadly threat. Until a drone projectile set off the alarms

This has free facial recognition, night vision and two-way audio

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have a surveillance camera At home it can give us a very important extra security. Not only to monitor the home if we are not at home, but also to be able to take a quick look and see what our children and pets are doing. Although there are many options, Going for one with 4K resolution can give us extra detail that really matters. If we look for one of these, one that stands out the most is undoubtedly the Tapo C260: camera that we have available from 69.99 euros. Tapo C260 – Indoor WiFi Surveillance Camera, Home Security, 4K 8MP 360°, AI Detection, Local/Cloud Recording, Physical Privacy, 18x Zoom, Tracking, Two-Way Audio, microSD The price could vary. We earn commission from these links 4K resolution, night vision and even facial recognition As we say, we have many options on the market if we are looking for a new surveillance camera. Most usually offer 1080p or 2K resolution, which may be enough for tighter budgets. Now, the ideal is to bet on one that reaches up to 4K, since thanks to this we will have a series of advantages that, in practice, are noticeable. The first and most obvious is that, by having more resolution, they will offer us a greater detail when recording image. This will allow us to identify faces or small objects more easily. In addition, a higher resolution also allows us to zoom without the sharpness of the image disappearing. In that sense, the Tapo C260 is ideal if we are looking for a new indoor surveillance camera. In addition to this resolution, it is capable of reaching up to 18x digital zoom and has 360 degree panoramic viewso we will not have blind spots with it. Even at night and in very low light, since it has color night vision. It also has facial recognition and artificial intelligencetwo free functions that will allow the camera to automatically detect people, pets or even baby cries. It also has intelligent automatic tracking, ideal for the camera to follow the movements of our pet, for example. To all of the above, we must add that the camera also has flexible storage, since it supports microSD up to 512 GB or we can use the cloud to store your data. All without forgetting that it also uses two-way audioideal for real-time communication. As we said above, this Tapo C620 is designed for interiors. But, What if we look for an option for outdoors? So maybe it suits us more the Tapo C660 Kitan alternative that also has 4K resolution, 360-degree panoramic vision, smart functions, night vision and in this case has IP65 protection against dust and rain. Not only that, but it also has a solar panel and battery, so it has autonomous operation that does not require a plug. It is available for 159.99 euros. Some of the links in this article are affiliated and may provide a benefit to Xataka. In case of non-availability, offers may vary. Images | TP-Link In Xataka | Best surveillance cameras: which one to buy and 11 recommended models for indoors, outdoors, babies and pets In Xataka | Best tablets. Which one to buy and 8 recommended models for all pockets and needs

Ultra-rich tourism has found an oasis in Kenya. A Safari at $3,500 a night that blocks animal migration

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For some time now, conflicts between large tourism projects and fragile ecosystems have multiplied: from the megaresorts built next to mangroves in the Caribbean that destroy natural barriers, even the hotels built in areas turtle nesting or unregulated cabins that have degraded reserves in Nepal and Sri Lanka. Each case shows the same pattern: the promise of immediate economic development versus the risk of damaging landscapes that cannot be recovered. The last one: a safari that short the wings of many animals. A camp in the worst place. The story was told these days the new york times. The opening of Ritz-Carlton Masai Mara Safari Campwith its $3,500-a-night suites, private plunge pool and privileged views of the Sand River, has ignited a controversy that goes far beyond elite tourism: for Maasai leaders, local guides and ecologists, the resort has been built on one of the last areas free of construction and in the middle of the corridor through which millions of wildebeest, zebras and gazelles move every year between the Serengeti and the Mara. What Marriott presented as a “historic” raid in the high-end safari, many perceive it as the most serious threat to a natural corridor that supports one of the most important ecological spectacles on the planet. The complaint filed by the Maasai scholar Meitamei Olol Dapash It maintains precisely that: that it has been built in a critical space where decades of monitoring data confirm a continuous and irreplaceable migratory flow. Overwhelmed tourism. The Ritz-Carlton is not an isolated casebut the most recent symbol of a growth that has become explosive: from 95 camps in 2012 to 175 in 2024an increase that experts consider incompatible with the ecological capacity of the Mara. The rise of tourism has multiplied the number of vehicles that chase animals off-road, deteriorate vegetation and corner predators, as in the viral video of 2023 in which dozens of cars closed a circle around two cheetahs while they hunted. Added to this are the discharged wastewater to the rivers, the light pollution of the camps and the noise that alters the nocturnal routes of the fauna. Various species have already disappeared from the Mara (such as the african wild dog or the oryx) in a process that researchers describe as an inversely proportional relationship: when the tourism industry grows exponentially, fauna decreases in the same way. Ritz-Carlton An exceptional permit. Outrage grew when it was learned that the construction of the Ritz-Carlton was authorized despite the moratorium of 2023 that prohibited building new lodges within the reserve. The approval was based on a “one-time exemption” signed by President William Ruto’s leadership, a gesture that activists they interpret as the porch for an avalanche of uncontrolled luxury projects. Even more disconcerting, according to the Timesis the controversy over the supposed community consultation: signatures of Maasai who claim not to have participated in any meeting, questioned documents and a climate of vulnerability that makes many think that the most powerful took it for granted that no one would protest. For the inhabitants of the Mara, the feeling is that the process is deliberately jumped essential steps of environmental assessment and local participation. Ritz-Carlton A wall to block animals. The camp, it seems, is surrounded by an improvised wall of earth and grass that prevents seeing the interior and that, according to local guidesalready shows marks of animals trying to cross or climb it. It is, if you still stand still, an uncomfortable symbol: a luxurious refuge shielded from the rest of the environment and the communities that live a few meters away. For many Maasai guides, the barrier embodies a dangerous idea: that visitors can enjoy the ecosystem without having to face its real problems, isolated from the pressure that the camps exert on the territory. African conservationists have been calling for years for accommodation models with a minimal footprint (fewer rooms, removable structures, reversible impact) and a transition towards smaller, more sustainable conservancies, but the presence of large chains threatens to reverse that trend. The line that should not be crossed. The paradox is profound: the Maasai communities know that tourism is their main source of income and they don’t want to stop it. Hospitals, schools and scholarships exist thanks to visitors. What they demand is a model that does not destroy that which gives them life. For many, the problem is not Marriott itself, but its exact location: placing a permanent complex in a migration corridor sets a dangerous precedent that could open the door to future construction in equally sensitive areas. Young activists like Emmanuel Sananka they insist in which the fight is not against tourism, but against a model that ignores the local voice and prioritizes profitability over conservation. Faced with this, Marriott He defends that his camp generates employment (90% of the staff is Kenyan, and 40% local) and that it complies with environmental regulations, but mistrust persists. Ecosystem to the limit. In short, the conflict reveals a clash between two visions of the Mara: that of global luxury that sees it as an exclusive setting and that of the communities and scientists who consider it a living and fragile system where every square meter matters. The Ritz-Carlton embodies that stress point: a project that is too big, too fixed and located in the worst possible place. The court decision What is done will not only determine whether the camp remains or is removed, but also the direction of the entire Masai Mara tourism model in the next decade. It depends on what is decided the Great Migration It continues to flow as it has for millions of years… or it begins to fragment due to the same human pressure that claims to come to admire it. Image | Vencha, Ritzcarlton In Xataka | Someone wants to build a 144 meter high skyscraper in the middle of the port of Malaga. The reason: luxury tourism In Xataka | A robot called “Sardinator” circulated through the streets of Malaga promoting a … Read more

The lack of additives at low-cost gas stations does not keep drivers up at night. That’s why Moeve wants to be more Ballenoil

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Moeve has changed its strategy and has done so in a big way. In just 12 months, the company has converted 50 of its service stations traditional to Ballenoil, its low-cost brand. And since this type of gas stations began to become popular, the ‘lack’ of additives It has not been a concern for consumers who, above all, prioritize their pockets. The transformation has been especially intense since this summer, when the oil company decided to accelerate the process of further prioritizing its low-cost brand in strategic points throughout the Peninsula. Transformation. The old one Cepsa bought Ballenoil in November 2023 with a clear objective: to challenge Repsol for the crown, which maintains the largest share of the Spanish market. But it is not only about growing the number of gas stations. And it seems that Moeve has understood that the future involves being present in two worlds: the premium, where it maintains its traditional brand, and the low cost, where the customer seeks to fill the tank at a lower cost. From Moeve confirm to the Vozpópuli medium that “both premium and low cost are important to respond to the expectations of our customers.” The perfect timing. Although fuel prices have fallen since all-time highs which they reached after the Russian invasion of Ukraine (when they exceeded two euros per liter), continue to remain at high levels. The liter of 95 octane gasoline exceeds 1.45 euros on average and diesel is close to 1.40 euros, according to data from CincoDías. Logically, given the rise in fuel prices, many drivers are looking for specifically economical gas stations, and that is where the low-cost ones come in. All in a context in which traditional oil companies focus on attracting customers through their promises of premium fuel and additives. Figures. The integration of Ballenoil has made Moeve exceed 2,000 service stations in the Iberian Peninsula for the first time, reaching 2,040 gas stations, according to 2024 financial data. The figure is expected to increase before the end of the year. The pace of transformation accelerated in June, when 16 stations changed their image in a single month. Just like affirms In the middle, during September and October the conversions continued, prioritizing territories where the company already has a greater presence. Madrid leads this transformation with nine gas stations that become Ballenoil, followed by Barcelona, ​​Navarra, Albacete, Ciudad Real, Granada, Seville and Badajoz. The Ballenoil network has also allowed Moeve to penetrate areas where it did not previously have a presence, especially in Catalonia, the Valencian Community, Andalusia and several regions of Castile. The rise of low cost. Low cost gas stations already represent 20% of all stations in Spain, according to inform the EconomíaDigital medium, with more than 2,400 installations spread throughout the country. As the media explains, the savings for the driver can exceed 0.18 euros per liter compared to traditional brands, a difference that ends up being noticed with each refueling. And the forecasts point high, which could mean a major structural change in the national oil panorama. Ballenoil, Plenergy and Petroprix are leading this transformation, betting on automated systems and simplified infrastructure that allow them to reduce costs. Manuel Sáez, CEO of Ballenoil, declared to CincoDías that the objective is to “exceed 380 operational service stations” in the second half of the year and “reach 500 throughout 2027.” Competence. Ballenoil has reached 350 service stations in Spain, becoming the leader in number of points of sale within the low cost segment. Plenergy follows closely, with 340 gas stations (331 in Spain and 9 in Portugal) and plans to reach 370 this year. However, Plenergy leads in business volume: closed 2024 with 1,385 million liters sold, a growth of 43% compared to the previous year. For its part, Petroprix, with 165 stations in Spain, has opted for a different strategy, prioritizing international expansion in markets such as Portugal, Chile, Panama and Poland. Cover image | engin akyurt In Xataka | Catalonia wants to make variable speed limits a reality. And he is already experimenting to improve the sleep of his neighbors

variable limits at night

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Catalonia has discovered variable speed limits. And it is beginning to exploit them to solve problems of different kinds. This alternative to a single and inflexible maximum speed is applied in other European countries but has not taken root in our country. Until now. The last place to try it is C-31. Pilot test. For now, it’s an experiment. An interesting examination that may define the future of some other roads in Catalonia. Because, at the moment, it does not seem that the DGT is in the business of applying the measure in the rest of Spain. Since yesterday, Monday, October 27, drivers have to slow down at a maximum of 70 km/h between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. as it passes through Castelldefels (and Gavà). The test aims to verify to what extent the noise impact can be reduced on a road that is very close to the homes in these municipalities. To do this, two sound level meters have been installed that will collect data along the six kilometers in which the cars have to slow down. At 70 km/h. As we said, this is the speed at which cars will have to travel at night. The rest of the day, traffic will move at a maximum of between 90 and 100 km/h, the limits that until now were inflexible in this section. That is, whoever maintains the original speed faces a fine of 100 euros without withdrawal of points. The test is temporary. Next December 4th The usual maximum speeds will be returned and, from then on, drivers will be able to return to their 90-100 km/h. That will be when the data will be analyzed and it will be studied whether it is worth applying new measures. It is not the first case. According to the DGTapplying variable speed limits can help reduce accidents by 10% but, at the moment, this measure has not been applied in any case. The system is simple, using the road lights, the maximum speed varies up or down. The system is widely used in Germany. Especially in the famous sections without maximum speed of the Autobahn. And, really, these sections can have a limit. There, the limits may vary depending on the weather, the hours of the day (as in the previous case) or depending on the traffic that is concentrated during peak hours. This last case is, for example, that of the AP-7. The Generalitat of Catalonia is studying applying sections with variable speed limits to try to reduce the risks due to the increase in traffic registered since the tolls were lifted. It has even been proposed that in some cases a maximum of 60 km/h be maintained. The noise. It is a problem that has been studied by some institutions for some time. Most of the time it is a problem that is addressed first in the municipalities where the noise of an engine (especially motorcycles) and the sound of music is more problematic than the rolling of the car itself. However, what is addressed here is the noise generated by the passing of cars. It is estimated that a car traveling at 70 km/h generates 3 dB less on average than a car traveling at 120 km/h. It must be taken into account, however, that the growth is logarithmic and the impact of those 3 dB is much greater in the jump from 77 to 80 dB than in the jump from 17 to 20 dB, to give an example. In this study It is noted that at night the noise generated by cars is lower because the traffic is also lower. However, the calm at night highlights this noise and, therefore, moving the focus away from the noise (in this case we are talking about an alternative route further away from the neighbors) has a greater impact during the day than at night. And more impact. Furthermore, beyond the fact that rolling noise is perceived more clearly at night, the WHO also recommends that the noise rates to which we subject our body be lower at night. This is because the impact on rest is greater to the point of recommending that the noise source does not exceed 45 dB. However, it is estimated that the busiest roads They constantly move between 75 and 80 dB. Figures that put the health of those who live in the surrounding area at risk. In 2021, it was estimated that excess noise had an effect on European income accounts. 147,000 million euros per yearbeing considered the second source of environmental risk for citizens, only behind atmospheric pollution. Photo | Castelldefels Town Hall and Google Maps In Xataka | What electric cars sound like: this is the sound chosen by manufacturers in their acoustic warning for pedestrians

Millions of Spaniards consume benzodiazepines to sleep at night. They do not know that it is an poisoned candy

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On July 13, 2010, two days after Spain won the World Cup in South Africa, a Facebook user He putas the name of a group of that social network a phrase for history as a title of a group of that social network: “I am Spanish, what do you want me to win?” He talked about sports, of course. But if I had to choose a non-sports land to beat almost any other nationality, I would have (sadly) clear: The consumption of benzodiazepines. And if we talk about sleeping medications, I would bet on Lorazepam. A medication … paradoxical. Lorazepam is a benzodiazepine of intermediate action. In general terms, it works in the brain as a specific agonist of most subtypes of the Gabaa receiver. That is what makes it act as anxiolytic, sedative, muscle, anticonvulsive and amnesic. But, generalized (and even if the lormatazepan is better), it is prescribed to sleep. Why does it help to sleep? This medication facilitates Conciliation (helps to fall asleep), increases the total sleep time (in the first shots – therefore, treatments of more than four weeks are not recommended) and reduces night awakenings. It is, as it is easy to see, a resource very helpful to a problem increasingly widespread. And why is it ‘paradogical’? Because those ‘benefits’ have costs. To start, leave hangover. Being an intermediate action drug, it can leave some drowsiness or stunning after awakening. But that is little. The worst thing is that it modifies sleep architecture. In essence, the deep sleep phase and the ReM phase tend to reduce. That makes the sleep more continuous and less repairing. As The Uxoa Olaizola Pharmaceutical“Maybe you sleep, but your brain is not resting.” As if that were not enough, you can create addiction. This is better known and, in fact, it is one of the problems with the benzos. About 10% of the Spanish population has consumed them without a recipe, and 7.2% do so daily. We have a problem and it is quite serious. “75% of Spaniards wake up at least once At night, and 3 out of 10 directly affirm that they suffer from insomnia. “And, eye, the scientific evidence available tells us that we tend to think that we sleep better than we really do. Reality, surely, is much worse. And he will go more; With all its consequences. Lack of sleep is related to immunological problems, Metabolic, Cardiovascular emotional and cognitive; With disorders such as diabetes or of the obesity. Not just that sleeping little causes us to be more tired and irritablebut Raise our stress levels And it makes us Assume more risks And make more wrong. Hopefully not to mistake on this. Image | Shane | Roberto Sorin In Xataka | Science has been trying to find out what is the best time to go to sleep. And it is already close to an answer

Seoul has released a “holographic police” that arises every night in a park. The intention is clear: dissuade crimes

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A park in Seoul transforms every night into an unexpected stage. From seven in the afternoon, between street lamps and shadows, the figure of a police with impeccable uniform arises. Speak in a firm voice, throw a message and, suddenly, fades in the air. Two minutes later, it reappears to repeat the same scene. It is not a flesh and bone agent, but about Un real size hologram which has become the new attraction and security measure of the neighborhood. The bet began in October 2024 as an experiment of the Jungbu police station and the Seoul City Council. The selected park was not accidental: located next to the popular gastronomic area of ​​Euljiro, it was the usual scenario of incidents linked to alcohol consumption, As the local newspaper The Scoop explains. Police were looking for a way to strengthen security without displaying more personnel in difficult coverage. Thus collaboration with a technology company arose, which designed a system capable of projecting a virtual agent every night to remember that the place was monitored. A HOLOGRAM AGAINST CRIME The device uses a projector that launches the image of a policeman on a real -size acrylic plate. Every night, the hologram appears for a few seconds and repeats again every two minutes. Its presence is not limited to the visual, since in a clear voice it always conveys the same notice, which Remember passersby permanent surveillance of the area: “Hello, we are the Jungbu police station in Seoul. This area has an intelligent CCTV system. This system is in operation so that the police can respond in real time if an incident of violence or other emergency situation occurs. The Jungbu police station will continue working with the district to create a safer community. Thank you.” The first data collected shows that the bet has not gone unnoticed. According to figures from the Jungbu police station, between October 2024 and May 2025, incidents registered in the Park were reduced around 22% compared to the same period of the previous year. The descent was noticed above all in situations of spontaneous origin, such as altercations or discussions linked to alcohol consumption. For the police, this initial effect demonstrates that the hologram has served to cover holes in the usual surveillance. Those responsible for the project insist that the idea was born from a very specific need. Agent Kim Hyun-Don, from the Jungbu police station, He explained in an interview with the South Klab Canal that the park was surrounded by bars and leisure premises and that many neighbors preferred to avoid it at night for fear of meeting drunken people. “We thought that a visible policeman, even if it was virtual, could give security to citizens and at the same time deter those who could cause problems,” he said. For the police, the hologram is a risky experiment, but also an opportunity to innovate in prevention. Not all citizens interpret the hologram in the same way. While some perceive it as a presence that provides security, others believe that the measure will lose efficacy over time. A neighbor interviewed by The Scoop warned that “to really reduce incidents Frequent patrols are needed or a change in the dynamics of the neighborhood. ”In parallel, comments on the Internet oscillated between the joke and surprise: several users described it as a“ police ghost ”, although others celebrated the originality of the experiment. Seoul Metropolitan Police The project, despite its good initial results, is not free of problems. Those responsible admit that technology is sensitive to external factors: on extreme heat or intense cold days, The projector can fail. There are also neighbors who complain that the voice of the hologram is not heard well when there is noise in the street. To this is added a deeper doubt: if at the beginning it impresses and deter, over time it could become part of the landscape and lose its impact. Seoul’s “holographic police” has become a striking experiment within the debate on how to strengthen security in public spaces. Its initial efficacy shows that technology can provide creative solutions, although doubts about their permanence remain open. It remains to be seen if this model will consolidate as a stable tool or if it will remain an anecdote in the urban history of the city. Images | Seoul Metropolitan Police In Xataka | Solving the great mystery of the serial killers: why they disappeared from the 80s without a trace

A night train to connect Europe from this to west

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Renfe has several challenges ahead and one of the most challenging is expanding. It already has a powerful presence in Spain, now more competed after road release and the arrival of external agents like Iro and Ouigoand the next step is Europe. To do this, Renfe has certain allies such as Leo Express, a Czech company of which Renfe has 50% and who is working on his most ambitious project: to join Eas to West Europe with a night train and a very long route. Leo Express? Let’s start at the beginning. Four years ago, in August 2021, Renfe acquired 50% of the capital of the Private Czech company Leo Express for seven million euros (in shares). This operation, explained from Renfe at the time, had a strategic purpose: expand in Europe. Leo Express operates international connections in countries such as Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland, both trains and buses, but this new route will undoubtedly be the longest. Image | Leo Express From this to west. As he has advanced Rail Tech And we have been able to confirm from Xataka through the Federal Agency for Transport Regulation of Belgium (PDF), Leo Express is working on a route that will link Belgium with Slovakia. Specifically, the route will be from Ostende (Belgium) to Bratislava (Slovakia). From Xataka we have contacted Leo Express for more information and we will update in the case of receiving response. Time. It will be a long trip with 50 stops. The train will pass through four countries (Slovakia, Czech Republic, Germany and Belgium) and will stop in cities such as Prague, Leipzig, Düsseldorf, Brussels and witches, among others. The train will leave at 7:10 p.m. and will arrive in Bratislava at 14:18 the next day. The return trip will be at 14:44 and will end at 21:52. Image | Leo Express The train. Leo Express will wear modernized RIC passenger cars and Siemens Vectron Locomotoras. That is, the train will have a maximum speed of 160 km/Hy a capacity of around 450 seats, although by December 2028 they intend to expand the capacity to 550 passengers. These trains will work as night trains and, as such, they will have cars with options and/or optional literas. A huge challenge. One thing is the intention and another that the action comes to fruition. Leo Express, and therefore, have to coordinate a line in four different national networks, obtain grooves in these networks and operate a train for which they are not preceded. In Belgium, in addition, you will have to partner with a certified operator. Midnight Trains cabin, whose idea was to offer true hotels about rails | Imange: Midnight Trains The background is not flattering. In 2023, the French startup Midnight Trains He wanted to launch a series of international night routes between Spain, Italy, Portugal, Germany, Denmark and France. It was a premium service that even received the approval of the European Commission, which saw in Midnight Trains an initiative to promote cross -border routes on train. The idea was good, but then the problems came: how complex it is to access the Eurotunnel, the lack of financing, etc. The project ended up closing in 2024. The other part, more positive, is the Austrian OBB, which has a division dedicated alone and exclusively to night trains (Nightjet) that connects 13 countries. THE NIGHT TRAIN IN SPAIN. Neither is nor expected. Although night trains are a common modality in Europe, in Spain they do not operate since the time of COVID-19. Renfe suspended this service definitely due to profitability. The background idea is that the night train was a commercial service, not a public one, so it should be profitable by itself and, unfortunately, it was not. In 2019 alone, the last year in which this modality was operational, lost 25 million euros. Cover image | Leo Express In Xataka | A 17 -year -old is the digital nomad par excellence: he lives in trains (and does not get expensive)

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