northern

We have been observing the snow of the northern hemisphere from space for 40 years. The conclusions of the latest major study are devastating

by

As some older people around us say: winter is already it’s not what it was. As we move forward in the decade, scientific data paints an increasingly clear and disturbing picture of the amount of snow that has accumulated in some parts of our planet. And the images seem to leave no room for doubt, since they suggest that snow coverage in the northern hemisphere is constantly reducing, altering the seasonal cycles that govern our climate. The data. The last job we have had access to was published in January of this same year, and the conclusion they have drawn is quite devastating when pointing out that 24% of the regions of the northern hemisphere show a significant decline in the presence of snow, compared to a mere 9% that has registered an increase in its amount. How it looked. To reach these conclusions, researchers have not limited themselves to looking at the thermometer. They have turned to a gigantic high-resolution database that brings together historical data since 1980 with information on both snow and ice. Mathematical model. But the real advance in this case lies in the use of advanced statistics. And, expanding on previous research from 2023, they have applied a two-state Markov chain model, which in simple terms is a mathematical model that allows analyzing the spatial and temporal probabilities of snow persisting or disappearing in specific grids on Earth over decades. That is why we are facing one of the most rigorous methodologies that currently exist to understand snow trends, eliminating the “noise” of the precipitation that is coming in the coming months. Early spring. But… Where exactly is the snow disappearing? The Markov model reveals that the decline is not uniform, but there is an alarming pattern that directly affects our side of the globe: spring melt is coming forward dramatically in Europe and Central Asia. Right now we are seeing snow melting earlier, shortening winter temperatures and directly altering the water cycle, which is vital for agriculture and ecosystems during the warmer months. The consequences. But it is not something new, since previous works already warned of this loss of snow, which is a decline that not only affects water reserves, but also the ability of the Earth’s surface to reflect solar radiation. Something that is not nonsense, since less snow means more exposed dark land, greater heat absorption and, consequently, an increase in regional temperatures. A consensus. In addition to this study, in 2025, research was also published that analyzed possible biases in climate records. NOAA historicalconfirming that the decline in snow during autumn and winter is a real phenomenon and not an erroneous measurement. But it does not stop there, since the last Arctic bulletin painted a very extreme scenario, since, although there was above-average snowfall until May 2025, the decline during June was so rapid and abrupt that snow coverage was reduced to half of what it was 60 years ago. A mixed and volatile pattern that shows a climate system under stress. Images | Mathieu Odin In Xataka | Under the Canary Islands rests a 1,625 meter volcano: it has now begun to show signs of life after ten years of vigil

The northern section of L11 is now final

by

The Community of Madrid has definitively approved the informative study of the northern section of Metro Line 11, so there is now the green light to continue with one of the most ambitious expansions of the network. The idea is that the new route will have six stations that connect Mar de Cristal with Valdebebas Norte, passing through points such as the Ifema fairgrounds, the Isabel Zendal Nursing Hospital and terminal 4 of the Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas airport. We’ll tell you how everything turns out. Why it is important. Line 11 is the least used of the entire Metro network, so the Administration decided to give it a chance by taking advantage of it to expand it to more areas. The intention with this line is to turn it into a main artery that crosses Madrid from southwest to northeast, connecting areas with high demand for public transport and facilitating access to key venues and infrastructure such as the airport. The project figures. According to account Europa Press, the base tender budget amounts to 599.3 million euros, not including VAT, and with a favorable environmental impact report. The intention is for work to begin in 2027 and continue for about three years and three months continuously. The section will include an 8.2 kilometer tunnel and connecting branches with Line 8 in Mar de Cristal, as well as with the future Barajas depots. The six stops. Of the four alternatives that have been studied, the Community has selected the option which includes the following stations: Mar de Cristal, with connection to lines 4 and 8 under Arequipa Street. Ifema-Cárcavas, next to the expansion of the fairgrounds and close to the future Formula 1 circuit. Valdebebas/Ciudad de la Justicia Interchange, which will function as an intermodal node between Cercanías, buses and Metro. Isabel Zendal Nurse Hospital, 150 meters from the health center. Terminal 4 of the airport, with connection to Line 8 and close to the future High Speed ​​station. Valdebebas Norte, located next to the planned Valdebebas Shopping shopping center. Room to grow. The design maintains the possibility of build two additional stations in the future: one in the Cristalia area and another in Valdebebas, intended to serve the northeastern area of ​​the neighborhood. The idea is to give the possibility of expanding the line as these areas develop at an urban level little by little. How it will be excavated. Most of the tunnel It will be built using a tunnel boring machinedividing the work into two main sections. The first will advance from an attack well on Fernando Higueras Street towards Mar de Cristal, while the second will start from Secundino Zuazo Avenue. But not everything will go to a tunnel boring machine, since in some areas there will be no choice but to continue with pick and shovel to touch some urban elements as little as possible and reduce noise pollution during the construction phase. Why the Line 11. Currently, it is the least used line on the network, with only seven stations that run through part of Carabanchel and Leganés. According to data of Metro de Madrid, its demand represents only 1.08% of the total network, well below Line 6, which is close to 25%. This extension is part of a broader plan that aims to transform L11 into a large diagonal of 33.5 kilometers that connects Cuatro Vientos with Valdebebas. Status of the other sections. While this project progresses, the central section between Plaza Elíptica and Conde de Casal already exceeds 50% executionwith five stations planned and an investment close to 500 million euros. It is the opposite of the section between Conde de Casal and Hortaleza, with up to 14 stations planned, and which remains paralyzed waiting for the subsections of the line to be finally defined. Additionally, in the south, the 2.2 kilometer connection between La Fortuna and Cuatro Vientos is pending. Neighborhood inequality. Like any work carried out in Madrid, there are contrasts and all kinds of opinions. According to collect elDiario, the distribution of the stations has generated some debate. While Valdebebas, with around 30,000 inhabitants, will receive several stops and is even contemplating expanding its coverage, neighborhoods like Las Águilas, with around 50,000 residents, have been left out of the southern route, causing neighborhood protests over inequality in access to public transport. And now what. With the final approval of the informative study, the next step will be the bidding for the works, scheduled for the coming months. If the established deadlines are met, work would start in 2027 and the new connection could be operational around 2030. Cover image | Community of Madrid In Xataka | The great dream of Tres Cantos and Colmenar Viejo literally passes over El Pardo: “close” the M-50

This is one of the most extreme northern lights hunts in Norway

by

There are nights when northern Norway does not promise anything, and that is precisely why it is so attractive. Close darkness, sustained cold and a landscape that, for hours, barely offers references beyond mountains, snow and silence. In this context, the idea of ​​going out to search northern lights It stops looking like a conventional tourist plan and becomes something else, a conscious wait in a unique environment with epicenter in Narvik. What is offered here is not a themed train or a rolling observation deck, but rather a nighttime experience organized around a real railway journey. The call Northern Lights Train It uses an existing line to get away from the city and take travelers to areas with very little light pollution, where waiting is a central part of the plan. The train is the means, not the end, and the proposal is structured around moving, getting off, waiting and returning. Everything is designed to increase the chances of seeing auroras. A trip designed to pursue something unique Traveling on the Ofoten line means crossing one of the most unique railway corridors in northern Norway. In the context of this experience, the journey functions as a process of gradual disconnection, Narvik is left behind and, with it, artificial lighting and the feeling of an inhabited environment. The train enters a mountainous landscape where the sky begins to take over. The itinerary has two proper names that organize the experience. The first is Bjørnfjella station located next to the border with Sweden, where the train makes a brief stop before continuing its ascent. The final destination is Katteratabout 374 meters above sea level, a former railway enclave with no road access. That detail is not minor, getting there is only possible by train, and it turns the place into a particularly secluded point. Once in Katterat, the experience shifts from journey to waiting. Travelers get off the train and move on foot through the immediate surroundings, where a meeting point is organized around a bonfire. There is a hot drink and some simple food, not as a gastronomic attraction, but as support against the cold and the waiting time. The pace consciously slows down and the night takes over as the group remains attentive to the sky. Here the guides fulfill a more strategic than spectacular function. They are the ones who interpret forecasts, explain why it is expected at a specific point and adjust the plan if conditions change. They are also those who lower expectations, remembering that the dawn does not light up on demand and that the night can be resolved without major apparitions. This balance between information, prudence and support is an essential part of the product offered. Auroras are not a local or spontaneous phenomenon, but the visible consequence of processes that begin much further away. The origin is in the solar wind, a flow of charged particles ejected by the Sun constantly and It takes around 40 hours to reach Earth. When this material interacts with the Earth’s magnetic field, it is deflected towards the poles and collides with oxygen and nitrogen at high altitudes. If we talk about the price, the train trip, the organization of the wait, the hot drinks, the snack and the guide’s explanations are part of the same package, whose cost starts at 1495 Norwegian crowns (about 127 euros). The model is clear, to shape an unpredictable night within an organized experience, where the value is not in the result, but in the set of elements that make the attempt possible. The journey ends as it began, on rails, with the train returning to Narvik as the group leaves Katerat behind and the mountain once again closes in darkness. Heaven may or may not have answeredbut the experience has already been completed on another level. What remains is the feeling of having participated in something that cannot be forced, where the journey, the wait and the context weigh as much as the result. It should be noted that an image that does not correspond to reality has been built on these types of experiences lately. On social networks and some media circulate images and videospossibly generated or altered with artificial intelligence, showing supposed luxury Norwegian trains with wrap-around glass roofs and perfect views of the sky. Those trains do not exist. The real experience, as we have seen, is very different from those recreations. Images | Norwegian Travel | Visit Narvik | Arctic Train In Xataka | Marbella is no longer the favorite destination of Russian millionaires: it is now a paradise island in China where they are not held accountable

The countries of northern Europe are full of offshore wind. So they’ve started to steal the wind from each other

by

The world has thrown itself into the arms of renewables to meet the goals of decarbonization. Each country is developing its strategy And, if in some the photovoltaic takes the lead, in others it is the wind that splits the cod. The problem is the commitments: fill the plate field implies that crops receive less sunlight. And fill the world with wind turbines – apart from visual impact, for fishing and for the birds-, is causing something as curious as it is problematic. Countries that are stealing the wind from their neighbors. Wake effect. When the wind hits the wind turbine bladesthese rotate, generating kinetic energy and electricity. The wind continues its path, but after passing through a wind turbine, it does so with less force. Multiply that by fields full of these mills and we have what is known as the ‘wake effect‘ or ‘wake effect’. This air that has already passed through a wind turbine station does so with a lower speed and greater turbulence. And if this is important, it is because the wind takes time to recover: the wakes can extend more than 100 kilometers after crossing a field of windmills. wind thieves. These facilities are usually far from each other to better take advantage of the currents, but if under certain circumstances they extend tens of kilometers, and up to the aforementioned hundred, imagine the consequences for the wind turbines that remain behind that installation that receives the first “hit” of wind. It is not an assumption: there is measurements by SAR satellite that confirm that, if a wind farm is built upwind of another, the wind speed it receives is 9% lower, causing it to have a reduction between 10% and 20% compared to that first installation. This is what is known as “wind theft,” a colloquial term for something that is easy to understand, but not so easy to fix. This GIF of The Telegraph illustrates it perfectly: Princess Elisabeth. As we read in BBCthe lawyer Eirik Finseras, specialized in offshore wind energy, “is a somewhat misleading term because you cannot steal something that you cannot own. Nobody owns the wind” – del Sol, yes, a Galician -. But of course, the fact that no one owns the wind does not exempt that park on the windward side from suffering the effects of the park built on the leeward side. In the North Sea, this is already becoming a problembecause the denser and larger the wind farm, the more intense the wake effect will be. Belgium is building Princess Elisabeth, a huge park that will add a whopping 3.5 GW of offshore wind capacity to the country’s accounts. It is a really huge offshore facilitybut although it will allow the addition of those 3.5 GW, it will also affect the existing Belgian parks due to a wake that will extend 55 kilometers beyond the installation. According to the accounts of the University of Leuven, the oldest Belgian facilities located to the east will experience: An 8.5% reduction in annual electricity production. Losses of up to 15% on very windy days. Impact. That in Belgian parks, but of course, it is also an international problem because the wind does not understand borders. By 2030, it is estimated that the current capacity of offshore wind energy in the North Sea will triple. This implies that thousands of turbines will be erected in a very short time with Belgium, Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands willing to obtain, in total, 65 GW of offshore wind energy. The problem is knowing what will happen to these trails, since it is estimated that the 1,400 MW installation in the Dutch area of Borssele will cause a reduction of 2.7% on average in some Belgian wind farms. It is a very clear case of how the Netherlands is “stealing” the wind from Belgium. It is logical to understand the interest in offshore wind Bigger blades. In a report by BBCPablo Ouro, a civil engineering researcher at the University of Manchester, points out that they have been seeing wake effects for years, but that “the problem is that, to achieve emissions neutrality, we will need to triple offshore wind capacity and some of these new turbines will operate very close to those already in operation. There will be more and more crowds and the wake effects will have a greater impact.” And it is no longer a question of the number of mills, but of their dimensions. In the North Sea we are seeing efforts to achieve both greater heights for the mills themselves (to take advantage of other currents that are not being taken advantage of right now, such as larger blades that receive even more force from the wind. They are imposing mega-constructions that will also affect this wake effect, aggravating the problem. Solutions? Different countries are doing calculations. For example, in the United States, esteem that the planned offshore wind farms will produce a devastating wake effect: losses in the annual electricity production of other farms by up to 48.5 TWh per year. And there are already accusations: the Netherlands says that Belgium takes advantage of its wind, Germany says that the Netherlands is harming them… and the United Kingdom’s offshore parks stealing wind each other. The solution? Nothing simple, especially when many of these parks have either already been built or are under construction, but even so, research is being carried out to optimize the facilities. For example, adjusting turbine angles and optimizing the space between them, manufacturing higher power turbines to produce more with less or creating buffer zones between parks And, perhaps, the most difficult thing: that countries cooperate to carry out joint studies to place their facilities in the most efficient way for everyone. Images | ESMAP, G B_NZ In Xataka | In the great battle for wind turbines, Spain goes against Europe: it wants them further away than ever

The largest telescope in the northern hemisphere is looking for a home. And the Canary Islands have just taken the lead

by

Spain is getting closer to having in its territory the most powerful telescope on the entire planet, the Teinta Meter Telescope (TMT). Its location may finally be the island of La Palma in the Canary Islands, which for many years has been the emergency ‘plan B’, in case the original idea of ​​having it in the United States failed. And in the end, due to a large set of triggers, La Palma is gaining a lot of strength. A change of direction. He original use of the TMT was intended Mauna Kea volcano in Hawaii. But it is a plan that was paralyzed due to the rejection of the native communities, who consider this a sacred place. Although it is not only the ‘fault’ of the natives, but also of the cuts that the Trump administration has made intended for research and science in general. Given this situation, Spain has offered to host the project in La Palma as announced by the TMT International Observatory LLC on your website. In this case, he thanks the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities for the offer made of commit to invest 400 million euros to install this telescope at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory. The next steps are focused on developing together with the Ministry a “detailed roadmap towards the possible realization of the TMT at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory”, with the aim of this project moving forward at this location. The importance of La Palma. The Roque de los Muchachos Observatory already houses world-renowned facilities such as the Canary Islands Great Telescope (GTC), which is the largest optical and near-infrared telescope on the planet. In addition, it participates in new generation projects such as the Cherenkov telescopes, dedicated to observing high-energy gamma rays. And this is something that the Minister of Science herself, Diana Morant, wanted to remember, who through from your X account has celebrated this advance as the necessary step to turn “the Canarian sky into the main observatory in the northern hemisphere.” Why it is important. The TMT is not just any project: its construction involves some of the most influential scientific organizations on the planet, such as the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) or the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA), which represents more than 40 academic entities from around the world. Beyond this, we are also talking about the TMT being one of the three reference telescopes globally along with the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) in Chile or the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) being developed in the Atacama Desert. Its 30-meter diameter mirror, made up of 492 hexagonal segments, will make it a key tool for exploring exoplanets, black holes, dark matter and the formation of the first galaxies, with a resolution ten times higher than that of Hubble. Political impact. Beyond the astronomical potential, hosting the TMT would mean a leap in scale for Spain in its presence in international research, reinforcing the role of the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands (IAC) as a strategic partner in global scientific projects and attracting talent and technological investment. Images | Alin Corneliu In Xataka | Which telescope to buy to enjoy the nights and stars: 20 telescopes, binoculars, gadgets, accessories and more

Vigo has shown that Christmas can be a million-dollar business. So northern Portugal has decided to take note

by

Christmas is a time of peace, reunion, carols, sweets and a lot of other positive things, but also (and increasingly) of ‘pique’ between cities. As the holidays have gained appeal as an economic engine, especially for attract tourists In the middle of the low season, town councils throughout Spain have launched a race to show off the tree with the most meters, the largest display of LED lights or simply be the first to debut the ornament. Vigo is perhaps the greatest exponent of that fever, which in recent years has led him to cross challenges (more or less casual) with Madrid either Badalona. However, its true rival appears from another corner: on the other side of the Miño. Christmas in November? Christmas in November. It’s nothing new. In Vigo they began to install their lights already at the end of July, when they were missing almost 150 days for the start of the festivities. It may seem extravagant (maybe it is), but it certainly has its logic: the Galician city boasts to deploy millions and millions of LEDs along hundreds of streets (12 million in 460 neighborhoods this year), which requires a notable logistical effort. Also a substantial investment. Other cities like Madrid, Badalona, Malaga either Cadiz (to cite a few examples), determined to stand out on the map of national Christmas decorations. In fact, a quick review of the newspaper archive comes to find cross challenges between the mayors of Madrid, Badalona or Vigo on account of the festivities. The objective: to claim itself as the city with the brightest offer (literally). Why’s that? For various reasons ranging from pure economics to politics. After all, Christmas offers a showcase of brilliance barbaric for municipal administrations. If there is one reason that has become more evident over the years, however, it is tourism promotion. It is no longer just a matter of decorations encouraging purchases or more or less boosting commerce. No. Having many lights, large XXXL trees, Ferris wheels, markets… has become an effective hook to attract visitors in the middle of winter. Vigo once again leaves a good example. In December 2012, before the lighting boom, its hotels recorded just 33,600 overnight stays, far from the 100,000 in August. In 2022, already in the midst of the Christmas frenzy, this figure exceeded 101,500 overnight stays. And that’s not just visits, it’s also hard euros. In July the mayor of the town, Abel Caballero, spoke that Christmas attracts some 6.3 million visitors to Vigo and generates an economic return for the city of “more than 800 million euros”. May or may not be suspicious of those figures, but something is undeniable: the city fills every year between November and January and merchants and hoteliers already they have made it clear your support for Christmas. Which city is ahead? The battle between cities is not just about seeing which one achieves the most spectacular display of lights or raises the tallest tree. Another detail that generates expectation are the dates: Which city turns on its lights first? Which one comes forward, in an attempt to be the first to catch the eager Christmas visitors? It may sound strange again, but little by little this struggle has brought forward the festivities until placing its ‘start’ (at least unofficially) in the first half of November, almost immediately after Halloween. In Estepa, a town in the province of Seville, they debuted their lights last friday. Yes, November 7th. This urgency theoretically makes it the first municipality in Spain to activate the Christmas lighting. It won’t take long for other cities to follow in their wake. In Vigo (rain permitting) a ceremony will be held this Friday (November 15) to mark the beginning of the festivities. In other cities you will have to wait longer: Madrid either Barcelona They will press their ‘red button’ the 22ndin Badajoz it will be the 27th and in Malaga the traditional light and music show on Larios Street will also be at the end of the month, on Friday the 28th. What happens in Portugal? The most curious thing is that Vigo’s competition will probably not come from other Spanish cities, but from the other side of the Miño: from the north of Portugal. The neighboring country shares an extensive Christmas tradition and seems determined not to give up the tourist wealth that its Galician neighbor is fighting for. reveals it Vigo Lighthouse in an article in which he explains that near Raia there are towns that this year will surpass Vigo both in dates and in ‘meters’. In Valongo they opened their lights on Friday the 7th. And the next day Ermesinde, one of their parishesalso activated a Christmas tree 55 meters high, the largest in Portugal. With that data it even surpasses that of Vigo, which reaches 45 m. Another early riser town in northern Portugal is Viana do Castelowhich has a light show on one of its main avenues. Viana do Castelo and Valongo share an interesting characteristic, in addition to their Christmas zeal: they are close to Vigo. From Ermesinde it takes about an hour and a half by car. Something less if visitors travel from Viana. Simple coincidence? The commitment of northern Portugal is better understood if one knows a fundamental fact: a large part of the tourists that Vigo receives during Christmas come precisely from Portugal. In fact, in December it is not unusual to find buses in the center loaded with visitors from the neighboring country. So much so that Vigo presume of being the main Christmas destination for the Portuguese, which in turn acts as the main foreign market of the campaign. Although the Galician city has advertised your Christmas United Kingdom, Italy or France, the proximity makes Portugal its great fishing ground for visitors. “Portugal discovered Christmas in Vigo. The city was Portugal’s favorite destination at Christmas. More than Madrid and Barcelona. In 2019 we were eighth, now the first. It is a very important qualitative leap,” … Read more

24 years ago, the earth was symmetrical. Now the northern hemisphere is “unequivocally” darker than the southern hemisphere

by

NASA’s last 24 years of satellite data reveal an “unequivocal” trend: the earth has lost its balance, and now the northern hemisphere reflects less light than the southern hemisphere. How is that? Until a few years ago, our planet maintained an almost perfect symmetry in regard to its albedo: its reflectivity from the perspective of an observer in the earth’s orbit. Despite its obvious differences (the north dominated by terrestrial masses and the south by oceans), both hemispheres reflected practically the same amount of sunlight to outer space. Now that doesn’t happen anymore. The northern hemisphere is absorbing more solar energy than the southern hemisphere, breaking the balance that had been maintained for a long time. In figures. The new study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciencesquantifies this divergence at 0.34 wm – 2 per decade. It is a statistically significant value that points to a deep change in the energy engine of our planet. And why? The study, led by Norman Loeb, from the NASA Langley Research Center, points to a combination of factors; The first one, somewhat paradoxical. According to Loeb, the main engine of the growing asymmetry is the aerosols, the tiny particles suspended in the atmosphere against which we have been fighting for some time. Thanks to environmental protection measures, fine particle pollution has decreased significantly in Europe, the United States and China in recent years. Less contamination means a cleaner air and, therefore, less particles that reflect sunlight. The result is that more radiation reaches the surface and is absorbed. In the southern hemisphere it has happened just the opposite. Mass events, such as Australian forest fires of 2019-2020 or the eruption of the Hunga Tonga volcano in 2022, injected huge amounts of aerosols into the atmosphere, temporarily increasing the reflectivity. There is something else. To the aerosols we must add the change in the Albedo of the surface itself. The northern hemisphere is losing snow and sea ice at an accelerated pace, in this case because of global warming. If white and bright surfaces (which reflect the light) are replaced by water and dark terrain (that absorb it), the hemisphere is further darkened. Clouds are missing. What has most bewildered scientists is the role of clouds. For a long time it was theorized that clouds would act as a natural compensatory mechanism for this phenomenon: if a hemisphere darkened by external factors, atmospheric circulation would adjust cloudiness to reflect more light and restore balance. However, the data shows that this is not what is happening. The study concludes that the contribution of clouds to the difference in reflectivity between hemispheres is surprisingly small. The reason is complex: it seems that the changes in the clouds of the tropics are being canceled with the changes in the highest latitudes, questioning one of the fundamental hypotheses on the self -regulation of the earth’s climate. A problem. That a hemisphere hotly gets more than the other is not a simple academic curiosity. The Earth’s energy balance is the engine that drives atmospheric and oceanic circulation; that is, our climate and our weather patterns. This imbalance is already having consequences. The northern hemisphere not only heats up faster than the south, but is also seeing an increase in rainfall in tropical latitudes. If the intertopical convergence zone, the land rain belt, moves north, the consequences will be hard for billions of people.

The first European attempt to launch a commercial rocket at orbit has ended up explosion to northern Norway

by

First attempt. The inaugural launch of the Spectrum rocket, a test mission without payload called “Going Full Spectrum”took off at 12:30 CET on March 30 from the Andøya Space Puerto, in Norway. Originally scheduled for March 24, the flight was delayed several times due to bad weather conditions. After lighting their nine engines, the Spectrum He cleared the launch platform and rose without problems for 18 seconds. Then he began to lose control or overwhelming his orientation to the point of turning. In the second 30, all the engines went out and the rocket began to fall. The realization changed camera, but an explosion was heard shortly after. “A success!” The impact of the rocket near the platform and the fireball of the explosion They were captured by the Norwegian press. Despite the ruling, Isar Aerospace declared the launch A success. The CEO of the company, Daniel MetzlerHe added that the flight “has fulfilled all our expectations” with “an impeccable takeoff, 30 seconds of flight and we could even validate our flight termination system.” Although the rocket did not define, he turned off his engines not to deviate before falling. The launch platform is apparently intact. Flight launchers 2 and 3 are already in production. ISAR has compiled numerous data in this first test. Spectrum. What Isar Aerospace’s rocket has not been able to validate is the first orbital launching title of a European private company, since it has not reached orbit. Now the achievement is still open to other rockets such as RFA One of the German Rocket Factory Augsburg or Miura 5 of the Spanish Pld Space. Spectrum is a two -stage rocket and 28 meters high designed to transport up to 1000 kg to the low terrestrial orbit. The first stage has nine Aquila engines and the second one has one, optimized for space vacuum. All of their own design, with carbon fiber tanks without coating and 3D printed engines, fed with oxygen and liquid propane. Isar Aerospace. It was founded in 2018 in Germany with a Spacex -inspired approach: integrated production vertically and very automated, with the idea of ​​producing many prototypes, testing them and improving their design through multiple iterations. It is very well financed with a total investment of 400 million euros, which has taken the opportunity to build a new headquarters 40,000 square meters near Munich. According to Isar, it will have the capacity to produce 40 Spectrum rockets per year. Norway. Isar Aerospace has an exclusive platform in the Andøya Space Puerto in Norway, chosen for its ideal location to reach polar orbits and heliosíncronas and because the rocket takes off on the open ocean. It also has the meteorological problem that has been seen the days before the launch. Images | Isar Aerospace In Xataka | Europe’s access depends on the United States. ESA has presented a strategic plan to become independent

A Catalan tells his most northern city experience in the world

by

He Svalbard archipelago It is the most northern place in Europe. It is a huge ice cream far away above the Arctic Circle where about 2,500 people They are officially forbidden to die. There, right there, there is a Catalan. A Catalan? Indeed. Born in Sant Cugat del Vallès 29 years ago, Nil Rodés It has become the head engine of the Department of Geology of the University Center of the Svalbard Islands. And just being Interviewed in Via Lliure de Rac1 where it gives details about how it is to live very (but very) to the north of the polar circle. “A few months ago it is night,” Rodés said. “Between eleven and one, we now have a blue light (like the end of the day) and, for the month of March, there will be a sun.” It does not carry it very well and, in fact, the Catalan engineer takes advantage of the months of greater darkness to go outside the island. Of course, the doubt of whether “is something related to the Mediterranean blood” always because, in the five years he has been living in the north, he has met many people who worship the darkness “deep of the Arctic Night. An island without indigenous … There are no native peoples of the islands because it is too north. And the first stable inhabitants arrived with the mining companies that began to exploit the coal of the islands at the end of the 19th and early twentieth. Before that, there were only small fishermen bases that were used sporadically. The truth is that, anyway, there are not many natives in strict sense. It is prohibited to be born in the islands. When an advanced stage of pregnancy is reached, mothers have to go to Norway to give birth safely. In the same way, It is forbidden to die (and be buried) on the island. Except for cases of accidental deaths, no one dies there. … but with many bears. There are about 3,000 bears in the region compared to 2,500 people. 300 of those animals live on the main island (and that means that whenever you leave the settlement you have to be armed with rifles or guns of Bengal). In fact, there is a traffic signal in which the area is indicated in from which the safety of individuals depends on them same. And what does a “chief engineer” do on such an island? A good part of the activity of the islands has to see with education and research of all kinds (from questions related to climate or geology to studies on fauna and conservation of ecosystems). Do not forget that The “end of the end of the world” is right there. Rodés’s work has to do with the logistics and safety of all projects linked to geological research. As I say, the villages themselves are safe areas, but beyond those limits any unforeseen can be critical. To the limit of the impossible. According to Rodésthe site must really be overwhelming. A place where in winter it is not clear what is land and what is sea ice (beyond the “llaneza” of the land can give you important clues); and in which, for six months, they can only move with snow motorcycles. In recent years, the Svalbard Islands have only jumped to the media for the problems that the Ukraine War (and the associated sanctions)) created in the relationship between the capital of the islands (Longyearbyen) and a small Russian settlement (Barentsburg) at 50 kilometers. For the rest, it is a small haven of peace in Miad in one of the areas that more is changing due to climate change. Image | Janik Rohland In Xataka | A Spanish scientist in the most inhospitable place on Earth

The northern hemisphere has the highest snow extension of the last 20 years. In Spain that sounds like science fiction

by

While the extension of Arctic Ice was in January the second lowest Since there are satellite data, snow is giving a surprise. According to the NOAAsnow levels in the northern hemisphere are the highest in 20 years. Although the truth is that Europe (even less in Spain) we are not noticing it. What about snow in the northern hemisphere? It is soon to know. As we knowthere are many descriptors of winter in the hemisphere that may seem inconsistent with each other, but that are only a sample of the enormous climate complexity of the earth. As with Any extraordinary event (And, of course, this amount of snow is) now it remains a whole series of analysis to know what is behind and what we can expect in the coming years. So much to Nevado? So we know more detailed analysis, the increase in snow extension It is mainly due to the strong snowfall that were in early February in Asia and North America. Especially, a huge snowstorm that lasted a week caused many problems In Russia in general and In the distant this Russian in particular. In the US and Canada too They are having more Normal Snowbut the Russian storm is the key push for these historical records. And in Spain? On our side, the extension of snow in Europe is below the average. And, as a result that snowfalls are becoming more irregular, higher levels, Spain is even worse. In the Cantabrian Mountains, for example, We are at 72.6 hm³ Faced with the average of 250. In the Pyrenees, 764 compared to 1400 of the average of the last 10 years. On the other hand, the central and Iberian systems accumulate about 5 hm³ compared to 50 on average. The only one Discordant note is Sierra Nevada: The surroundings of the most southern ski resort in Europe has 12.7 hm³. That is, not only is it twice as the central mountain ranges, but almost exactly the same amount of snow as in the average of the last decade. Little snow … For now. As Nacho Espinos explained in Meteored“just 7% of the mountainous surface in Spain” is covered with snow. In aggregate terms, there are 1,160.9 hm³ of snow compared to 2,000 average. Of course, we will have to wait to see how the year ends: in the 2023/2024 season, the great snow peak came between March and April. And, honestly, time is unpredictable that (despite the “advanced spring” we are living) any scenario is reasonable. Image | NOAA | Joan Oger In Xataka | Snowing stations at the end of the century: the most pessimistic models show what could happen in our high mountain

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.