obsession

There is an obsession with protein to gain more and more muscle. Science has more and more doubts that it works

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Until not so long ago, protein was a technical term, linked to clinical nutrition and sports. Today it has become a cultural symbol. Under what some have called the era of Protein Chicprotein is no longer just a nutrient, but a promise: for health, body control and active aging. Eating well has come to mean, almost automatically, eating “with protein.” The market pushes. This change has consolidated an idea that is as simple as it is deceptive: that if protein is good, the more it is, the better. However, while the market push this logic Without nuances, the human body continues to function with very specific limits. And there arises the question that rarely accompanies packaging and slogans: how much protein do we really need to age well, and at what point does it stop adding up? What does science really say? This is where the noise of marketing collides with the evidence. In an extensive report published by The Washington PostProfessor Stuart Phillips, leading researcher in protein metabolism, muscle health and aging at McMaster University (Canada), issues a clear warning: “Consuming more and more protein is not necessarily better. There are no infinite benefits associated with higher intake.” Phillips is not a marginal voice in this debate. He has been studying for decades how nutrition and exercise interact to slow age-related loss of muscle mass —sarcopenia—and he is one of the scientists most cited in this field. His message dismantles much of the dominant narrative. So, let’s get to the data. The classic recommendation of 0.8 grams of protein per kilo of body weight —the well-known recommended daily intake (RDA)— is usually interpreted as an objective to achieve. In reality, it is designed as a minimum to avoid malnutrition. According to Stuart Phillipswhen the focus is on aging healthily and preserving muscle mass, the evidence points to somewhat higher ranges, always combined with strength training. This approach fits with what was published by harvard and Mayo Clinicpoint out that exceeding intakes close to 2 grams per kilo of body weight rarely provides clear advantages to the general population. Instead, they insist on the need to adapt the amount of protein to age, physical activity and health status. Protein: necessary, but not miraculous. It is worth remembering something basic that is often lost in public conversation: the body does not store protein. Once the needs are met, the excess is used as energy or transformed into fat. Eating more protein, by itself, does not build muscle. As they remember from Mayo Clinic: “Muscle is built by strength training, not by shaking.” From 40 or 50 years old, the equation changes slightly. The progressive loss of muscle mass begins and here protein takes on a strategic role, but always in combination with resistance exercise. Spreading the protein throughout the day (between 15 and 30 grams per meal) and not concentrating it only at dinner seems more effective in stimulating muscle synthesis, a point that also underlines the McMaster University researcher. The word of the year: protein. At least in the nutritional field, because – for those who want to know – the word of the year has been “tariff”, and no wonder. But getting back to the topic at hand, protein has sneaked in on social networks, in cafes and in viral morning routines. And going further, the new ritual of well-being involves coffees protein, clear protein, functional supplements and smoothies that promise sculpted bodies. This obsession coexists with other contemporary phenomena: the fear of aging, the cult of the “perfect” body and the popularization of weight loss drugs like Ozempic. In this context, protein is sold almost as a talisman: it satisfies, slims, tones and protects against aging. Nutritionists, however, are more cautious. Many agree that we are paying a premium for ultra-processed products that do not provide more benefits than the real food that we already have at home: eggs, legumes, fish or natural yogurt. The origin of the protein. Another important turn in this debate. We come to a meta-analysis that shows that following patterns like the Planetary Health Dietrich in plant proteins, is associated with both lower mortality and a lower climate footprint. It is not about eliminating animal protein, but about moving it from the center of the plate and prioritizing legumes, nuts and whole grains. The experts introduce a key concept here, widely cited by Harvard: he protein package. It’s not just the protein that matters, but what comes with it. It is not the same to obtain it from an ultra-processed “high in protein” food than from a dish of lentils with fiber, minerals and antioxidants. The nutritional context matters as much as the isolated macronutrient. So who really needs more protein? Protein deficiencies are not common in the general population. They appear especially in older people, patients with illnesses, very restrictive diets or chewing problems. In these cases, supplements can be a useful tool, never a universal shortcut. Alma Palau, dietician-nutritionist and manager of the General Council of Official Colleges of Dietitians-Nutritionists, warned in an interview in CuídatePlus that excess protein is not harmless. “Proteins that the body does not need are metabolized and eliminated, but this process involves making organs such as the kidney or liver work unnecessarily,” he explained. Palau insists that consuming more protein than necessary does not translate into more muscle or more health if it is not accompanied by sufficient carbohydrates, a varied diet and physical activity. In other words: without context, the protein loses its meaning. Along the same lines, Carlos Andrés Zapata, nutritionist interviewed by La Vanguardiawarns that protein has been overstated in current discourse and remembers that it is not more important than other macronutrients such as carbohydrates or fats, nor does it replace a balanced diet or strength training. Less obsession, more balance. Protein matters, a lot. It is essential to maintain muscle, autonomy and quality of life with age. But science does not support the idea that it is infinite or magical. … Read more

Elon Musk has been refusing to take SpaceX public for 20 years. His new obsession has changed his mind

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If there is something that Elon Musk has been repeating since before Starship was called Starship, it is that SpaceX would not go public until the gigantic Martian rocket was flying regularly. The excuse was that Wall Street likes short-term profitability plans more than multi-generational plans to colonize Mars. But the script has changed: SpaceX is preparing its jump onto the stock market, and not to pay for the trip to the red planet. He does this because he needs a lot of capital for “something more” than Starship and Starlink. The largest IPO in the United States. As revealed BloombergSpaceX plans to launch a Public Offering in late 2026 or early 2027. The company is seeking a valuation of $1.5 trillion (trillion, on an American scale) and more than $30 billion in cash, dizzying figures that would be the largest IPO in the history of the United States, close to the global record set by Saudi Aramco in 2019. Musk has been leaving breadcrumbs in X for days about this change in strategy. When the first rumors leaked about a financing round that valued the company at 800,000 million, the tycoon denied itclarifying that “the valuation increases are based on the progress of Starship, Starlink… and one more thing, which is possibly the most significant by far.” What is that thing that makes another round of investment insufficient? Orbital computing. What is clear from Musk’s latest tweets is that SpaceX wants to raise a lot of cash with its IPO for more than just Starship and Starlink: to develop space data centers. The logic, that Musk himself considers validis the same one that other companies like Google are following, but with the advantage of being the largest rocket launcher in the world. On Earth, AI data centers have two major bottlenecks: power and cooling. In space, satellites can receive sunlight 24 hours a day without atmospheric interference and with the possibility of dissipating heat on the dark side of the satellite, eliminating complex water systems and air conditioning of the Earth. Beyond Starlink. SpaceX already has a constellation of 9,000 satellites in orbit, many of them interconnected by laser links. The plan would be to take advantage of all the knowledge and technology that the company has to create a new constellation of localized AI: in Musk’s words, the cheapest way to generate AI bitstreams in less than three years. Their roadmap is hard science fiction: scale up to adding 100 GW of capacity per year using high-bandwidth lasers connected to the Starlink constellation itselfwhich is already highly profitable. And from there we move on to factories on the Moon and the use of electromagnetic rails to launch these AI satellites without the need for rockets. The umpteenth gold rush. Figures like Sam Altman, Eric Schmidt either Jeff Bezos They are already moving to have their piece of the pie in the orbital data center business. Google created the Suncatcher project and Nvidia collaborates with Starcloudwhile smaller startups like Aetherflux have announced projects like “Galactic Brain” planned for 2027. The difference is that SpaceX has the launch experience and is building the largest rocket in the world, with the peculiarity that it aspires to be completely reusable. It’s just the beginning. If 1.5 trillion is already a historic valuation, a recent report by ARK Invest projects that by 2030, SpaceX’s enterprise value could be around $2.5 trillion in a base case scenario, driven almost entirely by recurring revenue from Starlink and declining launch costs thanks to Starship reusability. Going public in 2026 would not just be a financial operation: it would give SpaceX the capital it needs to become the backbone of AI computing infrastructure, turning an internet service like Starlink into something that Musk himself considers “much more significant.” Images | SpaceX In Xataka | Building data centers in space was the new hot business. Elon Musk just broke it with a tweet

We criticize the EU a lot with its obsession with regulating Big Tech. There are at least two examples that justify this obsession

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The Digital Markets Act (DMA) and the AI Law They are two of the great exponents of something that the European Union is highly criticized for: his regulatory obsession. It is true that these regulations restrict companies and can slow down European innovation – this has happened with AI – but these worrying side effects are accompanied by others that are much more welcome. Especially because this regulation has made the world a little more interoperable. There are two great examples of this. First example: USB-C. The adoption of the USB-C connector as the mandatory Being able to charge mobile devices and other hardware products is undoubtedly positive for users. Although the standard has its own problemsits use as a universal connector has avoided the use of proprietary connectors that made interoperability difficult and caused greater problems for the environment in the form of electronic waste. Second example: Universal AirDrop. We have also recently seen how Google offered support on the Pixel 10 to be able to transfer data to an iPhone or iPad thanks to AirDrop support in QuickShare. That support will be extended to other Android phones soon, and that improves interoperability between both platforms. From now on it will be much easier to transfer photos directly from mobile to mobile (be it iPhone or Android) wirelessly, and there we have to thank the European Unionwhich forced Apple to modify the way AirDrop works to comply with the DMA. And there is still more. These efforts to improve interoperability will soon be even more rewarded. Google and Apple have announced their collaboration in making portability between different platforms much easier. Thus, changing from an Android mobile to an iPhone or vice versa it’s going to be easier thanks to the efforts that both companies are making. Why have they made that decision? Again, due to the “regulatory obsession” of the EU. The EU sticks out its chest. Euroregulators in fact celebrated this decision by Google and Apple these days, and affirm that the renewed interoperability “is an example of how the Digital Markets Act (DMA) offers benefits to both users and developers.” That same regulation was what allowed iOS 26 to add support to transfer an eSIM to and from an Android mobile, for example. The EU against (almost) everyone. The EU’s regulatory obsession may often be criticized, but the truth is that it is the great reference when it comes to confronting the unlimited ambition of Big Tech. It has done so in the past with the RGPD or with the DSA and the DMAand now with the AI ​​Law. In all of them the ultimate goal is normally reasonable, although it often happens that the regulation ends up being exaggerated or, as with AI, comes too soon. The last chapter of obsession. European regulators suspect that Google is using content from news publishers and other creators to train their generative AI without permission and without offering compensation. These practices may constitute an abuse of Google’s dominant position in the market, which would negatively affect both competition and content publishers themselves. This research also affects “AI Overviews,” which extract and summarize information from other websites, potentially reducing traffic to those original sources. Brussels Effect. The application of these regulations in a market like the European one causes the so-called “Brussels effect”. For large technology companies such as Apple or Google, it is more efficient and profitable to adopt a single standard for all their products worldwide than to design specific versions only for the European market. Thus, this obsession not only benefits us European citizens (when it does), but also ends up becoming the de facto standard worldwide, as has happened with the USB-C connector. This regulation ends up becoming a powerful engine of global change. It is not perfect by any means, and we are seeing it with the AI ​​Law or the cookie nightmare, but even in those cases the EU seems to have realized and is trying to change things. The challenge of the AI ​​Law. If the DMA pursues interoperability, the AI ​​Law seeks transparency and compensation to prevent these monopolies from consolidating in this era of generative AI. The investigation into Google is not only a defense of copyright, but a preventive measure against competition. Meanwhile, the US and China seem turn a blind eye and we have even seen how the leaders of big technology companies They ask that copyright laws not be applied arguing the famous “fair use” of those contents that have little de jusot, at least for content providers. In Xataka | All the big AIs have ignored copyright laws. The amazing thing is that there are still no consequences

Being a perfectionist at work was a virtue. The obsession with perfection has transformed into toxic productivity

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Imagine feeling that you never do enoughthat every free minute should be used to advance something productive, even if your body and mind ask for rest. This obsession for staying productive every minute of the day, increasingly normalized in contemporary culture, is what Harvard Business Review and other experts they call “toxic productivity“. Avoid her at all costs, it’s everything less productive. Far from being a direct route to success, psychology specialists agree that this approach can have negative consequences for both physical and mental health, and even sabotage the achievements you achieve every day because, as they have revealed different psychological studies it is never enough. Productivity is just an excuse The toxic productivity is also defined as action bias or the tendency to prioritize action over inaction, even when this inaction does not produce any benefit or there is no justification that supports it. In short, it is the constant drive to “do”, often sacrificing physical and mental well-being and personal relationships. Toxic productivity doesn’t just manifest itself in working overtime. beyond the working daybut they also appear feelings of guilt for spending time resting, doing pleasant or social activities. That imbalance in working time limits and the staff makes something that used to be enjoyable now a focus of unnecessary, self-imposed anxiety. According to a study from the University of Michigan’s psychology department links this bias as a form of coping for anxiety or low self-esteem, where “being busy” serves as a distraction from negative thoughts and feelings. According to what was published by Psychology Todaythis type of toxic productivity bias is more common among people with high levels of perfectionism and self-esteem focused on performance. Misunderstood perfectionism This type of constant pressure not only causes exhaustion, but also deteriorates physical and mental health. He meta-analysis by Andrew Hill and Thomas Curran, from the Universities of York and Bath, delve into the effects of this toxic productivity. For example, in their study, they define two dimensions of perfectionism: Perfectionistic aspirations (perfectionistic strivings): having very high goals, wanting to perform to the maximum, seeking excellence, etc. Perfectionistic concerns: fear of making mistakes, obsession with the expectations of others, constant self-criticism, etc. The key is that these two dimensions usually go together in the same person. Someone who demands a lot of themselves (high aspirations) may also be afraid of failing (worries), the result is how to combine fire with gasolineand the result leads to states of anxiety. The worst part is that this dynamic feeds on itself in a continuous cycle of fatigue and more and more work in which you are never productive enough. One of the warning signs that indicates that toxic productivity is deeply established in your life is a progressive time poverty. That is, the feeling that you don’t have enough hours in the day. Different economic studies, such as the elaborate by the La Caixa Foundation have revealed that women (especially those who are mothers) endure a second shift at work, and are more likely to show symptoms of toxic productivity and time poverty. According to the investigations of Slack, there is a direct relationship between establish adequate rest times and increased productivity. Their records revealed that employees who log off at the end of the workday report 20% higher productivity than those who feel obligated to work outside of work hours. Breaking this cycle of toxic productivity involves recognizing and redefining what, on a personal level, is considered success and prioritize breaksself-care and healthy boundaries both at work and in personal time. The magnitude of the problem: exhaustion in numbers In work environments it is usually celebrated when someone seems to never slow down or always have a project in hand, but this rhythm can end up being destructive. In fact, in many contexts, rest is still associated wrongly lazilyand exhaustion is taken as a sign of commitment, a perception that Harvard Business Review consider profoundly wrong. The data is compelling. According to data from the report Global Talent Trends prepared by the consulting firm Mercer in 2024, around 82% of the world’s workforce is susceptible to suffer job burnout or “burnout” due to excessive workloads. This figure demonstrates to what extent the pressure to always be active It affects the majority of working people. He job burnout It goes far beyond occasional tiredness; It is a direct consequence of a culture that values ​​busyness over well-being. In many countriesthis translates into extended hours, workers who They sacrifice weekends and holidays for not knowing set limits between work time and personal time, letting work tasks invade the space intended for developing social, family or personal life. In Xataka | Productivity is not linear: learning to manage its ups and downs makes a difference and these questions will be your lifesaver Image | Unsplash (Paola Chaaya, Vasilis Caravitis)

Privacy is dying since ChatGPT arrived. Now our obsession is for AI to know us as best as possible

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For years we have learned to distrust. Not to share too much, to be suspicious of each clickof each form, of each extra permission that the mobile phone or some app asked us for. To frown. Privacy was the last bastion of digital dignity, the ground we had to defend. But something has changed. And he has done it without resistance. Since ChatGPT and company arrived, and especially since the projects and expanded memorywe have crossed an invisible line. We no longer just agree to hand over our data, we offer it proactively. What’s more, we get frustrated when AI doesn’t remember enough, or when it’s not able to quickly process a report or analytics. Or when it doesn’t anticipate what we want. The paradox is brutal. We’ve gone from being outraged that Instagram showed us an overly personal and painfully targeted ad (shirts that camouflage lorzas, infertility treatments) to being impatient if ChatGPT doesn’t remember something we could use it to remember. Of the “I don’t want to be tracked” to “why the hell don’t you know me better by now?” The difference comes from the perception of immediate usefulness: social platforms monetized our data by selling their access to third parties to segment ads, AI uses it to give us more useful answers. Or so we think. The trick is in the illusion of reciprocity: When you provide information to a social network, you receive in return content that you did not ask for and advertisements that you do not want, no matter how accurate they may be. When you hand it over to an AI, you get personalized responses, assistance tailored to you, solutions that seem designed exclusively for your case. In the second case, the transaction feels fair. Symmetrical. Even generous on the part of the machine. But the architecture of power has not changed. She has only become more seductive. Now they don’t watch us, they understand us. And they don’t track us, but they remember us. Language matters, because it changes how we perceive what we are giving up. We have gone from being spied on to being cared for. And that makes a psychological difference, even though the end result is the same: handing over the entire map of who we are to entities we do not control. Privacy is not dead. He is giving up due to exhaustion. Because defending something that makes our lives more difficult, that deprives us of comfort and efficiency, is unsustainable when the alternative promises to know us so well that it frees us from explaining ourselves over and over again. In Xataka | OpenAI is making the tech industry unite its destiny with yours. For the sake of the global economy, it better work Featured image | Xataka

While all Spain is pending that their children learn English, in the Canary Islands they have another obsession: the German

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The Canarian ties with Germany are strong. And they come from afar. They date back (at least) at the end of the 19th century And they have been reinforcing thanks to the Expats and the Huge weight which has the German market in the Canarian tourism sector, capital piece in the economy of the region. This link explains that in its classrooms it is studied more German than anywhere else in Spain and Parents committed in which their children learn at the same time the languages ​​of Cervantes and Goethe. It is the ‘Germanization’ of Canarian education. What happened? That Canary Islands show signs that little by little in a key area is being germanized: early childhood education. At least if we compare it with the rest of Spain. German influence on the archipelago (and more in zones With a strong foreign presence) it is nothing new, but there are indicators that help to better understand what extent they are pending in their classrooms and homes. The last one left it a few months ago The confidential in A report which shows how parents are betting on their children speak of Goethe’s tongue (almost) from the cradle or even cases of children who chapurre them before the Spanish. Are there figures to try it? Yes. Those of the Ministry of Education, which reflect how the teaching of German stands out in the archipelago against other regions of Spain. Although Canary Islands is one of the communities Less populated of the country is the one that has the most students studying German in the classrooms. At least in the 2020-2021 course They added 31,300considerably above the Community of Madrid (28,300), Catalonia (24,600), Andalusia (18,100) or Balearic Islands (13,800), two regions in which there is also a strong presence of tourists and Expats. And who studies it? That is the most interesting. The language is not only learned by young people who study ESO or university students. In the archipelago he has also penetrated among the youngest children. The 2020-2021 course there was almost 500 students Studying German in the Early Childhood Education stage, data that exceed only Catalonia and Andalusia, with much greater population. If we talk about Primary the figure, the largest registration in the country is triggered. In general the learning of German It is less extended than that of English or French, but still reaches a notable weight in the Canary classrooms. The region stands out For how extended the study of the second languages ​​is. What is the reason? There are several factors that explain that clear Germanization, but two stand out above the rest: the first are the Historical ties Between the Canary Islands and Germany, which date back to 19th century And they explain that there is a German school in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and another in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. According to the Canarian Institute of Statistics (Istac), the Germans are one of the main foreign population groups in the region, although they are significantly below nationalities such as the Colombian, Venezuelan or English. The second factor is tourism. The sector has A crucial weight In the GDP of the region, where it generates thousands of millions of euros every year. And much of that flow of money comes out of German pockets, such as I recognized Recently the Canary Islands government itself, taking stock of the 2024 campaign. statistics From Exeltur they show that in 2024 the German was The second market International most relevant to the tourism sector of the region. Only the British is overcome. What supposes that in practice? That speaking German becomes a key tool, both in the Canary Islands (work or not in tourism) and when looking for a job in the rest of the country or the EU. “Everything that is science and engineering is very enhanced in German, but nothing happens if the girl later chooses to be a hairdresser and not continue studying. I try to give her best for her future,” Explain to The confidential A Canarian mother who pays 600 euros per month (activities included) so that her daughter is formed at the German school. “I know people who have studied in this school and thanks to that they work or live outside.” Is it important? There are those who believe it. “Learning this language here is a priority for two reasons. First because it gives you the possibility of leaving the islands to, for example, exercising as an engineer or sanitary in other places. It is also essential to work in the southern area of ​​the island (Gran Canaria), where tourism is concentrated and people are always needed to deal with Germans,” Marta García reflectshistorian of the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. “Here is key to accessing certain positions and ascending.” That influence explains that there are also adults who throw themselves to study the language to prosper, that the Canarian government has reinforced your bet For the linguistic immersion scholarships to study in Germany (and Ireland) or that there are even cases of children who begin to Chapurrean German before Spanish. Although it is not a generalized trend, a few months ago The confidential He reviewed A specific case, that of a four -year -old girl who entered the German school in Santa Cruz de Tenerife without speaking at all Spanish and surprised her parents by expressing themselves first in German. “I had a delay in language and I worried when I saw her speaking first German. I thought I was wrong and went to see the pediatrician, but luckily she started speaking Spanish last year.” Images | Norbert Braun (UNSPLASH), Guillaume Didelet (UNSPLASH) Via | The confidential In Xataka | For the first time in ten years, La Palma has shown the best creatures of its parties: the disturbing dwarfs that dance Polca

In his attempt to fly through the airs the global supply chain, the US has a new obsession: copper

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After a few weeks of relative tranquility, the US administration is again climbing the C tensions in its commercial war with China. Trump has announced a new 50% tariff for copper imports. A key step to torpedo China’s strategy, who currently leads its refining and casting processes. Tightening the nuts. The president of the United States, Donald Trump, announced on Tuesday The imposition of a new 50% tariff to all copper imported to the United States. It is unknown for the moment when the measure will enter into force, but this points to a key material not only for the semiconductor industry: copper is crucial for sectors such as transport, energy or construction. The US position. Unlike his war declared to China with the Rare earthThe United States is one of the largest copper producers in the world. He currently occupies fifth place, although his main problem is a very concrete: consumes much more than it produces. Much of the copper it uses arrives as refined cathodes from Asia, especially from China. The goal. The United States not only seeks to protect its national industry. It aims to change the roles in this value chain: Encourage that copper refines within the US Reduce dependence on Chinese Foundions Press Latin America to export copper without going through China. Although Latin America Head the list of copper producers (Chile currently dominates primary mine production with more than 20% global position), dominating refining capacity is a central role in the supply chain. The reactions. The price of copper in the United States has reached its historical maximum in the national market After Trump’s statements, even with doubts about how it will apply and what will be the possible exceptions. The impact. The 50% tariff on copper imports would have a remarkable impact on key industries. Semiconductors: copper is, along with other critical metals such as scandio, disposium or bismuth, a fundamental material for the chips industry. A few milligrams per chip are key to its manufacture. Automotion: The electric vehicle needs much more copper for its manufacture (motor, battery, wiring). Electrical networks: transformers, substations, cables. Consumer electronics Construction Although Trump wants to obtain control over the supply chain, the measure can be shot in the foot. The United States does not have enough capacity to produce and refine all the copper it needs. The doubts. Although Trump has announced that the copper tariff will reach 50%, it has not detailed whether the measures will affect the entire refined copper, or certain products dependent on this material. They are not known to the measure, or date of entry into force. Be that as it may, The war for the domain of metals It will be crucial to control commercial tensions. China’s dominant position on rare earths It puts the United States in a delicate situation, which is trying to face attacking materials as concrete as copper. In Xataka | In 1978 Chinese engineers visited two key US companies. On his return an empire began: the rare earths

In his obsession to control every corner of the car, Apple has crashed into the wall. The new carplay has it raw

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In his wwdc 2022, Apple announced to Bombo and Shaw the New carplay generation. One that left aside the simple concept of moving the iPhone system to a small central screen, to bet on a complete solution in which control of practically every element related to the electronics of the car was taken. What is Carplay Ultra. Until now, Apple Carplay It worked exactly like Android Auto: you connected the iPhone to the car and access a simplified version of iOS, a kind of application pitcher adapted to the car. Allowed to use apps like Apple Maps, Google MapsTelephone, messages or spotify projected on the vehicle screen, but without intervening in the car system itself. With Carplay Ultra, The approach changes radically. We no longer talk about a simple execution of apps: the iPhone takes total control of the car interface. From the instrument frame to air conditioning, native navigation, vehicle levels or battery status. Everything is integrated into a unified visual environment and completely designed by Apple. It is, in practice, an Apple software layer that replaces the manufacturer’s interface. The delays. To Apple It has cost three years to materialize carplay ultraand soon you will understand why. Announced in 2022, and after years of silence, Apple Carplay Ultra was officially announced on May 16, 2025 in the most discreet way possible, With a press release. For 1%. Exclusivity remains one of Apple’s main values, but orient the launch of Carplay Ultra to a brand that represents less than 1% of the official market began to make the eyebrow archeish. Carplay Ultra was first integrated into Aston Martin, with the promise that he would later reach brands such as Hyundai, Kia and Genesis, three manufacturers that belong to the same business group. Interestingly, there was no trace of the manufacturers mentioned in 2022. Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Ford, Lincoln, Audi, Jaguar, Acura, Volvo, Honda, Renault, Infinity and Polestar. Just Porsche has confirmed that he will adopt Apple’s software in some of his cars, Without drawing a specific roadmap. The wall. Many of the manufacturers that Apple mentioned in their presentation have shown their refusal to implement Apple Carplay Ultra, as they collect Financial Times sources. Mercedes, Audi, Volvo, Polestar and Renault are some of the manufacturers that have opposed the Apple system. It is something that we advanced in 2022, Apple Carplay Ultra is a Trojan horse. This was Apple’s goal with Carplay. At the moment it is only in Aston Martin, which did not even appear on the list. (Almost) nothing to do against manufacturers and google. That an operating system takes control of the infotainment system of a car is no drama. Android Automotive He has been doing it for almost a decade. The approach problem is that Apple Carplay Ultra is conceived since its birth as an intruder, not as a native system. In Android Automotive, Google and the manufacturer close a pact: Google puts the car software and the manufacturer is forgotten. There is no need for the user to connect the mobile, the software is native. With Carplay Ultra, the manufacturer has to continue developing its software platform. But by connecting the iPhone, the control to Apple is completely yielded. Carplay Ultra is a stranger, a system that is accessed by connecting the iPhone and replaces the efforts that the manufacturer previously made to develop its own platform. The future. The three years of delays and integration in Aston Martin make it clear that the adoption of Carplay Ultra is far from massive. Here the key will be in the agreements, some who have not transcended and in which the position against manufacturers willing to give full control to Apple does not seem favorable for the American company. Meanwhile, Android Automotive continues with its expansion, having even reached the world of two wheels by Ktm or Japanese like Honda. Groups like Stellantis too They have set aside former partners like Amazon to bet on Google and integrate Android into their fleets. Image | Apple In Xataka | This car was a pioneer with Android Automotive, but its users shouted and Red Auto. His wish has been granted

The new obsession in gyms is also a clue about the future of the exercise

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It is the New Fitness World Fever: competitions that carry exercises and, therefore, very specific training. By comparison, although these exercises settle their bases in traditional training, make crossfit or calisthenics They look outdated or rough. A mixture of unique elements (competition, aesthetics and that philosophy of overcoming and stoicism so fashionable in the latest generation gyms) has become Hyrox In a phenomenon. We analyze Some of your keys. What is it. It is a competition that combines 8 kilometers of career with 8 functional exercises of strength and resistance. The exercises are always the same and include: skiing machine, thrust and drag of sleds, Burpees With long jumps, rowing, weight transport, strides with sandbags and medicinal ball throw. That is, a devastating mixture (but with exercises available to anyone) that combines strength, resistance and general athletic capacity. Worldwide success. Born in 2017 in Germany, in recent years he has experienced a great impulse (globally, more than 650,000 athletes train for competitions, and in 2025 more than 80 global careers are held in more than 30 countries and 85 cities). It currently has a wide margin of future growth: for example, it has just reached areas such as Canada, Australia and the Middle East, and the World Championships of discipline. Spain wants Hyrox. Spain is one of its largest areas of growth. The last edition, in Bilbao, congregated More than 8,000 competitors. In Malaga 2025 11,000 athletes from 40 countries participated, while in Hyrox Barcelona 2025 13,000 athletes were registered and 10,000 finished. In the 2024-2025 season, the discipline exceeded the 40,000 athletes registered in Spainconsolidating the country as one of the European referents in this discipline. The number of participants has grown by 1,900% since the first major national event in 2021, when 2,000 athletes were recorded. The secret of his fame. Why do you like a competition so much that is essentially a traditional fitness vitamin version? His hybrid nature It has a lot to do: the demanding of the competitions forces athletes to prepare not only force, with lifting and movements of large weights, but also resistance, with those eight kilometers that must be traveled between evidence. That makes it a Very complete and varied trainingand where no discipline should not be put aside. And also, without great technical demands: everyone can push a sled. On the other hand, the competition allows group or couples categories, which makes it more affordable. Class pride. Hyrox is one Registered trademarklike so many others associated with fitness. From the very Crossfit itself, which is not a generic word but a brand associated with official competitions and training, the popular Zumba, which has unleashed a real plague of imitators (in the end, it is the old man Gym-Jazz eighties in steroids). All this going through competitions that were ahead of Hyrox, such as Spartan Race or Ironman, and training systems such as F45 Training or Orangetheory Fitness. What does all this mean? That to train and compete in Hyrox you have to pay the fee that Hyrox architects decide to pay. This leads to official gyms and competitions of considerable price (the minimum cost of a career is usually around 70 euros), and by the hand, to the transformation of training into a piece of exhibition of good economic health that distance to Hyrox of formats (not registered) such as calistenia, which can be trained outdoors. Hyrox not only allows to show off a healthy way of life but also a well oxygenated portfolio. Training as Lifestyle. Linked to this last aspect, we have sport as an exhibition mode of a way of life, also vent, to which Hyrox international competitions help, in countries like Berlin or Rome. A circumstance that allows “healthy tourism”: travel to compete, and without neglecting what affirms Álvaro Taracena, CEO of the brand in Spain: “Nobody here looks at you badly for lifting less weight (…) to do something more dynamic, in the end you make friends with whom take“ Hyrox for Influencers. At a time when absolutely everything has to be Instagrameable To succeed, Hyrox has the elements to do so: It is completely training gamified and aimed at a specific objective (compete and improve brands in competitions, no abstractions such as “health”). His name resulton makes him Easy to google and labeland generates a feeling of belonging to a group. And lo Accessible competitions (With team modalities, without time limits) open the doors to anyone looking for more than sweating two days a week without a clear goal. As a business studied to the millimeter, of course, it is one of the elderly that has seen modern fitness Header | Hyrox In Xataka | Marathons are so extreme that our brain makes drastic decisions, how to consume itself

How collagen has become a global obsession

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The myth of eternal beauty has traveled human history since time immemorial. Starting with Narcissus losing himself in his own reflection, to Dorian Gray’s pact with the devil so that his face will never change. Reaching the extreme obsession portrayed in the black comedy of the nineties Death feels so goodwith Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn drinking a potion that promised them eternal youth. Today that youth cult does not need magical mirrors or cursed portraits. Enough with A spoonful in coffee, A night cream either A capsule with red fruit flavoreverything has a “antiaging” formula: collagen. The trend that everything monopolizes. The collagen It is the most abundant protein of the human body, but over time, its natural production decreases, which contributes to the appearance of wrinkles, sagging and joint discomfort. For this reason, in recent years its popularity has intensified. In addition, everything is interrelated: the global boom of Korean cosmetics, also known as K-beeautyhas contributed to reinforce this trend. According to Voguethe first wave of K-Beauty in the 2010 decade introduced routines focused on skin care-such as double cleaning or Cushion bases-and conquered the western public with innovative, accessible and culturally attractive formulas. Now, a second wave has arrived, expanding the Korean influence on hybrid and functional makeup, where ingredients such as hyaluronic acid or niacinamide coexist with pigments. This skin -centered approach has created the perfect terrain for ingredients such as collagen – present in creams, sera and supplements – become synonymous with “good skin.” An even bigger impulse. And it is that the impact of social networks has amplified the trend, especially in Tik Tok. The point is that has left of being a medical curiosity to become a habitual element in diet and daily self -care, promoted by influencers, celebrities and marketing campaigns that promise to reverse the signs of aging. In this context, the obsession with “look good” has resulted in an avalanche of routines, products and treatments. From injections to soluble dust, collagen has become omnipresent. This aesthetic pressure, amplified by filters and algorithms, feeds a growing anxiety for not showing age signs. Aging has genre. The demand for “staying young” falls disproportionately over women. As They have pointed out In Psychology Today, the anti -aging industry is directed almost exclusively to them, reinforcing the idea that their value is directly linked to their appearance. While men can “mature” or become “interesting with wrinkles”, women are required to stop time. The social and professional invisibility that many experience from a certain age is a widely documented reality. In this sense, collagen is not only a supplement, but also a symbol of the pressure imposed by society on the female body. There is a lot of skepticism. Faced with so many promises, science asks for caution. Dr. Afshin Mosahebi, professor of plastic surgery at the University College in London, has been blunt in The Guardian: “Science is doubtful”, and there are no large -scale studies or pairs that support the most ambitious statements about collagen supplements. In addition, he has clarified that its consumption does not guarantee visible benefits: “When you eat something, it does not reach your skin.” Just ingest quality protein to obtain the necessary amino acids. On the other hand, According to BBCsome studies have signed up for modest benefits for skin elasticity or joint health, but many are small, poorly designed or financed by the brands themselves. Miracle or marketing? The collagen boom has given way to a millionaire industry. Beauty and health brands have launched full lines of products that promise to restore the lost collagen with age. This fever includesFrom anti -wrinkle creams to injections, intravenous treatments and dust to dissolve in coffee. But he doesn’t stay there: one of the latest trends They are the exosomessmall cell vesicles that supposedly stimulate the production of collagen from within. Although they promise to be the next cosmetic revolution, its effectiveness is still under study. The idea of ​​continuing to stretch the collagen gum has no brake. The novelty focuses on vegetable collagen (“plant-based”), hydrolyzed collagen and collagen peptides. However, the scientific evidence that supports its benefits It is still scarce or contradictory. What if aging was not a problem? Taking care of the skin, eating well and staying healthy is important. However, it is also to accept that the passage of time is inevitable. As He has pointed out Dr. Mosahebi himself in The Guardian, which most influences how we get old is genetics and lifestyle: “Avoiding the sun, not smoking, hydrating, maintaining a protein rich diet and using products such as hyaluronic acid are more effective measures than any supplement”. Perhaps the collagen is not the elixir of youth, but the reflection of a society that seeks to stop the clock at all costs. And perhaps, the real challenge is to normalize aging as much as we have learned to celebrate beauty. As one of the protagonists of Death feels so goodafter drinking his elixir of eternal youth: “Do you realize how competitive this is? Life, youth, beauty …” Image | Pexels Xataka | We are asking Chatgpt to value how handsome we are precisely because of what gives us the most: the truth

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