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Iran is going to need much more from China and Russia. The US has landed its fighter planes loaded with a weapon that changes everything: angry kittens

February 27, 2026 by usatoday24

For most of the 20th century, air superiority has been decided by who flew higher, faster, or with more missiles. Today, the decisive factor does not have to be seen or heard, and sometimes even fits in a container under the fuselage. In modern conflicts, confuse the enemy for a few seconds it can be worth more than destroying it, and those seconds are usually start much earlier for the first plane to appear on the radar. Therefore, Iran may need much more than “aid” and agreements with China either Russia. A deployment that anticipates. While Washington and Tehran keep the diplomatic channel open, we have been counting that the Pentagon has been strengthening its presence in the Middle East for weeks with a movement of forces that includes fighters, bombers, submarines, aircraft carriers and land systems. The transfer of F-16CJ fighters specialized in air defense suppression is not a symbolic gesture. It is an operational signal that, if the negotiation ends up failing, the United States wants have the key ready to open the Iranian sky from the first minute. Wild Weasel: Enter first, shoot later. The F-16CJ are designed to an uncomfortable mission and certainly dangerous– Locate enemy radars, force them to turn on, and neutralize them before they can guide missiles against the attacking force. These aircraft are equipped with the system AN/ASQ-213 and anti-radiation missiles AGM-88 HARMand can physically destroy detection and command nodes. That said, its true advantage isn’t always in explosion. It is in the ability to disorganize the entire anti-aircraft architecture before it understands what is happening through a secret weapon. The “angry kittens”. Yes, because under the fuselage of these fighters travels the Angry Kitten podan advanced electronic warfare system that began as a tool to simulate threats in exercises and ended up evolving into a real operational capability. Let it be known, at least since 2017 It has been tested on multiple platforms and has become a test bed for cognitive electronic warfare, approaching the ideal of systems capable of quickly adapting to changing threat environments. Turning radar into a mirage. Thanks to technology from radio frequency digital memorythe Angry Kitten can detect, capture and manipulate enemy radar emissions to return altered signals. In other words, they don’t just block. What it does is create false targetsdistorts trajectories and sows doubts on the operator’s screen, thus reducing thereliability of information that supports the launch of interceptor missiles. Additionally, it can update jamming techniques very quickly and even adjust them during the mission, while the pilot concentrates on flying and fighting. They will face the invisible challenge. Tehran has reinforced its anti-aircraft batteries and seeks external support, trusting in missiles of chinese origin and in strategic alliances with Russia as a deterrent. However, that network relies on radars, data links and command centers that can be confused before a single interceptor leaves the launcher. Hence, Iran is going to need much more than Beijing’s missiles and the Moscow submarines. Because Washington has just landed in the East with fighter planes loaded with those angry kittens capable of disorganizing the defense from within and converting the apparent solidity of the shield into an electronic illusion. The war before the first impact. In short, everything indicates that, if a prolonged air campaignthe breakdown of the Iranian defensive overlap will not fall solely on stealth platforms. Most likely it will require methodical work of these F-16CJ opening corridors, degrading sensors and keeping pressure on the anti-aircraft network. In that scenario, the first phase would not be so much a rain of bombs. It would be more of an invisible battle for control of the spectrum, one where whoever dominates the signal dominates the sky. Image | John QuineUSAF In Xataka | As the US approached, the satellites have captured a shadow: Iran has resurrected a Russian Frankenstein for what is to come In Xataka | To sink a US aircraft carrier required a weapon that Iran did not have. The arrival of China has just changed everything

Meanwhile there are Spanish airports that will not see any of your planes

January 27, 2026 by usatoday24

Everything indicates that this year there will be a price increase in Ryanair tickets. The company has raised its rate increase forecast to 9% for its current fiscal year, which ends in March. All this while maintaining the strategy of reducing its operations in Spanish regional airports after the fight against Aena for airport taxes. What you have announced. Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary has confirmed in presentation of quarterly results that banknotes will rise between 8% and 9%, exceeding the 7% that had been predicted in November. According to O’Leary, this is due to the “strength of demand” and the shortage of supply in the European market, as share the Expansion medium. The company estimates it will carry 208 million passengers this year, one million more than initially anticipated. Why are prices rising?. According to account Ryanair’s strategy is linked to Europe’s limited capacity in terms of the lack of available aircraft. In addition, the airline’s reservations have reached record levels after Christmas, all the more incentive for the company to end up raising its fares, offsetting the 7% drop last year. The situation in Spain. Ryanair maintains its pulse with Spanish regional airports, which it accuses of applying high rates that make them “non-competitive.” Last October, the company already announced its third consecutive cuts in small airports in the country, eliminating 1.2 million seats. In its strategy, Asturias will be one of the most damaged airportssince Ryanair will completely cease its operations there. Redistribution. “We have allocated Ryanair’s scarce capacity to regions and airports that cut airport charges and encourage traffic, such as Albania, Italy, Morocco, Slovakia and Sweden, withdrawing flights and routes in high-cost and non-competitive markets such as Austria, Belgium, Germany and regional Spain. The trend will continue in summer 2026,” counted O’Leary. Leader in Spain. Despite the confrontation with Aena and the cuts in small airports, Ryanair was the leader in Spain during 2025 and even expanded the advantage it already had over the rest of the competitors. There is an explanation for this: while regional airports’ operations are declining, in the rest of the large cities they have grown. From Aena hold that, beyond the argument of fees, what Ryanair does is move its planes where it is most lucrative. Company numbers. Ryanair presented quarterly results marked by an 83% drop in profit until December, weighed down by a fine of 256 million euros imposed by the Italian regulatory body. However, in the three quarters as a whole, net profits increased by 29% to reach 2,392 million euros. For the full fiscal year, the airline forecasts a net profit of between 2,130 and 2,230 million euros, which would represent an increase of 35%. What’s coming now. Ryanair expects to receive the last four aircraft of an order for 210 Boeing in February, several weeks ahead of schedule. Looking ahead to 2027, the first 15 units of a new order for 300 Boeing 737 MAX 10 aircraft will arrive, more efficient and with 21% more capacity, which will allow the company to reach 216 million passengers next year. Its long-term goal is to reach 300 million travelers by 2034. In Xataka | In the middle of the ocean, 250 passengers on a plane learned that one of them was a stowaway. One shaped like a rat

They were carried out with “passenger” planes

January 14, 2026 by usatoday24

An idea is beginning to gain traction among many military experts. The episode takes place in the first attack of the US campaign against Venezuelan vessels that Washington linked to drug trafficking, a coup that occurred on September 2, 2025 in the Caribbean that left 11 dead. Everything indicates that it was with something very similar to a “civilian” plane. A non-military aircraft. Yes, the singular thing, according to the information of New York Times and the Washington Postis that for that first action an aircraft with a paint scheme and silhouette not identifiable as “typically military” would have been used, to the point of seeming a civil or passenger aircraft. Not only that. It is suggested that he also carried the ammunition inside the fuselage instead of displaying them on external supports. Also because the device emitted a military identifier via transponder, although it is not clear what real capacity a vessel of that type would have to perceive or interpret it during contact. The double impact. The initial attack was marked by the decision of hit twice: after the first impact there were survivors who managed to remain on the remains of the hull and who later died in a second attack which ended up sinking the remaining structure. The boat reportedly changed course after detecting the plane and, at some point later, the survivors appeared to gesture toward the aircraft, without it being clear whether they understood what had caused the initial explosion. This moment is what fueled much of the public debate because it enters into especially sensitive issues of the law of armed conflicts, in particular the treatment of people in vulnerable situations after a sinking. Perfidy. The legal point currently being discussed is whether the use of a civilian-looking aircraft to carry out an offensive attack could fit into the figure of perfidyunderstood as feign protected status (like the civilian) to obtain a tactical advantage, causing the adversary to lower his guard or stop taking precautions. Various specialists cited in the media they explain that the analysis would depend on factors such as the degree to which the aircraft was truly “unidentifiable” as a combatant, whether it came close enough to be seen by those on the boat, and whether that appearance could have influenced its behavior (for example, not evading, not surrendering, or not taking survival measures). It is also highlighted that the obligation to distinguish military forces from the civilian population It is a reiterated principle in manuals and doctrinal guides of the United States. The official position. The administration defended the legality of the attacks, presenting them as part of a confrontation against drug trafficking and associated violent activities, and maintained that the actions were consistent with the applicable law. In parallel, the Government argument that there is an armed conflict against certain criminal groups and cartels, a statement that has been discussed by different experts, but which serves as a framework to present the targets as “combatants” within that category. From the Pentagon, public responses focused on pointing out that the systems and platforms used undergo legal reviews and internal validation processes, and the exact model of the aircraft used in the initial strike was avoided. The mystery of the plane. It has not been identified with certainty which aircraft it was, although hypotheses and indirect clues: from models derived from commercial aircraft as variants of the Boeing 737 in military service, to devices with clear liveries and minimal markings, occasionally seen in operational environments. It has also been confirmed that the Navy operates P-8A Poseidon (based on 737 and with very clear schemes) and that there are other 737 military transport aircraft, as well as more discreet aircraft with civil registration plates linked to corporate structures little transparent. At the same time, is remembered that open flight trackers do not necessarily show all military activity, so the absence of conclusive public identification does not allow specific platforms to be confirmed or ruled out. The technical factor. They counted the analysts at TWZ that the technical plausibility of an airplane “that looks like a passenger” but at the same time can attack is based on already existing solutions to integrate ammunition in a discreet way, especially through the so-called Common Launch Tube (CLT), a system that allows loads to be housed and launched from inside an aircraft without the need for visible supports. The known capabilities The CLT can accommodate munitions and small drones (including light glide bombs, compact missiles and unmanned vehicles) and mounts that can be integrated into ramps, doors or internal compartments, with reloading options and tactical flexibility. The approach has been associated with platforms such as AC-130Jweapons kits on KC-130J and drones such as the MQ-9, suggesting that, by design, it would a priori be adaptable to a wide variety of aircraft, including those that due to their external appearance can be confused with civil or transport devices. Image | x In Xataka | The US did not need to shoot to enter Caracas. All it took was an invisible weapon and unexpected “help” from Russia In Xataka | The mission in Caracas revealed that the best kept secret in the US is not a drone: it is called DAP and you will not see it in the movies

A Spanish company is at the center of the new A320 headache. Airbus must inspect hundreds of planes

December 6, 2025 by usatoday24

At the heart of the A320 program, a recent discovery has triggered a wave of attention aimed squarely at a Spanish aerostructures supplier. This is a quality problem in fuselage panels that Airbus has decided to address with a large-scale inspection campaign, at a time when every delivery counts. According to Airbusthe episode has not affected flight safety, but it has opened a new front for the European manufacturer and for part of its industrial chain, especially in Andalusia. The manufacturer has confirmed that the origin of the situation is in metal panels of the A320 front fuselage that have thicknesses outside the specified values. According to industrial presentations consulted by Reuters, in some cases pieces that are too thick or too thin have been detected, forcing each potentially affected aircraft to be inspected. Airbus insists that flight safety has not been compromised and that inspections will determine which planes need intervention. Impact on the fleet. Data shared with operators and cited by Reuters raises the number of aircraft that will undergo inspection to 628, a figure that reflects the industrial scope of the process. Among them there are devices already in service and others on the assembly line, including a group that was due to be delivered in 2025 according to industry sources. This volume forces plant tasks to be reorganized while Airbus prepares the specific procedures that airlines must follow depending on the status of each unit. The adjustment that Airbus communicated on December 3 makes it clear that the quality problem has fully hit its delivery expectations for 2025. The manufacturer now sets its objective at “around 790” commercial aircraft, a figure lower than the initial forecast of about 820 units, according to data provided to Reuters. The cut shows the direct effect of the technical reorganization triggered by the A320 inspections and marks a notable change in industrial planning for next year. Inspections and recent context. The manufacturer maintains that the process will allow it to precisely identify which aircraft need intervention, insisting that this quality problem does not affect flight performance. Reuters points out that the inspections are relatively quick, while The Air Current estimates that repairs could take between three and five weeks. All this occurs after the massive update applied to more than 6,000 Airbus aircraft, motivated by a software vulnerability triggered by episodes of intense solar radiation. Who is Sofitec? Founded in 1999 and based in the Andalusian aeronautical hub, Sofitec is dedicated to the design, manufacture and repair of metallic and composite aerostructures for international programs. Its evolution has been accompanied by investments in engineering, final processes and facility expansions, which has consolidated it as a relevant supplier for the A320 family. Bloomberg identifies the company as one of the suppliers of the fuselage panels that require inspection, which explains its presence at the center of this industrial episode. Union accusations. Bloomberg revealed that the UGT FICA Sevilla union has reported to Airbus the existence of alleged irregularities in several internal Sofitec processes. In a letter addressed to the CEO, the union claims that dates were falsified at certain stages of production and that expired paints and sealants were used, in addition to unauthorized repairs being carried out on carbon fiber parts. Airbus said it acted in accordance with its internal quality procedures but declined to comment on the specific allegations, while Sofitec did not respond to requests for comment. The episode leaves several unknowns open for the European manufacturer and its supply chain. Airbus now faces a technical reorganization that will coexist with its delivery commitments and the usual scrutiny of airlines and regulators. For Sofitec, the situation means being under unusual visibility and managing it while the inspection campaign progresses. The Andalusian aeronautical sector, which has been consolidating its international presence for years, is watching the process carefully, waiting for the reviews to definitively limit the scope of the problem. Images | Airbus | Sofitec In Xataka | SpaceX is known for its rockets. What is less known is its growing and striking fleet of aircraft

There are no places, no planes, no planet for so many tourists.

October 9, 2025 by usatoday24

Before airports became small cities and low cost will multiply filling the sky of Europe, fly it was a privilege reserved for a few. Today, however, the global and mass tourism grows without brakes, pushes airlines to multiply routes and planes, and threatens to overflow not only the most iconic destinations, but also the capacity itself of the planet to sustain it. An infinite curve. commercial aviation directly reflects the evolution of the world economy. Every time global GDP increases, so does the number of passengers that fly and, with it, the demand for new aircraft to replace old ones or expand fleets. Crises (from the technology bubble to the 2008 recession, through the 9/11 attacks, the COVID pandemic or the war in Ukraine) have only managed to temporarily stop air traffic. After each stoppage, the curve has resumed its growth trend, which is around at 4% annually. The so-called Revenue Passenger Miles they have already recovered at pre-pandemic levelsconsolidating the idea that flying is one of the most resilient industries of globalization. The “bleirure”. Although the vast majority of air kilometers correspond to tourists (it is estimated that 85% of the total) are business passengers, barely 12-15% of the volume, who generate up to three quarters of the benefits. These clients they pay premium seatsmake last minute changes and purchase additional services. However, the pandemic introduced a new pattern: the “bleisure”trips that combine work and leisure thanks to the flexibility of teleworking. Airlines have reacted by multiplying cabin categories and seeking to capture the traveler who is no longer satisfied with the traditional binomial between low-cost tourist and first-class executive. The proliferation of intermediate classes reflects a market in which the boundaries between work and pleasure are increasingly blurred. The hordes and the cities. They remembered in Forbes that the reopening after the pandemic caused the phenomenon from “revenge travel”: Millions of travelers took out their lists of dream places and set out to visit the most iconic destinations. France, which has led world tourism for three decades, exceeded 100 million of annual visitors, Spain, Italy, Türkiye and the United States complete the top five. The problem? That this avalanche has had a cost: the Coliseumthe Eiffel Tower or the Louvre They are experiencing days of extreme saturation, while other emblematic places have had to impose restrictions. Notre Dame requires tickets with schedule, the Parthenon limits accessMachu Picchu temporarily closed and Mount Fuji has established quotas and fees. The list of “A” destinations does not grow at the pace of demand, and the pressure on the same spaces threatens to make them uninhabitable. Saturation. The concept of “overtourism”or also “tourism”, has become the biggest nightmare of the most popular destinations. Cities like Venice, Barcelona either Florence They have had to impose limits on tourist accommodation, prohibitions on rental apartments or access fees to try to regain the lost balance. The phenomenon not only erodes the quality of life of residents, but also puts one’s own health at risk. cultural and natural attraction that attracts visitors. Summer saturation, furthermore, already does not concentrate alone in July and August: travelers, pushed by extreme heat waves like those in Europe in 2025, move towards fall or springspreading the pressure throughout the year. What was considered a temporary relief has become another twist. Climate impact. Aerial growth not only puts stress on cities and monuments, it also puts stress on the planet against the ropes. Recent studies estimate that tourism is responsible for 8.8% of global emissions, and aviation accounts for up to three quarters of that footprint if indirect effects such as contrails are included. The problem is that technological efficiency advances too slowly: barely 0.3% annually compared to 3.8% increase in traffic. Sustainable fuels, hydrogen or electrification still They are incipient projectsunable to cover long-haul flights. Thus, each new aircraft delivered guarantees growth in emissionsdespite the fact that the planet’s carbon budgets are already practically exhausted. A planet on the limit. The expansion of air tourism generates a triple limit: physical, social and climatic. Physical, because airports, airplanes and cities cannot absorb unlimited volumes of travelers. Social, because local communities cthey start to rebel against massive tourism that makes housing more expensive and degrades common spaces. and climatebecause the sector’s carbon footprint threatens to neutralize any progress towards global sustainability goals. The paradox is that, while the aeronautical industry accumulates an order book of more than seven years and defends that there is still room to grow, experts in sustainability and governance insist that only with limits (quotas, environmental taxes, diversification of destinations) an irreversible collapse can be avoided. The dilemma of tourism. Thus, mass tourism, as we have known it, faces a historical crossroads. The industry accelerates towards expansion and consumers maintain the desire to travel further and more often, but the reality is that there is not enough physical space, nor cities capable of absorbing so many visitors, no climatic margin to sustain a sector of infinite growth. The question, therefore, is no longer just how we will travel in the future, but whether the planet can afford that we all do it, at all hours and all the time. If you also want, the myth of unchecked global tourism seems to be breaking down: because there is no place, there are no planes, and there is no planet that can withstand so much tourism. Image | RawPixel, PXHere In Xataka | Something strange is happening in Las Vegas: while tourism crowds half the world, the city loses visitors In Xataka | An “invasion” is slowly heading towards the treasures of Spain. There are millions, they like paella and they come from the US

Some old planes end in museums. These are auctioned from $ 25 for non -payment rental

October 2, 2025 by usatoday24

A plane is, above all, the reflection of human ingenuity. The history of aviation shows to what extent progress is relentless: models that just a few years ago seemed irreplaceable today they have no place in the skies. Each device runs a different destination. Some are restored and displayed As heritage pieces, others are dismantled to serve as a source of spare parts and many remain aligned in silent cemeteries where they expect a second chance. There, among rows of immobile fuselage, it is decided whether its future will be the scrap, an unexpected museum or project. In the county of Big Hornin Wyoming, United States, the history of forgotten airplanes has taken an unexpected course. Local authorities have put historical aircraft auction that remained stored in the Graybull airfield. The process does not arise from a cultural initiative or a preservation project, but from a litigation that faced the landlord with the county itself. After years of disputes and appeals, it was the Supreme Court of Wyoming who finally gave the green light for sale. A special auction for aviation lovers The aircraft that have come to auction are units built in the middle of World War II and during the Cold War, and As Paul Thur explained to Cowboy State Daily, They are not in a position to fly And they have very different degrees of deterioration: some remain complete, while others barely retain the fuselage. These are goods in different phases of scrapping, with pieces that have been extracted for decades to keep other devices in service. The origin of the auction dates back to a prolonged conflict with Harold Sheppard, lessee of the land where the planes were stored. For years he stopped paying the rent at Big Horn County and refused to withdraw the aircraft when required. In April 2021, local authorities imposed a storage tax worth $ 543,600, which began a legal battle. The case climbed to the Supreme Court of Wyoming, which in March resolved in favor of the county and allowed to have aircraft as their own assets. The sale is being carried out Through the Public Surplus portala website specialized in public auctions. In the listings, some aircraft start at $ 25 and it is noted that “As is” are deliveredwithout any guarantee. The buyer not only acquires the fuselage, but also what there is inside, from original instruments to scrap remains. The standard is clear: there will be no assistance for disassembly or transfer, and each winner must organize its own logistics and remove the aircraft within a maximum period of 90 days. The future of auctioned airplanes will depend largely on who acquires them. For many buyers, the main interest will be to disassemble and recover pieces with value in the spare parts market. However, there are precedents that show that they can also become surprising projects. In Indonesia, A Boeing 737 ended up being a luxury house In Bali, while in Oregon An individual installed a Boeing 727 in the middle of the forest and made him his residence. Examples that underline to what extent a plane can continue to tell stories even when it does not take off again. Exit prices start from 25 dollars, but logistics costs trigger the invoice. After winning the bid, each buyer must take care of the disassembly, load and transport of the aircraft. That implies going with specialized equipment, own tools and Enough laborin addition to hiring road transfer in oversized vehicles. To this are added circulation permits and storage expenses, which raise the invoice well above the initial price. In practice, acquiring one of these planes is a disbursement comparable to that of a large logistics project, rather than that of a simple collection curiosity. The old planes are part of the daily landscape in Graybull and their possible withdrawal has aroused comments between neighbors and visitors. Some fear that the airfield will lose one of its most unique features, a visible fuselage cemetery from the road. However, local authorities have clarified that the auction only affects one part of the collection: the other remains under control of B&G Industries, which maintains its maintenance and manufacturing activity. The identity of the place will not be completely erased, although it will inevitably be reduced. The auction will conclude on Friday, October 3 and, except surprise, most aircraft will end up dismantled, more valuable as pieces than as a whole. For Big Horn County, the result is double: recover part of the accumulated costs and reinforce the airport box With leftover funds. For buyers, on the other hand, the prize will be a cluster of historical remains that can be used for scrap, private collections or creative projects. In any case, it will be the last symbolic flight of aircraft that marked time. Images | Paul Thur/Public Surplus In Xataka | Airlines have invested millions in entertainment. Passengers use it to see an plane icon slowly movingAnn

Those who make poop on the planes

August 23, 2025 by usatoday24

We live surrounded by bacteria. Many are inside us And nothing happens, although there is others that are more treacherous. Above all, there are superbacteria. They are the ones who have Developed resistance to antibiotics And they are extremely difficult to eradicate. The World Health Organization itself has cataloged them as one of the greatest health threats, but there is something that can help us end them. Make peanut on the plane. AMR. They are the acronym in English of “Antimicrobial resistance”, Something that was found when antibiotics began more common in the 50s and that has accelerated in recent years. Excessive use And sometimes, inadequate of these medicationsas well as The sale without recipehas made bacteria rise level and be more resistant. And the worst part is that they are not located, but that they travel all over the world due to the trade of animals, food and the trips we can do by plane. Air pollution also helps transport resistant bacteria. Impact. The most common pathogens are Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter Baumannii or multirresistant tuberculosis, and it is estimated that they currently produce more than one million direct deaths every year. For A population of more than 8,000 million peopleit may not seem too much, but already You talk of about 39 million direct annual deaths for 2050 due to these superbacteria. They put transplants at risk, they are a threat to food security, make treatments difficult and hospital stays increase. And, in addition to direct deaths, It is expected An increase in health costs of about 160,000 million dollars annually. The analysis. We have commented that traveling by plane makes it easier for these resistant microorganisms to move from place, being able to contaminate totally new groups. It is something we have seen with Pandemics like Covid-19and that migration of superbacteria by plane has been the protagonist in a study Prepared by the National Science Agency of Australia, in collaboration with the University of Xiamen, the University of Australia del Sur and the Technological University of Michigan. Specifically, they analyzed wastewater from the bathrooms of 44 international flights that arrived in Australia from nine countries: 18 came from India. 14 of the United Kingdom. Six from Germany. The rest were a flight from: France, United Arab Emirates, Türkiye, South Africa, Japan and Indonesia. Aircraft excrement extraction system Differences. The researchers detected nine priority and superbacteria pathogens, some of them resistant to multiple drugs. Of the nine, five were in the fecal waters of the 44 flights, while a gene that confers resistance to last resort antibiotics was detected in 17 flight. This is the most resistant to the most powerful antibiotic treatments. Nicholas Ashbolt, a microbiologist at the University of Australia del Sur, commented that “flights from Asia, in particular from India, showed higher concentrations of genes of genes from Antibiotic resistance Compared to flights from Europe and the United Kingdom. ”Yawen Liu, a researcher at the University of Xianmen, ensures that these differences can reflect variations in the use of antibiotics, water health, population density and public health policies of each region. Peanut. Now, why is it so important to urinate or defecate on a plane to fight the superbacteria? Warish Ahmed, the main scientist of the University of Australia, comments that “the wastewater of the aircraft captures microbial signatures of passengers from different continents, offering a non -invasive and profitable form of monitoring threats such as AMR’s.” In addition, in the study they have not limited themselves to measuring the presence of superbacteria in the wastewater of the airplanes, but to find out If the disinfectants used in the bathrooms affect AMR. The results showed that nucleic acids remained stable up to 24 hours, even in the presence of strong disinfectants. This points to the importance of analysis of the depositions in the aircraft for surveillance purposes. Critical. “Wastewater monitoring of aircraft could complement existing public health systems, providing early alerts on the emerging threat of superbacteria,” says Ashbolt, and the study concludes by pointing out that this mere proof of concept has great potential in the real world to convert the bathrooms of the aircraft into an early warning system that allows to better manage the better public health. I recognize that I have made a multitude of flights and, whenever I have been able, I have avoided using the toilet of the plane because it seems uncomfortable. But, if I have no choice, in my next flight I will lite my blanket and I will do my things thinking that I am doing a favor to science. Images | Cambridgebayweather, Wright In Xataka | The AI has opened a chest that had been closed almost 4,000 million years: the salvation of antibiotics

In 2023 someone hacked the GPS signal of 20 planes. The European alternative Galileo already offers an option to avoid it

July 29, 2025 by usatoday24

A pilot Fly on the Baltic Sea When, suddenly, all his navigation systems told him that he was tens of kilometers of his real position, drawing ghost circles on Russian territory. Weeks before, in the Middle East, More than 20 crews They had reported a “total navigation failure”, forcing aerial drivers to guide them blind. They were not technical problems. They were deliberate attacks on GPS systems, known as spoofing or signal supplantation. In this type of attack, a powerful transmitter on land emits false signals that mimic the satellites, cheating the plane to calculate an erroneous position and route. Already in 2012, a team from the University of Texas showed that it was possible Take control of a civil drone through Spoofing. In 2017 there were the first cases with ships passing through the black sea. Today the Baltic and the Persian Gulf are black points where maritime operators and airlines routinely report similar incidents. Europe’s response is already here. Until now, the aviation sector has avoided a catastrophe thanks to redundant systems and the expertise of the pilots. But The threat is real, it is growing And you need a robust technological solution. Therefore, the Galileo constellation, the European GPS, has just officially activated its Osnma service: An additional security layer that hinders this type of deception without degrading the performance or precision of positioning. How Osnma works. The Open Service Navigation Message Authentication (OSNMA) is a kind of digital authenticity seal available for free For Galileo users. In essence, it is a cryptographic protocol that introduces authentication data into the signaling system itself. Specifically, in the I/NAV message of the E1-B signal; An already reserved space, hence it does not affect service performance. The process to have a compatible receiver is to obtain the cryptographic public key from the GNSS European Services Center. Upon receiving the signal, the receiver uses that key to verify the “digital signature” of the message. If the firm is false or does not exist, the receiver knows that he is being a victim of a hoax and can alert the pilot or the autonomous system. Prevents the Spoofingnot the Jamming. Osnma makes supplanting a Galileo signal exponentially more difficult. However, it does not prevent the Jammingthat is, someone interfere with the signal through a brute force attack That the receptors saturate. It is good news equally: it is no longer enough to issue a false signal; The cryptographic firm in real time, an immense computational feat should also be falsified. OSNMA will not only serve to Increase security in air and sea traffic management. It will also be key to the future of autonomous cars, smart tacographers and road use systems. Even for sectors such as telecommunications, energy and finance, which depend on an ultra -precise time signal to synchronize their operations. Image | ESA, Euspa In Xataka | The GPS has become the Achilles heel of modern aviation. And engineering already has its sustained ready

If something matches all mortals, it is the limit of 100 ml in the plane’s hand luggage. That is about to end

July 25, 2025 by usatoday24

100 milliliter boats in a transparent bag of up to a liter of capacity. That is the limit that everyone, absolutely everyone, we have tax if we want to wear liquids in hand luggage when traveling by plane. But that measure, dating from 2006, looks close to being eliminated in the European Union. The reason? The new 3D scanners That, little by little, community airports begin to populate. But let’s start at the beginning. Why 100 ml? To understand the why we have to go back to 2006. The 11-S attacks in 2001 caused, among other things, an important hardening in security measures Airport. With this tragic recent event, in 2006 the CIA and the MI5 frustrated an attempt of attack that sought to explode several aircraft in full flight using two hidden liquid explosives in bottles: acetone peroxide and hexamethylendiamine triperoxide. From then on, the authorities decided to limit the maximum capacity of the boats to 100 milliliters. The figure is not trivial. According to explained Kip Hawley, former director of the TSA (Transportation Security Administration), some explosives need to have “a critical diameter to achieve an explosion that causes damage.” The container size is, therefore, a self -safety measure itself as conventional X -ray escapes They cannot detect Liquid explosives reliably. Image | Roberto Arias Yes, an attacker could devote himself to mixing the liquid of several small bottles in a larger in full flight, but the liquid explosives are very unstable, so mixing them on board can end quite badly for the attacker. Acetone peroxide explosions They are 80% more powerful than those of the TNTbut it is a much more complicated compound to manipulate, to the point that a stronger blow of the account can cause an explosion. The new scanners. The arrival of C3 scanners, however, has the potential to change the rules of the game. These scanners use computerized tomography to generate three -dimensional luggage images, so that the operator can see the content without the passenger to open the suitcase or backpack. Yes, but no. These scanners have gone, little by little, reaching European airports. In fact, until September 2024, some airports allowed to pass security control with liquids above more than 100 ml. However, last year the European Union activated a temporary restriction due to a technical problem in the scanners. First in the HI-SCAN 6040 CTIX and, finally, in all others. That is why right now, even if you go through a new scanner, liquids are still limited to the capacity that accompanies us since 2006. Out limits, but calm. As reported from Brussels, the European Union intends to eliminate this limit as soon as possible. Only the approval of the European Civil Aviation Conference (CEAC) is missing, according to the Italian newspaper Corriereit could come as soon as today or Monday. Now, the reality is what is: there are few airports that have these scanners. According to him Airports Council International Europeas of July 2024 there were only around 350 scanners in 13 countries. What does that mean? That the measure will not be removed from all airports. “It will only affect those airports that currently have this state -of -the -art team of scanners,” they point out from the commission. When will it happen? How before and imminently, they expect from Europe, although there is no concrete date. Cover image | Xataka In Xataka | Of course, Ryanair’s workers will try to catch you with the size of the suitcase. The salary is going in it

They are not fighters, they are planes of the Slovakia government. The day an Airbus A319 and a Fokker 100 stole the show

July 2, 2025 by usatoday24

On the left, the Airbus A319. To the right, the Fokker 100. The two official planes of Slovakia They fly the track at a very low altitude, almost touching the ground, as if the air were an extension of the platform itself. From land, dozens of cameras and mobiles point to heaven, trying to capture a maneuver that seems unrepeatable. Both are part of the government squad managed by the Ministry of Interior. Although they are usually known as “presidential planes”, the truth is that they are available to the President of the Republic, Prime Minister and the President of Parliament, among other high positions. They are also used in repatriation flights, humanitarian missions or institutional representation tasks. An exhibition that broke molds The show took place in 2021and what was seen on that track is not, much less, usual. It is not common for presidential fleet planes –more associated with Diplomatic transport that to acrobatics – participate in aerial exhibitions with this level of expertise. That is why the scene is so striking: a display of technique and coordination with airplanes that, in theory, should move away from the spotlights. It is easy to distinguish the Fokker Airbus, even for the not expert eye. The first, more robust, carries its engines under the wings. The second, on the other hand, has them mounted at the rear of the fuselage, just on the sides of the tail. There are also notable differences on tail surfaces: the Airbus opts for the classic vertical rudder and horizontal stabilizers, while the Fokker wears a configuration in T, with the stabilizer mounted on drift. Two different aircraft, two different choreographies … but perfectly synchronized. As seen in the spectacular video PUblized by the perinakx channel videosboth take off In closed, parallel and elegant training. In the middle of the track, one of the airplanes continues to rise gently, while the Airbus begins a turn to the right that leaves the blue fuselage that is cut against the sky. From the ground, the image is imposing: the red engines, the blue fuselage with stylized wings painted on it and eyes that observe as if the plane was aware. Fokker 100 of the Slovakia government Later, in another video cut, we see them again in action. This time flying separately, but always very close to the ground. The Airbus stars in the most daring maneuver: it approaches the track as if it were going to land, it first supports the rear wheels and, almost imperceptibly, also the front train. It runs a few meters, lifts the nose with decision, inclines the plane slightly to the right and takes off again. All in seconds. All with a softness that makes the weight of the plane seem oblivious to gravity. Airbus A319 of the Slovakia government This air demonstration charges even more value if one takes into account that the Slovak fleet is in the process of renewal. How Pravda points outthe government plans to withdraw the Fokker 100, second -hand acquired in 2016, which already had 25 years of use. Today they are the last of its kind operating in Europe. Although they keep flying – and giving a sound that falls in love with aviation fans – maintenance is increasingly complex and expensive. The plan is to replace them with new more efficient and versatile aircraft before the end of its useful life comes. Airbus A319 of the Slovakia government The protagonist Airbus of this flight is part of the generational relief. It was acquired in 2017 for 34.9 million eurosreplacing the veteran Tupolev Tu-154m presidential. It has a medical configuration and ability to move up to six people on a stretcher. Before joining the Slovak fleet, this same plane had served the former French president Jacques Chirac. They are maneuvers that are not seen on commercial flights. They are maneuvers that require surgical precision and absolute trust. And, above all, in the other pilot. Because this was not a training flight or any exhibition: it was a declaration of intentions. The result was hypnotic, both for those who witnessed him live, and for those who see him from home. Images | Perinakx videos In Xataka | The C929 wants to be the great leap of China in commercial aviation. For now, your heart remains in Western hands

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