planet

The most farmed animal on the planet is not chickens, pigs, cows or fish: it is prawns.

by

Christmas is a time of carols, millions of led lightsnougats, empachos and a particular culinary ‘lore’ in which prawns and prawns are not usually missing. If tomorrow you have the opportunity to taste them during New Year’s Eve dinner, think about the following: what you have before you, on the plate, They are unique animals for humanity. And they are for a very simple reason. There is no other species that we raise more massively, not even chickens. There are those who estimate that approximately 51% of all animals What we have on ‘farms’ are precisely decapods, especially prawns. Prawns galore. If these days (lucky you) you have the opportunity to enjoy a good tray of prawns you should know a couple of things. The first one there are two typesdepending on their origin: there are wild prawns, caught in the ocean and the coasts; and those from aquaculture, which come from specialized farms and play a crucial role to supply the market. These fish farms are also interesting for another reason: they represent the largest farms in the world, at least if we are based on the number of living animals they contain. There are many (many) more breeding animals in them than in farms specializing in chickens, pigs, cows or even insects and fish. Click on the image to go to the tweet. But are there so many? This is what he suggests a study from 2023 that a few months ago rescued in Asterisk Magazine Andrés Jiménez Zorrilla, former investment expert and co-founder of Shrimp Welfare Project (SWP), an organization dedicated precisely to promoting more ethical decapod breeding practices. The report estimates that the planet’s fish farms usually host around 230 billion of these creatures at any given time. To be more precise, between 150,000 and 370,000 million, which exceeds any other known farm animal estimate. Even, the authors clarify, insects. “440 billion (300-620 billion) farmed shrimp are slaughtered each year, far exceeding the number of the most numerous farmed vertebrates used for food production, such as fish and chickens,” specify the articlesigned by Daniela R. Waldhorn and Elisa Autric and published in August 2023 by Rethink Priorites. The photo is completed with the specimens that arrive our months from fishing at sea. Are there more figures? Yes. And they are striking. Although both authors acknowledge that today there is only “partial data”, there are studies that indicate that every year hundreds of thousands of decapods are grown in fish farms on the planet, especially prawns and shrimp, which represent more than 80% of the total. In their report (in English) Waldhorn and Autric generally speak of “shrimp”but when delving into the problems surrounding the aquaculture of these species, both authors provide some extra detail. For example, when listing the species with the highest number of deaths, they specifically cite the P. vannamei and P. monodon. The most correct In Spanish it is to speak of “prawns”, rather than “prawns”. A percentage: 51%. The figures for the aquaculture industry are overwhelming, but they are better understood when compared to those of other sectors dedicated to raising animals in captivity for consumption. Jiménez Zorrilla points out that, in generalregardless of the moment, prawns represent 51% of the total number of animals raised on farms. They are followed at a considerable distance by fish (23%), insects (19%), chickens (7%) and pigs and other livestock (< 1%). Translated into figures, this means that compared to the 230 billion shrimp and prawns that (on average) live in fish farms, there are ‘only’ 779 million pigs and 1.55 billion cattle, 33 billion chickens and 125 billion farmed fish. In case the data were not clear in itself, the activist points out that every year 440,000 million of these decapods are slaughtered for consumption, “more than four times the number of humans who have walked the Earth.” Why is it important? Because Jiménez Zorrilla, like Wadhorn and Austric in their day, do not limit themselves to probing the size of the industry. Its objective is not so much to answer the question of how many shrimp live in the world’s farmers as to draw attention to the conditions in which they develop. “The problem is larger in scale than that of insect farming, fishing or any vertebrate for human consumption,” researchers warn. “If these animals are sentient, current commercial practices pose serious welfare risks during cultivation, handling, sale and slaughter.” Image| Kawê Rodrigues (Unsplash) Via | DAP In Xataka | Prawns, prawns, shrimp, prawns and carabineros: how they differ and which ones are better

The founder of Ikea was one of the richest men on the planet, but his most famous trick is available to everyone

by

You may like it more or less Ikeabut I don’t think there are many doubts about the success that the company has had throughout its history. One figure was key in his rise. Its founder, Ingvar Kampradwas a different man of his time. The businessman died with billions of dollars in his account and, however, the key that led him to success and that he strictly followed throughout his life was very simple. Hint: never spend more than necessary. Ingvar Kamprad before Ikea. When you imagine the guy who built the Ikea empire, you may think of someone who lived a dream life that very few can achieve. However, if the company is what it is today, it is partly because Kamprad was the complete opposite of those stereotypes. Despite his wealth, he was known for your most frugal habits. Born in Sweden in 1926, his beginnings as a “businessman” began very early. At the age of five he sold matchesand at ten he dedicated himself to selling bikes, fish or even Christmas decorations to his neighbors. At the age of 17, he created Ikea with the money his father gave him for his good grades. Of course, I didn’t sell furniture then, just small utensils for the house. ELON MUSK VS JEFF BEZOS: STAR WARS Kamprad in 1965 Ikea is getting older. It happened in 1956, when Kamprad revolutionized the market and the furniture industry itself with the introduction of flat boxes with furniture to assemble at home. Yes, this began a way of selling the product that has continued to this day and that reduced the company’s costs in exchange for the consumer doing the other part of the work: assembling the furniture. The founder achieved such success that he became one of the richest men on the planet. In fact, when he died in 2018 he was eighth on the world list and had a estimated net worth of 58 billion of dollars. However, if you had met him in life, you would not have thought that you were dealing with a billionaire. Kamprad’s life hack. Talking about the secret of the success of a company like Ikea in an article is nothing short of an act of faith. Surely it is better understood in a book and in a more relaxed way, but we can understand some keys through the figure of its founder. And Kamprad insisted on one thing: saving, and he carried that maxim every day of his life. “Everything we earn we need as a reserve,” said. For example, the man was known for flying economy class, staying in budget hotels, or drive a Volvo 240 GL of 93 that lasted 20 years. In fact, he only gave it up when he was convinced it was dangerous. Kamprad said that he learned to be prudent with money in the small town in southern Sweden where he grew up: “it is in Smaland’s nature to be thrifty.” Example of this it happened in 2014when he returned to Sweden after 40 years of tax exile with clothes “bought only in flea markets.” The haircut anecdote. In 2008, The guardian told a scene which said a lot about the businessman’s personality. Apparently, after paying around 22 euros for a haircut in the Netherlands, he said the price was too high for his usual budget for haircuts, “I usually try to get a haircut when I’m in a developing country. The last time was in Vietnam,” he went on to say. The philosophy of life, to the company. These habits not only represented the beginning of Kamprad’s personal philosophy towards consumerism, but were also to serve as a model for his employees. He New York Times detailed that low-cost flights, meals and hotel stays were initiatives that he promoted among executives. In fact, in 1976 he distributed what was called “Testament of a furniture dealer“, a booklet with guidelines that Ikea employees have followed since then. In it, he details parts of his frugal philosophy, stating that “wasting resources is a mortal sin at Ikea.” His inheritance, his legacy. Decades before his death, Kamprad had placed ownership of the Ikea brand in a complex network of foundations and holding companies. However, these assets were not transmitted to his heirs. Apparently, the Stichting Ingka Foundation, a Dutch entity whose stated purpose is to donate to charities and “support innovation” in design, controls most of the Ikea stores. Additionally, the Interogo Foundation owns the rights to the brand and controls global franchises through a subsidiary. This foundation is managed by a board in which members of the Kamprad family have minority control. That is, the heirs retained some of the wealth and control, but the majority of their fortune is held in charitable trusts. A complicated structure as a result of his desire to preserve Ikea’s unique culture and ensure its long-term survival. Why Ikea. Before finishing this small collection of stories about the man who founded the most famous furniture company, a secret that many do not know. Why is it called Ikea? It is an acronym of the initials of Kamprad’s first and last name, and the initials of the name of the family farm where he was born (Elmtaryd) and the nearest village (Agunnaryd). Image | Ikea, Haparanda Midnight Ministerial, Public Domain In Xataka | The psychology behind IKEA selling you cheap food in its restaurant In Xataka | Online sales and manufactured in local carpentry shops: Slowdeco, the “Valencian Ikea” that does not even try to compete against Ikea

China activated a renewable “Marshall Plan” in 2011. It is achieving more than just decarbonizing the planet

by

Between 1948 and 1952, United States destination 13.3 billion dollars at the time to rebuild Western Europe after the Second World War. This strategy was called the ‘Marshall Plan’. China has its own Marshall Plan, one focused on accelerating the development of ‘green’ technologies on a global scale. And it is redrawing the energy map of developing countries. The Green Marshall Plan. It is estimated that, since 2011, China has invested a whopping $227 billion in more than 450 new energy manufacturing projects. Of that amount, around 88% are concentrated from 2022, which shows an impressive acceleration in its roadmap. BRI. One of the centerpieces of the Xi Jinping government’s foreign policy is the Belt and Road Initiative, or “Belt and Road Initiative“The idea was to create a new concept of international relations based on free trade that took the ancient Silk Road as a model (something that China has taken up). Much of this investment in green energy is going to the countries that are part of the BRI, and only in 2024 will China invested 11.8 billion dollars in green energy. In the first six months of 2025, investment was 9.7 billion, which shows another acceleration in the expansion of its green policy beyond its borders. Overproduction as a lever of change. And, if the question is “why,” the answer is “because they can.” Although China continues to extract coal yqwants to become an oil powerhas also strongly supported the renewable energy sector. So much so that they have achieved an overwhelming manufacturing advantage compared to the West. HE esteem that China produces 80% of the world’s solar panels, 75% of lithium batteries and 70% of wind turbines. They have such strong internal competition that their companies have had to create a kind of OPEC to avoid stepping on each other. And, of course, this enormous production has collapsed the market: solar panels have rock-bottom priceshave crushed Western competition and these low prices allow developing countries or countries that want to change their energy model to do so at a lower cost than a few years ago. Proper names. In 2024, China exported technologies related to renewables (panels, turbines, batteries and electric vehicles) worth 177 billion dollars, which is equivalent to 5% of its total exports. Being the factory of the worldit’s outrageous. But of that figure, 72 billion were allocated to developing countries. And not only because those countries are buying from China, but because China is investing, directly, in them. An example is Ethiopia. In 2024, they banned the importation of new gasoline cars with the aim of betting on new energy ones. But at the same time, between 2011 and 2018, China invested 4 billion in the Ethiopian energy sector, with multiple wind farms or the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. This year, another 500 million dollars have ended up in solar manufacturing plants: Chinese companies are establishing themselves in those countries. Another example is Moroccowith battery factories from chinese manufacturers to feed electric cars. In general, China is moving through Africa supporting this energy transition of countries traditionally very dependent on fossil fuels, but they are not leaving empty-handed: they are also building infrastructures that allow them to exploit mines of critical materials, a fundamental leg of the Chinese technological business and geopolitics. China’s ‘Great Solar Wall’ in 2017 And in December 2024 Brazil, like China. HE esteem that 90% of the solar panels installed in Africa are Chinese, and they are also expanding throughout Latin America. On the one hand, with influence: they build infrastructure and are becoming a key player in the railway rebirth of South America. On the other hand, they are installing factories in several countries. And there Brazil has moved very intelligently. The country increased tariffs on all automobile imports to force something that China itself did years ago when Western manufacturers wanted to enter the country: to open factories in its territory. BYD or Great Wall Motors are setting up plants in Brazil. Strange bedfellows. And then there is India. Diplomatic relations between both countries are not at their best and, in fact, India is taking advantage of any excuse to remind China that they also have military muscle. However, on the other side of those tensions, we find a country that is experiencing explosive growth in renewable capacitygoing from 190 GW installed to almost 500 GW projected by 2030. And what is making that change possible is the cmassive purchase of renewable technologies to China. India buys 17% of the solar cells that China exports, which creates a brutal technological dependency, as well as a dilemma: they need green energy with immediate availability, but they also want to develop their own industrial capabilities. And this overproduction in China, with such low prices, makes the goal of national manufacturing less attractive. Taking the role of the US. And, precisely, it was during the COP30 held a few days ago in Brazil, where China’s role was highlighted. In a report by The New York Times point out how, in the Paris Agreement, rich countries relied on poorer ones to begin taking measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In some cases, it remained a simple promise while developing countries claimed their right to industrialization, something for which they have been using fossil fuels. China has seen the gap and thanks to cheap renewables, these developing countries can continue their industrialization in a more environmentally friendly way. And we go back to what we did before: China presenting itself as a pillar of global stability in an event in which the United States has not made an appearance. And while Europe and the US analyze what to do, China continues to expand its influence. Images | POT, Korea Aerospace Research Institute In Xataka | China is the largest power in renewables. Now you have a problem: what to do with all those used turbines and plates

Silver is right now the most sought after and most expensive metal on the planet. And the problem is that there is not enough

by

Silver just surpassed $60 per ounce for the first time, and the impact is especially noticeable in the technology sector. The metal is essential for solar panels, electric cars, electronics and AI data centers, and demand has skyrocketed much faster than the mining industry can respond. In a matter of months, what seemed like a one-time rally has revealed a deeper problem: the world is entering a phase of real silver shortage. A record that marks a turning point. The escalation became historic this week. While this report is being written, silver is around $62.67 per ouncedoubling its value since January after five consecutive years of supply deficit. Although the rise is not surprising who follows this marketwhat impacts is its speed: according to Bloombergsilver is the best performing metal of the year, doubling its price and even surpassing gold in what is already its biggest increase in decades. But beyond the price, what is relevant is not how much silver has become more expensive, but why. The market structure has changed. Money doesn’t stop going up. For analysts and companies, this new peak has profound implications. Silver no longer behaves as a simple safe haven asset, it is a critical industrial input whose shortage can slow down entire sectors of the global economy. Unlike goldwhose function is mainly financial—, the silver it is a metal that supports electrification and the energy transition. However, the problem is amplified by the nature of the market which is narrow, volatile and without global strategic reserves. As Bloomberg recallsthere is no equivalent to gold central banks that act as a stabilizer of last resort. When physical money is lacking, there is simply no safety net. Source: TradingView A perfect storm. The rise of silver is not understood by a single factor, but by the convergence of industrial, monetary and geopolitical forces. First of all, according to Financial Timesthe silver market has been in deficit for five years, with inventories at minimum levels and production unable to respond. Silver is mostly obtained as a byproduct of zinc, copper or lead mining, making it difficult to increase supply quickly. Furthermore, the three largest producers—Mexico, Peru and China— face environmental and regulatory restrictions which further reduce production capacity. The Silver Institute foresees industrial demand increasing at least until 2030, driven by solar expansion, transportation electrification and the growth of digital infrastructure. Additionally, the global data center boom also adds to this pressure, because some of them operate with solar energy. Added to all this is a worrying dynamic: the United States has accumulated large reserves of silver due to the risk of new tariffs under Section 232. This diversion of metal to American deposits has drained inventories in London and Asia, generating a silver squeeze which skyrocketed metal borrowing costs. As pointed out in FTthe North American retail investor—for whom silver is “the poor man’s gold”—is also entering aggressively, fueling the bullish momentum. China enters the scene. The decisive factor comes from Beijing. The Ministry of Commerce of China announced in an official statement new strict conditions for exports of silver, tungsten and antimony during 2026–2027, including strengthened requirements, documentary controls and more rigorous supervision for state-owned companies that want to export metal. Likewise, the official text confirms China’s intention to protect its strategic resources for internal use, especially in sectors considered critical for its future competitiveness: renewable energy and artificial intelligence. The reason it’s clear: China wants to guarantee enough physical silver to power its own AI data centers, the expansion of which requires huge volumes of solar panels. With global mining production limited to 813 million ounces annually and new projects that take years to come online, Chinese controls could exacerbate an already structural shortage. China, the largest global refiner of silver and a central player in the solar chain, has real capacity to alter the global balance of the market. India and Russia complete the geopolitical map. On the one hand, India has become one of the great drivers of the physical silver market, with about 80% of global demand for bars and coins. According to ReutersIndian demand for jewelry and bullion has been so strong in 2025 that it has caused physical shortages and premiums on international prices during holidays such as Diwali. Added to this pressure is a new regulatory framework: India’s silver imports soared to $2.72 billion in October, partly due to measures that facilitate the monetization of physical silver, allowing consumers to convert their holdings into financial instruments. On the other hand, Russia decided at the end of 2024 start buying silver for its State Reserve Fund, a move that has contributed to skyrocketing prices against gold even further. It’s not just silver: a global reconfiguration of metals. The rise in silver coincides with a historic movement in gold. The golden metal exceeded $4,200 due to pressure from central banks, which already have more value in gold than in US Treasury bonds. A structural turn in the international monetary system. For their part, platinum and palladium have also become more expensive. This phenomenon indicates that strategic and safe haven metals are regaining a central role in the global economy. What to expect from now on. The forecasts for the coming months coincide in a common diagnosis: structural tension will not disappear, even if phases of technical correction appear. On a technical level, several analysts see room for further increases. According to FXStreetconsiders an advance towards 63.8–65 dollars plausible, supported by a weak dollar and the continuity of the buying impulse. However, since the TradersUnion portal introduce caution, the market is clearly overbought, and losing the $61.5 support could trigger short-term profit taking. Added to all this are two new forces compared to past cycles: the rise of AI, which multiplies solar demand, and China’s industrial policy, which can further restrict global supply. In this context, as analyst David Morgan warnsprecious metals are entering “a monetary inflection point,” driven by both the energy transition and loss of confidence in … Read more

Christmas lights begin in a town in Andalusia that sells them to the rest of the planet: Puente Genil

by

Every year, while cities like vigo boast of their light shows and countries like Venezuela either Portugal compete to light Christmas before anyone else, there is an Andalusian municipality that, discreetly, has been setting the real rhythm of that calendar for decades. Although few know it, this is where Christmas really begins. A light by chance. The story begins in Genil Bridgea town that, before becoming a global benchmark for festive lighting, already had an intimate and almost genetic relationship with electricity. At the end of the 19th century, its flour and electricity factory “La Alianza” turned on some of the first electric streetlights in Andalusia. From that early love affair with light would later arise a seemingly minor moment that would end up changing everything: an electrician named Francisco Jimenez Carmonaowner of a small appliance store, decided to build a wooden star with light bulbs to decorate his window one post-war Christmas Day. What could have been just a nice gesture of local commerce unleashed a collective fascination. The neighbors gathered, the City Council asked to illuminate entire streets, the nearby towns demanded the same, and without anyone being able to foresee it, a company had just been born that would end up illuminating half the planet. The birth of a giant. Decades later, that initial spark transformed into Iluminaciones Ximénez, today Ximenez Groupa group capable of designing and manufacturing lighting installations for more than 600 cities in 40 countriesfrom Madrid or Vigo to Dubai, passing through New York, Moscow, Sydney or Malabo. An expansion that maintains, however, a deeply artisanal root: all the lights are They manufacture in Puente Genilwhere every Christmas campaign more than 180 workers produce millions of LED points day and night that will then travel to the five continents. The company operates like a bright boutique that adapts each project to the culture of the destination, from the amber warmth of the Nordic countries to the explosive colors of Latin America, passing through the classic tones of the United States or the monochrome designs of some Spanish cities. To your catalog collaborations are added with renowned designers and projects as imposing as the largest Christmas tree in Europe or the tallest in Central America, or even giant tunnels in Moscow capable of transforming entire avenues into immersive scenarios. Puente Genil as a secret laboratory. Although the lights travel so far, everything always begins at home. Puente Genil has become a testing ground open, a space where the most risky and innovative proposals are experience before traveling to Vigo, Brussels or New York. La Matallana and Paseo del Romeral function as a technological gateway where new structures, lighting patterns, immersive tunnels and shows synchronized through pixel mapping appear every year, capable of converting entire streets into changing audiovisual surfaces. This 2025 the town will deploy about two million LED pointsa forest of illuminations that extends through villages, avenues, streetlights, squares and facades, accompanied by a cultural program of almost thirty events which turns the city into a first-rate Christmas epicenter. And more. But the hyperbole goes beyond the visual spectacle: Puente Genil, located between Seville, Córdoba, Málaga and Granada, preserves a unique industrial heritagefrom its old power plants to its modernist palaces, and a festive life that transcends even Christmas, with an Easter (the “Mananta”) so unique that it has rituals and processions impossible to find anywhere else. Economic impact. The success by Ximenez Group It not only lies in the ability to dazzle visually. Their projects have become real economic drivers for the cities that hire them: they attract tourism, increase sales, reactivate entire neighborhoods and generate local identity through decorations designed to dialogue with each culture. In Sydney they designed an interactive maze that changes color according to human movement, in Moscow they built an enchanted forest and a 200-meter tunnel, in Seville they synchronize Three Wise Men’s crowns with light and sound, in Vigo they deploy monumental digital trees, and in New York they provide engineering, design and pieces manufactured in Andalusia. The crux. The key, they countis in the fusion between tradition and avant-garde: a family business founded in a small store in Córdoba that today produces shows with its own low-consumption technology, advanced LED systems and intelligent motors capable of rescheduling shows in a matter of hours, as if the streets were gigantic living screens. Homemade star in global phenomenon. Despite driving more than 40 million euros annually and project a 50% growth In the next decade, the company continues to have the soul of a workshop and memory of origin. Three generations have given continuity to that first star burning wood in Puente Genil, transforming it into an industrial model combining craftsmanship, innovation and a deep understanding of what it means to illuminate as a business. Perhaps for this reason, Puente Genil is not only a global supplier: it is, in its essence, the place where Christmas is rehearse every year, where ideas are born that will later shine in giant cities like New York or Dubai, and where technology and tradition come together to demonstrate that some of the most universal stories begin, almost always, with a gesture as simple as turning on a light bulb… in a remote municipality in Andalusia. Image | Ximenez, Vigo Tourism In Xataka | The hidden cost of Christmas in Spain: how spending on lighting has overflowed in just a few years In Xataka | Abel Caballero had his enemy at his doorstep: Portugal’s plan to beat Vigo for Christmas

In 2011 Japan closed the largest nuclear power plant on the planet. Now he has decided to reopen it in the midst of the energy debate

by

The nuclear debate, which Japan thought closed, returns to the scene. The authorization of the governor of Niigata to reactivate Kashiwazaki-Kariwa, the largest atomic plant in the world, has set off alarms: citizen distrust, the shadow of Fukushima and doubts about whether TEPCO is the right company to lead the country’s new energy stage are emerging. A new nuclear revival? The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant, managed by Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), has not produced a single kilowatt since 2012. The closure was a direct consequence of the 2011 tsunami and the three meltdowns from Fukushima Daiichia blow that left reactors with similar designs under suspicion. That technical coincidence was enough to keep its seven reactors on hold for more than ten years, despite the fact that the plant was essential for the electricity supply of northeastern Japan. According to Japan TimesHideyo Hanazumi has authorized a step-by-step reactivation that will start with reactor 6—one of the most recent and powerful—and that, later, will also include reactor 7. Altogether, the complex exceeds 8,000 MW of capacity, a figure that not only imposes: it maintains it as the largest nuclear facility on the planet. A significant change for the Japanese country. Kashiwazaki-Kariwa has gone from a technical project to a strategic move. As reported by the Financial TimesTokyo trusts that its reactivation will contribute to lowering the electricity bill and ensuring energy sources with fewer emissions, at a time complicated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the fall of the yen, which makes fossil fuel imports more expensive. Japan, which before Fukushima generated almost 30% of its electricity with atomic plants, fell to practically zero after the disaster. Since then 14 reactors have reopened and others await local or regulatory approvals. The government aims for nuclear energy to once again represent 20% of the mix in 2040. In addition, TEPCO would improve its annual accounts by around 100 billion yen thanks to the restart, according to Japan Forwardat a time when it continues to face enormous costs for the dismantling of Fukushima Daiichi. The reactivation process. The restart will begin with unit 6, which already has fuel loaded and will begin commercial operations before March of next year. To move forward, TEPCO must respond to the Government’s demands, which include updating all security systems and improving emergency evacuation plans. The process has not been easy. As detailed by Japan Timesthe plant passed safety reviews in 2017, but then suffered a veto from the Nuclear Regulatory Authority due to deficiencies in anti-terrorist measures, lifted in 2023. In addition, TEPCO had to incorporate biometric controls and correct security flaws after new internal incidents. Is there controversy? Yes, and a lot. According to a survey cited by the BBC50% of Niigata residents support the revival, while 47% oppose it. However, almost 70% express their concern because the person operating the plant is the same company that caused the accident. From Japan Times He adds that the rejection intensifies in some of the towns located within 30 kilometers of the plant, where the majority fear a new disaster or distrust the company. Another source of discomfort, also pointed out by this medium, is that the electricity generated is not used in Niigata, but in the Tokyo region. The political dimension is equally tense. Hanazumi, aware of the sensitivity of her decision, has announced that he will submit his continuity as governor to the vote of the prefectural assembly, the only body that can remove him. But there is something else at play. The reopening of Kashiwazaki-Kariwa is seen as a pillar to ensure the country’s energy security and avoid possible power outages in Tokyo. It would also allow reducing electricity rates that have increased notably since 2011. At the same time, Japan is not only restarting reactors: it is also is planning the construction of new plants with fourth generation reactors, which would mark a new chapter in the country’s energy policy. More than a return to the atom. The country that one day vowed not to depend on atomic energy again has ended up returning to it, driven by necessity, geopolitics and the urgency to decarbonize. It remains to be seen if this decision will also ignite the confidence of a citizenry that still carries the memory of Fukushima or if, on the contrary, the return to the atom will deepen a division that has been open for more than a decade. Although the governor’s approval is the decisive step, there are still procedures: the prefectural assembly must debate and vote on the decision in December, and the Japanese nuclear regulator must complete the formal procedures for reactivation. Image | IAEA Imagebank Xataka | In 2011, Japan promised itself not to bet on nuclear energy again. Until he met reality

turn them into the largest battery network on the planet

by

In Spain, if you ride a self-consumption system with solar panels at home and you generate more energy than you need, there is a mechanism called simplified compensation through which you can return that energy to the grid and receive an economic bonus. Well, China wants to bring this concept to its electric cars. what’s happening. They count in Rest of World that the Chinese government is developing two-way charging stations for electric cars. The goal is for cars to charge during off-peak hours (when energy is cheaper) and be able to return energy to stabilize the grid during peak demand. According to government testsowners could earn 1,400 yuan for each download, about 170 euros. The plan. At the moment the system is being tested and 30 bidirectional charging stations have been installed in nine different cities. The plan is to have 5,000 by 2027 and by 2030 they expect the energy capacity to reach 1,000 million kilowatts. Why is it important. China is not only the largest manufacturer of electric vehicles in the world, it is also the country with the largest fleet of electric cars in the world, with more than 40 million vehicles in circulation. If they manage to implement it on a massive scale, they would also have the largest network of electric batteries available that would help them diversify energy sources, reduce dependence on coal and stabilize supply. Others have tried. China is not the first country to have this idea. According to the V2G-hub listthere are around 150 similar projects around the world, many of them already abandoned, but others still underway. However, none have come close to nationwide adoption. In Spain there have been at least six initiatives, one of them still underway in Menorca. Challenges. Bidirectional charging faces many challenges and technical difficulties. To start the price. A bi-directional charger costs between $2,100 and $2,800, almost triple what a normal charger costs. It is the main reason why scaling such a system is complicated, but in China they have the advantage that the government is betting heavily on subsidizing energy. Another difficulty is that not all cars are compatible with this energy, so its mass adoption would be delayed at least until a greater number of vehicles support it. Finally, there is the issue of battery degradation, a major consumer concern that could slow adoption. Electrostate. Not long ago China was the biggest polluter of the planet and, although still depends a lot on coal to generate energy, it is giving a radical turn to become an “electrostate”. The bidirectional charging initiative is another example of China’s commitment to investing in renewables. There are more, like construction of the largest solar park on the planet in Tibet or the giant Three Gorges Dam, so big that even changed the rotation of the Earth. Image | Kindel Media, Pexels In Xataka | China has created the largest kite in the world with a very clear objective: to make its energy extremely cheaper.

Some say Mercury retrograde ruins their life, but the planet didn’t even move from its spot.

by

Mercury retrograde season returns. From November 9 to 20, 2025, many people around the world – and especially on social networks– They will blame this curious planetary phenomenon for the argument they have had with their partner, the breakage of their refrigerator or the failure in an exam. But the question we must ask ourselves is if there is something behind this phenomenon that seems astronomical. What is ‘Mercury retrograde’. Despite its magical name, “Mercury retrograde” is described according to NASA as an optical effect: from Earth, Mercury (the planet closest to the Sun) appears to move backwards in its orbit for a few weeks. Astronomically, that “recoil” It is an illusion created by the difference in speed and position between Earth and Mercurybut nothing in the cosmos really changes, only our point of view. This is a phenomenon that occurs several times a year and has no physical effect on the Earth, our communications, travel or emotions. This is why astronomical science is clear: it is pure visual effect, not causality. Another interpretation. In the case of astrology the interpretation is very different. For this branch, Mercury is attributed powers over the communication, thought and movement. In this way, when it is ‘retrograde’, astrologers advise avoid signing contracts, taking trips or having difficult conversations. But this is something that has no scientific support behind it. A real meme. The interesting thing, according to experts in digital cultureis how Mercury retrograde has become a lifeline to cast our blame away. It is the perfect meme to explain everyday chaos: when WhatsApp crashes or the AI ​​responds strangely, the fault is not ours, but Mercury’s. In this way, everything stops being our fault, and for psychology it is something that we use as a strategy to attribute the disorder to external factors that reduce anxiety and connect us with the community. In countries like Spain, each Mercury retrograde cycle activates dozens of interactions on TikTok, Instagram and X, full of jokes, astrological advice and memes. This narrative allows us to find order (or at least, poetic meaning) in digital unpredictability. There is no relationship. Whether the computer or the refrigerator stops working or you have had a fight with your boyfriend or girlfriend has nothing to do with the position of Mercury. However, the myth and the joke will live on. Perhaps it is therapeutic to look to the sky for an answer when reality surpasses logic, even if we know that looking at the sky will not change whether our router breaks or not. Images | Wikipedia Afif Ramdhasuma In Xataka Basics | 19 apps and tools to see and have more information about stars and constellations

NVIDIA is the most powerful company on the planet because it made a bet and it is winning: Crossover 1×28

by

At NVIDIA they can’t stop rubbing their hands. They sell by piece and they don’t stop signing circular financing agreements that do nothing more than enlarge your position current. The company has made gold with the rise of artificial intelligence, and to talk about it we have dedicated this new Crossover 1×28 to recount the history and evolution of a company that is in a state of grace. We started by talking about how NVIDIA gained a privileged position in the world of gaming and how in the 2010s it (briefly) took advantage of the rise of cryptocurrency mining. All of this has managed to make NVIDIA enjoy the leading role in the duopoly that exists in the graphics card market for gamers: only AMD overshadows it, although Intel in recent times has tried to carve out some space for itself. However, what catapulted the company was a singular bet: to ensure that its GPUs could be used for the field of artificial intelligence. That market was still in its infancy. when CUDA emergedbut little by little the researchers working in that field were verifying that this platform was a great ally for their advances. And then, of course, ChatGPT arrived and with it the AI ​​gold rush. NVIDIA has become more essential than ever, and everyone, large and small, wants their AI accelerators for new data centers. It’s non-stop amazing and somewhat disturbingbecause the exaggerated growth of NVIDIA only validates the hypothesis that we are facing a gigantic AI bubble. On YouTube | Crossover

The Chinese ambition to lead each and every area of ​​the planet has found its next adversary: ​​Jaén

by

In 2024, a Chinese delegation visited 154 Príncipe de Vergara Street in Madrid. A priori, one might think that it is nothing that does not occur relatively frequently in most capitals of the world. And it would be true. After all, the only strange thing about the matter is that, in that corner of the country, is the headquarters of the International Olive Council. What does China look like in the international olive oil market? It’s a surprisingly simple question. The ‘Asian giant’ is a leader in many things, but there is one in which it is nobody: oil. According to the statistics we haveChina represents only 4% of world oil imports. Despite the enormous amount of vegetable oils that Beijing devours, the olive is an inconsequential product on a social, economic and cultural level. However, none of that data interests us. The key is another: that consumption is expected to grow at 7% annually and that, in the medium term, are big words. And China knows it. That is why, while the international market continues to lurch, Beijing has already designed a plan to become a mixed player (it not only wants a role in marketing, but also a producer willing to sit at the table of the elders). This would not only give it a margin of security (and independence) in the country’s food policy, it would also allow it to reinforce its commitment to the modernization of rural China. And what are you going to do for it? Planting olive trees as if there were no tomorrow and learning from the best for it. Right now, the heart of Chinese production is around Longnanin Gansu province. In the Wudu district alone it has twice as many hectares as Almería and produced 56,900 tons of fresh olives in 2024 (about 8,200 of virgin oil). But the focus now It is located in Sichuan: It is a province with inland valleys, medium altitude and a climate that fits the Mediterranean olive tree like a glove. The province already had scattered plantations, but now it is destined to become the “new Jaén.” Oh really? Isn’t that a bit exaggerated? It is true that in Sichuan the orography is complex, that there may be more humidity than optimal and the mechanization costs will be high; however, the California experience (and its high-density models) is there. And if anyone can achieve it, it is precisely China. And it seems like he wants to. Or, at least, there are signs that he is going to keep all options open. As the Californian olive grove demonstrates, building a country brand is something that takes a long time. You can’t improvise. But it seems undeniable that they are getting the bases of it. It is not free for Chinese producers have already achieved win international awards. These are the first steps of what may be the only adversary that Spain will encounter on this path. Image | Vincent Eisfeld | Li Yang In Xataka | The very high oil prices are a symptom of something worse: a sector on the way to disaster

Log In

Forgot password?

Forgot password?

Enter your account data and we will send you a link to reset your password.

Your password reset link appears to be invalid or expired.

Log in

Privacy Policy

Add to Collection

No Collections

Here you'll find all collections you've created before.