promise

“We don’t see the promise of the four-hour work week reaching society. I don’t expect AI to change that”

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Every technological advance brings the same promise: fewer work hours, more leisure time and a less stressed life for employees. It happened with the steam engine, with the computer and with the arrival of the internet. Now it’s up to the AI ​​to take charge. that collective illusion. Sam Altman, the man who more has pushed This wave with ChatGPT has just spoiled the party. He did it in a talk with host Ti Morse, on the podcast ‘Relentless‘. There he made a devastating statement: the founder of OpenAI does not believe that AI is going to bring the four-hour day. Not even now, nor ever. A promise that is never fulfilled. “For a long time, technology has promised people that they will work less and have a lot of free time,” Altman said. He acknowledges that this has been partly the case. Today we have more leisure and a better quality of life than decades ago. But that’s where the consolation ends for the dedicated employees. “For some reason, we never see the promise of the four-hour work week reach society on a large scale. And I don’t expect AI to change that,” the manager said. In itself it is a powerful phrase, but it is even more so coming from the founder and CEO of the company that has most promised to change work. as we know it. A game of comparisons. Why doesn’t it happen? According to Altman, human nature itself is to blame. “We always want more. We think of new things to do, to create for others, to wish for ourselves,” Altman justified. “It’s like a comparison game. People focus a lot on how they are doing relative to others.” That’s the key, according to him. Productivity does not translate into restbut in new goals. “I think we are all going to be much busier than we thought in a post-superintelligence world,” the manager concluded. “We will continue to complain, but secretly we will be happy.” Competition, he says, drives the economy and he doesn’t believe that will stop. What is already happening in the offices. The data, for now, give him some reason. a study of Harvard Business Review confirms it. After eight months observing a US technology company, he found that AI does not simplify work. Expand it and modify the processes. The report Work AI Indexfrom the Glean Institute, goes further in its conclusions. Workers spend an average of 6.4 hours per week just doing make AI work well: check errors, relaunch prompts, clean results. They call it “botsitting“Almost 70% admit to having submitted AI-generated work without reviewing it first. Not everyone thinks like Altman. On the other hand, Altman’s statements contradict what OpenAI itself recently published in its report Industrial Policywhere proposes just the opposite: 32-hour days without touching the salary, thanks to the so-called “efficiency dividends” that AI brings. Bill Gates is also among the supporters that AI will be a key piece in the arrival of the reduction of working hours. In a talk with host Nikhil Kamath, the millionaire founder of Microsoft assured that “you’ll be able to retire earlier, work shorter work weeks.” Jamie DimonCEO of JPMorgan, and Anthony Scaramucci also talk about three- or four-day weeks in the coming decades. The human that survives. Meanwhile, the technological labor market no longer aspires to reducing working hours, but rather to not continue losing jobs. According to Layoffs.fyimore than 200,000 people have lost their jobs so far this year in the technology sector. Altman himself recognized that many companies were using the AI as an excuse to apply the staff cuts that were carried out after the overhiring of 2021 and 2022. Altman, however, believes that certain aspects of human work are not going away. In his speech he used a curious metaphor: cooking for others. “You’re not creating much economic value in the world, but it shows love. I think people will continue cooking and eating together long after robots can cook just as well.” The four-hour day may still be a myth, but at least we will have the kitchen homemade. In Xataka | Sam Altman: “I’m glad I was wrong about this, I thought cutting jobs would have had more impact by now” Image | Flickr (World Economic Forum/Pascal Bitz), Unsplash (Annie Spratt)

The new Razer headphones dedicated to PlayStation and Xbox arrive that promise ultra-low latency and surround sound

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What headphones do you use to play the console? If until now you were not using any model or if you have simply been wanting to renew the ones you already have for a while, pay attention because Razer has launched its Razer Hammerhead V3X HyperSpeed in PlayStation and Xbox edition. Of course, be careful not to get confused because they have arrived in two different versions: Razer Hammerhead V3X HyperSpeed ​​(PlayStation) by 109.99 euros. Razer Hammerhead V3X HyperSpeed ​​(Xbox) by 109.99 euros. Razer Hammerhead V3 X HyperSpeed ​​(PlayStation) The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Razer Hammerhead V3 X HyperSpeed ​​(Xbox) The price could vary. We earn commission from these links New Razer headsets for PlayStation and Xbox The Razer Hammerhead V3 TWS Bluetooth headphones that stand out mainly because the brand promises a ultra low latencysomething important to have a good experience and that the audio does not have delay when listening to the sound through the headphones. The funny thing is that these headphones can be used through your Bluetooth connectivity or via the 2.4 GHz network. For the latter, the charging case works as a receiver so that the connection is stable and with lower latency. Obviously, the case also serves to recharge the headphones’ battery, offering, according to the brand, an autonomy of up to 35 hours. The headphones work with Bluetooth 5.3 to ensure better connection stability and greater range. They also have IPX4 certification with water resistance (specifically water jets) and come with touch controls on the headphones themselves. On the other hand, the Razer Hammerhead V3 immersive experience being compatible with Windows Sonic on Xbox, 3D audio on PlayStation and THX Spatial Audio on PC. The Razer Hammerhead V3 X HyperSpeed ​​are now available in two versions for PlayStation and Xbox. They can even be purchased from supplier stores such as Amazon. ⚡ IN SUMMARY: Razer Hammerhead V3 X HyperSpeed ✅ THE BEST Your connectivity– Can be used via Bluetooth 5.3 or 2.4 GHz connection. Its theoretical autonomy: Up to 10 hours with the earbuds and up to 35 with the charging case. ❌ THE WORST They do not have multipoint connection (Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz). 💡 BUY IT IF… You are looking for Bluetooth headphones to play the console that are comfortable, offer immersive sound and ultra-low latency. ⛔ DON’T BUY IT IF… You want the immersive experience that over-ear headphones offer, especially because of the passive noise isolation. You may also be interested Sony INZONE Buds, True Wireless Gaming Headphones, Low Latency Transceiver, Compatible with PC and PS5, 360 Spatial Sound, Light and Comfortable, Noise Cancelling, AI Microphone, 24 Hour Battery The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Xbox Wireless Headset Forza Horizon 6 Limited Edition Series X|S, One, PC and Cloud-Enabled Devices The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Some of the links in this article are affiliated and may provide a benefit to Xataka. In case of non-availability, offers may vary. Images | Razer In Xataka | Best Bluetooth speakers in quality price. Which one to buy based on use and seven recommended models In Xataka | Best sound bars in quality price (2026). Which one to buy and seven recommended models from 99 euros

the new Acton IV and Stanmore IV promise a more immersive sound

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Marshall has just updated the two fundamental pillars of its home audio catalog. The new ones Acton IV and Stanmore IV They arrive on the market keeping intact that recognizable aesthetic inspired by classic guitar amplifiers, but introducing important acoustic improvements and technologies inside to adapt to current demands. Marshall Acton IV Bluetooth Speaker The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Stereo Speaker – Marshall Stanmore IV The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Optimized acoustics to be placed in any corner The great asset of this fourth generation lies in the redesign of its internal architecture. Marshall has improved the tweeters and the waveguides with the aim of projecting a noticeably wider and more defined sound scene, achieving a homogeneous dispersion of sound throughout the room. Added to this is a very intelligent change in the bass port design (bass-reflex). Airflow has been optimized to deliver cleaner low frequencies. In addition, the cable exit towards the bottom of the base has been modified. This small aesthetic and functional detail is key: it now allows you to place the speakers completely against the wall without affecting the bass performance or causing unpleasant rumble. To guarantee sound balance regardless of volume, both models incorporate the technology Dynamic Loudness. This system subtly adjusts the frequencies automatically so that the music does not lose body or warmth when we listen to low levels, and avoids distortions thanks to improved limiters when we decide to squeeze its power to the maximum. Auracast connectivity and nods to the analog world In the technical section, the great novelty is the integration of the Auracast technology. Thanks to it, it is possible to natively synchronize several Acton IV and Stanmore IV speakers throughout the house to create a multi-room audio system. Even the previous generation models (Acton III and Stanmore III) can add to this experience by Heddonthe brand’s new transmitter device and streaming hub. Despite its wireless aspect and its renewed control app, Marshall does not forget lovers of physical formats. In the back we find RCA analog inputs and a 3.5mm AUX portmaking them perfect companions for plugging in a turntable for a full analog experience in the living room. Sustainable and repairable design True to its identity, the top panels maintain the classic brass analog controls to manage volume, bass and treble intuitively. However, the brand has added a Fully customizable “M” button which allows you to activate quick functions such as Spotify Tap or switch between your favorite equalizations with a single touch. Finally, the firm wanted to take a step towards sustainability. The boxes are made from 100% FSC certified MDF wood and incorporate a percentage of recycled materials in their construction (13% in the Acton IV and 16% in the Stanmore IV). In addition, a modular structure oriented towards repairability has been designed, allowing easily replace wearing parts such as the legs, the physical controls or the front grille itself. Price and availability The new speakers are now available in the brand’s classic colors (Black and Cream) with the following official prices for the European market: Marshall Acton IV: 299 euros (equipped with a woofer 4″ and two tweeters). Marshall Acton IV Bluetooth Speaker The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Marshall Stanmore IV: 399 euros (equipped with a woofer 5″ and two tweeters). Stereo Speaker – Marshall Stanmore IV The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Some of the links in this article are affiliated and may provide a benefit to Xataka. In case of non-availability, offers may vary. Images | Marshall In Xataka | Best sound bars in quality price (2026). Which one to buy and seven recommended models from 99 euros In Xataka | Best wireless over-ear headphones. Which one to buy and five recommended models

AI browsers arrived with the promise of changing everything. Not only have they not done it: they are a danger

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Artificial intelligence browsers did not come promising a smarter tab or a search engine with better answers. They arrived with a much greater ambition: OpenAI talks about getting closer to a “true super assistant”, Perplexity summarizes Comet as “the browser that works for you” and Google presents Gemini in chrome under the idea of ​​a new era of navigation. The promise is clear: that we stop moving around the web alone and start delegating part of the way. The problem is that that same promise is beginning to show a more delicate side. The warning. The University of Washington has now focused on this emerging risk. In an investigation Presented at the Agents in the Wild workshop, and released by the university itself on June 30, a team analyzed seven popular agentic browsers to see how they relate to basic protection of the modern web: the same origin policy. Their conclusion was clear: four of them opened relevant risk avenues and the researchers managed to run a complete proof of concept in ChatGPT Atlas in Agent Mode. The bottom jump. A traditional browser shows us pages and waits for our decisions. We can open a service, copy data, paste it somewhere else, compare options or fill out a form, but each step depends on us. Agentic browsers alter this logic because they incorporate systems capable of interpreting what appears on the screen and moving forward within the browser itself. We are no longer just talking about summarizing a page, but rather coordinating tasks between tabs, operating on open pages and completing actions that were previously left in the hands of the user. A new front. The risk does not arise just because a page is malicious, but because the agent can interpret that page as part of its instructions. That’s where he comes in prompt injectiona technique in which external content tries to alter the behavior of the model with hidden, camouflaged or simply inserted commands where the user does not expect to find them. In a chatbot, that is already a problem. In an agentic browser, the scope changes, because the system can process information from a page and convert it into actions within the browser. The barrier that was there. The same origin policy is one of those protections that we rarely see, but that underpins much of the modern web. Its function, simply put, is to prevent one page from freely reading or manipulating information from another just because both are open in the browser. Thanks to this separation, any website should not be able to simply access what we have in a bank, an email or a private service. The problem arises when an agent groups together information that was previously much more separated. Let’s imagine that we visit a seemingly normal page and ask the agent to summarize it or help us complete a task within it. Under certain conditions, that page may include content from another source, such as an iframe, along with a malicious instruction intended for the model and not for us. If the agent has sufficient permissions, it could access content that the attacking website should not be able to read directly and move some of that information to a form controlled by the attacker. The web would not have directly broken the barrier; he would have used the agent as a bridge. The important nuance. It should be noted that the study does not say that all users will suffer an attack or that any browser with AI is insecure by definition. The researchers analyzed specific versions, at a specific time, and worked with proofs of concept, not with attacks against real services or with sensitive user data. They also observed relevant differences between products: browsers that granted fewer permissions to the agent tended to reduce risk. The paradox. These browsers are attractive because they promise to save steps, understand pages, relate information and execute tasks with less intervention from us. But that same capacity is what makes the failure weigh more: it does not occur only in an isolated tab, but in an environment where there may be open sessions, personal data and pending actions. They may not yet be a massive habit, but the security debate is already here, precisely because their proposal consists of giving them more margin. Images | Xataka with Nano Banana In Xataka | Selecting all the traffic lights is no longer enough to prove that you are not a robot. Now you have to scan QR codes

The networks are filling up with maps that promise the end of the heat. One thing is what we would like and another, very different, is what we know

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There is always a time in the summer when people start to get tired of the heat. And one notices it because social networks begin to fill with weather maps saying “be careful, here comes the cool weather.” The difference this year is not only that this glut begins in July (we already have two possible thermal reliefs in the running!), but that many of the maps have AI behind them. First, the good news. We are, as it seemsin the middle of the second heat wave of 2026. The combo (a ridge over the peninsula, a DANA to the west and very dry air) is a classic. The result is also: up to 42 degrees in the Guadalquivir valley and peaks close to 44 in the south of Valencia. Tropical nights are for everyone. AEMET dates the end “probably on Wednesday the 8th, without ruling out Thursday the 9th”, with the declines becoming generalized from the southwest. And it warns of something important: there is a “high degree of uncertainty.” Uncertainty, yes; but after five days, less and less. And what about the end of the month? In addition to the nearest ‘relief’, there are other maps floating around. One of them is a pass of the European Center AIFSv2 which suggests that for the second fortnight all of Europe will experience a few days of general cold weather. Obviously, a single exit so far into the future does not say much. However, it is interesting because this model (based on AI) is only a couple of months old and is trying to ‘democratize’ long-term modeling. That doesn’t mean I’ve gotten it yet. The best example happened a couple of days ago. he ECMWF’s own weekly newsletter, July 3gave a warm anomaly in the following three weeks, with a possible third wave in Europe. Two days later, another pass from the same center announced the opposite. And it makes sense, because these are not failures: meteorology is something extremely complex and not all of our calculation capacity is capable of containing it within 15 days. Why should we care about all this? Because summer is looking bad. AEMET and ECMWF give a globally warm july and a summer with the warm tertile almost discounted. It is true that beating 2025 as the hottest summer in the series is unlikely, 20-25%; but it is not necessary to turn our days into a slow agony waiting for autumn. Forecasts taken out of context are going to be the order of the day. So… what can we expect? A respite at the end of the week and little else: although it seems that the omens of persistence of the ridges on the continent are fading, the heat is not going anywhere in the medium term. Image | meteologix In Xataka | While AEMET fears the second great heat wave of the year, meteorologists warn that “we have to prepare for harsher summers”

Microsoft promised a quantum computer by 2029. Nature publishes a review that questions its promise

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Microsoft has been trying to demonstrate for almost two decades the existence of Majorana modes: quasiparticles that emerge in certain topological superconducting materials and that behave as if they were Majorana fermions. The Italian physicist Ettore Majorana mathematically described the existence of these fermions in 1937, and since then many researchers have become obsessed with them because they have a characteristic that makes them unique: They are both a particle and their own antiparticle. However, the Majorana modes that Microsoft works with are not fundamental particles; They are emerging phenomena in the field of condensed matter. Its appeal lies in the fact that if it manages to master them, it could manufacture qubits that are intrinsically more stable than those of its rivals and capable of resisting the external noise that weighs everyone down today. quantum computers. About that bet Majorana 2 arrived earlier this June, a new topological quantum processor that incorporates new materials to create a more stable topological phase. Its scientific basis comes from an article published in February 2025 in Naturecentral to all subsequent developments of this company. Regarding that work, Chetan Nayak, the technical director of quantum hardware, announced that Microsoft had cut its schedule in half: the goal of having a fully functional quantum computer is now set for 2029. Shadow looms over Microsoft’s quantum research The scientific community is being extraordinarily demanding with that article and with the research program surrounding it. In fact, this ability to exercise criticism and analysis is one of the strengths of the scientific method. Last Wednesday, Nature posted a review peer-reviewed and signed by Henry Legg, professor of quantum physics at the University of St. Andrews (Scotland), which raises new doubts about the foundations of that work. Not about a peripheral detail. On its foundations. And the background of those from Redmond does not help. Two scientific articles supported by Microsoft have already been removed from Nature. On those occasions, the editors also pointed out several alerts about possible problems in two other texts: one from Nature and the other from Science. Microsoft explained that the recalled items were produced outside of its laboratories and that did not review the data before publication. Be that as it may, the February 2025 work questioned by Legg is the fifth under scrutiny and, unlike the previous ones, it is not being withdrawn. “It’s almost like debating whether flight is possible or not, and then you find yourself next to a plane. Well, come on, get on and take a spin” Microsoft’s response has been overwhelming. According to Reutersthis company assures that it supports its research and that its program is making practical advances despite the doubts it is raising. Nayak has illustrated it with a metaphor: “It’s almost like debating whether flight is possible or not, and then you find yourself next to an airplane. Well, come on, get on and take a spin.” The response has been equally resounding. Sergey Frolov, a physicist at the University of Pittsburgh, points to a fundamental problem: Microsoft lacks the accumulated evidence that supports IBM or Quantinuum, rivals that do not depend on the existence of Majorana modes. “Neither Microsoft nor anyone else has laid the groundwork to make it clear that these advances based on Majorana modes are plausible through a series of reliable experiments,” Frolov declared. “On the contrary, we have several articles that continue to be questioned at the most basic level by different people.” The geopolitical context adds additional pressure. The Trump Administration has invested $2 billion in quantum computing and this week has set the goal to have a functional system by 2028, a year ahead of Microsoft’s deadline. The race is real. The question is whether the science that supports it is also. Image | Microsoft More information | Reuters In Xataka | 38% of AI experts in the US have been trained in China. They are essential to sustain your leadership

Six phones that already have a silicon-carbon battery and promise up to three days of use without being a brick

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The silicon-carbon batteries They are no longer theoretical or a thing of the future: they are here to stay. At the moment, it is the Chinese manufacturers that are betting on this technology, but it is normal that we will soon see mobile phones of all types with these batteries. And the most striking thing is that this technology is not reserved only for the high-end: There are options for less than 400 euros. Let’s first see what this technology consists of and what differences there are with lithium-ion batteries. Oppo Find X9 5G 16GB/512GB Black The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Carbon-silicon as one more detail to look at when choosing a mobile Although many aspects come into play, as a general rule, the greater the battery capacity, the greater the autonomy of a device. The “problem” is that the batteries that cell phones (and other devices) have been using until now, lithium ion onesuse graphite anodes, which has already reached its energy density ceiling. In other words: for one of these batteries to have more capacity, it has to be bigger. And that causes the device that uses it to become a hulk. This is why silicon-carbon is so important. These batteries, which use this material in the anode instead of graphite, can store much more energy without the need to increase the size of the battery. This means that we can have telephones with a thickness less than 8 millimeters with batteries that exceed 6,000 mAh. Just a year ago it was unthinkable; Today it is beginning to be an accessible reality. Small note here to keep in mind. If you start searching on the Internet for a mobile phone with silicon-carbon, you may find versions with different capacities. Example: the Vivo X300 Pro has an international version with a 6,510 mAh battery, while in Spain it has arrived with 5,440 mAh. Because? As our colleague explains Ivan Linaresit all boils down to saving costs, but not manufacturing costs, but transportation. For safety reasons, if batteries exceed a certain nominal capacity (UN3481 regulations speaks of 20 Wh for each cell), transporting the device becomes much more expensive. Three mobile phones with silicon-carbon batteries for less than 500 euros As we mentioned above, despite being a relatively new technology, silicon-carbon is not limited to very expensive mobile phones. It is true that manufacturers like Samsung, Google or Apple still do not use these batteries, but we have several Chinese manufacturers that do. Below, we leave you three examples that cost less than 500 euros right now. Xiaomi Redmi Note 15 Pro+ The cheapest option on this list is Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 15 Pro+ 5Ga device that is currently coming out 300.29 euros with the coupon ‘ESCD18’. It has a 6,500 mAh battery with a thickness of 8.47 millimeters, with enough autonomy for more than two days. It is not the most powerful option nor the one with the best camera, but it does have good fast charging (100 W), a 6.83-inch screen compatible with Dolby Vision and a speaker system that works well. XIAOMI REDMI Note 15 Pro+ 5G – 8+256GB Smartphone, 6.83″ 1.5K AMOLED Screen, Snapdragon 7s Gen 4, 200 MP Camera, 100W Hypercharge, Charger Not Included, Mocha Coffee (ES Version) The price could vary. We earn commission from these links POCO X8 Pro Max There are batteries with a lot of capacity on this list, but not as much as the one included in the POCO X8 Pro Max. It is impressive that a mobile phone that is 8.2 millimeters and weighs 218 grams has an 8,500 mAh battery, figures more typical of a tablet than a mobile phone. As we always say, it depends on the use we give it, but it is a capacity that will easily give you between two and three days of autonomy. In addition, it performs remarkably and has a good 6.83-inch screen. Costs 412.79 euros with the coupon ‘ESCD18’. Xiaomi POCO X8 Pro Max (12+256 GB) The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Realme 16 Pro+ 7,000 mAh battery in a thickness of 8.1 millimeters. That’s what this one has Realme 16 Pro+a device that has a telephoto sensor that is not present in the two previous options. Beyond this, it also offers good performance and a 6.8-inch screen that stands out for having a sustained brightness level of 1,800 nits. Translation: we will be able to see it perfectly even on those very sunny days. comes out for 361.24 euros with the coupon ‘ESCD18’. realme 16 Pro+ 5G Smartphone 8+256GB, 6.8 Inch Screen, Master Grey, 144Hz, 80W Ultra Charge, 7000mAh Battery, 300MP Camera, Snapdragon 7 Gen 4, IP69 The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Do you have a larger budget? So there are mobile phones with greater power, better cameras and premium finishes. Three mobile phones with silicon-carbon batteries for more than 500 euros If you are looking for mid-range or high-end mobile phones with silicon-carbon, you have a choice. There are very outstanding options that have just come out, such as the Vivo X300 Ultra either the Oppo Find X9 Ultrabut we are going to give you three options that are very interesting and that, since they have been available for a little longer, we can find something cheaper. Vivo X200 FE He Vivo X200 FE It is the mobile phone on this list that has been available the longest, hence we can find it at a very attractive price (582.79 euros with the coupon ‘ESCD18’). In this case, we have a device with a 6,500 mAh battery and 90 W fast charging, which is not bad at all. This device is highly recommended if you like compact mobile phones, since it is less than 8 millimeters thick (7.99 specifically) and has a 6.31-inch screen. Mobile – vivo The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Oppo Find X9 Although he has two … Read more

Universal quantum computers promise to change the world. Now they are closer thanks to giant super atoms

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The prototypes of quantum computers currently manufactured by IBM, Honeywell or Google, among other companies, are engineering prodigies. However, they have defectswhich currently greatly limits the range of applications in which it is possible to use them. The most important of all of them is that they make mistakes and they are still not able to correct them effectively. Scientists are working on developing advanced error correction systems, and if they achieve their goal, universal quantum computers capable of dealing with a wide range of problems will arrive. The Achilles heel of current quantum machines is the extreme fragility of their qubits. And they are very sensitive to disturbances from the environment. Their interaction with the space around them can cause quantum information to be lost or altered, preventing them from delivering a correct result. This phenomenon is known as quantum decoherence and it has the ability to degrade the quantum states that need to be protected in order to carry out operations with qubits. Currently, researchers are making an enormous effort to design effective strategies for isolating qubits from the environment. However, efforts are also being made to develop less fragile qubits, and therefore less sensitive to noise. This is the plan that several scientists at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden are working on. And they have developed a completely new quantum system designed to protect quantum information and minimize interference from the environment. Its purpose is, neither more nor less, to pave the way for universal quantum computers or large scale. Less decoherence leads to more robust and higher quality quantum computers Quantum computing experts maintain that quantum computers that will have the ability to correct their own errors can be used to design exotic materials, and probably also to develop new drugs and in industrial optimization problems, among other tasks. These are some of the applications that the qubits implemented with giant superatoms proposed by the Chalmers University of Technology team led by applied quantum physics professor Anton Frisk Kockum could put in our hands. Giant Superatoms explore two ideas long known to quantum physicists: giant atoms and superatoms. Giant Super Atoms explores two ideas long known to quantum physicists: giant atoms and superatoms. Unlike isolated atoms, a giant atom in this context is an artificial qubit designed to interact with its environment using light or sound waves at multiple physically separated points. This peculiarity allows them to protect quantum states more effectively than conventional systems, reduce decoherence and remember past interactions. The problem with using giant atoms in quantum computers is that they have significant limitations when trying to entangle them. Entanglement is essential in quantum computing because it allows multiple qubits to share a single quantum state and act as a coordinated system. To solve this limitation, the Chalmers researchers have combined giant atoms and superatoms. A superatom is made up of several natural atoms that share the same quantum state and behave collectively as a single larger atom. Lei Du, one of Chalmers’ researchers, explains to us what is a giant super atom: “We can observe it as multiple giant atoms working together as a single entity, allowing them to exhibit a non-local interaction between light and matter. This allows quantum information from multiple qubits stored and controlled as a unit and without the need for increasingly complex surrounding circuits.” For the moment, giant superatoms are a theoretical proposal, but Professor Anton Frisk Kockum and his team are going to try to build a quantum system using them. If they succeed, they could have found a new type of qubit that is much more robust, and, therefore, suitable for use in the development of universal quantum computers. Image | Generated by Xataka with Gemini More information | ScienceDaily In Xataka | We already know what the chips that will arrive until 2039 will be like. The machine that will allow them to be manufactured is close

It is the promise of a Chinese startup that aims to revolutionize the sector

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There is a whole world in this synthetic fuels. And it is no wonder, since whoever can develop a renewable fuel, without harming the environment and with elements that we have in abundance, has won heaven. And in this regard, there is a Shanghai startup that promises to have taken a significant step. And if his claims hold up, it could change the rules of the game. We tell you the details. Context. China imports more than 70% of the crude oil it consumes, and a considerable proportion comes from the Middle East. If you have been paying attention to this region of the planet in recent weeks, you will have seen that the thing is not very there. And at a time when conflicts in the Persian Gulf generate volatility in the markets and threaten energy supply chains, Beijing has been looking for alternatives to conventional fossil fuels for years. It is in this scenario where Carbonology emerges. What exactly has he announced. Just like share SCMP, the company, co-founded in 2024 by a former Tesla vice president, claims to have developed a process to convert carbon dioxide (extracted from air and water) into synthetic fuel using solar and wind energy. The products it claims to be able to manufacture include gasoline, diesel, aviation kerosene and naphtha, all of them at competitive prices with those on the market. The company also reportedly announced that it is preparing a deployment to produce its product on a large scale in China. How this technology works. The process the startup describes is based on direct air capture, known in the industry as DAC (Direct Air Capture). This technique consists of extracting CO₂ from the atmosphere and combining it with hydrogen, in turn obtained through electrolysis of water using renewable energies, to synthesize liquid hydrocarbons. The result is fuels that are practically identical to those derived from petroleum, but whose carbon cycle is closed: the CO₂ they emit when burned is the same as that captured to manufacture them. It is really not a new process, as it has been developed for years in laboratories around the world and There are pilot projects underwaysuch as the Haru Oni ​​plant, in southern Chile, promoted by companies such as Siemens and Porsche. What is still unclear. The bad thing is that Carbonology’s claims lack details. According to the mediuma company spokesperson confirmed the information but declined to offer more information on the matter. As SCMP shares, the company has a registered capital of just over 14 million yuan (about $2 million) and completed a first round of financing last year. In January it opened a 300 million yuan R&D center in Shanghai, along with a synthetic kerosene production line. In any case, the company recognized that its future commercial operations will probably have to be located near large solar and wind energy facilities in western China, since it is a process with high energy demand. A problem that persists. Synthetic fuels produced from renewables remain expensive. The medium refers to paper published in January 2025 in the journal Energy Conversion and Management, where some of the obstacles to its commercialization were identified, including high capital intensity, low energy efficiency in the conversion and absence of infrastructure and regulatory frameworks that allow its large-scale deployment. About Repsol. In Spain, the main company that has promoted renewable fuels in its gas stations has been Repsol, although the concept in this case is different. Repsol comes from a process that reuses used cooking oilremains of agricultural processes and forestry waste to develop its Nexa fuel, which is already sold in hundreds of gas stations in the country. However, the company is also studying the DAC technique to produce synthetic fuels. It does this through a cutting-edge project in the Port of Bilbao (Petronor). At the moment what they have is a demonstration plant, so we will have to wait to see if it has an outlet. for the car. That a Chinese startup barely a year old claims to have solved the cost problem that has blocked the entire industry is, at the very least, interesting, but there is a lack of data to support it. DAC technology exists and is maturing, but most of the CO₂ captured so far is stored underground, not converted into fuel. That the announcement was made under these circumstances is curious, to say the least. So we will have to wait to see if this project ends up materializing and fulfills what it promises. Cover image | ADIGUN AMPA In Xataka | 115 million barrels released and a fear on the horizon: that gasoline in Spain will go to €2/liter

The Portuguese AVE has a much juicier promise than the connection with Madrid. One of 7,000 million euros

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When talking about trains and infrastructure, there is a country that rubs its hands every time a new project is approved: Spain. Our country has a network of construction companies and rolling stock manufacturers that are among the most leading in the world. And they are already taking positions regarding a new project. One that has 7,000 million euros at stake. The Portuguese AVE. We said a few days ago that Portugal continues to move into an internal high-speed rail connection and that, in fact, its plans go directly through connect Lisbon with the south of Galicia before with Madrid. There are two reasons for this: the movement between Galicians and Portuguese has always been very high but, in addition, it means connecting the two largest Portuguese cities, finally, with a high-speed train. The objective is for the AVE between Lisbon and Porto to be ready in 2033, as well as its connection with Vigo. A year later the link with Madrid should arrive. If the deadlines are met, we will be talking about close a chapter that opened more than 20 years ago. 61 kilometers. It is the distance that runs in the Aveiro-Soure section, which the Portuguese Government has put out to tender. Although, really, we should say that “it’s back in the competition.” And from Portugal they have already tried to award this section without success through a public-private tender. To this tender only The Portuguese company Mota Engil was presented but his project has finally been rejected. This company had already gotten the go-ahead to build the first section between Porto and Aveiro but this time it was not so lucky. 7,000 million euros at stake. They explain in elEconomista.esthat the Portuguese Government has republished this contest with the aim of attracting more companies and projects. And the attraction is clear: now the contract has a potential of 7,000 million euros. The contract is launched to build the high-speed section and the required connections, which requires an adaptation of the Coimbra station, modifying the Northern Line between Taveiro and the southern entrance of said station and building an electric traction substation in the area. But, above all, it has something more juicy: the maintenance of all infrastructure except the section of the Northern Line and the Coimbra station. They explain in the middle that the maximum amount of the award is 1,603.36 million euros but that, in addition, payments are contemplated for a total of 30 years that can reach 4,765 million euros. Added to this is that the project will be partially financed during its construction with 600 million euros. The sum of the project, therefore, is more than 7,000 million euros. The Spanish options. In the middle they also point out that from Spain there will be competition on two fronts. One of them will be Acciona, FCC and Ferrovial, a “team” that has already attended together on other occasions and that, in fact, they dropped out of the tender for the first section of this new high-speed line. Sacyr will also present itself to the project but will do so accompanied by DST and ACA Engenharia & Construção, Portuguese partners with whom it is also presenting itself to the projects in the neighboring country. Again, Sacyr is also another company that already has experience obtaining contracts related to Portuguese railway lines. Pointers. Portugal is the last scenario that Spanish companies will attend, but it is by no means the only one. In recent years, Spanish construction companies have taken over the business of what is known as “AVE to Mecca” and They have found a gold mine in Saudi Arabia for your accounts. They have also found a vein in Vietnam. Although on other occasions this expansionism across half the world has cost some of them some displeasure. CAF, which had been acquired “the contract of the century in Belgium”decided accept the construction of a light rail in Jerusalem. One that passed through Israeli colonies on Palestinian land, which ended up leave the company out of the competition on the new Barcelona Metro trains. Photo | Alex Azabache and Seoane Prado In Xataka | France has tried by all means to prevent CAF from winning “the contract of the century” for Belgian trains. There is good news

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