Real

The artificial skin that feels heat and cuts is already real. It is the first big step for robots to look more like us

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Can a robotic hand like that of Optimus or that of 1x get to feel like ours? Researchers at the University of Cambridge and the University College London believe they have taken an important step in that direction. They have developed one Artificial skin Composed of a single flexible material, capable of detecting temperature, pressure, cuts and multiple simultaneous touches. All without rigid layers or sensors distributed inside. And the most promising, according to its creators, is that it can adapt to complex forms and promises a relatively simple manufacturing process: it is enough to melt it, pour it into a silicone mold, remove the internal positive and place it as a glove on a robotic structure, as shown in This demonstrative video. The nucleus of this technology is a driver hydrogel that, when combined with electric impedance (EIT) tomography, allows you to continuously register what happens on its surface. When a stimulus occurs – contract, heat or pressure – the fields are altered. The system detects not only the type of stimulus, but also its location and environmental conditions. All this is interpreted through automatic learning, with latencies that depend on the number of active channels, explain in the article published in Science Robotics. A soft membrane, millions of data The best example of the system is a robotic hand of real size, hollow inside, fully covered with this artificial skin. Instead of distributed sensors, use exclusively 32 electrodes placed on the wrist. This configuration was sufficient to extract more than 1.7 million information channels, derived from 863,040 different combinations. During the tests, the hand was exposed to different stimuli: a human finger, a thermal probe, the impact of a scalpel. In all cases it was able to distinguish the type of interaction and locate it with an average precision of about 25 millimeters above its entire surface. The interesting thing is that a sensor is not necessary for each type of stimulus. The membrane itself reacts differently depending on the intensity or nature of the contact, and it is the model of the one that identifies the most relevant signal between hundreds of thousands of possibilities. In addition to touch, this skin is able to monitor the environment. During a 100 -hour test, the system registered variations between 19 and 25 ° C and between 38 and 72% relative humidity, as details The official note of the University of Cambridge. All this with a design without rigid components, which facilitates its integration into Prosthesis, technical clothing, control surfaces or collaborative robots. Applications ranging from rehabilitation and remote exploration to the automobile sector. Of course, this development does not start from zero. In recent years we have seen other proposals that seek to endow robot sensitivity, such as This synthetic skin capable of replicating pain, This other that presumes to approach human skin as never beforeeither A capable of self -backing and recycling. What distinguishes the work of Cambridge and UCL is its radically simplified approach: a single flexible layer, without mechanical components, which centralizes all sensitivity and interprets it by software. Challenges remain in front: improve the resolution in areas far from the electrodes, reinforce the resistance of the long -term hydrogel. But paradigm shift seems to be underway. Everything indicates that it is a matter of time until we see robots not only more advanced in mobility and interaction, but also closer to us in appearance and physical sensitivity. An artificial skin like this opens the door to a new generation of machines that not only execute tasks, but also “feel” the surrounding environment. Even so, we are far from reaching the level of realism that proposes’Detroit: Become Human‘. Images | Cambridge University (1, 2, 3) | Quantic Dream In Xataka | Figure 02 has worked only for an hour. The shocking thing is that your brain already remembers and your hands “feel”

After the cruise ship, now traveling by train has become the real luxury. And he is living his golden moment

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Summer is just around the corner and, in all likelihood, you already have your vacation organized. According to datafrom Hosteltur, about 37.7 million people worldwide will have chosen a cruise in 2025 for pass your vacation. That figure demonstrates the boom that has suffered The cruise sectorand also explains the change in trend in their preferences for the holidays of 1% richer on the planet: train trips. But not in Any train. They are trains with a centenary history that little have to envy to the best five -star hotels. The luxury trips over rail They are experiencing an unprecedented boom, driven by a new generation of travelers looking for unique, slow and highly personalized experiences. The train is no longer just a means of transport: it is the destination in itself. Luxury train rebirth. The luxury train trip, which was previously seen as A nostalgic rarityis experiencing an unprecedented boom promoted by High purchasing power travelers that seek unique and exclusive experiences. Frank Marini, CEO of Railbookrs, He counted to Fortune That the demand for luxury train trips has shot in recent years, with all exhausted offers and with waiting lists of thousands of people. This trend reflects a change in the high -standing travel market and that luxury trains experiences are living their golden age. Growth is evident in the figures: in 2024, Tara Minson, president of Inteletravel, assured that her company had registered an increase of 65% in luxury trains reserves in the last year. What distinguishes the luxury train against cruises or private jets is its exclusivity. “People wanted the opportunity to relax. There are probably better way to do it than sitting in a cabin of a luxury train, looking out the window, reading books, talking and with excellent service on board,” he said Fortune Gary Franklin, Senior Vice President of Belmond. Changes in traveler’s profile and new routes. The profile of the luxury train traveler has changed significantly. Minson stressed that “the train, especially the luxury train, used to be for a larger audience, but now we are seeing many millennials and members of the Z generation who want to live a luxury train vacation.” The attractiveness of this type of travel lies both in the desire for exclusivity and in the Sustainability componenthighly valued by the youngest, and in the new “Slow Luxury” concept that invites you to reconnect more with experiences. “Traditionally, the main demographic group of luxury train trips have been high purchasing power couples and friends between fifty and seventy years. But the new Belmond or Accor Group offers has attracted millennials and the most wealthy Z generation,” assured to Fortune Anna Tretter, Travel Advisor of the Agency Fora X. The offer has also diversified. Belmond, one of the most recognized brands in the sector and owned by the luxury giant Bernard Arnault LVMHIt has a portfolio of seven luxury trains worldwide. In its catalog, the famous one is included Venice Simplon-Orient-Express covered the route between Paris and Istanbul from 1883 and was considered the most luxurious train in the world, serving as a stage for Police novels and 007 films. But not the whole market points to the ultra rich elite. There is also space for what Minson calls “small luxuries”: short escapes in trains such as Rocky Mountaineer In Canada, which can cost about $ 1,600. “It is its anniversary, its desire list, its way of celebrating,” says the manager. Exclusive experiences and prices at height. The experience aboard a luxury train is designed to match the standards of a five -star hotel, so it is not surprising that the price per night in experiences such as the L’Observatoire car exceed $ 100,000 per night. Comforts include private bathrooms with heated floors and personalized butler service on board. In addition, you can find menus with Michelin stars, first level entertainment and private suites that offer maximum privacy and comfort. The most exclusive trip of Railbookers for 2026, Around the World by Luxury Trainhas an approximate price of $ 124,000 per person and consists of a 59 -day tour that crosses more than 20 cities in 12 countries and uses seven different high -end trains. According to Marini, “the train offers views that you cannot see by car or by boat. In many cases, it is also your gastronomic experience, your hotel and even your social experience during the trip.” Luxury also suffers delays. However, like the rest of rail traffic, luxury train trips also suffer delays. Belmond already finalized the details to carry out the first trip of his Britannic Explorerhas been forced to postpone its premiere until July 21. According to He declared a spokesman Belmond to the British The Independent“To ensure that we comply with our high operational standards, we have made the decision to adjust the initial schedule.” Although many have decided to postpone their travel plans, the company has had to reimburse the between $ 12,000 and $ 75,000 that some passengers had paid for three days of crossing through the English countryside. “We are sure that this adjustment will allow us to offer extraordinary experience to our guests.” In Xataka | This is the Dolce Vita Orient Express, the Italian train of up to 21,400 euros the room for two nights Image | Bermond

Drought is a real threat after an extremely warm, and also dry June

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The month of June has been the warmest since we have records, as confirmed by the State Meteorology Agency (Aemet). Perhaps more striking is the fact that, despite successive storms interspersed among the warm episodes, the first summer month of 2025 has been drier than average. Warm and dry. Aemet has published Your meteorological summary of the month of June. In this confirm something that we already sensed: last month it was extremely warm, with an average thermal anomaly of 3.6º Celsius above what would be common at this time. It has also been drier than usual, with 68% of the rainfall that would be expected from the sixth month of the year. 23.7º. According to the published summary, the average temperature during the month of June was 23.7º in the Peninsula, which implies the aforementioned anomaly. June 2025 has become the hottest in the historical series for a wide difference: 0.9º above the previous record, marked in 2017. The Balearic Islands also saw a month “extremely warm”, with an average 3.1º above the average. The Canary Islands however remained in a somewhat less extreme record: with an anomaly of 0.7º, its June was listed as “very warm.” Returning to the Peninsula, in some areas of the northeast thermal anomaly in this month exceeds 4.5º. Lack of water. The Meteorological Summary Results With regard to heat they are expected, but there is another important detail and is referring to rainfall. Last month it was also drier than usual in peninsular Spain, with average rainfall of 21.7 mm, more than 30% below the average June. This can be striking if we take into account the various stormy episodes seen throughout the month. These storms were interspersed, serving as relief among the successive warm episodes that occurred during the month. Balearic Islands, with hardly any water. But the most extreme case was not that of peninsular Spain but the one lived in the Balearic Islands. In the Mediterranean archipelago, rainfall fell about 99% compared to the average. During the past month the archipelago received only 0.1 mm of rain. Without reaching such an extreme, the Canary Islands also experienced a dry month: 0.7 mm, 27% of what would be conventional in June. In the peninsula some isolated areas saw rainfall higher than average, especially in the northern plateau and in the Ebro valley. Change in the trend? Between the past fall and the last spring, the high rainfall managed to get a good part of the country out of the drought situation in which it was. Swamps and reservoirs before under minimums saw their volume of water significantly grow. Great news that was welcomed with a certain degree of skepticism after more than a year of drought. June is not the first month dry than usual we see in the last year, but the less a reminder that the hydrological bonanza era will not be eternal and that we must prepare for when the drought prevails again. In Xataka | “Clouds of fire”, the phenomenon that makes escape from sixth generation fires can make it impossible Image | Aemet

Ciudad Real will create the only Zbe in Spain where cars without DGT label are welcome

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Classism It is one of the most repeated words among critics with low emissions (ZBE) areas that are mandatory in Spain since 2023 for all municipalities of more than 50,000 inhabitants. An obligation that arrived with many lagoons and from which Ciudad Real wants to take advantage of. 60,000 euros. “It is not an area for rich in which only those that have enough money to buy a 60,000 euros car, of zero emission, which would be the electric ones can be passed to certain areas of the city.” The words are from Francisco Cañizares, mayor of Ciudad Real, to The Ciudad Real Tribune. They expose one of the greatest criticisms that are being made to low emissions areas: they are venated spaces for older and cheap vehicles. And he emphasizes, “the majority of the population who lives in the center of the city does not have in their plans to change the car. You have to look for plans for these people.” The Quita and Pon Zbe. What Ciudad Real will create is, as explained in the local environment, a Zbe in which all cars are welcome. That is, there will be no discrimination due to DGT labelingwhich gives free way to circulate with a 1998 diesel car, to give a single example. The Zbe of Ciudad Real will be extended to all its central buds called Area for environmental pollution episodes (Zeca). This only imposes restrictions when high pollution episodes are detected. However, these restrictions will allow the passage of any car with label … and without it, provided that the vehicle without a label is part of the municipal vehicle register and is registered in the Zeca. Or if a resident of this area issues an authorization to pass this car without label. Who stays out? In practice, almost nobody. “Those who come from outside,” says the mayor who, yes, says that the days where high pollution episodes are detected are “a special situation of one day or two (every year).” With this, it means that only the cars registered outside the municipal employer, without label (gasoline before the year 2000 and diesel prior to 2006) and without authorization of a resident of the area, are the ones that cannot pass. Is it legal? Yes, it is totally legal. The obligation to create a ZBE in all municipalities of more than 50,000 inhabitants arrived with Important lagoons. The only requirement to meet is that air quality is improved But the City Council was not forced to apply concrete restrictions. In Ciudad Real they defend that pedestrianizing some streets in what they call Healthy Real Ciudad Zone (ZCRS) It is sufficient to reduce Nox emissions by 40% and those of CEO 10% face 2030. As read in the Guide delivered by the Government To the municipalities where examples of how to establish a low emissions area were set, this possibility was contemplated. However, The obligation Building a Zbe arrived without any sanction for those who did not comply. What has happened? Multitude of municipalities have refused To implement a ZBE because it is a very delicate issue among voters and, in some cases such as this Manchega city, it applies without a real impact on neighbors. Is not the only one. In fact, Ciudad Real is not the first city that, in practice, barely restricts the use of vehicles where the Zbe is applied. To give an example, In Bilbao (where it has been said that cars with badge will not access b) The ZBE only occupies two square kilometers and the B labels can circulate without problems. The only requirement is to park in a public parking, not on the street. In Sevillethe Zbe has taken to the island of La Cartuja instead of the city center, as usual. In this way, its affectation is minimal and, in addition, it is only active in a very specific schedule. Photo | CRASH71100 and City Council of Real In Xataka | Madrid will not leave 1.2 million cars out of circulation in 2025: the intrahistory of an inaccurate figure and its real impact

Ryanair will expand the size of the hand suitcase “in the coming weeks.” Its real objective is another

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“It will begin to apply in the coming weeks.” That has been Ryanair’s response, consulted about the company’s new hand luggage policy. The company, signed to the Airlines For Europe Association, accepts the agreement that its members have reached to establish minimal measures in the hand luggage that, in this case, will be more beneficial for passengers. 40 x 30 x 20 cm. Those are the new measures that Ryanair will begin to apply for his hand luggage “in the coming weeks”, as confirmed to Xataka. This new measure slightly expands the Current measures 40 x 25 x 20 cm which are included with the company’s basic ticket. This means that passengers can carry a slightly size bag this summer. In BBC They point out that the change will mean a 20 -liter backpack to a 24 -liter capacity. The maximum allowed limit will continue to be, yes, 10 kg. “In the coming weeks”. As for the implementation of the new measure, the Irish company has not given us a specific date. They point to questions from Xataka That “this change will be implemented in the coming weeks, as the sizes in our airports are adjusted.” That is, it will not be until the airports have updated their containers to measure the size of the hand suitcases they use next to the shipping doors when the new measure will begin to be applied. At the moment, we will have to continue conforming to the “Ryanair backpack”. Why this change? The change comes after the Airlines For Europe (A4E) association, which Ryanair is a member, will sign an agreement so that the minimum of the suitcases admitted as hand luggage is 40 × 30 × 15 cm. This forced the Irish company to increase its width by five centimeters and, at most, reduce the height by five centimeters. Ryanair has decided to apply only the first change. This decision can be read as a message of good will against the European Union that in its institutions is discussed if this should be the minimum size allowed on continental flights. For the moment, The European Union Council has approved The change to these new measures 40 × 30 × 15 cm. But for its application, the European Parliament must also support it and, subsequently, ratify the agreement. However, this last institution He has rejected it And the application of this measure is in the air. So what is the situation? Right now, on the legal level everything remains the same. That is, the European Union forces airlines to admit a handbag to transport the “essential” but there is no specific size on it. This has led to a legal battle in Spain, With confronted resolutions giving the reason to consumers or the airline depending on the court. On the practical level, who travels with Ryanair will now be able to carry a slightly wider backpack once they apply the changes in the luggage. However, the change is minimal and is far from the majority of small “cabin suitcases”. Is it the only one? No, Ryanair is not the only company. Wizz Air, another of the companies sanctioned in Spain, will also apply these new measures of 40 x 30 x 20 cm, As confirmed on their website. Like Ryanair, the company is subscribed to Airlines for Europe (A4E), so it will also apply what is agreed. Photo | Niels Baars and Erik McLean In Xataka | In the war between Spain and Ryanair for hand luggage, the airline has found an unexpected ally: the European Union

Byd has shown us that the 400 kilometers load in five minutes is very real. And they have managed to change their minds

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Designed for heavy but practical transport for the daily car. And an advance that has raised some controversy in the battle that China-Occident in the battle for the electric car. It is the 1 MW charger of byd. The same one that, they promise, can load 400 kilometers of autonomy in five minutes and with which, in the words of Stella Li (vice president of the company) equals “the experience of Fill a deposit of gasoline “. It is definitely one of the advances in the electric car that has raised the most interest in recent months. And in Xataka we have tried it. Yes, it is very real In a concessionaire and next to other lesser power chargers. Byd has shown us the operation and recharge of its 1,000 kW or 1 MW charger. An experience that promises to match the times of gasoline but that, they assure from the company, is not primarily thought for cars. Last March, Byd hit the table showing your most powerful loaders to date. Immediately, domino’s chips fell and we knew that Catl and Huawei also confirmed that had ready their own ultra -grape load suppliers. The race for the electric car in China advances at a devilish pace that has taken us at the end of this June, just over two months later from the announcement, to see these loaders in operation. The expansion of the more than 4,000 points that the brand aspires to have very soon in its country clashes frontally with the slowness in Spanish facilities. Be that as it is, the truth is that two byd cars can now recharge in this type of facilities. They are the byd and tang l, two electric mounted on their super e-platform that can assume the power of its megawatt flash charger, a load point known as the 1,000-1,000-1,000: 1,000 kW, 1,000 amps and 1,000 volts. A BYD TANG L at the 1MW load station And that’s what we saw. First with a Byd Tang L and, later, with a Byd have l, the company showed us the system load capacity. For this it is necessary to plug the two hoses that leave the supplier. The car, like a Porsche Macan, has two load shots (one on each side) and plug at the same time. Once the two shots are connected, the load begins from the vehicle. And magic happens. In two minutes, 7% battery capacity has passed to almost 40% of it. One is hypnotized When you see on the central screen the 1,000 kW of load power and the percentage of the battery upload. The maximum peak does not last too much. But that is not too much problem. After 20%, the power falls to 750 kW and it remains so until 30%. It is not then that it is maintained with sufficiency in 700 kW or slightly below. Thus it will come with hardly any drop to 80%. At that pace, moving from a brief 7% to 80% autonomy leads to, just over five minutes. And that 80%, In a car with 83.2 kWh Battery are about 67 kWh available. To lower the data to the ground, two questions. Is it a lot of power? It is a lot of power. It is a barbarity. To get an idea, the most powerful load points that are in Spain Sinde 350 kW and begin to consider loads of 500 kW. Have a car that carries, when the power drops, at 700 kW is to fold the most advanced vehicles at the moment, from the Porsche Taycan and Audi GT e-tron to the KIA EV6 and Hyundai ioniq 5. Just a handful get these figures in Europe. Really load 400 kilometers in five minutes? Yes and no. We explain ourselves. The 67 kWh that would have available any of these two cars with 80% load equals just under 350 real kilometers with a consumption of 20 kWh/100 kilometers. If you talk about 400 kilometers in five minutes it is because the Chinese homologation system is much more lax than WLTP. This has led us to receive news from China from cars with 1,000 kilometers of autonomy that would not support an exam in Europe. Despite this, we must not crucify how to measure in the Asian country. You have to take into account the peculiarities of each market. The homologations are assumed, both the Chinese and the European WLTP try to simulate the use that an average driver would give it. That in China, where the car is used as a ciudad already low speed (also in the ringms) it is much more likely that the average consumption is lower than for a European driver. It is something that have confirmed different Chinese brands: the car is for urban use, for the long trips bullet trains and airplanes are used. Is it really practical? When Byd gave the news, the competitors soon answered. As we have seen, Catl and Huawei came out to point out that they also had similar widths for imminent expansion. From Europe the message was another: That loading power is useless. That was what they pointed out in Mercedes. An opinion that can be controversial and shared before going to China. Now, I thought things better. What they maintain in Mercedes is that so much power is not necessary because, generally, when we stop we are standing for more than five minutes. And it doesn’t matter if we are going to have coffee or, simply, fill the car deposit. In the latter we spend more time of five minutes. If we are barely stopped 10 minutes, it recharges it with a car that can fill its batteries at 350 kW of power does not change much with respect to Byd’s proposal. And, if this power is supported, in just 10 minutes almost 60 kWh capacity will have been filled. That is, 300 kilometers with the previous calculations. In practice, the difference is not much. A … Read more

In Brazil there is a fever for babies. The problem is that they are so real that people are confusing them

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The story began as a harmless content in Tiktok, one that quickly climbed to became a national issue in Brazil. A young woman He published a video In which he pretended to take his “baby” Bento to the hospital: he prepared his backpack, lying it in the car, weighed it, gave him the bottle and cleaned his cheek. More than 16 million people saw that scene, but few realized that he was not a baby, it was A Reborn doll. Political chaos. I told this week The Guardian. While Jair Bolsonaro faces a trial for I attempt at once of state and the current president Lula is going through The worst moment of popularity of his third term, the focus of wide sectors of the Brazilian public debate It has diverted Towards an unusual phenomenon: Reborn dolls. We talk about figures Baby hyperrealistscollected and made by thousands of people (mostly women) in Brazil for decades, who have suddenly become white of viral teasingviolent threats and an unusual legislative wave. Laws against dolls. According to The New York Timescurrently there are at least 30 legislative projects presented in Brazil to prevent Reborn dolls from accessing public services such as health or education. Legislators on the right, especially in the state of Amazonas, have even taken Dolls to Parliament claiming that some women are trying to obtain public benefits with them, (although there is no evidence to support it). In a turn of the events that approaches a dystopia, one of the drivers even asked if the next step would be to castrate “Reborn dolls” in veterinarians. Stigmatization As a mockery, the official account of the city of Curitiba warned To the “Mothers Reborn” that their dolls do not give the right to use yellow seats reserved for pregnant women on buses. In contrast, the Municipal Council of Rio de Janeiro proposed to establish On September 4 as the day of the storker Reborn to honor the artists who manufacture them, although the mayor He vetoed the measure on the argument that “this is not happening.” To put things in order, or almost, According to the UOL mediait has only been documented A real case of a woman with a psychiatric disorder who tried to enter a hospital with a doll, which shows that most bills are based on viral fictions. Vinyl body kit From Tiktok to Congress. As we said at the beginning, it all started with a series of virals in networks where a collector had called “Crazy” for taking his doll to a mall. Then, another clip showed a doll being Attended in a hospitalas part of a role -playing game. Although the author of the video clarified that it was A dramatizationthe content was replicated alarmistly as if it were real. From there, social networks exploded with teasing, threats and a torrent of indignation aimed at the so -called “mams reborn.” The controversy reached a disturbing point on June 6, when a man assaulted a real baby four months on public roads by confusing it with one of these dolls. The aggressor was released on bail and the baby is out of danger, but the fact illustrates the climate of hysteria unleashed. Disguised misogyny. What at first glance seems like a lower controversy over eccentric hobbies hides a darker background: the pathologization of female entertainment. It counted at the Guardian The sociologist and political scientist Isabela Kalil, professor at the FESPSP, who warns that while adult men can collect action figures or spend hours in front of video games without raising suspicions, women who interact with hyperrealistic dolls are quickly tildos of unbalanced. The artist Larissa Vedolinknown as Emily Reborn In networks, he has received death threats daily for sharing his creations. “They write to me from anonymous accounts who are looking forward to finding me on the street with a weapon,” He recounts. Vedolin, like many other creators and collectors, defends that the Reborn are not toys, but works of art. Some may take weeks to complete and reach prices of up to 3,000 eurosdepending on the level of detail, such as the width hair implant. Social reflection. He Youtuber Chico Barneywho recorded a collector event in São Paulo for Your documentary Reborn Babies Don’t Cry, He pointed out With surprise the normality of the meeting: “It was only a group of people sharing an interest, with nothing eccentric.” But that contrast between the reality of the phenomenon and the viral narrative highlights a frequent dynamic in contemporary digital culture: the constant search for a target for collective hatred. Kalil summarized it rarely: the fury is not based on real events, but on a need for channel social anxiety through symbolic objects. “This case has served to project contempt, mockery and aggression against women who deviate minimally from conventional expectations,” affirms. Ancient practice. The Times remembered that Reborn dolls exist Since the 90s and his interest is not limited to Brazil. In the United States, Dave Stack, founder of Reborns (an online sales platform) ensures that sales have grown up constantly: 10 dolls a day five years ago between 40 and 60 currently. Prices range Between 200 and 250 dollars For vinyl models, and up to more than 4,000 for limited editions of soft silicone. Among its buyers there are mothers who They have lost childrencenters for patients with dementia, lawyers who use them in judgments, creators for film and television, and mainly people who “simply love babies.” Some clients even take them to medical consultationsThey feed them with porridge or photograph them with Santa Claus. A hysteria as radiography. In summary, the Reborn phenomenon in Brazil has become the closest thing to A mirror of collective anxiety, normalized misogyny and the excessive influence of social networks in political discourse. What is essence is a form of artistic expression or an emotional refuge has been transformed in whitewashing, legislation and polarization. The episode reveals not only the ease with which a moral panic is generated, but … Read more

Israel has been bombing the nuclear facilities that build other countries around its surroundings. This is the real risk of collapse

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On February 28, 2022, just four days after the start of The Russian Invasion of Ukrainethe country’s troops led by Vladimir Putin bombarded the vicinity of The Zaporiyia nuclear power plantlocated in the southeast of the country. Shortly after, during the night of March 3 to 4, the Ukrainian and Russian soldiers They fought together with the buildings of this nuclear installation. This scenario has been repeated several times since then, which has represented at some times a threat to the integrity of the nuclear reactors of this central. Unfortunately, the Ukraine War is not the only war conflict that has endangered one or more nuclear facilities. During the last five decades Israel has repeatedly bombarded Iraq nuclear plants, Syria and Iran with the purpose, according to the Israeli government, to prevent these countries from developing nuclear weapons. This is the same scenario as presumably triggered The last episode of the conflict between Israel and Iran on June 13. However, not all nuclear facilities are the same. Israel and the US argue that the plants of Fordo, Isfahán and Natanz, all in Iran, who have recently bombarded several thousand Uranium centrifugers. These machines contain uranium hexafluoruro (UF₆) inside, a corrosive gas that if it came to filter to the environment could trigger a radiological and chemical emergency, although there would be no nuclear explosion. In any case, in this article we propose to explore what would happen if one missile or other large -capacity projectile impact on the building of a nuclear reactor. Nuclear reactors cannot explode as an atomic bomb Nuclear centrals in operation used by many countries to generate electricity have been designed to offer A very high security level and hold your operation over time. The first protection barrier that nuclear reactors have external threats is the containment enclosure. This concrete structure is watertight and is designed to keep the primary circuit of the environment completely isolated (we will immediately see what this circuit consists of). This framework is designed not to be degraded by dilation, to support the energy of an earthquake, and even to resist very important collisions, such as the impact of an airplane. However, in addition to protecting the nuclear reactor from external aggressions, it is responsible for preventing the radioactive material to be lodged in the primary circuit Remove and get in touch with the atmosphere. Anyway, the first thing that a missile or a pump would have to damage to damage a nuclear reactor is to destroy, or, at least, penetrate the containment enclosure. The containment enclosure is designed to withstand very important collisions, such as the impact of a plane The other element of the installation that has a crucial role in the proper functioning of a nuclear reactor is the cooling circuit. Although, in reality, a nuclear reactor works side by side with three different circuits. The primary circuit consists of the vessel, which is the deposit that contains Fuel bars and the water that must remain in contact with them to absorb their thermal energy; For the heat exchanger, which is a second tank to which the hot water comes from the vessel; and by a pump that facilitates the circulation of water between the vessel and the heat exchanger. The primary circuit must be closed because the water it contains being in direct contact with the fuel bars is contaminated. And therefore, It is radioactive. The heat exchanger acts as a steam generatorso a second circuit is responsible for introducing the cold water inside that when it comes into contact with the hot water of the primary circuit, it enters the boiling. From there the necessary steam proceeds to transfer to the turbine the kinetic energy that will make it possible to obtain electricity thanks to the action of the alternator. Once the fluid crosses the turbine the water vapor cools and condenses inside an additional tank to promote the appearance of water in a liquid state that will be introduced again in the heat exchanger, thus giving rise to a second closed circuit known as secondary circuit. Again a pump is responsible for the water to circulate between the condensation tank and the heat exchanger. So far we have described two different closed circuits, the primary and the secondary, but we have left a loose end. In order for the water vapor of the secondary circuit to be condensed inside the condensation tank it is necessary to introduce in the latter cold water. And to do so it is necessary to resort to a third circuit known as cooling circuit. The water of this last installation comes from the sea or from a river near the nuclear power plant, hence it is necessary to accommodate this type of centrals near one of these two natural resources. The thermal energy exchange that occurs between these circuits allows us to obtain the electrical energy we need, which is the ultimate goal of nuclear power plants, but also seeks to keep the fuel bars housed in the reactor core within its optimal range of working temperature. The most serious scenario implies the fusion of the reactor core If the thermal energy generated by the fuel material of the fuel bars as a result of the sustained fission over time exceeds, for whatever reason, the capacity of the refrigeration systems of transporting that energy and maintaining the core of the reactor within the optimal range of working temperature, the fuel could be degraded. And if this happens, it could happen from the solid state in which it is initially to the semi -solid state, or even a liquid state. This phenomenon is known as the fusion of the nucleus, and can cause a part of the radioactive material to end up coming out of the vessel. This was, in broad strokes and without entering the causes of the accident, which happened In Chernobil reactor 4 In 1986, but There are very important differences between the nuclear power plant that … Read more

Shahed drones were already a real nightmare for Ukraine. Russia has just made them a little more lethal

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The scene took place a clear day of June. From a secret location, a six -meter “nurse” drone rose to the sky by order of the soldiers, crossed 200 kilometers within the enemy territory and released two suicide drones that hung from their wings. Designed to fly at low altitude and avoid radars, secondary drones autonomously searched for an objective and, once identified, they threw themselves to detonate on it without direct human intervention. This is today the Ukraine War. Systematic terror. We have gone counting to Long of the war in Ukraine. The Shahed drone has become the MORE MORTÍFERA of the contest thanks to additions and evolutions Like fiberbut from a while at this part that evolution is exceeding the known limits. He counted The New York Times In a long and overwhelming piece what is assuming for the Ukrainian people. He Shahed-136developed by Iran and manufactured under a license by Russia as Geran-2, has evolved from being a rudimentary two-stroke drone and cardboard fuselage reinforced to a sophisticated horror weapon. Russia lo has modified with rBlack ecubows For night flights, interference resistant navigation, multiple types of eyelets (included Thermobáricaincendiary and fragmentation with Tungsten balls) and navigation systems assisted by Sim Ukranian cards and kometa satellite antennas, resistant TO THE ELECTRONIC WAR. Cheap. The cost per unit, between 50,000 and 80,000 dollarsit makes it a much cheaper option than ballistic missiles such as Iskander-M (2 million) or The KH-101and even cheaper than the anti -aircraft missiles that are used to intercept them. Its low cost, mass production In industrial complexes In Tartaristan and Izhevsk, and his adaptability has made him one of the most effective weapons of modern war, ideal for hosting civil rear and exhausting defenses. Missiles with ia. They underlined In Forbes The most striking fact of the last evolutions of the Shahed: Reaction engines. Although they will go He had presented publicly a variant of this type (the Shahed-238), It was not until recently that its use in Ukraine was confirmed by means of remains analyzed in the field. It is estimated that these models can reach speeds of up to 480 km/hquadruplying the cruise speed of the previous versions. Its acute and fast roar replaces the buzz of the old engine, and its speed drastically reduces the reaction time of the defenses. However, its cost and complexity probably forces Russia to use a Mixed strategy of drones A piston and turbojetfurther complicating defensive systems. Visual navigation: more. In addition to more powerful engines, some Shahed units are now armored in compartment of the engine and with relocated fuel tanks inside the fuselage. This has reduced and much reduced the effectiveness of light weapons, forcing defensive operators to point surgical precision to vulnerable parts such as the wing or the engine itself. Plus: Shahed drones have already been seen with computerized vision systems with Artificial Intelligence Processorsaccording to images released on June 18 by the Ukrainian specialist Serhii Beskrestnov. These systems offer autonomous visual navigation, regardless of GPS, which would make them immune offers one of the most effective defensive tactics so far: satellite interference. The Shahed would thus enter into a new era of autonomy and lethality. Shahed intercepted Fear of night. Explain in your reports the Times that everything changed from mid -2024, when the releases shot: 34 drones per week in 2022, more than 1,000 per week In 2025. On June 8 of this year, Russia launched 479 drones in one night. Many Shahed no longer aimed at military objectives: they impact markets, apartments, churches and other tactical value, in violation of Geneva conventions. According to UkraineRussia has implemented a deliberate night horror campaign to emotionally and physically exhaust the civilian population. 20% of drones manage to overcome Ukrainian defenses in certain weeks, a growing figure. Ukrainian counteroffensive. To counteract the threat, Ukraine has deployed specialized units Like Darknodea secret regiment within unmanned systems forces. These soldiers, mostly reconverted civilians, fight night battles using hunter drones To intercept Shaheds. Its technology, even in development, already allows identifying and destroying enemy drones in flight, even when they maneuver or change altitude. He Times explained cases like him Kyryloa young pilot recruited for his video game skills that has already demolished more than a dozen objectives. They use interceptor drones of $ 6,000 and throw them from open fields following patterns that remind of night agricultural rituals. In this regard, one of their greatest advantages is that they can guide the enemy drone away from inhabited areas before it explodes, avoiding collateral damage. Black Shahed Evolutionary career. In a race that does not stop, Russia has also adjusted its tactics: the Shaheds now They fly higherthey change altitude, they follow convoluted routes and are accompanied by lures such as The gerbera dronesbuilt in foam, which consume missiles and distract defenses. In addition, some Shahed units carry cameras to evaluate the damage or for remote assistance in flight. In other words, the war has entered into a dynamic of constant innovation: each improvement in defense is answered by a Russian tactical evolution. “It’s like a race between sword and armor”, He explained to the newspaper A Ukrainian soldier. Russian guide in drone handling with fiber The fiber and a guide. It We count A few weeks ago. Fiber drones are evolution MORE MORTÍFERA From the contest to the point that Russia has published A manual (image on top) for FPV operations with optical fiber. It includes procedures for wind conditions, such as avoiding the fiber on trees or electric lines that can move and break the cable, and reduce the altitude to 1 or 2 meters to minimize the curvature of the cable. Why the rules change. Regarding the fiber, he remembered The Financial Times that all the last Russian drones use an ultrafine cable to maintain continuous connection with their operator, which makes them immune to electromagnetic interference. Ukrainian defenses, based on GPS signal blocking, radio or cell phone, are useless to this … Read more

Tariffs have made Temu an economic experiment in real time: see how far their clients endure

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Trump tariffs have turned Temu into an interesting behavioral economy laboratory. When the tariffs rose to 145%, the Chinese platform did something unheard of: Show exactly why prices uploadedbreaking down the price and explaining the origin of each extra charge. Why is it important. This radical transparency avoided a total collapse. Although Daily users fell 58% and the GMV (gross merchandise value) was reduced by halfTemu managed to retain 40 million users when some predictions talked about a collapse. Honesty over tariffs has transformed a debacle into a manageable crisis. In Xataka China’s rare land block is very delicate for Europe for another reason: high -power magnets In detail. Temu’s strategy is brutally direct. Instead of hiding the increases, they explain: “Imported articles may be subject to import positions. These charges cover all customs -related processes and costs.” A mobile cover went from $ 1 to $ 1.50. It looks like a rise of “only 50 cents”, but it is 50%. It is difficult to resist such a percentage increase. However, $ 1.50 remains a much lower price than American equivalents. The context. Trump eliminated the exemption “of Minimis” which allowed shipments from China without tariffs for packages of less than $ 800. Initially it applied 145% tariffs, then reduced them to 54% for 90 days. 90% of Temu’s business depended on this model that took advantage of the legal lagoon. When it disappeared, the company had to reinvent itself. Yes, but. The experiment has limits. Temu eliminated 3.4 million products from its catalogleaving only 150,000 sent by boat. 20% of vendors went to other platforms or markets. The company reduced its advertising expense in the United States and redirected resources to Europewhere his advertising investment has multiplied by twelve. {“Videid”: “X8RH2E2”, “Autoplay”: False, “Title”: “A very fast air fryer but is not for everyone”, “Tag”: “Webedia-Prod”, “Duration”: “489”} The partial resistance of consumers says a lot about price psychology. When Temu showed total transparency on tariffs, many buyers interpreted the increases as something external to the company, not as Temu’s greed. This perception of “we against the system” translated into an unexpected loyalty between the hard core of users. TeMU is transforming its business model on the fly. Launched the “Model Y2“That allows Chinese merchants to send directly without storing inventory in the United States. The “local to local” model is expanding where American sellers sell locally stored products. Its objective: that 80% European sales come from local vendors to avoid tariffs. The big question. What does the US consumer say that 40 million remain willing to pay almost double for Chinese products? Trump wanted to kill Chinese electronic commerce, but has ended up airing the existence of a huge group of consumers for whom the equation-value equation of Chinese products is still irresistible. Even with 145%tariffs. In Xataka | China has made a drastic decision and unpredictable consequences: prioritizing “its” technology, even worse Outstanding image | Alain G. ShumbushoTemu (Function () {Window._js_modules = Window._js_modules || {}; var headelement = document.getelegsbytagname (‘head’) (0); if (_js_modules.instagram) {var instagramscript = Document.Createlement (‘script’); }}) (); – The news Tariffs have made Temu an economic experiment in real time: see how far their clients endure It was originally posted in Xataka by Javier Lacort .

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