reduce

what you can do to reduce what AI can do on your mobile

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Let’s tell you how to limit Gemini on your Android mobileso that the artificial intelligence Google does not have access to so much data. Gemini It is integrated into current Android phones, and you can limit access to your emails, personal information or Google searches. Although Google’s artificial intelligence is implemented in Android to help you with your content and to make everything easier for you, not all of us like that it has access to the entire system and applications such as Gmail, Google Drive and Google Calendar. There is no button to turn off Geminibut there are ways to put some limits on it. Prevent Google from accessing your applications Gemini currently has access to your Google applicationsspecifically in Gmail, Google Docs, Google Calendar, Google Drive, Google Keep or Google Tasks. Access to Chrome and YouTube is also beginning to be implemented in some countries. You also have access to third-party apps such as WhatsApp, Spotify and more. To limit Gemini’s access to your apps, go to the Google AI app and tap your profile image in the top right. In the menu you arrive at, you have to click on the option Connected apps that it will appear to you. You will go to a screen with the list of applications that Gemini has access to, and you can deactivate access to the ones you want. This way, you can control the apps that Gemini can interact with. Turn off the Gemini gesture Many mobile phones have a gesture to activate Gemini, for example by holding down the power button. You can also change this on some mobilesalthough everything will depend on each manufacturer and brand. For example, on many Androids you can go to the Gestures in the device settings, and there change the function of pressing the power button so that it does not launch the assistant. On other devices, such as Samsung, you will have to go to their Advanced Features. Each mobile can have a different route. Use Google without AI Overview Finally, if you want use the Google search engine without AI summaries For a more classic experience, this is something you can do as well. Of course, here you no longer have to make changes to the settings. What you have to do is search for what you want on Google. You will see that below the search bar and above the AI ​​Overview several tabs appear, and in them you have to click on the tab Web. When you do, you will go to a view with only the results. In Xataka Basics | The best prompts to save hours of work and do your tasks with ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot or other artificial intelligence

The V16 wanted to replace the triangle and reduce risks. They have ended up proving that they can also create them

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On January 1, 2026, it will be mandatory to carry in the car an approved V16 beacon. The introduction of this device is surrounded by a great controversy regarding its implementation, its real usefulness or the emergence of illegal devices. What has just been discovered is that more than 250,000 beacons are affected by serious cybersecurity vulnerabilities. It is the umpteenth disaster that affects these devices. what has happened. Luis Miranda Acebedo, cybersecurity expert, has published a complete and in-depth analysis of the digital security (or rather, lack thereof) of one of these V16 beacons. Specifically, the Help Flash IoT model, which is especially striking because the person who distributed it is Vodafone and the operator confirmed months ago that it had sold more than 250,000 units in Spain. The document and its conclusions are worrying. Vulnerabilities everywhere. In his analysis Miranda explains that although the analysis only focuses on this device, “the security problems found in the communications part seem to be common to all devices.” Specifically, the errors found by this expert for that part were the following: Sending data in plain text– The beacon transmits exact GPS coordinates, IMEI and network parameters without any encryption. Anyone who intercepts the signal can read them. Lack of authentication and integrity: There are no mechanisms to verify that the server is legitimate or to ensure that the message has not been modified along the way. Susceptibility to false stations– It is possible to spoof a cell tower to intercept traffic, block alerts from being sent, or inject false data. Private APN Exposure– Although this beacons a private Vodafone network, the connection commands and keys are exposed on the debug port, making the network accessible to an attacker. The V16 Help Flash IoT beacon is a real trick. Image: Luis Miranda Acebedo. OTA updates, another disaster. The problems are not only limited to that part of the V16 beacon’s communication with the APN and the servers of each provider, but are also present in the OTA (Over-The-Air) update system: Insecure update: Simply press the power button for 8 seconds to activate a maintenance Wi-Fi network. The name (SSID) of the Wi-Fi and its password are identical (HF-UpdateAP-5JvqFV), they are “harcoded” in the firmware. Not only that: Miranda tested two different units and those credentials coincided, which leads him to think that they are the same in the 250,000 devices sold by Vodafone. unsecure HTTP: To download the new firmware, the HTTP protocol is used without further ado, not the secure version (HTTPS), allowing an attacker to intercept and modify the file in transit. No digital signature: The device does not verify the authenticity of the firmware, and accepts any file sent to it, allowing the installation of malicious software. DNS Spoofing– By not using DNSSEC it is trivial to trick the device into connecting to a fake server controlled by a cybercriminal. Open debug port: The port is also physically accessible without a password, allowing you to view all the logs and extract sensitive information from the hardware. Hacking a beacon is easy and cheap. The researcher explained that it is possible to buy a device that simulates a telephone antenna (500-1,000 euros). Using a Rasperry Pi 4 or a laptop, free software can be used to “intercept and manipulate the “secure” communications of these beacons.” After running a proof of concept, he managed to hack a beacon in 60 seconds and install malicious firmware that allowed him to have full control of the beacon. With this firmware it could send false locations, access the operator’s private APN, generate massive false alarms or turn the beacon into a brick. What Netun says. The company that manufactures these beacons, Netun Solutions, has sent out a press release to try to clarify these risks. Exposed data: The signature indicates that the beacon transmits geolocation, a device identifier and some technical parameters. They admit that this data can be exposed, but they emphasize that there is no transmission of personal data such as license plates or user IDs. Logical: they are not associated with the beacons. Plain text: Netun officials explain that the decision to send plain text was made to “guarantee long-term interoperability and robustness.” Private APN: It is also noted that the beacons connect through a private APN and a VPN from the operator, but Miranda explained how the connection parameters are exposed on the serial port. Physical access and removing the eSIM are enough for an attacker to connect to that private network. Netum in turn points out that physical access means that “the impact is limited to that specific unit.” OTA problems: Regarding the OTA functionality that also shows a vulnerability, Netun states that this function has been disabled through firmware updates. Improbable mass attacksFinally, those responsible point out that massive attacks could only be carried out by compromising a large number of beacons. They also explain that the Netun platform “limits the number of frames that each SIM can send” and the frequency of sending. What Vodafone says. At Xataka we have contacted Vodafone, and one of their spokespersons tells us the following: “The V16 beacons approved and marketed by Vodafone Spain constitute an adequate system that complies with current regulations for road emergency signaling. In particular, Help Flash IoT is certified in accordance with the regulations required by the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) for connected V16 beacons, meeting the necessary technical requirements in terms of visibility (sufficient light intensity), resistance, flash reliability, signal duration, etc. These requirements also include the data communication protocols of the beacon with the servers. The V16 beacons have internal security mechanisms and the Vodafone network provides an additional layer of security with controls that ensure that communication is made from the beacon authorized by the network. On the other hand, the beacons integrate NB-IoT connectivity, which guarantees that the beacon is only used for location in an emergency by authorized entities with the user’s knowledge. The communication that passes through Vodafone … Read more

reduce the production of laser weapons and parts for electric cars to one second

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A team of researchers from China has achieved a technological leap that could alter the energy base of sectors as diverse as electric vehicles, advanced radars or even new generation defense systems. At a time when speed, thermal stability and on-chip integration have become strategic priorities for industry and militaries alike, China claims to have found an unexpectedly fast path to producing one of the most critical components in modern electronics. An industrial leap. China has presented an advance that fundamentally disrupts the production of dielectric storage capacitors, a critical component for hybrid electric vehicles, radar systems, advanced electronics and, especially, directed energy weapons. Two teams from the Metal Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have achieved reduce the manufacturing process of these devices just one second thanks to a technique flash annealing capable of heating and cooling materials at 1,000 ºC per second, forming crystalline films on silicon wafers in a single step. In other words, what previously required between three minutes and an hour now happens literally in the blink of an eye, without loss of energy density or thermal stability, and maintaining stable performance. up to 250 ºCa range that covers, for example, from the inside of a hybrid vehicle to the depths of oil exploration. The advance also offers a scalable industrial path towards on-chip storage devices, a goal long pursued by the electronics industry. A new class of capacitors. Dielectric capacitors stand out because they can charge and discharge energy with extreme suddenness, generating current peaks essential for systems that depend on instantaneous reactions. The new crystalline films created by the Chinese team not only achieve energy densities comparable to those of much slower methods, but they maintain less than 3% degradation even at 250 ºC. This guarantees its operation in severe conditions, from automotive electronics subjected to constant heat to sensors and energy exploitation equipment underground. Researchers say in your work that the rapid solidification obtained by heating by electromagnetic induction and immediately cooling in liquid nitrogen fixes the crystalline structure in a high energy state that multiplies the capacity storage, reaching 63.5 J/cm³, values ​​higher than traditional techniques such as firing in a muffle furnace or rapid thermal tempering. This combination of extreme speed, stability and density opens the door to design leaps in multiple industrial sectors. Strategic implications. As we said, the most delicate, and potentially transformative, impact is found in the military terrain: Emerging technology offers a direct solution to one of the bottlenecks of directed energy weapons, such as high-powered lasers, which require fast, stable flows of electricity to maintain sustained fire, repeated pulses, and minimal reload times. The ability to generate intense electrical pulses from denser, more heat-resistant, mass-produced capacitors with faster times drastically reduced makes this technology a key enabler for ship-borne lasers, anti-drone systems, energy saturation weapons or ground-based air defense platforms. In a scenario where thermal autonomy, stress resistance and the ability to withstand repeated thermal cycles are essential, these new dielectric films offer a decisive advantage compared to previous generations of materials. Although they still depend on improvements to close the gap with lithium batteries in total capacity, their superiority in instantaneous power is exactly what modern laser systems require. World projection. The promise of producing advanced capacitors in a second It represents a disruptive change for industries that, until now, assumed long and expensive processes to achieve similar levels of quality. The ability to extend the procedure to other ferroelectric materials and to apply the method on wafer-scale pellets makes this development in a milestone with direct implications for defense microelectronics, aeronautics and the energy sector. China thus obtains a path towards strategic components that are difficult to replicate in the short term in other countries, consolidating an industrial advantage in dual technologies whose relevance will only grow in the coming decades. For the directed energy weapons (considered the next big leap in anti-missile defense, anti-drone and anti-hypersonic platforms) this evolution in capacitors could be equivalent to missing link– Fast, robust, compact and, for the first time, truly scalable storage. Image | CCTV (via X) In Xataka | It is called Crazy Li and it is capable of cutting metal or causing blindness: China has developed an unprecedented combat laser In Xataka | China has made a science fiction dream come true: an electromagnetic cannon capable of reaching 3,000 shots per minute

Seeking to reduce emissions, ships are turning to cutting-edge technology. Punta in the year 3000 BC, specifically

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Ships long ago stopped sailing with ten guns per side. They don’t do it under full sail either, although there are a couple of companies determined to change that. The thing about the sails, not the cannons, since we have examples of great ships sailing with sails of the 21st century (and cannons are now electromagnetic). Are a bet to row against emissions of the maritime industry, and the truth is that the technology sounds good for the biggest ships that star almost all world trade. The banner is the Pyxis Ocean, an 81,000-ton ship that has been circling the oceans of half the world, showing the viability of returning wind-powered ships to the sea. And the industry is taking note: a few weeks ago the first oil tanker with sails began sailing with promising figures. Ships with state-of-the-art sails to decarbonize the oceans The maritime industry has a major challenge ahead: reducing its emissions to achieve decarbonization goals. We look at hydrogen, to methanol already electrification as ways to achieve those objectives, but the Pyxis Ocean is proving that candles can play a role in all of this too. Owned by the Mitsubishi Corporation, it is a ‘bulk carrier’. In Spanish, a bulk ship focused on the transportation of bulk cargoes such as cereals or minerals. Along with the container ship already the Ro-Roare essential ships in the global trade chainand the fact that it has sails does not prevent it from being a ship of considerable dimensions. 229 meters in length and 32 meters in width, typical for this type of boat. What is not so common are its two huge sails in the front and middle part. Each one is 37.5 meters high and 20 meters wide, and they work as you expect: taking advantage of the force of the wind to propel the boat. However, they do not ‘inflate’ like traditional sailboats. Named WindWingsare a rigid structure of steel and fiberglass that have more to do with the wings of an airplane than with conventional sails. They take advantage of wind energy, adapting in real time and automatically to maximize efficiency in different wind conditions. It works autonomously and does not require additional energy or personnel to handle it. When the Pyxis departed, not everyone was convinced the system would work, qualifying it as “a risky bet.” Two years later, we have some conclusions further. Under favorable conditions, the ship’s two WindWings are estimated to have reduced main engine power consumption by 32% per nautical mile. During the six-month testing process, the ship achieved savings of about three tons of fuel per dayand after those six months, the Pyxis Ocean continues sailing. Mitsubishi is not responsible for these sails, a credit that belongs to BAR Technologiesand the success of the pilot test has led to them expanding the sail catalog with more 20 and 24 meter models aimed at both smaller ships and ships for the chemical industry. The estimate is that each sail saves 0.7 tons of fuel per day and can be easily installed on both new and veteran boats, whenever adaptation work is done. Beyond the curiosity and interest of BAR Technologies in promoting this, it seems that the industry is considering it as an option to both electrification and traditional fossil fuel systems. In June of this year, the Brands Hatcha Union Maritime tanker that has three WindWings and departed from Rotterdam last September. It is estimated that more than a third of its propulsion was thanks to the wind, avoiding 13 tons of CO₂ per WindWing per day. The company has ordered sails for a further 34 new vessels and BAR Technologies has received another order for new LR2 tankers due to be launched in 2027. When the technology was introduced, John Cooper, director of BAR Technologies, commented that “by 2025, half of new ships will be powered by wind.” It is evident that their estimates have not been metbut the good results are encouraging the International Windship Association to calculate that there will be more than 100 large ships with the system by the end of this year and, by 2050, up to 40,000 systems installed. In the end, as has happened more than once, we look again to a technology from the past to achieve objectives in the present. We will see if sails are that agent that once again transforms maritime navigation on a global level, since neither BAR Technologies is alone in this nor are WindWings the only ones. next generation sails that are in development. Images | WindWaves In Xataka | It’s not a ship, it’s a floating “Empire State”: the ONE crush surpassing the record of containers on board

Drastically reduce the consumption of data centers is crucial for AI. And China has had an idea: to submerge them in the sea

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China is About to submerge a data center In the sea, near Shanghai, as a solution to a problem that we will gradually begin to see more: Great energy consumption of the AI. The installation, which will come into operation in mid -October, is one of the first commercial projects of this type in the world and points to a new way of cooling servers without depending on traditional cooling systems that devour electricity. The background problem. Data centers are the backbone of the Internet and AI, but They generate huge amounts of heat. Keeping them refrigerated by air conditioning or evaporation of water consumes a brutal amount of energy, and with the rise of artificial intelligence, the demand of these facilities has shot. China seeks to reduce the carbon footprint of this critical infrastructure, and its commitment It goes through sinking it underwater. How it works. The yellow capsule that They have built Near Shanghai houses servers that remain cold thanks to the ocean currents, without the need for active cooling systems. According to Yang Ye, vice president of Highlander, the maritime company that develops the project with state companies, “underwater operations have inherent advantages” and can save approximately 90% of the energy for refrigeration. The installation will extract almost all its electricity from nearby marine wind farms, with more than 95% renewable energy. The technical challenges. Putting servers under the sea is not easy. They must be protected from the corrosion of salt water, for which they use a special coating with glass scales on the steel capsule. Also They have installed An elevator that connects the main structure with a section that remains on the water, allowing the access of maintenance equipment. Another challenge is to build the Internet connection between the Submarine and Tierra Firme Center, a more complex process than with conventional facilities. Universities researchers in Florida and Japan They have warned In addition to these centers could be vulnerable to attacks by sound waves driven by water. Environmental doubts. Although the project promises to reduce emissions, questions remain about its ecological impact. The heat emitted by servers could alter the surrounding marine ecosystem, attracting some species and driving others. Andrew Want, marine ecologist from Hull University, Point out That “these are unknown aspects at this time, sufficient research is not yet being carried out.” Highlander says that an independent 2020 evaluation on its test project in Zhuhai indicated that the water remained well below the acceptable temperature thresholds, but Shaolei Ren, an expert from the University of California in Riverside, warns That climbing these centers will also climb the heat emitted. There are few precedents. Microsoft tested this technology off the coast of Scotland in 2018, recovering the capsule in 2020 after declaring that The project had been completed successfully. However, he never marketed it. The Chinese project advances with the support of government subsidies: Highlander received 40 million yuan for A similar project in the province of Hainan in 2022, which is still operational. The installation of Shanghai will serve clients such as China Telecom and a state computing company of AI. What comes now. Experts agree that these underwater centers will probably not replace the traditional ones, but will complement the existing infrastructure in specific niches. According to Rencurrent projects seek to demonstrate “technological viability”, but much remains to be resolved before a massive deployment. What is clear is that, if these types of projects face all technological challenges and manage to greatly reduce the energy consumed of the data centers, it will be a great point in favor for the company that manages to provide its solution in the AI ​​race. Cover image | AFP In Xataka | China was the great pollut the planet: now it is emerging as the first “electrostate” in history

Asturias prepares the greatest experiment in Spain to reduce the day

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When the national debate seemed focused on (still stagnant) Reduction of the working day At 37.5 hours a week, Asturias has decided to step on the accelerator. The Principality government has launched the machinery to launch an experiment on the four -day work week in the region, a movement that resurrects one of the Conversations about the future of work in our country. The first step have already taken it. From the regional government They have already tendered The study that will serve as a road map in this ‘experiment’. The objective they have is clear: analyze the viability and The economic impact to implement a 32 week weekly day in the business fabric of the region. A necessary study to be a success. This study, which will have a value of 16,862 eurosan external consultant will be held. In its content, what is going to be collected will be the similar projects that have been made in other regions, with their failures and their mistakes. In this way, we will not try not to fall into the same stone again as other autonomous communities or other regions of the European Union. In addition, it will also identify the key sectors of the Asturian economy where it would be more feasible to apply this reduction in working hours, and especially where there will really be a benefit of having a four -day day. From there, the assessment of unions, employer and company will be collected to have a complete vision of the consequences that this measure can have. When it will be launched. Once the report has been launched in tender, the manager who manages to get him will have a period of three months to be able to collect all this information, so we can easily leave the next year. When you have all this information, it will be when the Government will propose to companies the possibility of joining this initiative. The main focus will be in the private company. Sources from the Ministry of Science, Industry and Employment They have detailed To El País that the objective will be the private company in this experiment. Although they will also analyze the viability in the public company. But what is clear is that participation will be voluntary, as detailed in the agreement signed between the regional government with the employer and the unions. In these same statementsthe Ministry suggests that this model make Asturias one of the first communities to apply this labor model, aspiring to be one of the greatest experiments in Spain in this area. All this because so far the projects that have come forward have focused on very specific areas of a province or have been a failure, as in the case of the Plan of the Ministry of Industry. The great debate: how will affect salary. Logic can mark that a reduction in the number of hours worked It also carries a reduction in monthly salary. But this is something that at the moment is not clarified in the position by the Principality. As they point out, there is a “varied casuistry” and that, in the absence of a national regulation, it is an “issue to negotiate in each labor relationship.” Precisely, the study that has been in charge will be focused on shedding light on how this problem with companies should be solved. There are a history in Spain. To see similar projects we can go to Valencia in the spring of 2023, where the City Council of the capital tested the four -day week turning on Mondays. The results In this case they were very positive, since an improvement in the well -being of employees was evidenced. Although he also had a negative impact on some businesses by losing this habitual clientele of Mondays. Nationally, the Ministry of Industry launched in 2022 With a budget of 10 million euros in grants A plan to reduce working hours. But it was a disaster, since Only 41 industrial SMEs requested participatingand finally, almost two years later, only five companies were approved, reducing the investment to 500,000 euros. In Spain the regulation will still take to arrive. Although the Council of Ministers I already gave green light To the legislative text that would come true to have a 37.5 hours day in Spain, you still have to wait. His passage through Congress is being torpedored, since for the moment does not have enough support To be published in the BOE. Although the reality is that although it seems A substantial changethere are many companies that collect it in their collective agreements and Other EU countries They have a day below what is raised. Images | Annie Spratt Miguel Ángel Sanz In Xataka | Face B of the four -day week: the problems that British essay companies found

Its technology aims to reduce the scope of the enemy sound

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In the underwater world, noise can be a sentence. The more silent a submersible, the lower the probability that it is detected by sounding. Although artificial intelligence begins to change the rules of the gameefforts to further reduce the acoustic firm do not cease. As SCMP points outthe last advance arrives from China, where a team of researchers has developed a technology that, in laboratory conditions, has managed to significantly cut the vibration that is transmitted from the engine to the helmet. The idea starts from replacing the traditional engine rigid supports with a hybrid structure of active-peasive insulation. The system was presented at A study reviewed by pairs published in Noise and vibration control By researchers from Jiao Tong University in Shanghai, in collaboration with China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC). According to the authors themselves, a reduction of only 10 decibels at the noise level of a underwater vehicle could decrease its 32%detection range. A double control system. The system combines two elements. On the one hand, a steel-gum-steel ring that acts as a passive shock absorber. On the other, a series of 12 piezoelectric actuators that surround the engine and neutralize micromovimientos with the help of precision levers. These actuators are designed to adapt to reduced assembly space. The combination allows to reduce both structural vibrations and low frequency sounds, the most problematic for stealth. The system is governed by an FX-LMS algorithm, an adaptive method that coordinates the 12 actuators and avoids interference between them. Thanks to this intelligent management, the system can adjust your response in real time, which allows you to maintain control even in the face of unexpected variations in engine behavior. The method is based on rebuilding the interfering signal to feed the noise cancellation. Promising results, but in laboratory. The tests were performed with a 200 kg simulated engine mounted on a cylindrical metal housing. The system was designed to operate with a regime of 1,500 revolutions per minute (25 Hz). At 100 Hz, the passive system managed to reduce noise by 12 dB. With the complete system, the attenuation reached 24 dB. At 400 Hz, the reduction was 26 dB. The researchers explain that the chosen frequencies correspond to the most common spectral lines of the engine. A development still with questions. The study also indicates limitations. The rigidity of the rubber used in the passive system can be affected by temperature and pressure variations, and the durability of piezoelectric actuators has not yet been verified in real operating conditions. In addition, researchers do not specify what type of underwater would use this technology or the final impact that it would have on its global acoustic profile. In fact, the term “underwater vehicle” is used throughout the study. That is, they do not speak of diesel-electrical submarines or nuclear submarines. For now, it is an experimental development with promising results. The participation of CSSC suggests strategic interest, but there is no confirmation that this system has been integrated into any operational platform. What demonstrates is that China continues to bet on advanced technologies to reinforce its underwater stealth, an important factor in the modern naval war. Images | TOOK-RANCH (Wikimedia Commons) | Jiao Tong University In Xataka | The war in Ukraine had a red line of 70 kilometers. West has just eliminated it after Russia’s last attack

Spain wants to reduce marine pollution and will start in an unsuspected place: the bathroom

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Spain adds this year 642 beaches with blue flag, four more than last year, According to the Association of Environmental and Consumer Education (Adeac). This badge, which recognizes the environmental quality, security and services of the coast, returns to place the country among world leaders. Even so, the figure represents only 18 % of the more than 3,500 beaches in the country, which shows a pending challenge. To face it, Spain has begun to move. A new plan is brewing. Rather, a new bill with The goal of reducing pollution For single -use plastics, where wet wipe manufacturers will be forced to assume cleaning costs derived from the improper use of these products. In addition, the initiative wants to prohibit citizens from discarding wipes by the toilet and release balloons in the air. With this measure, Spain seeks to align with European standards on single -use plastics and move towards the UN sustainable development objectives. A serious problem. Wet wipes, even those made of natural polymers without chemical modifications, generate an important environmental impact. Its resistance to decomposition causes obstructions in sewerage and purification systems, especially during periods of heavy rains, such as has detailed The Guardian. The microfibers that release reach rivers and seas, aggravating pollution and raising management costs for local authorities. Responsibility. The new law will force companies to take care not only for the cleaning of the waste they generate, but also of information campaigns. To control who should pay, manufacturers will have to officially register. Although biodegradable wipes would be exempt, the Ministry of Environment He has insisted In that it is best not to throw any for the wiper, to protect pipes and the environment. A very economical topic. A awareness campaign of the Spanish Water and Sanitation Supply Association I already estimated Six years ago, the withdrawal of these wipes was an annual cost of 230 million euros. Until now, economic consequences have fallen to public administrations. According to eldiario.esValencia had to invest 10 million euros in 2019 to clean a three -kilometer jam. In Badajoz, a similar athlete was a cost of 200,000 euros. Murcia encrypted in more than 250,000 euros the replacement of a damaged team at a treatment plant, while the repair of pumping equipment amounted to another 200,000 euros. Other countries already have the lead. Four years ago, both France, Germany, Belgium and England They prohibited use of single -use plastic products, following the EU guidelines. In addition, on the one hand, France a year later prohibited the use of plastic To package small fruits and vegetables. On the other hand, Germany and Belgium They have been developing A fund funded by single -use plastics manufacturers, who must contribute according to the amount of plastic they sell. This fund aims to cover the cleaning costs of public spaces and waste management, reinforcing the principle of “who pollutes, pays”. It does not start on the shore. While the bill continues its parliamentary processing, its effectiveness will depend much on the citizen response. Because the care of the beaches does not begin only on the coast, but in the daily habits of those who enjoy them. Image | Pexels and Marco Verch Xataka | If the question is whether there is an “invasion” of moths in Murcia, the answer is that of every year by these dates

The White House will try to reduce NASA’s scientific budget by 50%. It is so devastating that Elon Musk has separated

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The White House has presented a preliminary proposal of its budgets by 2026. If the United States Congress approved them, NASA would see 20% less money next year, but with an especially controversial turn, because they would be cuts centered on science. A devastating loss. NASA is the largest and most influential space agency in the world. Its direction of scientific missions finances some of the most important research for the advancement of astrophysics, planetary science, terrestrial science and heliophysics. Studies in which international entities such as the European Space Agency often participate. The White House budget in half reduces the resources of the Directorate of Scientific Missions. It would go from 7.5 billion dollars in the fiscal year from 2025 to 3.9 billion in 2026. The consequences are so devastating for the scientific community that Elon Musk has described it as “worrying” and It has come out to clarify that has not had anything to do: “I am very in favor of science, but unfortunately I cannot participate in the discussions about NASA’s budget because Spacex is an important NASA contractor.” Affected missions. While the proposal maintains the financing of HUBBLE observatories and James Webb, explicitly cancels other space telescopes, including the Nancy Grace Romanwhich is already completely assembled waiting for its launch. The two most important planetary missions that would not continue with the White House Budgets are, on the one hand, Mars Sample Returnthe recovery of Martian soil samples that has been collecting the Rover Perseverance, and the Davinci mission to explore Venus. Both milestones would be in the hands of China, which It has similar missions in your scientific roadmap. Goodbye to the Goddard? According to Ars Technicathe cuts seem designed to force the closure of the Goddard Space Flight Center, the NASA headquarters in Maryland, which uses 10,000 officials and contractors, and from where iconic cosmological, land and sun observation missions are operated. Astrophysics: it would reduce its budget by two thirds, leaving 487 million dollars. Heliophysics: it would reduce its budget by more than two thirds, leaving 455 million dollars. Terrestrial science: would reduce its budget in more than half, remaining at 1,033 million dollars. Planetary Science: would reduce its budget by one third, being at 1,929 million dollars NOAA is even worse stop. Donald Trump’s administration also seeks Complaint the magazine Science. Like NASA, NOAA is one of the world’s main scientific agencies, but in the weather, climate and space climate. The cuts would close the Ocean and Atmospheric Research Office (OAR), and would leave hundreds of scientists who study global warming. Waiting for Congress. NASA has a period of 72 hours to appeal these figures before they are incorporated into the final budgets. Ultimately, it will be the United States Congress who approves them. It is likely that the cuts are with strong opposition in Congress, Very sensitized With the idea of ​​losing ground in front of China. “This would tithe the American leadership in space and inflict great damage to NASA centers throughout the country,” Congressman George Whitesides, from the Science Committee, told Ars Technica. It would be like an “extinction event.” Image | POT In Xataka | 12 years after making fun of Spacex and his idea of ​​landing rockets, Arianegroup is creating a European mini-falcon 9

The US plan to reduce oil is about to derail what worked best in its economy

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Brent and Wti crude prices suffered a great fall of the barrel two days ago. This situation caused a very large alert In the markets, since since February 2021 there was no such low data. After the storm, prices have stabilized around 60 dollars the barrel for the Trump measure of suspend for 90 days The highest tariffs to different countries. In this way, the commercial war has become A direct conflict against China that does not know the scope tariffs, leaving an economic paradox in reducing oil price. Lowering prices. Until now, the United States has managed to reduce its commercial deficit thanks to the revolution of the shale, which has made the USA Net oil exporter Since 2020. This expansion prior to Trump’s second mandate had achieved reverse decades of foreign oil dependence. However, the impulse to pierce with the famous “Drill, Baby, Drill” Together with tariff policies, it has caused global uncertainty, According to PVM analyst Tamas Varga in Reuters. There are no good ideas. And it is evident that Trump’s policies They lack a coherent direction. According to Reutersthe fall in crude oil prices is a reflection of the loss of confidence in American economic policy, especially in the middle of a commercial war, affecting the global demand for oil. Also, like He has stressed Energy expert Javier Blas, drilling and production costs are not profitable below $ 65 per barrel in the United States. In other words, if prices fall too much, production would decrease, which would force more oil and, therefore, would expand the commercial deficit, which is precisely what Trump wants to reduce. The paradox. The contradiction in Trump’s policies is clear: its strategy of reducing oil prices to control inflation and stimulate the economy will have the opposite effect to the desired one. According to Blas explainedTrump’s objectives was precisely to reduce the commercial deficit. Before its presidency, the revolution of the shale, which allowed the United States to become a net oil exporter, was one of the factors that contributed significantly to improve the trade balance in the last two decades. However, by pushing prices at lower levels, Trump is running the risk of undoing the advances achieved, generating a macroeconomic imbalance that would seriously affect local production and increase import dependence. Besides, Anz Bank analysts in Reuters They expect that, if world economic growth falls below 3%, oil consumption could decrease 1%, which would further aggravate the situation. Depending on oil. This Trump strategy also affects other countries than their income They are derived of the export of oil, such as Saudi and Russia Arabia. Although oil has experienced very significant fluctuations for more than five years, it is not even this commercial war when tensions have been exacerbated causing a strong fall. This situation can cause a new layer of geopolitical tension. On the one hand, Saudi Arabia needs raw barrels to exceed $ 90 to continue building and investing in their macroprojects, Like Neom. On the other hand, the fall in prices in Russia has generated Even more pressure on its economy, which is already weakened by the Ukraine War. Forecasts. As He has warned Javier Blas, “drilling, drilling, drilling” will not work if the barrel is 50 dollars and if the United States does not pierce, it must import it. In short, leaving a scenario in which the US president, in his attempt to control prices, can end up undoing the most effective tool he has had to reduce the commercial deficit in decades. Image | Gage Skidmore and Unspash Xataka | China responds again to US tariffs and rises to 125%: from here it would be a “joke” to keep climbing

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