Science

Your mind can activate a loop song without asking you permission. Science knows why he does it … and why he doesn’t know how to stop

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You are silent. Walking down the street, serving a coffee, looking distracted by the mobile. And suddenly … there is again. A melody you have not chosenbut who insists on returning. As a drop in the tap, as a notification that you cannot deactivate. In my case, it is the same song for a couple of days. Always the same part, as if the rest did not exist. It does not bother me, but it has made me think: why does this happen? Does our brain make sense, sometimes it works like a striped disk? What is exactly an Earworm. The Earworms – Also called “ear worms” – they are musical fragments that are installed in the head and repeat themselves again and again, without you chosen. The term comes from German Ohrwurm And today describes a mental phenomenon as recognizable as elusive. It is not something weird: As the National Medicine Library of the United States collectsup to 98% of the western population has ever experienced them. Most live them as a simple anecdotebut for some people they can become annoying or even distressing. We speak in a very specific way of spontaneous mental activity that science has been trying to understand. Why do some songs stuck. Earworms are the result of a combination of musical and neurological factors. The themes that are most repeated usually have simple structures, fast tempos and easy to hum melodies. This was revealed by a study led by musicologist Kelly Jakubowskiwhich analyzed more than 3,000 songs and found that those who stayed in their heads tended to have common melodic contours and a medium tempo faster than the rest. Among the most mentioned songs such as Earworms in Jakubowski’s study and his team, several Anglo -Saxon pop hits stand out. It is no accident: the work was done in the United Kingdom with English -speaking participants, so most of the topics that appear are in English. Even so, many of them have been true global successes, also known by the Spanish public: ‘Bad Romance’ – Lady Gaga ‘Can’t get you out of my head’ – Kylie Minogue ‘Don’s Stop Believin’ ‘ – Journey ‘Hoilebody That I used to know’ – Gotye ‘Moves Like Jagger’ – Maroon 5 ‘California Gurls’ – Katy Perry ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ – Queen ‘Alejandro’ – Lady Gaga ‘Poker Face’ – Lady Gaga The decisive occurs in the brain: the auditory cortex – the same one we use to listen to real music – is reactivated even when we simply imagine a song. The emotional state also influences: stress, distraction or nostalgia can open the door for a melody to be installed without prior notice. Auditory cortex Some minds are more prone to loop. Not everyone lives the Earworms the same. Some people barely notice them, while others suffer with intensity, as if the brain stayed in a loop. In most cases, Earworms are lived as a simple curiosity or even as something entertaining. But when the repetition becomes persistent and annoying, it can be a sign of something more serious. According to psychiatrist Srini PillayProfessor at Harvard’s Faculty, “these persistent loops can be associated with obsessive-compulsive disorders, migraines, unusual epilepsies, palinacousis, stroke or cerebral metastases.” It is not usual, but it can happen. What to do if you don’t want to keep listening to her. There is no magic formula to eliminate an EARWORM, but there are strategies that help. Curiously, try to block the song It is the least effective: the more struggles against her, the more she clings, a phenomenon described by Daniel Wegner as “ironic process.” Instead, accepting it without resistance usually works better. As the Kennedy center collectssome people choose to listen to the complete song; Others replace it with another melody. There are specialists who point to chew gum To interfere mental repetition. And you, what song isn’t you going from your head? Since I started investigating the Earworms, the song in my head has not disappeared. Now I know that I am not the only one, that there are reasons behind and that, deep down, that loop is part of how our brain works. And you? Have you ever had an Earworm that you couldn’t take off from your head? What was that song impossible to erase? Do you have any technique to take it off? We read you in the comments. Images | Xataka with Gemini 2.5 Flash | Amanz | Kennedy Center In Xataka | I put myself in the hands of some “sleep headphones” in the hope of reconciling sleep. It has come out regular

Roig believes that in 2050 we will no longer have kitchens at home because we will buy the food out. Science is not so clear

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The appointment was designed to boast resultsbut during the presentation of his 2024 memory, Juan Roig, president of Mercadona, launched a prognosis that monopolized almost more holders than the milmillonary turnover of the company. For many of many, the Valencian He predicted That babies who are born in thirty years will not know what it is to have pots or a caster. “I said and kept it: in the middle of the 21st century there will be no kitchens.” The reason? People will feed out of home or base of precooked dishes ‘ready to eat’ like those sold by the Mercadona itself, according to Roig’s particular gastronomic dystopia. A study Recent suggests that the Valencian perhaps rushed in his forecast and that, despite the changes of habits, Spain remains a country full of kitchens. A percentage: 59.1%. What percentage of Spaniards still cooking frequently? And how do they do it? Questions similar to those are what was raised a while ago Elena Sandriof the Catholic University of Valencia (UCV). To resolve them, he conducted a survey with more than 1,500 participants who threw some interesting conclusions, now embodied in An article Posted in the magazine International Journal of Gastronomy and Food Science. Specifically there is a fact that seems to question that the future without kitchens prophesied by Roig is just around the corner: 59.1% Of the Spaniards still cook daily or almost daily. “It is still central”. The study does not stay there. The study reveals that the average time that 59.1% dedicated to the kitchen is around the hour and a half and that there are still a clear differences between sexes: they cook more frequently, apply healthier techniques and show wider gastronomic knowledge. Its score is several points higher than that of men. If we look at the ages, clear differences are also seen: adults cook more. With that data the expert reaches A clear conclusion: “Homemade cuisine is still central to Spanish culture.” His study also reveals the importance of knowledge to favor “healthy culinary practices” or “sociodemographic disparities”, especially among men, people with low educational level, young people and people who live alone. “They tend to resort more to fast food and prepared dishes, often due to the lack of time, skills or knowledge.” Is it the only study? No. Throughout the last years several studies have tried to answer the same question: do we continue to cook the Spaniards? In 2023 FESNAD, the Spanish Federation of Nutrition, Food and Dietary Societies, made A study With a sample of 1,075 and obtained a photograph somewhat different from that of Sandri: according to their calculations, about 46% of the Spaniards continue to turn on their vitros or stoves every day. It is a considerable percentage, although it already crosses the border of the middle of the population. “Our kitchen at home is losing importance, we do not cook daily and cook alone. We do not cook every day for the little time we have and the speed with which we live,” He pointed out The Vice President of Fesnad, Rosaura Leis. Another interesting perspective is contributed by the Kitchen Canal, which also made Your own study with 2,251 interviews with people between 20 and 65 years. What did you find out? That the large majority of the population (around 90%) cooks at least once a week, but only a very poor 20% does so daily. New times, new habits. The previous fact, of course, must be analyzed taking into account another key that slides the Channel Cocina report: almost four out of ten Spaniards (36%) practice Batching Batchingso they dedicate a day to cook much of the food they consume throughout the week. Among young people that practice rises to 41% and if we talk about Madrid, 46% have incorporated it into their lives. The study It also reveals that more than half of the Spaniards eat from Taper at least once a week, especially lunch from Monday to Thursday, and 43% receive them from other people, especially (yes) of their mothers. Is it the only change? Again, the answer is ‘no’. Throughout the last years industry and researchers have been sliding data that reveal that, although Juan Roig’s prognosis may still sound distant, in Spain it is increasingly easy to meet people who feed (timely or of often) without turning on a single stove or take a pan. The Association of Prepared Dishes Manufacturers (ASEFAPRE) estimates that in 2024 the consumption of its products 6.6% shot In homes, overcoming the barrier of 700,000 tons. To be more precise, per capita intake grew 3.8% to touch 17.2 kg per year. Similar reading leaves Another report From the consultant Kantar, who reveals that the purchase of dishes “ready to eat” has shot 48% in a matter of two years in Spanish supermarkets. Moreover, its survey shows that in 20% of cases the client does not even consume them at home. “The interest at this time lies in the search for balance between time, health and culinary pleasure,” summarizes Veronika Kurshudyan, director of the Customer Area of the consultant. “Look for solutions”. Simply, and although Spain still is a country full of kitchens, people already “not only buy food”, warns Kurshudyan. Now demand something else when he goes to supermarkets: “Look for solutions.” From that approach it is better understood than when a few months ago the CIS dedicated himself to asking the Spaniards if they believed that industrial cuisine and the Fast food They were eclipse to home cooking, they meet a striking result: most (mostthree out of four) people responded affirmatively. What is the conclusion? The key I gave it a few days ago Miquel Echarri in THE COMIDIST- THE COUNTRY: Perhaps the prepared food is gaining ground at a good pace and there is already 40.9% of Spaniards who never cook or do it very afternoon in the afternoon (the other reading left by Sandri’s study), but home cooking is far from being a … Read more

Andrew Huberman is determined to make 150 minutes of cardio a week to live more. Science is not so clear

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It’s 3:52 in the morning and Ashton Hall Start your day: Mouth Tapingcardio on the balcony, statements, ice on the face, banana on the face, all in timed time. His extreme morning routine went viral a couple of months ago with more 99 million views on Tiktok. What started as Skincare with Journaling He has mutated in a culture cult. More and more men adopt millimeter routines with the promise of order, control and success. In that scenario, Andrew Huberman, Stanford neuroscientificpodcast, Guy supplement, Not only is a reference: he is an architect of this new biohackeada masculinity model. Science and Podcast. Huberman’s fame comes for his program Huberman Lab, where he dissects studies on health, sleep, exercise and supplementation, with serious voice, marked body and surgical safety. Talk about protocols, not advice and millions follow it to the letter. What proposes Sounds simple: look at the sun in the morning, train on an empty stomach, dive into cold water, take magnesium, sleep 8 hours and repeat. But it sells it as a high performance science and packages it in a self -control language, constant improvement and masculinity without cracks. But is it reliable? Not everyone is convinced. The researcher Joseph Zundell (Harvard) has pointed out in Times How Huberman draws hasty conclusions from studies with limited evidence. Many of the articles that he quotes – special about supplements or longevity – are based on animal models or are preliminary. However, it makes them “protocols” with appearance of certainty. And we must not forget the conflicts of interest, since it recommends supplements like AG1 (from Athletic Greens), a company that actively collaborates. Although it is presented as an independent disseminator, its content is also part of the well -being business. Even in the most personal field. An article in New York Magazine He collected former partner testimonies that accuse him of manipulative behavior, toxic relationships and contradictions between his mental health discourse and his private life. One more bro? Yes, but with a doctorate. Huberman embodies the university version of the Bro-fitness: sculpted body, extreme control and scientific discourse. It is less explicit testosterone, plus paers reviewed. However, the objective is the same: optimize body and mind, and project success. Its physical presence is not secondary: it is part of the message. And their theories are perfectly aligned with the new online masculinity referents, where to take care of the skin and make cardio coexists with protein smoothies and direct sunlight as if they were dogmas. In his crusade for longevity, He has emphasized what to do 150 minutes from Cardio A week you can lengthen life. That figure appears in several episodes and interviews. But is it really backed by evidence? Science behind. This is where enthusiasm collides with complexity. The data of the “150 minutes” is not invented, but is decontextualized. In the videos he explains that training in zone 2-moderate intensity, without reaching exhaustion-for 150-200 minutes per week improves cardiovascular health, metabolism and brain function. However, a meta -analysis, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicineanalyzed 26 systematic reviews of 199 cohort studies: a total of more than 20 million observations. The general conclusion is clear: higher levels of cardiorespiratory fitness are associated with a significant reduction in the risk of death and cardiovascular diseases. There is no universal magic figure. According to Justin Lang (Cheo Research Institute)the response to exercise varies between individuals according to age, sex, genetic, health and lifestyle. A high -level athlete will need to train much more to improve its aerobic capacity. Someone who starts can benefit with just walking at a light pace three times a week. Besides, As he warns The cardiologist Jayne Morgan (Piedmont Healthcare), the benefits of cardio are not linear or infinite: more exercise does not always equals more health. The threshold depends on the physical condition and other clinical factors. In fact, studies such as The one published in Missouri Medicine They already talked about an inverted j curve: moderate exercise protects, excess can have adverse effects, especially in the heart. In summary: yes, 150 minutes of weekly cardio is a good reference for most healthy adults, but it is not a closed formula to extend life. Science supports regular physical activity as a longevity factor, but with margins, adaptations and without absolute guarantees. The hidden cost of male self -care. Huberman’s message – orders, discipline, physical performance – connects with a silent anxiety growing among many men. Obsesting with diet, body or training is no longer perceived as a problem, but as willpower. But behind certain extreme self -care routines, what sometimes there is is control, guilt or fear of failing. As the journalist Noemí López Trujillo explains in Newtralthis aesthetic pressure is not understood only in image terms, but as an extension of the norms of traditional masculinity: like it without seemingly effeminate, rendering without showing weakness, improving without speaking of beauty. Therefore, many men seek to “maximize” their physique instead of simply taking care of themselves. And that is where phenomena such as looksmaxxingthat disguise emotional discomfort with improvement language, but push it towards isolation, guilt or even radicalization. There is something in your favor. Andrew Huberman has achieved something that few scientists achieve: to become viral. Has brought complex concepts to mainstream and has aroused the interest of millions in the body, the brain and aging. But its way of translating science into protocol has costs. His statements, such as the 150 minutes of cardio to live more, are based … but also many nuances that he rarely explains. And in a world saturated with productivity anxiety, these nuances are essential. Not everything that seems science is. And not everything that improves your health needs a timed routine at 4:00 in the morning. Image | Pexels and Tiktok Xataka | You will love the muscle above all things: how protein fever has resulted in a “perfect” body cult

Creatine is the Queen of Gym. Now science investigates if you can also wake up your brain when you don’t sleep

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Creatine is, together with Powder proteins Already the Ashwagandha, one of the star supplements if we do physical activity Intense. It is one of the most studied supplements and evidence on improvements in physical function are clear. However, in recent years he is calling attention to areas far from the gym thanks to its potential benefits for cognitive function. And now there are those who are studying the effects of creatine in People with lack of sleep. Creatine and brain. The operation of creatine is simple. It is a compound that we produce naturally, mainly in the liver, but that we can also obtain thanks to certain meats and fish. The problem is that in vegan lifestyles or within the framework of intense training, supplementation becomes very interesting To increase those immediate reserves of energy Recently, the Texas A&M University He discovered that creatine is not only useful in the muscles, but also in the brain, with studies pointing to positive effects on the Recovery of brain injuriesin reducing the sensation of fatigue and as a neuroprotective agent by showing potential to reduce mitochondrial dysfunction, being a key factor in the neurodegenerative diseases. Neurogenesis. Creatine plays a very relevant role in the formation of New cells and brain tissuesalso in the creation of neurons in the embryonic phase. And that prominence is what encouraged research on creatine functions in the brain. As we read in BBCwithin the tests that are being done, one is that of Ali Gordjinejad, researcher at the Forschungszentrum Jolich Center in Germany. As we discussed before, they have been carried out, and they are still doing, studies that relate the role of creatine in the brain beyond that embryonic phase, and something that disrupts the usual functioning of the brain is the sleep deprivation. That is where Gordjinejad wondered if creatine can have a role in the short -term memory and brain recovery in People with sleep deprivation. This would be interesting for people who must travel at night, emergency service workers or students who hurry before exams. The analysis. To do this, his team recruited 15 people and divided them into groups. One was given a creatine supplement and another placebo. The shot was at 6:00 p.m. and, until 9:00 in the next morning, he tested the cognitive performance of those people every two and a half hours. He analyzed his reaction times or short -term memories and discovered that the processing speed was higher in the group that took creatine. Gordjinejad Consider That, in that stress situation for the body and, above all, the brain, the organ needs energy available quickly, taking it from phosphocreatine deposits that have been filled just before exercise. Would act exactly as it does when we are doing a Intense exercise To endure, for example, one more repetition. Controversial. The researcher believes that his findings show the potential of creatine to help overErebro starts its repair mechanisms. Now, although there are very forceful studies, this is somewhat less due to an important detail: the participants in the study took 10 times the recommended daily dose of creatine. Gordjinejad himself points out that it is such a high dose that it should not be taken by people with kidney problems, but even if you are perfectly healthy, that dose can cause stomach pains or problems in the following deposits. You have to continue studying. What the researcher is clear is that we must continue to investigate until finding evidence that supports his theory or, on the contrary, help to leave it aside (that is also the scientific purpose, in short). In following trials, he will try with smaller doses, and is something that will allow creatine to relate more evidently to cognitive function. Because, as we said, Its muscle benefits in exercise They are evident and well supported by science, but when we talk about the performance of this supplementation in the brain, various researchers have agreed that you have to standardize amounts of creatine in the analysis and, above all, update those studies. A clear example is that of researcher Terry McMorris, which in 2024 and after reviewing 15 studies, concluded that there is no clear evidence that supports that creatine improves cognitive function, being the main problem that many of these studies were carried out almost a century ago and in unstricted situations. In what McMorris and Gordjinejad shake hands is in the belief that it is an area in which it is worth continuing. Images | l ch In Xataka | If the question is how to increase protein intake every morning, the answer is “proffee”: throwing it into coffee

The failure of this science fiction film ended the career of a classic director and closed a study in a week

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The arrival of computer animated cinema is not only cemented in great successes such as’Toy Story‘ and The advent of Pixar. They also came into play, at the time, box office failures such as ‘Titan AE’, an ambitious animated science fiction film whose resounding failure ended the race of the great Don Bluth, closed Fox’s animation department forever and meant one of the last nails in the coffin of traditional animation. From actors to drawings. 25 years ago recent Space Opera With real actors. The script had circulated through Hollywood for years without finding financing, until Fox Animation Studios decided to turn it into an animated film in 1997. Don Bluth and Gary Goldman were responsible for the commission, after successes such as ‘In search of the enchanted valley’ or ‘Anastasia’. What was I going. The film combined quite daring concepts of science fiction, especially within the animated cinema of the time, but with a more familiar style: in the year 3028, Drej aliens destroy the earth, forcing humanity to wander through space as refugees. Cale Tucker, separated from his father during evacuation, grows aimlessly until he discovers that he carries the map to find the Titan ship, capable of leading them to a new planet. Cale starts a search pursued by the Drej. Money hole. To start, Fox gave them 55 million dollars, but 30 vanished before startingin preproduction. Fox executives did not want in any case the film to pass 80 million dollars of budget, so they had to make the rest of the film with 50 million (which finally became 60). These budgetary restrictions He prevented them from capturing his initial vision of the film and 300 people from the Fox animation department were stalls on the street. Lower the quality. These mass layoffs forced Bluth and Goldman to take part in the animation to external studies, such as Povde Group, reality studios and Blue Sky. This led to one of the big problems of the film: the own identity fdalta to which they brought the multiple hands and studies involved, the mixture of traditional animation and CGI and the tone of the film, very adult sometimes, very childish on other occasions. The promotion of the film, somewhat erratic, participated in this doubtful tone, and finished certifying the failure. Batacazo at the box office. The film raised only 36.7 million worldwide, and According to an executivelosses 100 million for Fox. The disaster was such that only ten days after the premiere, Fox Animation definitely closed its doors, and the then executive director of Fox, Bill Mechanic, left his position a few weeks later. Goodbye, Don Bluth. Undoubtedly, the great loss for the cinema was the definitive folder to Don Bluth’s career, which as Goldman has not re -directed a film. He tried in the new century, especially, by way of Crowdfundingpretending to stand a movie based on the video game ‘Dragon’s Lair’ that never sets. But above all, ‘Titan AE’ was one of the last failures that condemned the traditional animation: the successes of Pixar and DreamWorks and the progressive collection of the Disney films precipitated a change of paradigm towards the CGI. Time has turned ‘Titan AE’ into a cult film, but in its day it literally supposed the end of an era. In Xataka | The figures suggest that the domain of blockbusters in Hollywood is not over. In fact, it will go worse

The war enters the field of science fiction. Ukraine has captured Russian soldiers without humans: the robots did it

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In the last hours two unpublished facts have been known in the Ukraine War. The first of all occurred a few hours after Trump announced the Partial resumption of sending weapons to kyiv and criticize hard To Putin. Then Russia launched The biggest attack with long -range drones from the beginning of the war. The second goes directly to History booksbecause Ukraine has stopped Russian troops only through machines. Drones and robots on the front line. In an unparalleled event in modern military history, the 3rd separate assault brigade of Ukraine managed to capture Russian soldiers Without using infantry human, using exclusively aerial drones and terrestrial robotic platforms. The operation, announced on July 9 by official Ukrainian sources, represents a unprecedented milestone In the evolution of automated combat, marking the first time enemy soldiers surrender directly to unmanned systems. According to The statement of the brigade, the terrestrial drones were the immediate receptors of the surrender, an event that until now belonged to the science fiction and that has now materialized in the context of the war in Ukraine. Asymmetric technology and war. The operation took place in the Járkov region, northeast of the country, an area high intensity on the front from the beginning of the large -scale invasion by Russia. The Ukrainian unit deployed FPV drones and robotic platforms Kamikaze -type terrestrial to assault Russian fortifications that had resisted previous attacks from other units. These tools, developed as part of a national strategy to reduce human casualties and adapt to a saturated artillery and surveillance war theater, allowed Ukrainian forces to execute an offensive Without exposing directly to your soldiers. According to Brigade’s storythe drones destroyed several Russian positions, and as a terrestrial robot approached a partially damaged shelter, the Russian soldiers entrenched there chose to surrender, without there being human presence in the immediate vicinity. An automated capture. After the surrender, the prisoners were guided outside the fighting zone by The same drones Ukrainians, in a sequence more typical of fantastic literature that demonstrates not only the offensive capacity of these systems, but also their effectiveness to operate complex tasks such as custody and remote control of enemy movements rendered. Subsequently, the Russian soldiers were taken in custody by Ukrainian forces. The success of this maneuver, they tell, not only allowed capture without direct physical contact, but also facilitated the taking of the fortifications previously defended, as well as the control of a adjacent forest line of considerable tactical value. New military paradigm. No doubt, the episode not only shows the degree of sophistication achieved in Ukraine in the matter of Automated warbut also raises fundamental questions about the future of land combat. The Rendary against drones Terrestres is a radical turn in the psychological dynamics of the battlefield: the soldiers, in this case Russians, did not face visible, human enemies, but to silent machines that approached relentlessly, having destroyed all previous defenses. This type of deployment, which mixes destructive capacity with occupation and control functions, anticipates a new paradigm where direct human interaction could become exceptional even in capture operations. Russia attack in Ukraine An unprecedented offensive. But as we said, if the capture of Russian soldiers was a historical fact of modern wars, Russia’s attack It is not precedents From the beginning of the invasion. On one night that could redefine the limits of the unmanned air war, Russia unleashed the greatest drone attack, launching 728 Shahed drones (including lures) and 13 missiles, including feared Kinzhalagainst 741 objectives throughout the country. The epicenter of the attack was the city of Lutsk, in the Ukrainian northwest, a few kilometers From the border with Polandwhich caused the Polish and NATO Air Forces to be deployed in maximum alert. According to kyivmost of the projectiles were intercepted, especially thanks to electronic warfare systems, although hypersonic missiles managed to cause unspecified damage. War in the front and in court. While the sky becomes a network of autonomous swarms, the situation on land remains marked by intense fighting No significant advances. Russian troops They continue to press In Sumy, Járkov, Luhansk and Donetsk, although reports indicate that Ukraine has contained attacks on most of those fronts. In parallel, a Russian soldier belonging to a criminal battalion He denounced publicly Inhuman conditions and the lack of gunner support, describing suicidal assaults in improvised vehicles and without air backup. On the legal level, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Russia has systematically violated human rights Since 2014including extrajudicial executions, torture, forced deportation of children and forced labor. The Kremlin, on the other hand, dismissed the ruling as “null and without effect.” Plans. They counted the Twz analysts that kyiv, anticipating a large -scale response, would be preparing a thousand drones long range against Russian objectives, including areas near Moscow. In addition, the Ukrainian Secret Service arrested Two Chinese citizens accused of trying to spy technologies of the Neptune missileused in the Moskva’s sinking and now adapted for long -range terrestrial attacks. On land, the proliferation of unmanned land vehicles, such as New UGV “Snail” Or improvised models with wheels made of mines, shows that automation not only dominates the heavens, but also advances on the mud and steel of the front. The war in Ukraine, ultimately, thus enters a phase every time More hybrid and technological of the traditional forms of combat. The contest, that already It had been a pioneer In use massive drones Of recognition and attack, another threshold has crossed, this time historical and unimaginable does not so much: the surrender of soldiers against machines. Image | Arx Robotics, Ukraine’s 3rd Separate Assault Brigade, Emergency Service of Ukraine In Xataka | The production of Russian drones was so huge that Ukraine has opened them looking for clues. The surprise is China In Xataka | We were accustomed to seeing strange things in Ukraine, but this is different: ships and bombers with no one behind the wheel

The wine will not relieve your sorrows. Science believes that vinegar does

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Depression is a problem that affects millions of people around the world and treating it is not easy. Often specialists must resort to pharmacological treatments with severe adverse side effects. On the other hand we also know that habits such as exercise or contact with nature can serve to appease some of their symptoms. Vinegar and depression. A new study has observed antidepressant qualities A season of the most everyday, vinegar. The team responsible for the work has not only found in this usual ingredient in salads some capacity to relieve depressive symptoms, has also investigated the possible mechanism behind this relationship. B3. This mechanism would be nothing other than nicotinamideone of the ways in which we find vitamin B3. The experiment carried out by this team found an increase in the levels of this compound by 86% after four weeks with a high consumption of this acid seasoning. We know that nicotinamide is a Composed by our body in tasks such as the development, survival and operation of the neurons of the central nervous system. As we found out, this vitamin fulfills a neuroprotective function, avoiding injuries in these cells in cases such as traumatic lesions and infarcts. We also know that it is linked to some neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson. Before putting our taste papillae with the dressing of our next salad, it is convenient to know that nicotilamide is present in various foods such as meats, milk, eggs, vegetables and cereals. Two tablespoons. In the study 45 people participated (Although only 28 completed the experiment), overweight healthy adults. The participants were randomly divided into two groups, experimental and control. Those assigned to the first group took two tablespoons of diluted vinegar twice a day for two weeks; Those assigned to the second took a pill with a low dose of vinegar, once a day during the same period. The dose of acetic acid in the groups was 2.95 and 0.025 grams respectively. The team collected blood samples before and after the experiment. He also compiled information on the diet of the participants, weight, height and other variables. Participants filled questionnaires about their state of health and evaluations about their depressive symptoms. They also declared their daily vinegar consumption for more detail. 42%. The control and experimental groups showed no significant differences at the beginning of the experiment but after four weeks. Specifically, participants in the experimental group saw a 42% reduction in the scores of their tests evaluating depressive symptoms. There was also an improvement in mood. The blood tests showed an increase in nicotinamide in the experimental group, but also a reduction in isoleucine levels, an essential amino acid whose presence in the body has also been linked to certain health problems. The details of the study were published In an article In the magazine Nutrients. A limited sample. The study offers an interesting vision of the impact that certain foods and nutrients can have on our psychological well -being and mental health, but It also presents important limitations that must be mentioned. The first is the sample of only 28 participants, a scarce number to give statistical validity to the results. Another important detail is the duration of the study. Although the team observed differences at four weeks, a longer study would be needed to know if the effects are sustained over time and if there are additional impacts. Finally, the study was conducted with healthy and overweight people. This is not necessarily extrapolable to the general population and, above all, it does not have to be extrapolated to people with severe symptoms or with clinical depression. More studies will be needed to know the possible effects in these populations. In Xataka | There are people eating carrots like rabbits because they think that they will get morenos. There is only a small problem Image | Artheos

Japan believes that samurai crabs keep the souls of the fallen warriors. Science has another opinion

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See faces on a wall Or in any daily object it is not a symptom of madness. This phenomenon has a name: Pareidoliaand that is what makes us perceive as something recognizable a way that initially has no pattern. If we put effort, we can See recognizable ways In almost anything, even in the shell of a crab. And, if not, they tell the Japanese and their samurai crabs that keep the spirit of the fallen warriors in a battle. Or so the legend says. Heikegani. The Japanese heikesis They are a family of crabs that inhabit, mainly, in Japan. They have been found in some other western Pacific areas, but where they are more numerous in the Japanese country and, specifically, in the inner sea. They live in shallow waters in which they camouflage and find food, and could be normal crabs if not for their shell. Because, if in the photos that accompany this article you see a Miegu mask traditionally used by Samurais of feudal Japan At the top of the crab, you should know that you are not the only one. And, how could it be otherwise, the Japanese folklore It has an explanation for this phenomenon. The legend. At the end of the 12th century, the Genji clan and the Heike clan fought in a bloody Battle in the bay dan-no -urain the inner sea of ​​Japan. The Heike had ruled for decades, but the Genji wanted power and were more numerous. They won the battle and established a warrior government in Japan, a Shogunate which lasted for seven centuries while their enemies fell into the bay Under steel Or, directly, drowned. It is said that the spirits of those heike warriors who drowning were reincarnated in living beings who caught more by hand, crabs, and Thus they were born These Heikegani. Samurai crabs changed their shells, adopting the patterns of the faces and masks of the fallen warriors, and culturally they are a symbol of resistance and loyalty. Antinatural selection. It is a beautiful story, but unfortunately it is nothing more than something belonging to the rich Japanese folklore. Now, it is evident that these ‘samurai crabs’ have something special and, certainly, their shell is very similar to the masks. The explanation? Well, according to Carl Sagan -Yes, the famous astronomer– The Heikegani were created from the Artificial selection. They are edible and fish by the premises, but in the process of selecting individuals, the fishermen kept the “normal” crabs and returned to the water those who showed that pattern in the shell. It was a sign of respect for the heike warriors, and Sagan popularized the idea that these selected crabs were reproduced, perpetuating that curious design. Simple coincidence? However, there are those who doubt this story and offers an alternative vision. Joel Martin It is a biologist associated with the Department of invertebrate Zoology in the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles and has dedicated its career to investigate the evolution of crustaceans and other invertebrates. One of his most famous works is the job On the samurai crab published in 1993- in it, it states that humans practically did not consume Heikegani, so the selective pressure would be minimal or non-existent. Functionality. Your explanation? That these facial patterns similar to masks are due to own functional anatomy of the crabsince they represent the muscle insertion points Very similar to crabs that we see in other parts of the world. If we see the crab backwards (they are more ugly than a refrigerator from behind), it has all the meaning and the researcher points out that this interpretation we make of their faces is simply one more example of pareidolia. Martin may be right, but I definitely stay with the version that Samurai crabs are there watching the battle spirits in the bay in which Japan changed forever. Image | Muséum National d’Histire Naturelle In Xataka | Japan is living something unpublished in its most emblematic neighborhoods: the “chinification” of anime and video games

The heat arrives and you want to drink cold water. Science has a much more effective idea: drink hot water

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Summer arrives and with it staying well hydrated becomes an imperative. The heat will surely make a glass of cold water even more appealing, but it is likely that we have ever heard that the water, better hot. Is it a myth or is there a reason behind? Drink water. Drinking water is the important, hot or cold, keeping our body hydrated is the main objective. Despite this, drinking hot water or cold water is not exactly the same: our body can react differently Before the stimulus. This is what science tells us about it. Better digestion. Hot infusions are a desktop classic. Coffee, tea or chamomile are usual choices to close the food, especially if it has been copious. When consuming these drinks we are, indeed, Drinking hot water. In doing so we are moisturizing our body and allowing water to help the flow of food in our digestive system. Part of the effect we owe it to the mere fact of being drinking water, but there are some studies that suggest that the temperature could play an important role in the digestive effect of this desktop habit. A Study published in 2016 Focused on newly operated patients, he observed that the consumption of hot water in recently operated in the colon had a “positive impact” on subsequent intestinal movements. Do you lose weight drinking water? In 2023, a group of researchers conducted An experiment in which a group of participants had to consume a certain amount of warm or hot water after meals, while the rest had to consume the same amount of water at a temperature without specifying the temperature. As reported by the team, the group that consumed hot water lost body mass more speed than the control group. This could explain why we associate drinks such as tea are associated with weight loss. The diuretic potential of some infusions and the benefits that others have on intestinal transit could be related to the mere act of drinking hot water, but the truth is that the tests we have are very limited, so we still cannot add the hot water to the eternal list of candidates for “miracle diet”. Cool ourselves with hot water. It may seem Little appealingbut hot infusions are a classic in some of the most scorching environments in the world. Our body is about 37º Celsius: if we consume something at a higher temperature, our body will absorb that heat. It doesn’t seem like a good plan. And yet it works (although not always). The key, The experts point outis how our body dissipates heat through sweat. A hot drink can activate nervous receptors by sending the signal that the temperature is greater than what is actually, which in turn does that our body begins to sweat and thus begin to dissipate heat through the water we expel by the skin. To sweat, of course, it should also be hydrated. When may not work? Drinking hot water to reduce our body heat can be a bad idea in some contexts, mainly When moisture is high. Moisture makes sweat dissipated, with it, avoiding it heat. Temperature and hydration. Hot or cold, we began by saying that the most important property of water is that it hydrates: our body needs this liquid to stay alive and drinks are the main source to obtain it. Now, we know that Not all drinks hydrate the sameDoes the water do it indistinctly of its temperature? Maybe not. A Study published in 2013 He calculated how the water temperature affected the rehydration process. A too hot water could induce sweat, causing us to lose some water at the same time we rehydrate. By contrast, water too cold or too hot can also make us drink less. The team observed that a better rehydration was achieved when consuming fresh water, about 16º, a temperature similar to that offered by tap water. In Xataka | It’s time to banish the myth of drinking “eight water vessels per day”, but we have a problem to do it Image | Pixabay

Drinking a glass of water before eating is one of the most common “tricks” to lose weight. Science has something to say

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With the summer just around the corner, many people seek to lose weight quickly. We have seen it with challenges like Skinnytok, Shots of vinegar either Liquefied Céspes. In the midst of so many “miraculous solutions”, there is a advice that stands out for its simplicity: drinking a glass of water before each meal. It sounds very easy, but is it another myth détox or is there something true? A glass of water. At first glance, it looks like a quite simple premise. Drinking water before eating can “favor satiety” and help eat more conscious way, as the media have explained as Telva either Vogue. In theory, when occupying space in the stomach, water would reduce the feeling of hunger. But like He has warned Dr. Robert H. Shmerling, of Harvard’s Faculty of Medicine, in an article for Harvard Health Publishing, “human physiology rarely follows such simple rules.” Science behind. Dr. Shmerling He has evidenced That it was a premise “too pretty to be true.” In his article he has detailed that although drinking water before meals can generate a mild fullness of fullness – to activate the stomach mechanoreceptors – the effect is limited and passenger. In fact, as you have continued arguing, some studies support the idea in older peoplethere is even evidence that suggests that, within a hypocaloric diet, who drink water before meals can lose more weight in 12 weeks than those who do not. However, there is a nuance to take into account and that is that There is no robust evidence of long -term effects or in large populations. And other associated theories –Like cold water burns calories by thermogenesis– They have been denied in recent studies. Where there is consensus. The point is not in so much to drink extra water, but in what is stopped. Changing soft drinks, energy drinks or alcohol for water can have a real effect on weight loss. According to May Clinicthat simple gesture reduces the total consumption of calories without conscious effort. In addition, staying well hydrated improves physical performance, exercise resistance and recovery. Not because water “weights”, but because it helps sustain a more active and healthy lifestyle. The shortcut culture. The popularity of tricks like this also responds to a social need: to find fast, simple and effortless solutions to a complex problem such as weight control. In a society obsessed with thinness – especially among young women – they proliferate The calls Life Hacks that promise immediate results. As He already explained for Xataka The psychologist specialized in TCA, Sara Bolo, the worrying thing is that many of these tips end in apparently “healthy” behaviors, but hide eating disorders. It is simply water. In a context where “fast tricks” abound, it is advisable to remember that, as Dr. Shmerling has summarized: “If you think it works for you, there is no damage. Remember that no glass of water replaces a balanced diet.” Image | Unspash Xataka | Nostalgia for the 2000s has brought something else: the obsession with flat belly and radical thinness

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