Seal

the towns with the Starlight seal that are preparing for the total eclipse on August 12

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When watching a solar eclipse we can make many different decisions. It is possible to see it within the range of totality or to “conform” with partiality. We have the option of looking only at the Sun or delighting in the changes happening around us. We can even see it directly, with approved glassesor indirectly, with a pinhole camera. But if there is something that makes a lot of difference when it comes to seeing one of these spectacles that astronomy gives us, it is a sky free of light pollution. At least, as free as possible. Therefore, the Starlight reservations and destinations They are ideal places for those who want to see the solar eclipse on August 12, 2026. What are Starlight certifications? The Starlight Seal is delivered to spaces in which a commitment has been established to defend the quality of the night sky and access to starlight. The decision to deliver these certifications was made at the 2009 meeting of the Starlight Initiative of the ‘Working Group on Reserves and World Heritage’ organized by UNESCO, with the support of the International Union of Astronomy and the World Tourism Organization. There are different types of Starlight certifications, although the two most common are Starlight reserves and Starlight tourist destinations. Normally, the first is delivered to natural spaces and consists, in turn, of three defined zones: Core zone: Where the natural lighting conditions and sharpness of the night sky are kept intact. Buffer zone: It surrounds the core zone and cushions possible adverse effects that may deteriorate the quality of your night sky. These zones may include small human settlements and activity areas. General area area: It consists of the general use area in which population settlements are located that can influence the evolution of the quality of the night sky of the entire reserve. With respect to Starlight tourist destinations, they are visitable places that have very good qualities for contemplating the starry skies and that, being protected from light pollution, become ideal places to carry out astrotourism activities. Beyond these two types, even towns and cities, parks, landscapes, trails, campsites and hotels and rural houses can also receive the Starlight seal independently. What are the Starlight destinations and reservations in Spain? Starligh certification is not at all easy to obtain. The requirements are very strict, so there are few natural sites and destinations that have it around the world. In the case of Spain, we have more than 70 destinations and more than 20 Starlight reservations. The largest reserve in the world is Sierra Morenain Andalusia, with more than 400,000 hectares distributed among 57 municipalities and six natural parks. But Sierra Morena is not in the zone of totality of the solar eclipse. We will be able to enjoy its skies during partiality. It is also a good plan for people from the south who do not want to travel too far. However, it is worth knowing the places with said certification that are within the totality range. What are the Starlight destinations to see the solar eclipse? Within the solar eclipse totality band there are 31 Starlight destinations. The greatest concentration of these destinations is in the autonomous communities of Galicia, Navarra and Aragón, although there are also other points scattered throughout the rest of the autonomous communities that make up said strip. Some of the Starlight destinations contain activities of interest for the eclipse, such as the ringing of bells that will ring in the Navarrese town of Lerín or the activities for the whole family at the observatory Borobia, in Soria. In addition, it should be noted that the Allande area, in Asturias, is the Starlight destination where the totality will last the longest, with 1 minute and 48 seconds. If you have questions about the place where you are going to see the solar eclipse and want to know if it has the Starlight destination seal, You can see it on our interactive map. Above all, remember not only to look for Starlight destinations, but also observation points clear of mountains, buildings or trees in the west, since that is where the Sun will be seen at the time the eclipse will take place. Image | Magnificent In Xataka | The trio of eclipses that await Spain on the horizon: an unprecedented and historic chain between 2026 and 2028

In 1971, an aquarium in the United States took in an orphaned seal. Five years later he started doing something: speaking in English

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When you go to an aquarium you expect to find ponds full of picturesque fish, seahorses, jellyfish, dolphins, sharks… Maybe, with luck and depending on where the enclosure is and how big it is, the occasional penguin. Those who went in the 80s to the New England Aquarium from Boston, in the United States, are looking for something different: a English speaking seal. And not. There are no quotes or italics here. Hoover (that was the name of the pinniped) spoke with all the law and in a way so clear that still fascinates today to the experts. Yes indeed, his voice It was not the most harmonious in the world. A talking seal? Exact. Seal and chatterbox are not two words that usually go together. But that is precisely why Hoover aroused so much interest in his day. And that is why even today, 41 years after his death, continues starring reports. Before getting into the subject, it is worth introducing the protagonist. Hoover was a male harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) that a fisherman rescued as a hatchling in the waters of Cumberland County, Maine, and spent most of its life at the New England Aquarium. His story would not be of much interest if it were not for the fact that around 1976, when he was around five years old, the animal began to do something unusual: speak broken English. How is that possible? To understand this, you have to take another leap back in time and go back to May 1971, when George Swallow, a Maine fisherman, did something unconventional: he brought home a baby seal. In theory it was not a whim or an eccentric raving. The poor animal had lost its mother, so Swallow decided to welcome her: He hand-fed her, played with her and (in short) took care of her as if she were a dog. He even gave him a name: Hoover. The problem is that as the seal grew it needed more and more fish, which made it unfeasible for it to continue with the Swallow family. His destination was the New England Aquarium, where he arrived when he was three months old. What did that seal say? Hoover’s life was relatively normal until the mid-1970s. When he was around five years old, the aquarium keepers realized something: the seal was making sounds similar to human speech. “The vocalizations were common especially during the mating season and often seemed intended for females, suggesting that they could have acted as ‘mating songs’, similar to those produced by male harbor seals,” a group of psycholinguists and behavioral biology experts recalled in 2023. a paper published in Current Biology. That observation is interesting. The aquarium staff did not teach Hoover to speak. They also didn’t train her to imitate sounds. It is assumed that what the animal learned about human vocalization was assimilated when it was a baby and lived with the Swallows. Some versions They claim that when the family gave her to the aquarium they had already heard her ‘talk’, but experts usually place her first ‘words’ at the age of five, when she reached sexual maturity. And what exactly did it say? That’s the most surprising thing. As remember From the aquarium itself, Hoover was able to pronounce words like “hello”, “let’s go” or “hey”, all in English. The Guenther Speech Neuroscience Lab even notes that he uttered entire phrases that he probably heard at the Swallow home, such as “Hoover get over here! Come on, come on“. As if that were not surprising, there is one more fact: they say he spoke with a Maine accent. The best thing is that you don’t have to imagine it. Although they are not particularly sharp, we preserve some recordings with Hoover’s chatter. Was he really talking? Often the best way to hear something is to (simply) want to hear it. This has led us, for example, to identify words like “mom” in dog growls either cat meows. In the case of Hoover, Diandra Duengen and the rest of the researchers who sign the article of Current Biology They believe that we are facing something different. It’s not that the seal made a confused sound reminiscent of expressions like “Hello there”, “hurry”, “hey, hey” either “come over here”. No. Everything indicates that it is a deliberate imitation. “Human perception is so fine-tuned to finding speech patterns that some animals can trick our brains into making us hear speech sounds where no such similarity exists,” they explain. “In Hoover’s case there is strong evidence of speech imitation. Spectrograms of his sounds show that his vocalizations were, in fact, very ‘human’, containing the typical formant modulations we use to produce vowels and consonants.” Was it expressed then? No. And yes. Duengen and his companions remember that there is analysis to suggest that Hoover produced sounds similar to English vowels, making it a fascinating case of “learning human speech vocal production in a mammal.” They also believe that the seal could have used this ability as “mating songs”, something that other male seals do. What we cannot say is that Hoover ‘understood’ what he was saying, something that is not necessary for speech imitation in any case. “Comprehension or intention of meaning is not relevant to the learning of vocal production. Neither Hoover nor most other animals that exhibit this learning seem to ‘understand’ spoken language or the meaning of words. However, vocal imitation is impressive in itself and represents a fundamental component of speech,” they point out the experts. That Hoover did not begin to produce sounds until his sexual maturity, even when it came to words that he theoretically learned when he was a child, is also not exceptional. Something similar happens with some birds with the same capacity. Is it just a curiosity? No. In his day Hoover appeared on ‘Good Morning America’ and monopolized reports in Reader’s Digest either The New Yorkeramong many other media. Beyond the picturesque nature of his case, … Read more

In two days, on Netflix, the first stop-motion film made in Mexico arrives with the seal of Guillermo del Toro

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There are projects that are literally made with a lifetime’s savings. ‘I’m Frankeldathe first stop motion animated feature film produced entirely in Mexico and which comes with the seal of Guillermo del Toro’s production, comes to Netflix this June 12 with more than one hundred hand-built puppets, four years of craftsmanship. The beginning of its story dates back to 2021 and a semi-unknown anthology miniseries. It was in that year when the Mexican studio Cinema Fantasma, founded by brothers Arturo and Roy Ambriz, premiered on HBO Max (not available in Spain) ‘The Hidden Scares of Frankelda’, a stop motion anthology miniseries starring a ghost writer who tells horror stories to children. The success of the series led to the jump to feature length, initially as a 30-minute special, which grew to become a two-hour film. The Ambriz brothers ended up financing the production with their own savings. We will meet Francisca Imelda in 19th century Mexico, a writer of horror stories whose texts are ignored and dismissed by those around her. Forced into silence, she adopts the pseudonym Frankelda and continues writing until a tormented, supernatural-looking prince, Herneval, guides her on a journey into her own subconscious. Turned into a ghost, she discovers that The monsters he invented have come to life and threaten the balance between fiction and reality.. Just like explained Roy Ambriz: “When Mary Shelley published her books, she had to do so under the name of her husband, Percy Shelley. So we asked ourselves: how many Mary Shelleys would there have been in Mexico?” After seeing a provisional montage, Del Toro congratulated the creators and sponsored the project. The director was already in contact with the brothers since 2015 and the short film ‘Revoltoso’, which he produced. In ‘Soy Frankelda’ he served as creative advisor. It is a role in which the director fits perfectly, since he not only won the Oscar with his own version of ‘Pinocchio’ for Netflix, but he has supported the art of stop motion in very diverse ways, such as with the creation, together with the platform and the Parisian animation school Gobelins, of a stop-motion studio-laboratory. In Xataka | Today on Netflix, 6 seasons of a brutal and fast-paced action series with an impeccable score

a superb 250 meter tower with the seal of Córdoba

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Skyscrapers are not built just to house offices or apartments. They are above all a declaration of intentions: a city that raises a tower is announcing to the world that it exists, that it grows, that it competes. Morocco knows this and has just presented inaugurated in Rabat the Mohammed VI Tower, the tallest skyscraper in the country and the third on the entire African continent (the throne goes to the Iconic Tower of the new capital of Egypt). The impressive tower stands out both at the mouth of the Bouregreg River and on the skyline of traditional and historic Rabat. Its futuristic design is signed by the Moroccan architect Hakim Benjelloun and the Rafael de La Hoz studio, one of the Spanish studios with the longest international track record in high-rise architecture and whose curriculum includes being one of the precursors of the modernization of Spanish architecture and such iconic projects such as the corporate headquarters of Endesa, Repsol or Telefónica. The skyscraper. According to the statement From the office of Rafael de La-Hoz, the Mohammed VI Tower rises 55 floors on a four-level podium on the banks of the Bouregreg, in a total constructed area of ​​102,800 square meters. His style is “afrofuturist”, in the words of the Cordoban architect himself. The interior design of the building is carried out by the Belgian interior design firm Flamant. There it will house a luxury Waldorf Astoria hotel, offices, high-end apartments, a panoramic observation platform of Rabat and Salé, shops and restaurants. To go up to all these premises there are a total of 36 elevators distributed between the tower (21) and the podium (15). Why is it important. As explained Rafael de la Hoz in a talk he gave about the project at the Cervantes Institute in Rabat in 2019, his style can be understood as the metaphor of a shared movement among African societies to appear on the map of contemporaneity. Be on the map. And boy is it: the silhouette of the Tower is visible from more than 50 kilometers away, redefining the urban landscape of Rabat and Salé. The Mohammed VI Tower wants to be an anchor of metropolitan identity, establishing itself as a new architectural icon that reinforces the international projection of Morocco, within a strategy that combines tradition and modernity under the umbrella of sustainability. Context. The inauguration of the Mohammed VI Tower represents another step in Morocco’s strategy to position itself as a growing country open to innovation, with the development of the Bouregreg valley as one of its most ambitious initiatives. In recent years the area has undergone a major facelift with the construction of a marina, a residential area, a theater and the Rabat-Salé metropolitan tram. In fact, it is integrated into the plan of “Rabat City of Lights, Moroccan capital of Culture“, a roadmap that combines the rehabilitation of historical heritage with the creation of new contemporary spaces and the promotion of cultural activities with a clear objective: to convert the Moroccan capital into a cultural pole that combines tradition and modernity under sustainable criteria. In detail. According to EFEthe building has 60-meter anti-seismic and anti-flood foundations, a harmonic shock absorber that is wind and vibration proof, its facades have dynamic lighting and photovoltaic panels and it has energy and rainwater recovery systems. Of the Sickle counted that the tower has “a surface area of ​​4,700 m2 of solar panels that represents a revolution in the concept of high-rise buildings”, in addition to international sustainability and environmental efficiency certifications such as the American one LEED Gold wave HQE French. Yes, but. UNESCO showed his rejection to the project as it is located in the estuary of the Bouregreg River, where there had never been buildings of more than three heights and it is not a small thing: in a city like Rabat, which was declared UNESCO World Heritage In 2012, precisely because of the visual integrity of its historic landscape, a 250-meter tower in the middle of the estuary irreversibly alters the landscape. Furthermore, and although it is evident that the tower is a notable technical achievement and a construction that puts Rabat and Morocco on the architectural map, the concentration of premium uses in a single complex can trigger gentrification processes around the Buregreg, displacing activities and those who already lived there. It is the least visible face of the so-called “Bilbao effect“, widely analyzed in the academic literature on urban regeneration. In Xataka | Spain has been dreaming of a megatunnel with Morocco for decades. To no one’s surprise, he will not be there for the 2030 World Cup In Xataka | Satellite images leave no room for doubt: it has rained so much that Morocco has not looked so green for a decade Cover | De La Hoz Architects

The EU and India finally seal their great trade agreement. Trump has accelerated what had been stuck for two decades

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The European Union is beginning to make moves on a board that no longer looks like it did a few years ago. With Donald Trump straining international trade and European dependence on external partners increasingly at the center of the debate, Brussels seeks to gain room for maneuver. This idea of ​​strategic autonomy, repeated for years in speeches and documents, is beginning to be translated into concrete decisions. Some point to digital, others to securityand others to commerce. In this context, the announcement of a great agreement with India after almost two decades of negotiation is understood. The advertisement. The news comes from New Delhi, after a summit in which Narendra Modi and two of the main European figures, António Costa and Ursula von der Leyen, participated. The agreement, negotiated for almost twenty yearsseeks to open a new commercial stage between the European Union and India, with a scope that Brussels has wanted to highlight from the first minute. Von der Leyen lor defined on social networks as “the mother of all trade agreements.” Click to see the original publication in X What goes in and what stays out. The announcement speaks of a broad agreement, but its perimeter is defined quite carefully. According to Reutersthe pact focuses on trade in goods and services and standards, while especially sensitive issues, such as investment protection, are negotiated separately. In addition, there are explicit exclusions: agriculture and dairy are not part of the package, a decision that seeks to avoid resistance from some sectors. The key is in the cars. The EU statement itself recalls that tariffs on cars imported into India can reach 110%, a barrier that in practice blocks the entry of a good part of European models. For this reason, the pact includes cuts that could place these tariffs at a minimum of 10%. These discounts would apply to a volume of up to 250,000 cars coming from the European Union. For European manufacturers, the attraction is obvious: access to a huge market that until now has been almost closed. The exchange of concessions. The potential benefits are distributed, although not symmetrically. India would gain competitiveness in labor-intensive industries, such as textiles and garments, which in Europe still face tariffs close to 10%. It also seeks to improve the access of its professionals and technological services to the European market. The EU, on the other hand, aims at a different objective: to better enter an expanding market, where its exports face a weighted average tariff of 9.3% and especially high charges on cars, chemicals and plastics. A geopolitical acceleration. The timing of the announcement is not coincidental. In recent months, both India and the European Union have felt more closely the protectionist turn that accompanies the new era of Donald Trump. Reuters recalls that India has not managed to close an agreement with the Trump Administration since the White House announced in April the so-called “reciprocal tariffs“, and that in August imposed an additional punitive tariff of 25% for the purchase of Russian oil, raising the total tax on Indian goods to 50%. For Europe, the message has been similar: tariffs have once again been an instrument of political pressure. Nothing is in effect yet. The announcement is important, but the institutional path is just beginning. The final text must still pass legal scrutiny in Brussels and New Delhi. Then comes the most delicate stage: ratification. Reuters notes that the pact will have to be approved by the European Parliament, a process that could take at least a year. For example, the EU-Mercosur pact: it was signed on January 17, 2026 in Asunción, but days later the European Parliament decided to refer it to the Court of Justice of the EU for review, something that could delay its application for up to two years. The movement with India does not have to follow that path, but it invites us to be cautious. Images | Olga Nayda | Mitul Gajera | frank mckenna In Xataka | Something has broken between Europe and the US: France leaving Zoom behind and Teams in its administration points to something bigger

Byd Seal 6 DM-I: Characteristics and Technical Card

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Byd presents In Europe, its new commitment to the segment of plug-in hybrids with the Seal 6 DM-I, a model that arrives in two bodies: sedan and the unprecedented touring version, becoming the first relative of the Chinese brand in the European market. Its main trick is a total autonomy that, according to the manufacturer, can exceed 1,500 kilometers. Under these lines we tell you all the details. Byd Seal 6 DM-I, Technical File Byd Seal 6 DM-I (Sedan) Byd Seal 6 DM-I (Touring) Body type Five -door Familiar Measures and weight 4,840 meters long, 1,875 wide and 1,495 meters high. Wheelbase of 2,790 meters. From 1,665 kg of weight. 4,840 meters long, 1,875 wide and 1,505 meters high. Wheelbase of 2,790 meters. From 1,710 kg of weight. Trunk 491 liters. 1,370 liters with the seats dejected 500 liters. 1,535 liters with the seats dejected Maximum power Boost version: 135 kW (72 kW Combustion engine and 145 kW electric motor) and 300 nm. Comfort Lite and Comfort versions: 156 kW of total system power Boost version: 135 kW (72 kW Combustion engine and 145 kW electric motor) and 300 nm. Comfort Lite and Comfort versions: 156 kW of total system power Maximum speed and acceleration Maximum speed: 180 km/h Boost version: 0-100 km/h in 8.9 seconds Comfort Lite and Comfort versions: 0-100 km/h in 8.5 seconds Maximum speed: 180 km/h Boost version: 0-100 km/h in 8.9 seconds Comfort Lite and Comfort versions: 0-100 km/h in 8.5 seconds Battery Boost version: 10.08 kWh capacity Comfort Lite and Comfort version: 19 kWh capacity Boost version: 10.08 kWh capacity Comfort Lite and Comfort version: 19 kWh capacity Autonomy (only electric motor) Boost version: 55 km (combined WLTP) Comfort Lite and Comfort version: 105 km (combined WLTP) Boost version: 50 km (combined WLTP) Comfort Lite and Comfort version: 100 km (combined WLTP) Total autonomy (electric and combustion) Boost version: 1,505 km (combined WLTP) Comfort Lite and Comfort version: 1,455 km (combined WLTP) Up to 1,350 km (combined WLTP) Fuel consumption Boost version: 4.4 l/100 km (combined WLTP) Comfort Lite and Comfort version: 4.8 l/100 km (combined WLTP) Boost version: 4.8 l/100 km (combined WLTP) Comfort Lite and Comfort version: 5.0 l/100 km (combined WLTP) DGT environmental badge ECHO ECHO Others V2L Function (Vehicle To Load) 3.3 KW to feed external devices Practable panoramic solar roof (Comfort Lite and Comfort versions) Info -retention system with a 12.8 “or 15,6” touch screen Front seats with electrical adjustment, memory, heating and ventilation Wireless load for 50W smartphone V2L Function (Vehicle To Load) 3.3 KW to feed external devices Practable panoramic solar roof (Comfort Lite and Comfort versions) Info -retention system with a 12.8 “or 15,6” touch screen Front seats with electrical adjustment, memory, heating and ventilation Serial electric back gate Wireless load for 50W smartphone Dual Mode with record autonomy The heart of the Seal 6 DM-I resides in its Dual Mode propulsion system, allowing the vehicle work in two different ways. On the one hand, in EV mode, the wheels are driven only through the electric motor, while in HEV mode the combustion engine acts mainly as a generator, maintaining the sensation of electrical conduction. According to the brand, this system combines a 1.5 -liter gasoline engine with a thermal efficiency of 43% and an electric motor that develops 300 nm torque. The Blade Battery battery, available in two capabilities (10.08 kWh and 19 kWh), allows 100% electric mode of electric mode up to 105 kilometers in the sedanaccording to the combined WLTP cycle. The autonomy figures are the great claim of Seal 6 DM-I. In its Boost configuration, the sedan promises a total autonomy of 1,505 kilometers according to WLTP approval, combining the 55 kilometers in electric mode with the scope of the 65 -liter gas tank. Comfort versions, with greater battery, offer up to 105 electrical kilometers but slightly reduce total autonomy to 1,455 kilometers. The combined consumption is located at just 1.5 l/100 km in the most efficient versions, with CO2 emissions from 34 g/km. Touring: practicality and sports seal The family version maintains the same main dimensions as the sedan (4.84 meters in length and 2.79 meters of wheelbase) but increases five centimeters in height. Your trunk offers 500 liters of basic capacityexpandable up to 1,535 liters with the rear seats dejected in configuration 40:60. Despite its greatest practicality, the Touring retains an aerodynamic coefficient of only 0.28, which contributes to maintaining its efficiency. Autonomies are reduced slightly with respect to the sedan: 1,350 kilometers in total for both battery configurations. Ocean design focused on inner minimalism The Ocean design language is reflected in a fluid aesthetic inspired by the sea. The minimalist front grill incorporates an active air input system, while the LED headlights continue the design trend marked to date. Along with this, the “Flying Ax” tires of up to 18 inches reinforce the sports aesthetics of the sedan. Inside, it stands out A 12.8 or 15.6 -inch infotainment screen Depending on the version, complete connectivity with four USB Type C ports and 50W wireless load. The front seats incorporate electrical adjustment, position memory, heating and ventilation. A remarkable feature is the V2L (Vehicle To Load) function, which allows feed external devices with up to 3.3 kW of powerfrom portable appliances to work tools. The range starts with the Boost finish, which already includes LED headlights, alloy wheels, digital instrumentation and multimedia system. COMFORT versions total premium equipment such as panoramic solar roof, eight -speakers sound system and environmental lighting. Price and availability Seal 6 DM-I is positioned as the second plug-in hybrid of Byd in Europe after the successful Seal U DM-Iof which According to the firm More than one million units have been sold globally. “The possibility of driving through the city or performing daily displacements such as an electric vehicle and, at the same time, having the ability to travel more than 1,500 km with a complete load and the tank full of fuel, is a … Read more

This is how AI has impacted in the medical sector, analysis of the BYD Seal U DM-I and much more in 1×18 crossover

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We have a new episode of Crossover, 1×18and this time he presents it alone Jaume Lahoz, who has no problem in taking the reins alone. In fact you will see as not only presents, but also has its own section. The central theme of this episode is an interview with a Top guest: Esther Gómez, known in networks such as @mienfermerafavorita. This disseminator and university professor tells us about present and future of AI applied to health. That gives us the opportunity to talk about some promising advances in this area, as is the case of Alphafold or Immunoscore. But we also chatthe long and laid about ethics, privacy and the role of health professionals in the digital age. But we are not there, and in this episode of Crossover we also commented the most prominent technological news of recent days and we have a section specially dedicated to gamers: What are the candidates for Goty in 2025? There is a lot and good (and very good) to what to get hooked. The last section makes Jaume even more protagonist than ever: he presents an analysis of his experience with one of the most popular SUVs of the moment, The Byd Seal U DM-I that too We were able to analyze in Xataka. We hope you enjoy the episode! On YouTube | Crossover

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