species

a 100 square meter spider web where two enemy species live in peace

by

He fear of spiders is one of the most common phobias. So much so that there are video games that allow you to change the design of spiders for that of other animals and there is even research into how. recreate them in less scary ways. With this I want to tell you that, if they give you the creepswhat they have discovered in a cave between Albania and Greece will be the new scene of your nightmares: the biggest spider web in the world, a megacity that has more than 111,000 spiders. And the most curious thing has nothing to do with the size of the structure. In short. A few days ago, in the magazine Subterranean Biologya team of researchers described their great discovery: in the Sulfur Cave between Albania and Greece, they had found a mega city of spiders. Actually, the initial discovery was made by speleologists from the Czech Speleological Society in 2022, but scientists from Transylvania University were the ones who visited and documented the cave in recent years. What draws the most attention is a nightmare scenario: a ‘silk’ structure that covers about 106 square meters and in which a whopping 111,000 spiders live. It is located about 50 meters from the cave entrance, in a very narrow, permanently dark area, and researchers believe there are thousands of individual funnel-shaped spider webs that have come together to create the structure. The colony. For that reason alone, the find is worth mentioning, but the most interesting thing is not the size, but rather the people responsible. If we were talking about a single species, well, it would be impressive due to its dimensions, but what is relevant here is that there are two species that coexist in the megacity: The curious thing is that both are solitary species and have never before been documented to form colonies. Furthermore, under normal conditions, the domestic tegenaria would hunt the Prinerigone vagansmuch smaller, but the researchers realized that both coexisted peacefully. Paradise. The reason? The total darkness may be inhibiting the spiders’ senses, allowing coexistence, but the toxic sulfuric environment may also be playing a role. What they are clear about is that the ecosystem is perfectly oiled: There is no photosynthesis as there is no light, so the microorganisms that are present are sulfur-oxidizing bacteriaconverting inorganic compounds into organic matter that sticks to the walls. There are chironomid larvae that feed on these biofilms. From the larvae, Tanytarsus albisutus emerge, mosquitoes that do not bite and that form dense swarms in an inland stream and of which there are an estimated 2.4 million individuals. By accident, they fall into the webs of the spider megacity and estimate that each spider touches 200 mosquitoes, so they are well fed, they do not need to hunt or leave the structure and they continue to expand the colony. The two species in love and company Implications. One of the researchers, István Urák, has commented that they often think they completely know a species “to the point that we think we understand everything about it, but even then unexpected discoveries can happen.” And he does not say this because the two species coexist, but because they have carried out DNA analyzes that have revealed that the populations of the Sulfur Cave are genetically different from their conspecifics that inhabit the surface. This means one thing: in the evolutionary line, those on the surface have gone one way and those in the cave have gone another, remaining isolated enough to evolve in another way and adapt specifically to the hostile environment they inhabit. These differences mean that microbial diversity is lower in cave spiders and females produce fewer eggs per sac than those on the surface, possibly because since they do not have predators, they do not have to produce as many offspring. a mine. Urák’s team is working on a follow-up study that may shed more light on these spiders, but in addition to the silk megacity, other teams have documented another thirty species of invertebrates that have adapted to this peculiar environment. Among them, another spider: the Metellina merianae who, unlike the other two, prefers to live in solitude. And, regardless of curiosity and even scientific interest, researchers have stressed the importance of protecting this colony. For this reason, the exact location of the cave has not been shared, but the situation is complex because it is located on the border between Albania and Greece and it remains to be seen which country has the power to protect it. In the end, they have been developed in a very specific way and any external element that is introduced can be a contaminant. Beyond the rejection that spiders produce for many of us, this discovery puts on the table that, even in conditions as hostile as a cave without light, with little oxygen and the presence of toxic gaseslife not only makes its way, but “enemy” species can form enormous communities that live in harmony. For the sake of the Prinerigone vagansmay there never be a lack of mosquitoes… Images | Marek Audy, Subterranean Biology In Xataka | We have genetically edited a spider to produce a fluorescent red web. And the implications are promising.

In 1970, a zoologist released a species of rodent into the Caucasus to repopulate it. A century later the destruction is gigantic

by

In the 1970s a story occurred, one of many, where the man tried to modify the ecosystem of an island and it went completely wrong, so much so that It took them half a century to solve it.. However, among the stories with the sending of a “solution” to an enclave as the protagonist, good to annihilate, good for repopulatingfew like the one that occurred 70 years ago in an area of ​​the Caucasus. Unlike the story from Japan, here there is still no way to solve it. Introduction: Soviet ecological ambition. About the 1920s, the Soviet zoologist Nikolai Vereshchagin undertook an ambitious project to “reanimate” and repopulate the fauna of the Caucasus. The idea seemed simple: introduce non-native species. Inspired by the desire to restore ecosystems and provide economic benefits through hunting and the fur trade, Vereshchagin brought animals from different parts of the worldconfident that they would thrive in the mountains and wetlands of Azerbaijan. Apparently, through his investigations and his book “The Mammals of the Caucasus”Vereshchagin documented the constant change in the region and argued in favor of what would become known as “acclimatization”: a species adaptation strategy that sought to enrich local biodiversity, even if over time it proved to have… let’s say, unintended effects. The coypu: from Soviet experiment to invader. And of all Vereshchagin’s most notable experiments, one is written in capital letters with the introduction of the coypualso known as otter or river rat, a species of giant rodent native to South America. Were 213 copies brought to the region, which quickly adapted and thrived in the wetlands of Azerbaijan. Because? Originally, the coypus They were brought for the quality of their skins, used in the making of luxury coats and hats. However, what began as a resource exploitation project soon became an ecological problem. The reason? Coypus demonstrated a high reproductive capacity and adaptability that allowed them to survive and multiply as if there were no tomorrow without the natural predators of their original habitat. This rat is a danger. To give us an idea, currently the coypu is considered one of the 100 most dangerous invasive species worldwide. In Azerbaijan, their populations are ubiquitous in wetlands, causing significant environmental damage by destroying native vegetation and competing with native species for space and resources. Additionally, their presence threatens the habitats of endangered birds, such as the cotton-headed duck and Siberian crane, as both depend on these wetlands for their survival. We are talking about a species whose adults measure approximately 60 cm long and have a 30 cm tail. When fully grown, they weigh as much or more than a Jack Russell terrier. Although they look similar to the capybara (the largest rodent in the world), coypu tend to have fewer “followers.” One fact gives an idea: its most notable feature is its protruding teeth, a pair of long, orange incisors that they never stop growing. Impact on biodiversity. The ecological impact of coypu in Azerbaijan was tremendous over the years, and especially significant due to the natural wealth of the Caucasusa region considered as one of the 25 hotspots of global biodiversity. The creature not only devastated the vegetation in humid areas, but its destructive behavior also affected bird nesting areas. In fact, studies carried out in Italy show that these giant rodents can reach crush nests by resting on themincreasing the risk for local species. Not only that. The species continued to spread to this day, and from the Caucasus it passed to neighboring countries, which has made its management even more complicated. The lack of a detailed study on the size and distribution of their populations in Azerbaijan poses all kinds of additional obstacles for environmentalists, who do not have a solid basis for developing mitigation strategies. Management and reward programs. Today, and in response to the uncontrolled expansion of the species, some experts suggest implementing reward programs for capture, an idea similar to those that have been effective in enclaves of the United States such as Louisiana, where it is offered a payment for each coypu queue delivered. However, others warn that these programs, while temporarily reducing populations, can result in commercial hunts that do not completely eradicate the species. In this regard, the proposal to reestablish a reward system, in force in Soviet times, is viewed favorably by organizations such as WWF Azerbaijan. However, the current system of fees and penalties in the country, which even requires hunters to pay additional payments for “environmental damage,” discourages coypus hunting. Therefore, there is a clear contrast with other countries where the reduction of invasive populations is actively encouraged. Lessons learned and future. Like so many other similar stories with the “hand” of man throughthe story of coypu in Azerbaijan is a reminder of the risks of introducing foreign species without very careful planning and long-term impact assessment. Although no one doubts that the projects of Vereshchagin and his contemporaries were based on good intentions, the collateral effects of their decisions have been tremendous for the region’s biodiversity. Today, environmentalists like Zulfu Farajli told the BBC who advocate for greater public awareness of the impact of coypus on local ecosystems, as well as more effective management policies. Ultimately, the case of this creature in Azerbaijan highlights the importance of developing a conservation approach based on science and sustainability, ensuring that ecosystems can recover and thrive without the threat of invasive species. Hopefully, the solution will never be a giant rat, please. Image | Peter Trimming, Khagani Hasanov1988 In Xataka | Japan sent the wrong creature to eradicate snakes from an island. The disaster was so big that it took half a century to solve it In Xataka | We have just found a surprising remedy against Argentine ant infestations: a dose of caffeine

more than 1,200 exotic species are here to stay

by

The Iberian Peninsula is being invaded and not by a war between humans, but for 1,200 non-native species that have settled on our land. A phenomenon that represents a great threat to native fauna and flora and that now requires international cooperation to protect ecosystems and especially the animals and plants that are native to our peninsula. The study. According to a study published in Diversity and Distributions, the number of exotic species established on the peninsula now exceeds 1,200, including plants, insects, mollusks, crustaceans and vertebrates introduced intentionally or by accident. The protagonists in this case are Spain, Portugal and Andorra, which are the first affected by this silent invasion. The team, led by Ismael Soto and with participation, has documented 1,273 species that currently maintain themselves independently by feeding and reproducing. The data. In the results of the research it has been seen that at first it has been seen that the species that are invading us come mainly from the Palearctic region (Europe, temperate Asia and northern Africa) followed by the American species. But not everything is animals, as you might think, but 75% of the invaders correspond to vascular plants and insects. Although the big question here is: how did they get in here? The answer lies in the gardens and nurseries that, together with mechanisms linked to international transportation, participate with ornamental plant trade that are not original to the peninsula. Where. This is not something that is similar throughout the geography of the peninsula. Mainly, exotic species are concentrated in coastal areas and large cities, and that is why we see a large number of these in Andalusia, Catalonia or the Valencian Community. Something that is also related to the number of ports that exist as they are a great gateway for international trade in these invasive species. What damage do they cause? When the species arrive on the peninsula, they have a detrimental effect on our ecosystem, and that is why they generate so much alarm around them. Among the effects we find are: Ecosystem modification which can cause the local extermination of native species. Transmission of diseases to natural habitats that change their structure. Alteration of food webs and displacement of native species due to direct competition. For example, we can find a predatory species that ends up with a native species as its ideal prey. Examples. There are some species that are undoubtedly perfect examples of this. One of them is the american red crab (Procambarus clarkii) that was introduced into our habitat in 1973 and that today is responsible for great ecological damage, since it has caused the disappearance of native aquatic species, which also triggers socioeconomic problems. Another case is the bullhead (Silurus glanis), whose voracity and expansion as a fishing trophy have made it the dominant predator in several rivers and reservoirs, threatening the survival of other aquatic species.​ The ants. Although they seem to be going their own way, the reality is that exotic ants like Argentina (Linepithema humile) It has expanded through cities and coasts, causing large effects on ecosystems and generating high control costs. Floors. Most of the invasive species we have in this case are not animals, but plants. One of the classic examples is the fern Azolla filiculoides what is capable of consuming all the oxygen in the water and suffocate the native aquatic species that will use this oxygen. Another example is the water hyacinth which It is among the 100 most invasive species in the world for its impact on lagoons and aquatic ecosystems. What can be done? The prevention and control of exotic species requires continuous monitoring, restoration of degraded habitats and effective policies based on science and citizen participation. Sectors such as aquaculture, recreational fishing, the pet trade and horticulture are critical points where preventive measures can make a difference. The authors insist on the urgency of strengthening international collaboration and applying shared strategies between the scientific community, environmental managers and civil society. Only in this way will it be possible to face one of the greatest threats to Iberian biodiversity, protect endemic species and maintain ecological balance in this hot spot of European biodiversity. Images | Joshua Ralph Ivan Bandura In Xataka | England is experiencing an unprecedented invasion. The problem is that they are octopuses, and they are devouring everything they can find.​

Having many children sounds great as a way to preserve the species. Until you start passing genetic mutations

by

Men do not have a limit marked by nature in which a ‘stop’ is applied when it comes to having more offspring (such as if women have), although little by little it is becoming more complicated. But even if there is no such limit choosing to become parents at an older ageis not the most recommended due to the great risks it has, as pointed out a published study in Nature magazine recently. Risk age. The idea that the age of the mother It is a crucial factor for the baby’s health is deeply rooted in the collective consciousness and has been seen to Older age is associated with diseases such as Down syndrome. However, science has been accumulating evidence for years that the father’s age also plays a fundamental role. We already knew that about 80% of new genetic mutations (those not inherited from either parent) come from the paternal germline. What we didn’t know was the magnitude of the mechanism that accelerates it. Selfish sperm. The team of researchers from Wellcome Sanger Institute in the United Kingdomled by Raheleh Rahbari and Matthew Neville, has put a name and surname to the problem: selfish selection of spermatogonia. In simple terms, this means that certain genetic mutations not only alter a gene, but give a competitive advantage to the stem cells that produce sperm (spermatogonia). These mutated cells replicate faster and more efficiently than their healthy counterparts, so they will predominate ahead of the gametes that are suitable. As a result, as the years go by, the percentage of sperm carrying these “selfish” mutations increases exponentially, not linearly, and this results in a man in his early thirties having 1 sperm in every 50 with a disease-causing mutation. But when you reach the age of 70, this figure shoots up to 1 sperm in every 20. How it has been seen. To reach this conclusion, scientists needed highly precise technology, since right now standard sequencing methods have an error rate that can make it difficult to see a specific mutation. This is where a technique called duplex sequencing (NanoSeq). Its operation is very simple, since instead of reading a single strand of DNA, this method reads both strands of the double helix. If a mutation is detected on both strands in exactly the same place, it is virtually impossible for it to be a machine error. It is a real mutation. Thanks to this precision, they were able to analyze more than 35,000 mutations in the sperm of 81 men between 24 and 75 years old. In this case, the results identified more than 40 key genes where these selfish mutations tend to occur. Most are associated with serious neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism itself or even increasing the probability of suffering from cancer throughout the offspring’s life. Genetic sanctuary. Interestingly, the study revealed a surprising fact when comparing the mutations in the sperm with those in the blood cells of the same men. In the blood, the impact of lifestyle was evident: men who smoked, drank alcohol excessively or were obese had a much higher mutation burden. However, no correlation with these factors was found in sperm. The mutations accumulated at a rate eight times slower and seemed immune to the individual’s habits. This suggests that the testicles function as a biological “sanctuary,” a protected niche that the body strives to keep safe from harmful environmental factors. Family planning. Logically, when making the decision to reproduce this changes many things, since to avoid this accumulation of mutations it would be interesting to do it the younger the better. Both in the case of men and women. But the reality we have in our society is that family conciliation has not yet been achieved, and this means that becoming mothers and fathers has to be delayed. In this way, the study points to the possibility of including sperm freezing at an earlier age if considering having children or considering genetic screening techniques for elderly parents. Although all this has a cost behind it. In Xataka | Someone thinks they know why fertility is plummeting around the world: men and women are doing “better” separately

Pleasure, homosexuality and STDs in the animal kingdom. A specialist dismantles myths on how sex works outside our species

by

Forget about the idea that animals only have sex to reproduce. Dolphins, bats, rams, bonobos or lions show that homosexual pleasure and behaviors are also part of nature. And not only that: there are species that change sex, that transmit diseases such as chlamydia or that transform their body to imitate genitals. All this composes a panorama as unexpected as fascinating. Science and apartthe Xataka section that was born to look at science with magnifying glass and do it in the company of experts, Return with a new episode in Our YouTube channelalso available on Spotify and Ivoox. On this occasion, Ángela Blanco interviews Ricardo MoureBiologist and Doctor in Biotechnology, with a very clear purpose: to explore what biology has discovered about sex in animals and leave aside the myths that we still drag. One of the points of the conversation is homosexuality in the animal kingdom. Moure clarifies from the beginning: “To be correct at a technical level, in animals we cannot talk about homosexual individuals or homosexual animals. We talk about homosexual behaviors“And add concrete examples:” Among the rams, one in five has sex with both males and females, and one in 10 only with other males. “ Another of the issues raised by the interview is that of pleasure in animal sex. Moure recognizes the difficulty of measuring it: “In the case of whether animals feel some kind of sexual pleasure, this is complicated because, of course, we cannot get into the mind of an animal and know its subjective perception, but it is true that it has been investigated if there are species in which there is sexual pleasure.” The clearest examples appear in social species, from primates to cetaceans, where relationships do not always seek offspring. Among the most graphic examples mentioned by Moure is the relationship between sexual behavior and the size of the testicles. “The size of the testicles depends a little on this,” he says. The contrast is striking: “Gorillas can reach 200 kg, they have testicles that are like two olives (…) but instead bonobos (…) They have very large testicles”The key is in sperm competition, which favors species where females maintain relations with several males. It also stops in the biological mechanisms that allow some species to change sex. “When a male clown fish is widowed, it changes sex and becomes the female,” Moure details, remembering that all these fish are born males and that their role depends on the structure of the group. But there are more factors that alter the proportion of sexes: “humans also greatly affect the distribution of sexes because of climate change,” he says. The interview also addresses a less known aspect: sexually transmitted diseases in animals. “A case that draws a lot of attention is that of the Koalas. The Koalas in Australia have a CLAMIDIA EPIDEMIA that the species is being loaded, ”says Moure. The problem is serious because it causes infertility and is very difficult to treat. What we have advanced here is just a fragment of an episode loaded with data, anecdotes and explanations that show this aspect in the animal kingdom. In Science and apartRicardo Moure provides keys that invite you to think otherwise the relationship between biology and sex. The chapter is now available. Choose the platform you want to enjoy it. Images | Xataka In Xataka | Zoophilia is the last great sexual taboo of our societies. And there are voices that want to discuss it

The Arctic cold was the ideal barrier against invasive species. Now that barrier is falling

by

The Arctic Ocean is one of the hot points as far as climate change is concerned. Separated from the surface by polar ice, this ocean is a place with its own characteristics that go beyond its icy temperature. The barrier falls. A new study headed by researchers at British Antarctic Survey (BAS) He has found evidence of the arrival of an invasive species of Percebe to the waters of the Canadian Antarctic. This has led the team to conclude that the barrier that previously represented the low temperatures of the polar ocean is falling. Amphibalanus Impherevisus. The species in question is a type of Balánido sometimes known as bay’s percebe (Amphibalanus Impherevisus). These crustaceans are disturbed in a distant way with the common perclabes (Cornucopia policipes), but its presence is considered a problem and not A food source. The species has already become a regular of the waters of Europe and the Pacific Ocean, where it causes problems when attached to ships, pipes and infrastructure of different types. However, until now it had remained absent in the waters of the Canadian Arctic. EADN. The detection of the invasive species was carried out thanks to the study of the bars coding of the Environmental DNA (Edna). Living beings are leaving our genetic imprint in our environment: detached cells, waste and other biological remains. This technique allows to detect the presence of a species (or several) without finding a single specimen, only through environmental samples, in this case, water. The details of the study were Published in an article In the magazine Global Change Biology. Climate change, the great suspect. The Arctic is one of the regions most affected by climate change. There are two factors, both related to the increase in temperatures in this region, which have contributed to the expansion of this percebe. The first factor is the increase in maritime traffic of the Arctic associated with the thaw and the opening of new routes. Generally, the team explains, these invasive species usually arrive in the ships of the ships or in their ballast tanks. The second factor is that the waters of the Canadian Arctic no longer present such hostile conditions for the proliferation of foreign species. “Climate change is really in the nucleus of this problem. The ships are increasing in number because the reduction of sea ice has opened new nautical routes. It adds to this that the invasive species that the ships bring to the Arctic also are more likely to survive and establish populations due to the warmest temperatures of the water,” explained in a press release Elizabeth Boyse, who led the study. An issue to clarify. According to the team responsible for the study, there are still details to corroborate with respect to the spread of this species in the Canadian Arctic, starting to know if the DNA detected responded to larvae in transit or a more stable and fruitful population. To know this type of detail, it will be necessary to complement the study with other techniques, such as direct observation of animals. In Xataka | A group of Dutch came up with watering the Arctic could be a good antidote against thaw. It is working Image | Ansgar Walk, CC by-SA 3.0

The poisonous species that reach the coast are the canary in the mine

by

A few days ago We asked ourselves If the stabilization of the Mediterranean temperature responded to a long -term trend or if it was rather a transitory event, a brief cooling capable of tempering the waters of a sea that is more than one degree above its average for these dates of the year. The latest data remind us that we are facing a long -term problem. Seas tropicalizing. The seas of our environment, such as the Mediterranean or the Cantabrian, are immersed In a process that some already call “Tropicalization”This process refers to a series of changes in marine ecosystems derived from the increase in water temperature in subtropical principles. Starting from the beginning. The planet’s seas are gaining temperature. They do it little by little and irregularlybut some estimates talk about a 0.27 ° Celsius increase By decade on average. According to data C3S (Copernicus Climate Change Service), the month of July was one of the warmest of those that are recorded in regards to the surface temperature of the seas, at 0.12º to beat the record. This increase in temperatures has effects of a very diverse nature. It can affect, for example, marine currents, Arctic ice, or even at the temperature of the atmosphere and air circulation. And in addition, it can also affect marine ecosystems. Visible change. Changes in currents, ice or atmosphere can be difficult to perceive for the human eye, but some of the changes in marine ecosystems, not so much. There is much that occurs under the surface of the sea, but some of these changes have their reflection on our coasts, and that is what we are seeing now, the arrival of new species to our coasts, both sea invertebrates and fish, some of these species, dangerous. It is the example of two of the species we have heard about this summer, the Portuguese caravel (Physalia Physalis) and The blue dragon (Glaucus atlanticus). The Portuguese caravel belongs to the same edge as the jellyfish and can, due to their appearance, be confused with one. However, the effect of its poison goes beyond the efficient effect that jellyfish often causes. Portuguese caravel is part of the blue dragon diet, a mollusk with the ability to “recycle” the poison of its victims and use it as a defense mechanism. Another example of poisonous species that threaten to approach our coasts is The lionfish (Pterois Volitans). It is considered that the path of entry of this fish could be as an ornamental species for aquariumbut there are also those who warn of their possible expansion through the Mediterranean, via the Suez Canal, from the Red Sea. Risk, not only for bathers. The fact that these are poisonous species that can involve serious risks for bathers affected by their toxins, the risk associated with marine tropicalization goes beyond the bites of these animals. Species such as blue crab (Callinectes sapidus), have begun to expand through areas of the Mediterranean, putting local ecosystems in check with its voracity and the absence of natural predators. Algae also does not miss the opportunity to expand their habitat in our waters. The best example of this is Asian algae (Rugulopterix Okamurae), an increasingly present species on our coasts, whose impact reaches disparate coastal strips, From Galicia to Tarifa. The Mediterranean, again burning. We pointed at the beginning that, after a brief impas in which the sea It was close to thermal stabilizationthe Mediterranean temperature has firing again. Although the thermal anomaly of 2.26º has not yet been reached that We saw almost two months agothis anomaly has passed in just four days (from August 7 to 11) from 0.54º to 1.16º, According to data of socib (Coastal observation and prediction system of the Balearic Islands). The “rebound” has been greater in the Western Mediterranean, where in mid -June the thermal anomaly was around 2.65, before stabilizing up to 0.29º. The new increase places the anomaly in 1.27º, almost a degree of increase in days. In Xataka | “The Mediterranean already has only three stations”: the European Observatory of the drought confirms that winter is dying Image | LPT2000 / Tao Taylor

Professional CEOs are a species in extinction. Who tries it does not repeat

by

“CEO is sought for a large company. Leadership capacity is valued and being able to work under pressure. Salary above the average.” If vacancies for the positions of the executive director of the large companies will be announced Like the rest of the positionsthey would probably be something similar to this. However, there are less and less “ceos to serir”, as they defined them In an article of The Wall Street Journal Two decades ago, referring to a lineage of executive directors capable of Change company Every four years, and even sector. The important thing is to direct. What does not matter so much. Ceos for everything. There was a time when the executive directors jumped from one company to another every four or five years. It was almost a mythical figure in the halls of global capitalism. These leaders, known as CEO in seriesthey were sought to lead deep transformations, implement aggressive cuts or save drifting companies. However, that figure is running out of generational relief. However, there are still some managers that fit into the classification of CEOs in series. Names like Luca de Meowho was head of Fiat and Alfa Romeo before becoming CEO of Renault, and is now emerging to lead the transformation of Kering, luxury fashion holding that markets marks such as Gucci, Balenciaga or Boucheron. Brian Niccolcurrent CEO of Starbucks, which had previously directed Chipotle and Taco Bell. Be CEO. Instead, such and as he points out he Financial Timesthe predominant model is the “One and Done”, in which many executive directors choose to occupy that position only once in their career, exhausted by pressure, extreme public exposure and wear that implies exercising the leadership of a large company today. The CEO of a British company quoted in the stock market reflected this feeling by declaring the Financial Times: “After this work, I will have finished. It is very rewarding, but it leaves you exhausted. I will never occupy the position of executive director ever again.” According to data From Russell Reynolds, in 2024 there were 220 changes in the dome of large companies in the main 13 global markets. Of these, in 187 cases (85%) were appointments of people who assumed the position of CEO for the first time. This phenomenon has accelerated since 2018 and highlights a substantial change in the criteria of choice of new CEO. As Laura Sanderson, director at Russell Reynolds, explains, “the decline of the CEO in series probably reflects the nature of the current position. It is high pressure, high risk and is very exposed. The path to a retirement with the intact reputation is complicated and, for many leaders, a single experience like CEO is sufficient.” Chiefs of the quarry. Given the shortage of profiles experienced in the direction of large companies, many companies have begun to invest in their internal talent quarries. He Ascent from other high positions of management as directors of operations, financial directors or area leaders has become a usual formula to ensure a less traumatic relief because Who ascends already knows the company. However, it is no longer enough to know the company and the sector in which it moves, but as it summarizes A study From Miltown Partners and The Chief of Staff Association, “today’s leaders have become executive directors who do everything, everywhere and at the same time.” The position now also requires other skills that the quarry managers cannot always offer: the advance of AI, the constant pressure of the shareholders, the political and cultural atmosphere. Any phrase out of place can become A reputational crisis for the company and even at a real risk for the manager, which can become target of attacks as was the case of the executive director of United Healthcare More difficult, more salary. The increase in the requirement of responsibility for executive directors has also been accompanied by A salary increase equivalent. He Average salary of the CEOs Of the large US companies reached 30.9 million dollars in 2024, which means “more than one fifth part of the average salary of 2023”, according to Indicates the study Made by Equila and Associated Press. However, neither money nor The extraordinary benefits have managed to stop the Trend to abandonment of the management positions. It is increasingly common for candidates to reject these positions if other companies have already directed before or if the conditions seem especially demanding. Power wears. Faced with this continuous stress situation suffered by the company’s first representative, a new form of early retirement is being imposed: that of the “portfolio race”. With this new modality, the Executive takes a step to the side as a visible face of the company, but remain linked to it taking advantage of its experience as an advisor or defending the interests of the company participating in the board of directors of third parties. An example would be Noel Quinn, who, after a prolific Race at the head of the Swiss Bank HSBChe decided to retire in 2024: “Now is the right time to achieve a better balance between my personal and business life,” explained after Assume the presidency of the Swiss bank Julius Baer. In Xataka | The best paid CEOs of the technology industry, gathered in a simple graphic Image | Wikimedia Commons (Alejandro Migl), Flickr (ACC District), Unspash (Pablo Varela)

Review with characteristics, price and species

by

The camera of a high-end mobile in the body of a mid-high-end mobile. It is the concept that wants to convey honor with its new 4 Pro. A telephone that in general terms has convinced me a lot, and that leaves very few pending subjects. A heart of Qualcomm, one of the best teleobjectives of the momentand a design that hides more than it seems in photographs. I tell you everything about honor 400 pro in its in -depth analysis. Honor 400 Pro Dimensions and weight 160.8 x 76 x 8.3mm 202 g SCREEN 6.7 inches Resolution 1280 x 2800 AMOLED 120 Hz PWM Dimming of 3840 Hz Pico shine up to 5,000 nits PROCESSOR Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite RAM 12 LPDDR5X STORAGE 512 GB BATTERY 5,300mah 100W fast charge by cable 50W wireless Rear cameras 200 MP F/1.9 50 MP F/1.9 Telefoto 3x 12 MP F/2.2 Ultra wide angle Front camera 50 MP Operating system Magic 9 Android 15 Connectivity Wifi 7 5G SA/NSA Bluetooth 5.4 PRICE 799 euros Design, screen and sound: A yes to everything It is difficult to transmit the good design exercise that has honored with the 400 PRO, since it is one of the few phones that They look better in person than in photos. Behind inevitably remembers Huawei pure 70 ultrasomething that seems phenomenal. But, in addition, it is a much more comfortable phone. Honor has not been carried away by the prevailing tendency of flat songs to iPhone. This phone has A soft curvature on its sidesthat make it surprisingly comfortable in hand. Honor 400 Pro is a telephone that looks much more premium in person than in photos. It reminds me a lot of pure 70 ultra Painting work is also above the usual. This is a plastic finish on its sides, but It looks as if it were aluminum. It is true that I would have thanked more premium materials, but the phone looks spectacular. The position of the button is also unusually lowso I arrive with the thumb on both volume buttons and unlock buttons. Something that should be a basic is an exception: almost all manufacturers locate the botonera so thanks, honor. If we turn it, we have A slightly curved front And very well used. The curvature is minimal and does not bother at all, and gives the whole continuity. The front “island” is minimal, and although it is inevitable that it reminds us a bit of that of the iPhone, it has not bothered me just during these days. The screen is quite quality: We talk about 6.67 inches Amoled, with a 5,000 nits peak brightness and a 120 Hz soda rate. It is a panel that looks great in the sun, with a very successful color calibration (it has a certain very pleasant trend) and, in general, it is at a fairly high level. I did not like the sound so much that, despite having double sterreo speaker, It has a quite remarkable lack of serious. It is a sound that easily distorts when we pass half of the total volume, and that does not invite too much to reproduce content at all rag. Performance, software and battery: balance and good numbers With a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Few doubts could be about the performance of this phone. It’s just as you think: a bullet. I am a faithful defender of this processor, since it offers an experience not so far from that of the Snapdragon 8 Elite For much less money. The most demanding, multitasking games, video editing applications … absolutely everything moves as great agility with this chip. If we give it cane, we will notice some heat from the top of the device, but It is not a mobile that is hot. There has not been a single situation in which I have lacked power or missed further performance. It is not a Snapdragon 8 Elitebut you’re not going to miss it either. By the way, this honor has not allowed us to install a single Benchmarks app during the analysis from Play Store. Honor 400 Pro Realme GT 7 IPhone 16 Pro Max Realme GT7 Pro PROCESSOR Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 MEDATEK DIMENSITY 9400E Apple A18 Pro Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite RAM 12 GB 12 GB 8 GB 16 GB Geekbench 6 (single/multi) – 2.239 / 7,209 3.106/7,799 3,150 / 9,664 3D Mark Wild Life Unlimited – 18,231 16,809 24,987 3D Mark Wild Life Stress Unlimited – 18.579 / 12,078 16,906/8,538 24,874 / 18,637 PCMARK WORK – 12,806 – 25,431 I cannot say the same of the software: Magicos 9. This layer continues to drink from Emui, and at this point in the party I think that Honor should almost rethink it for the European market. There is enough Bloatware load: Temu, Reelshort (yes, I didn’t know this app), Temu, Booking, Trip.com … can be uninstall, but they are still left over. Magicos is not a bad rom, but it is still too far from the concept proposed by Google in mobiles with less customization load At the UI level, it is a rom that barely respect the principles of Material You. He has a rather Asian design language, and he lacks that aesthetic and functional care that we see in some of his direct rivals. It is a functional and complete ROM, but far behind the main referents. The artificial intelligence suite is called “Honor ai”, and lands with a total of six pillars: Suggestions with AI: Apps suggestions recommended according to our use habits Magic text: allows you to extract the text from an image quickly Magic portal: It allows Rodea’s gesture to search with the knuckle, in addition to automatically recognizing objects and text to copy, share or save them. Translate with AI: Real -time translation with an interpreter mode using an independent app. Intelligent detection: Look to maintain active screen, lower the voice volume, activate the on display and automatic panel orientation Gestures in the … Read more

We have found bacteria at the Chinese space station. The most surprising thing is that it is a new species

by

Space exploration has an obsession with cleanliness. It is not for less: if we want to look for life on other planets of our solar system we have to make sure that our ships do not lead with them terrestrial life that can lead us to confusion. This is the main reason why space agencies pay enormous attention to microorganisms that may appear in their ships, even in those who do not travel to other planets. Sometimes life gives us surprises. Bacteria on board. Sample analysis taken in the Chinese Space Station Tiangong It has allowed to detect traces of the presence of an unknown bacterium in this aseptic space environment. The newly discovered bacteria would have mechanisms that would have allowed her to stay alive in the extreme conditions of life aboard an orbital station. Niallia tiagongensis. The new species has been baptized as Niallia tiagongensisin reference to the name of the space station placed in orbit by China. Name in turn can translate as “Celestial Palace” N. tiagongensis Share taxonomic gender with the species Niallia Circumsa pathogenic bacterium capable of causing sepsis in immunocompromised patients. The New bacterium It has a cane shape, but it would be able to form spores, oval structures that protect the genetic information of the species in extreme conditions such as high temperatures, radiation or lack of water. N. tiagongensis It could have arrived in this way to the station that has given it. A space bacterium? The evolutionary origin of this bacterium is on earth, but We do not know for now If this new species can be found on the surface or if on the contrary it is the result of the evolution of another bacterium. An evolution that could have occurred aboard the station, allowing the survival of the bacterial colonies. It is also possible that the species has an almost fully terrestrial origin but that its “space colonies” have evolved to better adapt to the new extraterrestrial environment. Two years of study. The samples that have given rise to the finding were collected inside the station In May 2023 by astronauts of the Shenzhou-15 mission. The study of the remains found has allowed to know details on the survival strategy of this microorganism. Genes have been found that encode some responses of these bacteria to some extreme conditions, such as their response to oxidative stress or their ability to repair the damage caused by radiation. For example, we know that this bacterium is capable of generating protective particles obtaining nitrogen and carbon from the decomposition of gelatins. The details of the finding were published In an article In the magazine International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. From ISS A Tiangong. It is not the first time that we find bacteria aboard a space station. We have detected bacteria years In the International Space Station, so much so that their astronauts began recently began the Life search abroad of the ship. What we can intuit from the fact that we would not have detected the new bacteria in other ships such as the ISS is that there is diversity in the populations of microorganisms that populate the different vehicles and stations that we send to space. A lost race? The news of the new finding has been produced almost at the same time that The announcement by NASA of the detection of numerous species of microorganisms inside one of its “clean rooms”, allegedly aseptic environments designed precisely to maintain devices and vehicles safe from pollution. Bad news, not only before we send (or we have already sent) microorganisms aboard the probes that explore planets and satellites where we suspect can exist or have existed extraterrestrial life. The fact that we know that this life is able to survive in the low terrestrial orbits It does not necessarily imply That these microbes can resist an interplanetary trip, but it is a bad indication. In Xataka | The International Space Station is a farm of new species of candidate bacteria Image | Shujianyang / Bob Blaylock

Log In

Forgot password?

Forgot password?

Enter your account data and we will send you a link to reset your password.

Your password reset link appears to be invalid or expired.

Log in

Privacy Policy

Add to Collection

No Collections

Here you'll find all collections you've created before.