spotlight Archives - usatoday24

There is a luxury development in Madrid that has been “hidden” for years and is stealing the spotlight from La Finca and La Moraleja

March 8, 2026 by usatoday24

If we think about luxury developments in Madrid, names like La Finca or La Moraleja probably come to mind. However, there is a new player on the Madrid luxury real estate board, one that has gone unnoticed for decades and has recently become fashionable among the richest. Low profile. Álamos de Bularas is an urbanization that has been standing since the 1980s, but has gone unnoticed in the shadow of more high-profile names such as its neighbor La Finca. Its strong point is precisely that: combining luxury and exclusivity with a lower profile and less media noise than other areas. But just because it is not the most famous urbanization does not mean that it does not offer high-level luxury; a search on housing portals most popular returns us a few properties that border and even exceed 4 million euros. Tranquility is what is most sought after. Like other luxury developments such as La Finca, Somosaguas or Monte Alina, our protagonist is located in Pozuelo de Alarcón (which by the way is the richest municipality in all of Spain) specifically in the northwest area. Álamos de Bulara is a fairly small urbanization, located next to Monte del Pilar, a forested area of about 800 hectares. Access is closed and has private security. The location factor. In statements to the AD Magazinethe head of the Ketier real estate agency highlights that location is a key factor for more and more buyers to look at Álamos de Bularas. The urbanization is very well connected, with access to both the M40 and the A6, allowing its residents to be in the center of Madrid in less than half an hour and in the center of Pozuelo in just 10 minutes. In addition, it is very close to some prestigious private schools and sports clubs. The new refuge for VIPs. The housing crisis is also impacting how and where the wealthiest shop. We were recently talking about luxury apartments in Madrid were so expensivewhich urbanizations like La Moraleja or La Finca were becoming more “affordable” options“for the great fortunes. According to a Colliers report A year ago, the square meter in neighborhoods such as Salamanca or Chamberí reached peaks that exceeded 27,000 euros per square meter. This has caused many buyers to seek residence in peripheral areas, where demand has increased. In Xataka | The rich neighborhoods of Madrid and Barcelona have changed their accent: millionaires from the US and Mexico invest their fortunes in Spain Image | Max Vakhtbovych, Pexels

a weld between tracks from 1989 and 2023 in the spotlight of the Adamuz accident

January 27, 2026 by usatoday24

The liberalization of the tracks and the multiplication of the number of trains that have to pass through them is the reason why a track fractured at high speed near Adamuz, Córdoba, causing an accident that has ended with 45 deaths and 22 people in the hospital, five of them in the ICU. That is the position, at least preliminary, of Iñaki Barrón, president of CIAF, entity in charge of the investigation of the biggest railway accident in our country since train derailment in Angrois (Santiago de Compostela) that ended the lives of 80 people. With the first investigations on the table, the indications suggest that the Iryo train derailed due to a fracture in a weld between rails carried out during the renovation last May. The fracture would have left traces on the first carriages of the Italian train and on the trains that circulated on that track that same day. At the time of the derailment, an Alvia train was traveling in the opposite direction and passed in a very short period of time (there was talk of 20 seconds at first but now it is pointed out that it could have been nine seconds) that prevented him from stopping before crashing. The blow caused the second derailment and the Renfe train ended up at the bottom of a four-meter embankment. It was on this train that the majority of the deceased were counted. In an interview with The CountryBarrón defends that the roads have endured slight traffic until the liberalization that put Ouigo and Iryo to compete with Renfe but that the mere multiplication of routes does not explain the breakdown of the tracks. Ensure the following on the affected lane: “For a long time it has had relatively light traffic. Lately, it has endured a little more intensity, but the lines should still give much more being of high capacity. The current traffic is by no means saturation. What was decided was to renew the detours, which are very critical elements and it was clear that it had to be done” In the interview, the president of CIAF explains how the renewal of the tracks is carried out and points out that the use of tracks manufactured in 1989 should not be a cause for alarm. On the contrary, the first bet from the investigative committee It was the welding that joined a section manufactured in 1989 with one manufactured in 2023 that really failed, leading to the breakage of the track and subsequent derailments. How two tracks are welded 34 years apart In recent days, the information regarding the Adamuz railway accident has focused on one fact: one of the split rails was manufactured in 1989. Adif, in the comprehensive renovation of the track, decided that it would not change sections that were more than 30 years old but this should not be a problem in itself, according to the president of CIAF: (On why Adif did not change all the lanes in 1989) “That is what we have asked, why the lanes have not been changed. Maybe it was not planned or should not be done. Many people have interpreted that when we talk about a comprehensive renovation, practically all the material is changed, and that everything that is usable goes to other lines, not high-speed lines. That has been done all our lives. When we realized that the detours had been changed, because that is what It was critical and there had been some incidents in the past, and also some more pieces of rail, but not all of them, we asked Adif about it. The fact that we continue with rails manufactured in 1989 is not particularly serious in itself. It is not something to raise our hands as long as they were in a position to provide service. But we have to carefully analyze the issue of renovation to see exactly what has been done and how it has been done. To questions from Xatakahe General Council of Industrial Engineers They point out that “it makes all the sense in the world” to point to welding as the source of the problem. “The joint is a unique point on the track. First because it is a discontinuity and any millimeter imperfection is amplified as the wheels pass. And second, because the welding process generates a zone that is thermally affected around it and can generate residual stresses.” And they emphasize: “when a rail breaks, the typical hypothesis, and which seems to be being confirmed, is that the break begins in the weld or in its immediate surroundings and from there evolves to the final failure.” Regarding the reason why the welding could have failed, the CIAF and the General Council of Industrial Engineers point to examinations in laboratories to determine what could have happened. The experts consulted by Xataka they point out that the Causes why a weld can fail in their execution they are multiple: Execution problems: such as the creation of a pore due to not reaching the appropriate melting temperature. Geometric finishing problem: a millimeter-sized burr or microstep is generated Problems with alignment: the alignment between lanes is not perfect These same experts point out that the derailment can be caused by various factors and that, by itself, one of the previous causes does not have to explain the entire problem. They point out that the laboratories will have to confirm if there was a previous problem in the material, if a failure occurred during the welding process and to what extent the thermal conditions and the frequency of train passage could have aggravated the problem. All of these are problems that revolve around two issues to take into account. The first points to the different degree of hardness of the steel between the rails. The 1989 track was made up of R260 steel, which is softer than the R350 HT steel that makes up the track produced in 2023. “The base steel is very similar,” they … Read more

What is the LZB and why is it in the spotlight of the Adamuz accident?

January 19, 2026 by usatoday24

20 seconds. That is the time that, according to Álvaro Fernández Heredia, has passed since the derailment of the Iryo train in Adamuz and the arrival of the Alvia train in the opposite direction. “It still cannot be concluded that the Alvia collided with the Iryo cars or with any element of the road,” said the president, who, remembers, will take days to reach conclusions. It puts the focus, however, on the LZB security system. What has happened? What we know, at the time we write these lines, is that an Iryo train and an Alvia have had an accident at the same point on the Andalusian high-speed corridor. Until now, the first assessments have suggested that the Italian train derailed in the middle of the straight line and the Renfe train collided with it. However, this “cannot yet be concluded,” according to Álvaro Fernandez Heredia in statements to Chain Being. What is certain is that both trains have areas that are very difficult to access, with serious damage to their structure. The Alvia train also fell down a four-meter embankment. There are, at the time we write, 39 deaths (including the 27-year-old Renfe driver) and it is not ruled out that more bodies will be found once the rescue work is completed. 20 seconds. It is, according to Fernández Heredia, the time that has passed since the Iryo train derailed and the Renfe train arrived at the same place. However, Heredia has made it clear that understanding what happened at that moment is, for the moment, conjecture because the investigation that the Railway Accident Investigation Commission (CIAF), who They already did the same in Angrois, in the Galician accident of 2013. Explained visually in The CountryWhat we do know is that the Iryo derailed first when it was traveling at 210 km/h in a space limited to 250 km/h, so excessive speed seems to be ruled out. After 20 seconds, the accident worsened with the arrival of the Alvia, which did so at 205 km/h (also below the maximum speed allowed). Both trains were found at a distance of 700 meters between them, with the Alvia falling on the embankment located next to the tracks. Those 20 seconds, everything indicates, will be key to the investigation. And the president of Renfe pointed out on the radio that “the LZB system is equipped in such a way that when there is an obstacle on the track, the path is blocked and prevents circulation and orders emergency braking to the train. But apparently, the time interval between one train and another that crossed in opposite directions has been 20 seconds and, therefore, it is impossible for this mechanism to act.” What is the LZB? The LZB is the security system used in the Andalusian corridoron the Alvia Madrid-Toledo and on Cercanías lines C-5 in Madrid and the entire Euskotren network. The acronym refers to the German word Linienzugbeeinflussungsince the system is also used in Germany and Austria. The system consists of a cable that extends along the track, centered but drawing a slight zigzag. This wiring sends train running informationthe maximum speed of the road and the distance remaining before reaching a new speed limit change. If the driver does not reduce the speed, it is the train that activates the emergency braking. This wiring sends electrical signals in a closed circuit to recalculate the aforementioned variables through beacons. When the track is blocked, the transmission is interrupted and the system automatically orders the train to stop. However, according to the president of Renfe, the 20 seconds that have passed between the derailment of the Iryo train and the arrival of the Alvia have not been enough to stop the vehicle. It remains to be seen whether he braked previously and lost speed or not. Dated. The LZB system is considered an outdated safety system and Spain is one of the few countries in Europe that continues to use it on a high-speed railway section. In fact, by European order to facilitate interoperability, The LZB system in the Andalusian corridor is being replaced by ERTMS 2the European system that is already mandatory on all trains. ERTMS 2. This system It is a simplification of the processboth in equipment and operation. The data connection is made through GSM-R so the beacons only serve as a redundant system to locate the train. In exchange, radio equipment is used that communicates the train with the Movement Authority or MA (Movement Authority), explain in How trains work. This MA is responsible for telling the driver the maximum speed at which they can travel and for how many kilometers, but it includes a greater amount of information such as temporary speed restrictions, which makes it easier to comply with the limits. The system has the advantage that if a train suffers a problem but can no longer stop, it can pass through an enclave at an appropriate speed without the risk of derailing and only applies emergency braking when the situation is safe. On the contrary, it closes the passage of all trains instantly so that a collision does not occur. The system is considered more secure because it has more information, redundant systems and decisions are made more quickly. Speed is key. Having a system capable of more closely monitoring the status of the trains and managing traffic is key when we travel on a high-speed train. We must keep in mind that when we travel at 205 km/h we are traveling 56.94 m/s. That is, in the 20 key seconds indicated in the Adamuz accident, 1,138 meters were covered. It must also be taken into account that the braking space increases exponentially with an increase in speed. At the same time, braking space is drastically reduced at lower speeds and the violence of an impact or a derailment is less. Photo | Wikimedia 1 and 2 In Xataka | More than 30 years ago, Spain decided to invest heavily in the AVE: today … Read more

I always wanted to have the macos spotlight in Windows. The surprising thing is that whoever has just given me that option is Google

September 17, 2025 by usatoday24

Google He just launched a curious tool for Windows: a pitcher who Imitate what Apple has been offering for years to its users with the Macos spotlight. This small component, yes, comes with some curious ideas and a clear secret objective: infiltrate your operating system. The option is available as a small tool that we can download From Google Search Labs. At the moment it is only available in English and can only be downloaded if it is downloaded from the US, but the latter is easy to solve using a VPN. Testing this “Google Spotlight” for Windows It is what I did to try the tool on my PC with Windows 11 – it is also compatible with Windows 10 – and after doing so it can start using this little pitcher who, yes, asks you to Log in your Google accountprecisely to be able to include in those searches the documents you have on Google Drive. You can deactivate that option in the tool settings, by the way. The so -called “Google App for Windows” acts as a pitcher that we can start with the Alt+Space Bar combination (this shortcut can be changed), and from there we will have at our disposal many of the Google search engine options integrated into Windows. Thus, we can: Search on the Internet Find files from our Google Drive account Launch applications installed in our equipment Look for stored files in our team But we also have direct access to take advantage of the Google Lens power directly on the Windows desktop. By pressing it we can then select a screen region, and on it we can for example translate text to another language or solve the problem described in that “screenshot”. One of the promotional images of the app shows how with Google Lens we can “capture” a small mathematical problem and ask Google for help so that it solves it. In my tests I could see that the pitcher behaves impeccably. The search results appear instantaneously, although here Google seems to give preference to those found in Google Drive (such as Docs or Sheets documents). The launch of applications is also very fast, and in terms of documents, also fantastic behavior: It is deviably fast When finding documents (by file name) in our team, although yes, it does not seem to find them if they are in network folders, or at least I have not achieved it in my tests. As for the functions of Google Lens, the Occion is interesting if we want, for example, translating texts in some languages, but that option is especially intentive when we cannot select the text. I tried to translate a fragment of an Xataka article and did it well, but in reality for this type of option there are more direct alternatives (such as Google Translate, or Deepl) for example. Where the thing gets interesting is If we capture an image with texts in other languages “As a poster in Chinese, for example,” and that is where Google Lens is able to identify that text and translate it into languages such as Spanish instantly. Taking the Chinese text of an image and translating it with Google Lens is to sew and sing with this little tool Of course, the other great option of this pitcher is to do what Google tries to do: look for information. That text field lends itself to asking anything, which will make an integrated search engine activated in a small drop -down window that will behave like the Google search website, showing AI Overviews, links and even access to the AI Mode (because we continue to use the VPN and that option is also available in the US). Windows 10: 9 very useful and little known tricks Actually it was already possible to have a spotlight in Windows Google’s proposal is undoubtedly interesting, although undoubtedly it is another way of “infiltrating” on our PCs. This time Google’s app for Windows fulfills its mission, but it is important to note that it is not the only one that manages to take Windows the macOS Spotlight options. Powertoys Run In fact, there are a few suitors who try to offer the options of that Apple tool. One of the most remarkable is included in the set of Microsoft Powertoys tools. There the pitcher (called Powertoys Run) is also activated with ALT+space bar and allows several options similar to those of the Google app. Thus, by default it behaves like a Application search engine and pitcher: As soon as we begin to write the name of an application, the results will appear to be able to launch them from there. But we can also look for files and folders by writing a question closing symbol (“?”) And writing the name of the file to look for, or use it as a quick calculator using the equal symbol (“=”). I always wanted to have a desktop search engine focused precisely on that work of looking for files, and I found a great option with Everythinga small application whose interface is somewhat obsolete but whose operation is enviable. Everything finds all kinds of files related to the search term at the speed of lightning. It is difficult to compete with her in search of files, because before even looking for them is building a gigantic index that then consults for those searches. And best of all, in my case, this index also You can include network folders And therefore files that we have – as happens to me – in a nas connected to our local network. Be that as it may, Google’s option is an interesting step, although it is still available only in a limited way. If anyone knows about looking for things – especially on the Internet – it is this company, and without a doubt this is a good company for other tools that have coquista our Windows systems. Above all, of course: Google Chrome. In Xataka … Read more

In the new macOS 26 Tahoe there is change of interface, yes. But the surprise is to be able to write an email or throw a shortcut from Spotlight

June 9, 2025 by usatoday24

More than 40 years of history They contemplate the Mac. It may not be the protagonist of the Apple ecosystem, but Macos always has a relevant study in the updates that the company announces every year. This time it has not been the exception, and this year we have a new version that not only changes its name (Tahoe), but also jumps rumored in numbering. Thus, the traditional sequence after MacOS 15 Sequoia It should have brought us Macos 16, but instead Apple has decided to adopt a version number that corresponds to the “year of launch+1”, which in this case is 26. In this new version of macOS A good face washing was expectedand that’s what we have with MacOS 26 Tahoe. The changes in the interface are the absolute focus, although the most striking novelty is the one that reaches Spotlight, the launcher/search engine integrated in macOS. The interface changes, although not radically. Liquid Glass raises an interface in which for example the taskbar is transparent and that is customizable, such as the control center. The latter can be configured to our liking, adding a lot of direct icons and accesses, even that they can correspond to iPad apps. These customization improvements also reach the folders, in which we can change the color or add a small badge to differentiate them from the rest. The new version of continuity allows us that for example we can have a “twin” of our iPhone on the screen to be able to do things like enjoying calls directly on the MAC screen and also doing it using options such as the Real -time translation. However, where the most curious improvements arrive in Shortcuts and in Spotlight. In Shortcuts, a powerful Automatizon tool, now we can create more powerful shortcuts thanks to the so -called “smart actions”, which take advantage of Apple Intelligence’s functions. But It is in Spotlight where things change especially. We are facing that Apple states that it is the most important update in the history of this component. This pitcher allows you to search for files or launch applications – even those of the iPhone that we have matched with continuity – starting to write its name in the text field. But it is also that we now have a way to access very striking functions without leaving Spotlight using small keyboard shortcuts. Thus, if for example we write “SM” (Send Message) we can start the writing of an email message without opening the mail application. There are several of these personalized commands that make Spotlight into A kind of custom “terminal” In itself from which to execute commands, launch applications and even access the history of the clipboard. The last great novelty of Macos 26 Tahoe comes from the hand of video games. Apple, who has never paid too much attention to this area in the Mac, now offers a control center called Apple Games that reminds us of the Xbox application in Windows. As in that case, in Apple Games We have a form from which to access our library and from which to launch the games that we have bought or buy new. There is a new Game Overlay that allows us to chat with friends, invite them to play or adjust our configuration to play. The developers and users will also benefit metal 4, the new rendering technology specifically designed for the Apple chips GPUs and that allows games that take advantage of it improve its visual quality remarkably, promise in the company. In Xataka | Apple plays in today’s event more than its future in AI: its credibility is played as a company

France has put the soy in the spotlight. Science is not so clear that it is a good idea

April 25, 2025 by usatoday24

Soy has become one more element in our kitchens. Soja drinks, for example, are no longer a simple substitute for milk used by vegan people, but as one more drink. However, soy has also aroused the suspicions of some, generally focused around one of its components. Now those who have just paid their food in this food have been the French health authorities. Advise against. A few weeks ago, ANSES, the National Agency for Health Security of Food, the Environment and French work, issued a recommendation in which soybean products were advised in collective restoration. The motive wielded is in the isoflavones, but Not everyone is convinced in which it has been a good idea. Soy and isoflavonas. The Isoflavonas They are estrogen -like substances (hormones linked mainly to female reproduction) that are produced by some plants. Among the plants that produce these compounds are soybeans, and also to a lesser extent in other legumes and vegetables. The impacts on the human health of these compounds have generated interest in the community, scientific, not only for the risks that could entail but also for potential benefits. Since these compounds can be “coupled” to our hormonal receptors, the possible risks associated with the consumption of these phytoestrogens usually associate with their impact on our hormonal system, especially in that of children and adolescents, even in the growth stage. Avoid excessive consumption. According to details Radio France Internationalthe new measure is focused on avoiding excessive consumption, through the recommendation to eliminate soy products from collective restoration. This includes from nurseries to elderly residences, as well as other teaching centers and the canteens of companies. The new guide of the French agency establishes toxicological reference values (TRV) by ingestion that try to delimit the safe consumption of these compounds (those that are below the value), of which they could begin to suppose a risk. According to the agency, these values would be 0.02 mg per kg of body mass and day in the general population, and 0.01 mg/kg of body mass and day in pregnant women and children. Doubts. The measure has generated some skepticism. As It is explained from Sincthe new limits are based on studies conducted with animal models. While this type of studies represent a fundamental pillar when studying the impact of some substances, extrapolating its results to humans is not always simple. There are at least three factors that could alter these results continue to explain the article. The first, metabolic: mice metabilize these compounds less efficiently, which causes them to accumulate more easily in their body. Secondly, because some of the studies would have been using high doses that would not correspond to those we absorb when we consume isoflavones orally. Finally, the intestinal microbiota could also play a fundamental role in our absorption of these compounds. And in this sense, the gastrointestinal microbioma of humans and mice differs too much to be able to perform reliable extrapolations. And in humans? As they detail from Sinchumans do not yield especially alarming results. Rather on the contrary. These studies, including A technical review published in 2022 In the magazine Critical Reviews in Food Science and NutritionThey tend to point out that endocrine disruption tests associated with soybean consumption or its isoflavones are not detected. Controlling food concentration. Although the recommendations to collective restoration have focused the debate of the new French recommendations, these also pay attention to soy producers and food manufacturers. Not all soy varieties and not all products of this legume contain comparable isoflavone concentrations. That is why It is recommended To these sectors choose plant varieties, agronomic techniques and elaboration processes that minimize the presence of these compounds. In Xataka | In full tariff war, the EU has found a weapon to press the United States: soybeans Image | Tankilevitch polyina

In ‘Farmtok’, agriculture takes the spotlight. What will happen if TikTok disappears?

January 23, 2025 by usatoday24

BUCYRUS, Ohio, USA — Zoe Kent hopes people will lighten up a little to hear her talk about farming on the internet. In one of his latest videos, he compares pesticide application to dry shampoo. “Farming is for girls,” he jokes. On Instagram and TikTok, under the username “farmwithzoe,” Kent films herself putting on boots to load corn into the bed of a huge truck, posts memes about the price of grain, and documents almost everything about life on the farm, from how He gets rocks stuck in his equipment until he eats lunch on long days working on a combine. Now, the future of TikTok — and “Farmtok,” as some creators call the agriculture-related influencer ecosystem — has become more uncertain due to a ban the U.S. government briefly implemented on TikTok over the weekend. The new Trump administration rescinded that ban, at least for now, but farmers are keenly aware that things could change, and with them, the ways they share farm life with the rest of the world. But most say they will continue to adapt to what the platforms throw at them. “It’s like building your business on rented land,” Kent said. “It’s not guaranteed to stay there.” Even before the uncertain threat to TikTok’s future, agricultural creators had to deal with the evolution of social media. As algorithms changed, they faced greater challenges communicating with an audience many see as increasingly disconnected from agriculture. But most say they will continue to adapt to what the platforms throw at them. Some producers make extra money by building an audience on TikTok or Instagram. Others use social media to advertise to local customers, such as restaurants or farmers markets. Perhaps most importantly, they want to continue building community with other farmers in the face of industry challenges such as the profession’s impact on mental health, economic pressure and climate change. Several farmers said the disconnect has grown over the years as social media algorithms have changed. “I know for a fact that our social media reach is way down now,” said Beth Satterwhite, who has been posting on Instagram about her small organic vegetable farm in McMinnville, Oregon, for more than a decade. “The stories of people working in agriculture are a little less interesting for the consumer, I don’t know if it’s really less interesting or just less visible,” he said. Neil Denton, who grows corn, soybeans, wheat and rye in Barlow, Kentucky, shared a similar sentiment. Consider that many of his more than 80,000 followers on Instagram and 33,000 on TikTok are other producers, not members of the public. He finds that “disappointing” and worries about how much people know about the food that ends up on their plates. But he thinks there’s a silver lining: “Farming is a lonely occupation because you’re not around a lot of co-workers,” Denton said. “I think some farmers use social media as an outlet… to be able to express yourself and feel like you’re not alone.” Within the farming community, it can also be helpful to learn from other farmers, many producers said. Megan Dwyer, who grows corn and soybeans and raises beef cattle in northwest Illinois, uses social media, especially X and Facebook, to gauge what’s important to other farmers. “It’s a great source of information, especially quick information,” he said. However, all that quick information comes at a price. Satterwhite described a “soup of language” around agriculture, saying it could be difficult for an outsider to say which agricultural practices are legitimately better for the climate or the environment. “I see a lot of greenwashing,” Satterwhite said, referring to the practice of falsely portraying a product or practice as green in order to market it to an environmentally conscious public. “There is definitely a lot of misinformation out there,” Kent added. “I try to filter out who has genuine questions versus who already has a stance and isn’t willing to listen to me.” That’s something many ag influencers agree on: that they still want a place to have a conversation. As Dwyer said, “You never know who you are influencing there or what can happen.”

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