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stop importing Russian gas

December 4, 2025 by usatoday24

Brussels has announced a ban on importing Russian gas at the end of 2027. This is what They confirmed at a press conference the president of the European Commission, Ursula Von der Leyen, and the Commissioner for Energy, Dan Jørgensen. But, beyond the statements, there is an elephant in the room: the European Union has just promised something that it does not know if it will be able to fulfill. A “permanent” veto. According to the official statement of the European Commissionthe Parliament and Council have reached a political agreement to permanently stop imports of Russian gas – not only by gas pipeline, but also liquefied natural gas – and with a very specific timetable: LNG in short-term contracts: prohibited from April 25, 2026. Gas through pipeline in the short term: prohibited from June 17, 2026. LNG in long-term contracts: January 1, 2027. Long-term gas via pipeline: September 30, 2027 (or November 1 with extension if the storage level is not reached). Furthermore, the EU plans to stop importing Russian oil in 2027, something that confirms the Financial Times and that would complete the partial embargo in force since 2022. Even so, Hungary and Slovakia will continue to receive crude oil from the Druzhba pipelinerecently bombed— while their legal exceptions remain in effect. The political message is clear. The reality, less so. On paper, it is the final slam on Russian gas. Von der Leyen celebrated that the veto will allow “deplete Putin’s war chest”, while Jørgensen proclaimed that “blackmail and manipulation are over.” The political message is clear: Europe wants to show that it no longer depends on Moscow to get through the winter. However, consensus is fragile within the EU. The gas veto is official, but not unanimous. The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary published on his social networks which is already preparing an appeal to the Court of Justice of the EU to overturn the ban, while Slovakia asks to extend deadlines and protect its exceptions. The political agreement exists, but the operational unity is fragile: without real coordination between partners, an energy veto can become a simple declarative gesture. The actual reading is less triumphant. According to DWthe Moscow government accused the EU of precipitating “its own economic decline” by forcing the bloc to turn to more expensive alternatives and a global LNG market where already competes with Asia for each shipment. Brussels, aware of oil precedenthas shielded the veto with a much more severe legal framework. As explained by the Financial Timescompanies that try to circumvent the ban will face fines of up to 3.5% of their global turnover, fixed penalties that can reach 40 million euros and a mandatory system of certificates of origin to prevent Russian gas sneaks in disguise in the form of opaque mixtures, triangulations or indirect re-exports. The truth is even more uncomfortable. Europe still need gas to stabilize its electrical grid and cover demand peaks when the wind does not blow or the sun disappears. According to a report by McKinsey & CompanyEurope would need 75% more flexibility before 2030 to function without that fossil support, while global gas consumption will grow by 26% until 2050, just when it should fall by 75% to comply with the Paris Agreement. Added to this is the structural stress of the European gas system. The main Dutch regasification plants—Gate and Eemshaven— operate at 90–100% capacityjust when Europe faces winter with reserves at 83%, the lowest level since 2022. Spain, despite its large regasification capacity, can barely send 7,000–8,500 million m³ per year to France: the bottleneck is in the interconnections. And a cold wave is enough to destabilize prices, as Bloomberg warns. An accelerated roadmap. Brussels insists that this time there is a plan. Each Member State must be submitted before March 2026 a national diversification plan that details how it will replace the 35 billion m³ of Russian gas that was still entering the EU last year: new suppliers, new infrastructure and new LNG routes. On paper it makes sense. In practice, it means rebuilding in two years an energy system that took four decades to build. Meanwhile, Europe is held together by an unexpected lifeline: the United States. According to Bloombergthe continent has endured in recent months thanks to a boom in American LNG, with exports at record levels. This winter Europe “will probably be fine,” but real abundance will not arrive until the second half of 2026. Any unforeseen event—extreme cold, a rebound in Chinese demand, a technical failure—could strain the system again. And meanwhile, China plays another game. Europe looks at its deposits. China dig deeper. The Asian giant increased its domestic gas production by 5.8% in the first half of 2025, has had 20 years of almost uninterrupted growth, reduced its LNG imports by 22% and is moving forward with the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline, capable of absorbing 50 billion Russian m³ per year. The consequence is inevitable: if Europe stops buying, Russia you have someone to sell to. The precedent that worries Brussels. Here is the main fear: oil sanctions showed that when Europe closes a door, the market opens a window. As we have told in XatakaAfter the partial embargo, a phantom fleet of oil tankers emerged, European traders moved operations to Dubai, crude oil was mixed to hide its origin, and shell companies appeared in the Emirates that operated outside of European jurisdiction. The result was evident: Russian oil never stopped flowing, it simply changed flag, route and documentation. And that precedent is precisely what they now fear in Brussels: that gas will follow the same logic of opacity, triangulations and parallel markets. Europe promises to turn off Russian gas. On paper, it is a historic decision. By 2027, Europe says there will be no trace of Russian gas left in its energy system. In practice, the road is full of cracks: saturated infrastructure, porous sanctions, hesitant allies, a potentially cold winter and an energy transition that advances … Read more

The question is not whether Tim Cook will soon stop being CEO of Apple, but who will succeed him: Crossover 1×30

November 26, 2025 by usatoday24

The end of an era is approaching, they say. Or maybe not. The rumors about Tim Cook’s potential “retirement” are contradictory, and if a few days ago the Financial Times spoke about He would retire early next year.yesterday new data they threw down that possibility. But here it happens that when the river sounds, it carries water, and this conversation does not come from now, but from months ago…or years. The current CEO of Apple came to this position in 2011, after the death of Steve Jobs, and since then he has turned the company into an absolute money-making machine. One that, yes, has disappointed with (theoretical) projects like Project Titan, with a Vision Pro that for the moment is still not taking off or with the surprising irrelevance in the AI segment. That’s not the problem, of course. Although Apple has consolidated itself among the three companies with the largest market capitalization in the world in recent years, what it lacks is spark and the ability to innovate. Today Apple continues to depend heavily on the iPhone, although it is true that in recent years the services have given it a lot of joy. That makes it especially interesting to set up a pool with the main candidates to succeed Tim Cook, and that is what we have done in this new installment of Crossover, in which we debate Cook’s career, but also about who can take that baton. And many variables come into play here. From that operational strategy—will the new Apple be more innovative, or will it continue to focus on making money?—to the geopolitical implications of choosing a new CEO. Because let’s face it: This position is not just technologicalbut also political and diplomatic. There is a lot to cut through here, and it will certainly be interesting to see how the next few months go. On YouTube | Crossover In Xataka | Tim Cook has admitted that Apple is “very open” to acquisitions in AI. These are our candidates

Here begins the era of visual and interactive AI that you will not want to stop using

November 25, 2025 by usatoday24

Today I have asked Gemini twice what it consisted of the three body problem. The first time I asked the conventional Gemini, who after thinking for a few seconds gave me a text answer, well structured but which at first scared me a little because it even included equations. This was what the response looked like: Then I decided to ask Gemini again, but this time taking advantage of the new feature called Dynamic View (Dynamic View). Google introduced this option a few days ago, and here Gemini does not respond in text mode, but visually. This was what the response looked like: So that I could understand that concept, he created a simulation where I could switch between different simulation modes and speeds. And after that, he complemented this simulation with short texts that explained what happens when there are only two bodies (like the Earth and the Moon) and when there are three bodies and the butterfly effect is experienced. The system becomes so chaotic and complex that triple star systems in the universe are unstable. I didn’t understand it as much with the formula, but with that simulation, I did. This is a clear example of where the tables are going in the world of artificial intelligence chatbots. In that future that Gemini proposes, the conversation can become—if we wish— much more visual and interactive. Almost like a game, because by modifying the simulation we can check the effect of that change in real time. It’s easier to “click” and understand the concept, and that, dear readers, is addictive. Google talked about all this in the presentation of the feature last week, explaining how this option “allows AI models to create immersive experiences, interactive tools and simulations, completely generated in real time for any prompt.” Well, indeed, this is how ‘How I Met Your Mother’ ended, although I have hidden the text so as not to spoil that ending for those who have not seen the series. If you haven’t done it, I recommend it 😉 The practical applications of something like this are, once again, almost limitless. One can apply these dynamic views to understand probability theory, to get fashion tips, or to remember how ‘How I Met Your Mother’ ended. Already put I have asked the impossible: explain to me the movie ‘Tenet‘. He tried it with a good visual scheme (the video below shows that interactive response), but it didn’t help me much because I’m afraid that movie is absolutely inexplicable. I’m not saying it: Nolan says it. Visual and interactive summaries take a few seconds to complete and are not suitable for the impatient, but once they do, the truth is that the answers do not disappoint because that interactivity and visual content enrich said answer and make it much more digestible and attractive for the user. It is the tiktokization of AI to make it even more direct. This approach from Google once again demonstrates how strong the company has been for a few months. The Nano Banana phenomenon turned it into a company that finally demonstrated its potential, and both Gemini 2.5 Flash and Pro a few months ago like now Gemini 3 – which certainly seems to be a step above its rivals – have confirmed the optimism surrounding the company. This latest innovation from Dynamic View It is one of the most powerful and disruptive we have seen in the use of AI in these three years, and follows the path that the company has already outlined with the fabulous NotebookLM. Let’s go shopping with ChatGPT Google, of course, is not alone in that effort. OpenAI has been an absolute benchmark in the productization of AI, and with ChatGPT it got it right from the first moment in that user experience that made us want to use the chatbot for more and more things. The company led by Sam Altman has also been putting forward interesting proposals for a long time to be able to apply AI to all types of scenarios, and now it has come up with a new one that is unique these days of Black Friday: a “Purchase Research” mode that goes beyond finding products for us. And it goes further because it does not stick to our initial prompt, but rather asks us about that prompt. For example, I am looking for a 27-inch monitor with 1440p resolution (QHD) that is cheap and for mostly office use. And that’s what I put in the search engine. The surprises came from there, because in that mode ChatGPT does not give you the answer directly, but it asks you some more questions in “survey” mode asking yourself boxes to answer. Preferred connectivity? (HDMI) What budget do you have? (less than 150 euros). Which panel do you prefer? (I don’t care). After these questions, ChatGPT presents some preliminary options on the screen so that you can tell it if its results are on the right track or not (and if they are not, it asks you why, for example by price or features). After two and a half minutes, the chatbot presented an interesting personalized shopping guide in which it recommended me this Philips 27E2N1500L/00 that is 99 euros and that I will probably end up buying. Obviously this OpenAI tool is interesting for users, but also for OpenAI, because it is one more move in that strategy of becoming our indispensable ally for all types of purchases. ChatGPT wants to be a useful shopping assistant that helps us find products… and that along the way give a commission to OpenAI. We already saw it with Instant Checkout, and this is another move that points to that promising line of income for the company, which certainly needs it like eating. But beyond that, the Purchase Research mode is another good example of how these searches no longer stop at what we ask, but instead ask us questions to better understand what we want and then give … Read more

Germany is trying to stop its electricity dependence on China. The question is whether that is even possible.

November 23, 2025 by usatoday24

Almost four years ago, Germany learned a painful lesson: your industry cannot depend on the energy of a geopolitical rival. The Russian gas crisis after the invasion of Ukraine forced the Germans to make more than one sacrifice while the country’s energy model was transformed. Now, at the gates of 2026, Friedrich Merz’s government faces a déjà vu disturbing. The same stone twice. Germany may have become independent of Gazprom’s gas pipelines, but its solar panels and grid technology bear, directly or indirectly, China’s stamp. Good: Berlin has just hit the brakes. The collapse of a seemingly innocuous financial operation last week has revealed that Germany is carefully reviewing every watt that enters its system to avoid repeating the historic Russian gas mistake. The trigger. The Italian company Snam SpA intended to acquire a minority stake in Open Grid Europe (OGE), one of the largest gas network operators in Germany. On paper, it was an investment between European partners. In practice, the German Economy Ministry saw the shadow of Beijing. The problem was not Snam, but its shareholders. The state-owned State Grid Corporation of China owns 35% of Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, which in turn owns a third of Snam. For the Merz government, that was risk enough. Given Berlin’s refusal to accept the proposed solutions, Snam withdrew its offer last week. A clear message. Berlin does not want companies with Chinese state participation to have access to the country’s energy arteries, even indirectly, which marks a change in doctrine compared to the era of Olaf Scholz, who at the time allowed the Chinese shipping company Cosco to enter the port of Hamburg. The current executive is much more defensive: national security takes precedence over capital. The question is… Too late? If blocking the purchase of a gas network is relatively simple, unraveling technological dependence on China is a logistical and economic nightmare. 95% of the photovoltaic cells installed in Germany come from Chinese manufacturers. And almost the entire wind industry, especially offshore, depends on rare earths controlled by China. The German energy transition is based on Asian hardware. Germany needs Chinese technology to meet its climate goals. And he doesn’t hide it. The German government has already raised this concern in international forums, denouncing the Chinese overcapacity in sectors such as electric mobility and solar energy. Technology that is needed but now considered a “systemic risk.” Is decoupling possible? In 2018, the German government already had to intervene so that the state bank KfW bought a stake in the network operator 50Hertz, preventing it from falling into the hands, again, of the Chinese State Grid. Seven years later, the strategy of “patching” individual acquisitions seems insufficient in the face of structural dependence. If the experience with Russia is any guide, Berlin seems to have decided that, this time, the price of security must be paid in advance, before anyone decides to turn off the tap. But today, the reality of the market is stubborn: replacing Chinese hardware means, almost invariably, paying more and taking longer to deploy renewables. Image | rawpixel In Xataka | If you were expecting cheap electricity this winter, we have bad news: Holland

This is how Moscow wants to stop Ukrainian drone incursions

November 18, 2025 by usatoday24

Losing your mobile connection when entering Russia has become, in recent days, a very real possibility for those traveling to the country. It is not a blackout zone or an operator error, but a measure that is part of the new approach with which Moscow is monitoring its networks amid the conflict with Ukraine. On November 10 began to be applied in Russia a mechanism that allows you to temporarily restrict the use of certain SIM cards when they reconnect to the country’s network. According to the Ministry of Digital Developmentit is a system aimed at verifying that the line belongs to a real user and not to a device used for other purposes. The idea fits with what Minister Maksut Shadayev advanced in August, when he explained that his department was studying blocking SIMs from abroad for a few hours when crossing the border. When the SIM reappears. In the case of Russian cards, the authorities have established a mechanism that is activated when the line reconnects to the national network after having been inactive for 72 hours or after a period of roaming. During this interval, access to mobile data and the use of SMS is suspended. It is not presented as a technical failure, but rather as a preliminary check that the network executes before allowing normal use of the service. For SIM cards that arrive from abroad, the system works more directly. When the line connects to the Russian network, the same temporary blocking that we have already talked about is applied, but with a clear procedure to remove it. The user receives an SMS from the operator that explains the restriction and includes a link to complete a captcha that proves that the card is in the hands of a person. If you prefer, you can do this by phone, where the operator confirms your details before reactivating services. The drone war is also going through mobile networks. The official explanation maintains that some SIM cards with data access can be found inside enemy drones and serve as a navigation or control channel. It is not an isolated idea. In Operation Spider’s Web, described by CSISUkraine used drones equipped with 4G/LTE-based systems and autonomous flight software. Even without stating that they all work the same, this precedent shows that mobile networks have become one more element of a conflict where each communication channel counts. One more measure in a much larger mosaic. Determining the real impact of these limitations on drone raids is not easy, among other things because there is no single operating model. The CSIS analysis reflects that even in systems that rely on mobile networks, autonomy plays a key role and that the weight of connectivity can vary depending on the mission. In this context, the restrictions applied by Russia fit as another tool, the exact scope of which depends on factors that are not public and that vary from one operation to another. For users, these measures mean living with a system that introduces an additional pause every time the SIM card changes context. The impact is especially visible in border areas, where mobile phones can automatically connect to networks in other countries and activate unwanted restrictions. Authorities have recommended configuring network selection manually to avoid this. Recovering the service involves following the steps we have mentioned. Images | Xataka with Gemini 2.5 In Xataka | In Ukraine the difficult thing is not to replace a drone but its pilot. So Russia has started the hunt with something unprecedented: Rubikon

Less than 150 kilometers from Taiwan, the US does not stop accumulating missiles. It’s the closest thing to preparing for war.

November 7, 2025 by usatoday24

For some time now, the Taiwan position in it strategic balance global has become one of the main axes on which power competition is articulated between the United States and China. The island not only represents a point political identity for Beijing or a symbol of democratic commitment for Washington, but also a decisive geographical node in the military architecture of the Pacific. and then there is a narrow between both. The distances. Maritime access to the island, the air routes that surround it and the narrow strip of water that separates it from the Philippines and Japan define a good part of the board in which it is decided how far project Chinese strength and to what extent it can be contained from the outside. Thus, the crisis that is emerging is not made solely of declarations or doctrines: It is made up of specific islands, narrow maritime corridors, and political decisions made in small communities that suddenly become geopolitical borders. The war strait. It counted on a extensive Reuters report that the chain of continuous military exercises and the missile deployment anti-shipping in the northernmost islands of the Philippines reveal a US strategy that assumes that control of the Western Pacific straits is decisive in preventing the Chinese navy from operating freely in the open sea. And at that point, the province of Batanesuntil a few years ago a quiet territory dedicated to fishing and subsistence agriculture, has become a point of critical importance, due to its position in the extreme south from Bashi Channelthe narrow sea lane that connects the South China Sea to the western Pacific. Bashi is located between Mavulis Island and Orchid Island The arrival of an arsenal. The establishment of a rotating military presencebut practically permanent, with deployments of mobile missile systems capable of blocking the passage of surface ships, has transformed this territory into an essential component of the so-called First Island Chainthe containment line that the United States, Japan and the Philippines intend to maintain to limit China’s ability to influence beyond its coastal waters. Local populations, aware of the historical precedent from 1941live in fear of seeing how their daily lives can be suddenly interrupted by the logic of deterrence or escalation. Liaoning exercises in the Pacific The uncertainty of the Philippines. The Manila government operates in the paradox of a country that does not want to be dragged into a war, but that recognizes that geography makes inevitable any implications in the event of a conflict in the Taiwan Strait. The administration of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has unambiguously reopened military cooperation with the United States, granting expanded access to bases in Luzon and reinforcing the number and duration of joint exercises. Given the possibility of an attack or a blockade on Taiwanthe Philippines is preparing not only for defense operations, but for the forced return of tens of thousands of Filipino workers from the island. The prospect of a sudden influx of refugees, disruptions to supply routes and the need to operate under conditions of scarcity have led provincial authorities to raise contingency plans agricultural and logistical processes that return daily life to a state of cautious alert. China and reunification. For Beijing, the Taiwan question is presented as an internal matter which does not allow external negotiation. The Chinese leadership maintains that reunification is a historic address that sooner or later it will come to fruition, and that any foreign intervention constitutes an unacceptable violation of its sovereignty. Hence, the US military presence in the Philippines, the deployment of missiles and the intensification of exercises are interpreted by China not as defensive measures, but as deliberate attempts to restrict their margin of action and condition their ability to respond. The increase in Chinese naval operations through from Bashi Channelthe presence of aircraft carrier groups in the western Pacific and low-intensity pressure tactics against Philippine patrols are part of a carefully calibrated game of signals. Washington’s ambiguity. This week, Donald Trump has reiterated that Xi Jinping knows the consequences of an attack on Taiwan, while refusing to specify whether the United States would intervene militarily. This gesture of opacity, faithful to the doctrine of strategic ambiguity, seeks to simultaneously maintain deterrence against Beijing and the control over decisions of Taipei, preventing the island from declaring formal independence that could accelerate the clash. The difference with respect to the previous government’s approach is one of tone rather than substance: if Biden tended to explicitly verbalize the defense of Taiwan, Trump shifts the emphasis toward risk perception by Chinese leaders. Ambiguity not only preserves diplomatic margin; It also avoids automatically locking the United States into open war if an unexpected escalation occurs. Key islands. As it is, preparation for a possible conflict over Taiwan is not happening in abstract power centers, but in island territories where daily life depends on supply ships and where every Pacific wind brings with it the memory of past conflicts. The expansion of presence US military in the Philippines, Chinese pressure to break the limits imposed by the island chain, and Washington’s calculated ambiguity form an unstable balance that is already changing life in those communities. The future of the region will not be decided only in great summits diplomatic, but in the capacity of a few narrow territories to become a barrier, access or trigger for a greater change in the global order. Image | PiCryl, BORN, rhk111, Army Map Service In Xataka | China has asked Russia for an airborne battalion and training. That can only mean one thing: they are preparing a landing In Xataka | The US studied what would happen if it went to war with China: now it has begun a desperate race to duplicate missiles

a few steps a day are enough to stop the spark that ignites the disease

November 6, 2025 by usatoday24

The 10,000 steps rule It is truly classic, and has become the default target for smartwatches and activity bracelets. And although we sense that walking is good, science continues to give us the reasons to go for a walk, and above all how much time we should invest in this. The latest finding already indicates that walking can have a surprising connection with slower cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s proteins. Why it is important. Alzheimer’s is a disease that is undoubtedly devastating due to the symptoms it generates in both the patient and the impact on family members. To this day still The origin of the disease continues to be investigatedand above all looking for therapeutic targets that allow us to create a treatment that cures the disease, since today we only have medications to alleviate some symptoms and try to slow down the disease a little. But nothing miraculous. But another point of the investigation also focuses on prevention. The problem of not perfectly understanding why the disease originates makes it necessary to look for preventive remedies, such as walkingas this study has shown, but which adds to others that have already been seen such as education. The key. The studyconducted by researchers from the Harvard Aging Brain Study (HABS), followed 296 cognitively healthy older adults over a long period, with follow-up up to 14 years in some cases. Unlike many studies that rely on participants’ memory (which are hardly objective), this one used objective trackers (pedometers) to measure the actual number of daily steps. In parallel, they scanned their brains looking for the two “villain” proteins of Alzheimer’s: beta-amyloid (Aβ) and tau. Amyloid forms plaques out of neurons, while tau forms tangles inside of them, killing them. It is literally the garbage that cannot be eliminated from the brain and that begins to accumulate in the neurons and the space between them. This causes them to literally die from the accumulation of garbage inside and begin to generate the classic symptoms. The results. The first news we found is that walking does not allow the amyloid neurons to be ‘clean’. But the important thing here is that in people who already had high levels of amyloid, physical activity was associated with a slower accumulation of tau protein in a key region of the brain: the inferior temporal cortex. And this has been fundamental to see that the cognitive decline was much less. Bottom line: amyloid may be the phosphorus, but tau is the gasoline. Physical activity does not extinguish the match, but it seems to make it harder for the gasoline to ignite inside our neuron. It is a new way to stop Alzheimer’s. A magic number. The question we can ask ourselves in this case is clear: how many do we have to go to achieve this protective effect on tau? The researchers, after dividing the participants into different groups according to their physical activity, saw a ‘curvilinear relationship’. This means that profits do not increase infinitely. The biggest jump in protection (slowing tau accumulation and cognitive decline) was seen when moving from the ‘inactive’ to the ‘low activity’ group. Regarding the data, taking between 5,000 and 7,500 steps already offers a significant benefit, making going beyond 7,500 steps not offering an added benefit or additional protection. And that is why we already have the magic number that we should do daily on our walks. A more realistic goal. This is fantastic news. For many older or sedentary people, the goal of 10,000 steps can seem daunting and unattainable. This study gives a little respite and lowers this goal (always talking about neurological protection) to 5,000-7,500 steps. Although this does not correlate with the recommended steps to have cardioprotection. The authors conclude that targeting physical inactivity is a key strategy for future interventions. And for clinical trials, they suggest that it would be most effective to preferably enroll sedentary individuals who already show elevated amyloid in their brains, since they are the group that would benefit the most. Images | Adam Cai Natasha Connell In Xataka | We have been detecting a relationship between herpes and Alzheimer’s for years. Now we are discovering that treating one helps the other

What is the Richter scale, how it works and why you should stop using it when talking about earthquakes

November 5, 2025 by usatoday24

We still often hear about “an earthquake measuring so many degrees on the Richter scale” in the news or when reading about an earthquake. This is incorrect for one or more reasons.. To understand why, we must delve into what the Richter scale is, when it is used and, above all, when it is not. What is the Richter scale The Richter scale is a scale used to measure the magnitude of an earthquake. According to defines the National Geological Institute (IGN), the magnitude of the earthquake is “a measure of the energy released by an earthquake and is determined from the signal recorded in a seismogram.” There are several magnitude scales for earthquakes, since earthquake waves can vary in their characteristics. Among them, the best known to the public is that of local Richter magnitudeor simply ML for “local magnitude.” Local, in this answer, refers to the fact that this scale is used to measure earthquakes that have been captured from close range. Specifically, it is used for those captured at less than 600 kilometers, according to the IGN. Who was Charles Francis Richter The name “Richter scale” refers to the American seismologist Charles Francis Richter. Born in 1900 in the state of Ohio, this American physicist and seismologist would leave as a legacy the first scale of its kind, a systematic way of measuring the strength of an earthquake. The seismographs They had been used for decades as a way to measure earthquakes, but it was in 1935 when Richter brought up the idea to establish a magnitude with which to measure these events. Starting from this idea, Richter would have the help of the German-American seismologist Beno Gutenberg to put it into practice. Charles F. Richter died in 1985 in the US state of California. The scale And how are the magnitudes calculated? The scale It is based on the logarithm of the amplitude of seismic waves. That is, the magnitude of an earthquake is proportional (logarithmically) to the height reached by the waves drawn by seismographs. The calculation must be “corrected” to, among other things, adjust it to a “type seismograph”. What we measure with the Richter scale, and what we don’t We pointed out before that the Richter scale, or ML, is used locally. And for seismologists, “local” refers to earthquakes originating no more than 600 kilometers of the seismograph that must measure it. But not all earthquakes that occur in “local” contexts are the same, so they are not all measured using this scale. The use of the ML scale is also limited with respect to the magnitude earthquake: it is only used to measure earthquakes of small or moderate magnitude (magnitudes between 2 and 6.5). The objective of measure the magnitude of an earthquake It is to get an idea of its strength. To do this, scales such as the Richter scale use the waves generated by the earthquake, as captured by seismographs. The problem, as the experts realized, is that waves in large earthquakes do not always allow extrapolation of the magnitude using the Richter scale: sometimes the magnitude thus calculated overestimates the strength of the earthquake and sometimes the opposite occurs. Come on, although there are two earthquakes less than 600 kilometers from where they have been recorded with a seismograph, this scale is not always accurate for both. Sometimes this scale is fine, but other times the actual strength of the earthquake is higher or lower than what it measures. To compensate for the shortcomings of ML, geologists created different scalessuch as body wave magnitude (Mb) or surface wave magnitude (Ms). Each of these scales works in its own context, but the problem arises because none are universally applicable. To solve this, we then had to create the Mw scale, which we will talk about below. Magnitude and intensity To avoid confusion, we have to have clear concepts such as earthquake intensity. The intensity of an earthquake has its own scalebut it does not measure the strength of the earthquake but its impacts. The European Macroseismic Scale graduates in a scale from I to XII earthquakes based on the damage caused. The ML scale and the Mw scale As explained by the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the limitations of the existing scales implied the need to create a new scale that would serve to cover these limitations. This is how the seismographic moment magnitude scale, or Mw, would have been born. This scale, although it is adjusted to “coincid” with the local magnitude scale where the latter is applicable, is based on a very different principle. Where the Richter scale converts recorded seismic waves into a magnitude, the Mw scale uses geological properties of tectonic movement. To do this, we start from the measurement of seismic momentthe product of the area traveled by the fault that has moved, the distance traveled in this displacement, and a measure of the stiffness of the rock that makes up the fault. This measurement is transformed through a logarithmic formula to obtain the magnitude of the moment (Mw) of the earthquake. Here, we can say that this scale is the closest thing to a universalsince it was created to be used in all earthquakes, even those with a magnitude greater than that supported by the Richter. Thus, it is currently the most used today to measure earthquakes, although in the news we will continue to hear about Richter’s. By saying degrees when they are magnitudes Other common mistake When talking about earthquakes and their scale, we talk about degrees, for example if we said “an earthquake measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale.” The origin of this common error is not clear, but some attribute it to the fact that there are scales (such as the one used to study the intensity of earthquakes) in which degrees are used. In Xataka | 0.2 magnitude points and 70 years of disaster preparedness: what differentiates the deadly tsunami of 1952 from the one that occurred … Read more

Everyone agrees that we have to stop using gas. But Europe does not take any notice

November 4, 2025 by usatoday24

Europe is preparing for another winter by looking askance at the gas tanks and the thermometer. The heating they start to light up and the alarms, again, too. According to a report by McKinsey & Companyglobal gas demand will increase by 26% by 2050. The figure clashes with the scenario necessary to limit global warming to 1.5 °C, which would require reducing consumption by more than 75%. The bridge fuel. In theory, Europe had learned the lesson after the energy crisis of 2022. But three winters later, the board still showing cracks. The main regasification plants in the Netherlands – Gate and Eemshaven – operate at 90% or 100% of their capacity, and their saturation “is the prelude to higher prices.” They are the gateway for liquefied natural gas (LNG) for Germany and a good part of the European industry. Meanwhile, Spain boasts of having the largest regasification capacity in the EU, with six active terminals, but it can provide little relief to the rest of the continent: interconnections with France barely allow the export of between 7,000 and 8,500 million cubic meters per year. The bottleneck it’s clear: the dependence is no longer on Russia, but on a few port infrastructures that operate at their limits. The result feels on the bill: The regulated gas rate in Spain rose up to 20% in October, but international gas became slightly cheaper, regulated tolls and the increase in winter demand drove up costs. Europe facing winter. The European Union enters winter with gas reserves at 83%the lowest level since the beginning of the energy crisis and ten points below the historical average. The European Commission had set a target of 90%which has not been fulfilled. Meteorologists, in addition, warn of a colder winter than the previous three, which could trigger consumption. Despite this, Brussels does not speak of panic but of caution. ENTSOG—the body that brings together gas system operators— estimates that even In a high demand scenario, no country would have to cut supply. However, he warns of a real risk: “A cold wave in autumn could increase pressure on prices,” especially as Europe compete with Asia for the available LNG. A future that does not deviate from gas. The panorama drawn by the consulting firm McKinsey it’s clear: Global energy consumption will continue to grow by 10% to 15% until 2050. Fossil fuels, despite the rise of renewables, will continue to represent between 41% and 55% of the world’s energy mix. And natural gas, far from disappearing, will remain the pillar of the electrical system and the chemical industryespecially in Asia and the Middle East. The energy transition, the consultancy warns, has lost speed. The priority is no longer decarbonization, but safety and affordability. Or, as the report summarizes: “The gas doesn’t go down, it just moves.” As the electrification of industry and transportation advances, gas demand remains a backup for the system, exacerbating the paradox: each installed renewable megawatt still needs gas behind it. Even in its intermediate scenario, McKinsey estimates a global temperature rise of 2.3°C, well above the Paris Agreement target. The way out: the flexibility that is missing. The consulting firm points to a structural solution: flexibility. Europe will need 75% more flexibility mechanisms before 2030 to integrate renewables without depending on gas. This study estimates that European companies They could capture up to 8 billion euros annually if they invest in demand-side response (DSR) solutions: systems capable of adjusting industrial electricity consumption based on renewable production. In other words, moving demand instead of turning on gas when there is no sun or wind. Several examples from the report show how this new flexibility works: a French paper company managed to multiply its reaction capacity by electrifying its boilers and using thermal storage. In the Netherlands, a greenhouse combines solar energy, batteries and electric boilers to make better use of its production and earn about 300,000 euros per year. And in the United Kingdom, a supermarket chain can reduce its consumption at times of high demand without interrupting its activity. Together, these solutions – batteries, digital control and intelligent systems – allow the electrical grid to adapt instantly, without depending on gas. Between two models. Europe has the generation of the future, but it continues to operate with the rules of the past. The electrical grid still depends on gas to stay on its feet, and transition plans are running slower than the thermometer. McKinsey warns that gas will grow by 26% until 2050, just when it should fall by 75%. It is the portrait of a contradiction: while science asks to slow down, the system steps on the accelerator. The coming winter will once again measure us, not only in degrees or reserves, but in political will. Because energy stability and climate stability, today, are already the same thing. Image | Unsplash Xataka | Europe has been working for three years to isolate itself from Russian gas. Two countries have decided to build a direct gas pipeline to Russia

Ghibli and more Japanese studios demand that OpenAI stop using their works. The reason: the Sora 2 videos

November 4, 2025 by usatoday24

In Japan they seem to be tired of images generated with artificial intelligence that resemble, perhaps too much, the mythical works of Japanese origin. We are referring, of course, to images and videos created with AI that seek to reimagine any photo, person or character with “Ghibli style” or similar. An anti-piracy organization in Japan has demanded that OpenAI cease what they claim is a copyright violation. Japan studies against AI. CODA is a Japanese anti-piracy organization that includes companies such as Studio GhibliToei Animation, Bandai, Toho and Square Enix. The organization has published a letter demanding OpenAI stop using its members’ original content to train Sora 2, the OpenAI tool responsible for generating realistic videos with artificial intelligence. Some of Studio Ghibli’s most legendary films. (Images: Studio Ghibli) In your letterCODA (whose acronym stands for Overseas Content Distribution Association) claims to have confirmed that “a large portion of the content produced by Sora closely resembles Japanese content or images.” This, according to the organization, would be the result of having used copyrighted content to train artificial intelligence. In Xataka OpenAI has just made a move after its separation of assets with Microsoft: it has signed an agreement with Amazon for $38 billion What Japanese studies ask for. CODA’s demands are clear: that OpenAI not use its members’ content to train its artificial intelligence model. And also, that OpenAI respond to the demands and complaints of the companies that are part of the Japanese organization about the Sora 2 videos. {“videoId”:”x9hhg44″,”autoplay”:true,”title”:”The TRUTH of AI – This is how ChatGPT 4, DALL-E or MIDJOURNEY works 🤖 🧠 ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE”, “tag”:”webedia-prod”, “duration”:”1173″} The government also pressures. In mid-October the Japanese government already had spoken against OpenAI’s use of copyrighted content to train its artificial intelligence. Minoru Kiuchi, Japanese minister responsible for intellectual property strategy in the country, asked OpenAI not to violate the copyrights of Japanese intellectual properties. According to Minister Kiuchi, manga and anime are “irreplaceable treasures” that Japan offers the world. 2025, the year of “Ghibli-style” images. Last March OpenAI enabled the image generation based on GPT-4oand quickly “Ghibli-style” or “anime-style” images became extremely popular. However, the claims of CODA and its members, in addition to the Japanese government’s request, are especially directed at Sora 2 and its video generation capabilities. In Xataka OpenAI has turned ChatGPT into mainstream AI. In the business world the game is being won by its great rival Although the results are far from perfect, social networks have been filled with these types of unofficial videos made with AI, which for companies such as Bandai Namco, NHK, Wowow, Aniplex and many others represents a violation of their copyright. At the time of publishing this article, OpenAI has not yet responded to the Japanese studios’ request. Cover image | OpenAI / Image created with artificial intelligence In Xataka | The “AI slop” turned into art. A Chinese creator is copying the absurd aesthetics of generative AI, and it’s hilarious In Xataka | OpenAI knows that ChatGPT is causing serious mental health problems for some users. And he is already “correcting” it (function() { window._JS_MODULES = window._JS_MODULES || {}; var headElement = document.getElementsByTagName(‘head’)(0); if (_JS_MODULES.instagram) { var instagramScript = document.createElement(‘script’); instagramScript.src=”https://platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js”; instagramScript.async = true; instagramScript.defer = true; headElement.appendChild(instagramScript); – The news Ghibli and more Japanese studios demand that OpenAI stop using their works. The reason: the Sora 2 videos was originally published in Xataka by Eduardo Marin .

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