study

According to a new study, the holy sheet never covered Jesus Christ. The strange thing is that he has put defenders and critics in agreement

by

Turin’s shroud, also known as ‘Santa Slack’, is one of the most important relics of Christianity. This 4.4 x 1.1 -meter linen fabric has been a historic controversy focus among those who defend that it was the blanket that was placed on the body of Christ at the time of their burial and those who believe that it is a subsequent fabric. Now a new study has been published to add more firewood to the fire by stating that the Holy Sheet is false. And what he has achieved is to unite both defenders and critics of the authenticity of the fabric. Short. Cicero Moraes is a Brazilian researcher specialized in three -dimensional reconstruction. I already warned in 2024, but in the recent study published in the magazine Archaeometry He has presented the conclusions that lead him to consider the holy sheet as a false relic. Using Open Source software and three -dimensional models, Moraes approached the formation of the image of the sheet performing digital simulations. He analyzed how a fabric behaves when covering different three -dimensional forms, observing the patterns of the sheet and concluding that they adapt much better to a solid model and without too much depth, such as a bas -relief, than to something more “soft” and in depth, such as human anatomy. This, for him, would already rule out that it was the sheet that covered the body of Jesus Christ, arguing that, in that case, the distortion of the image and the folds would be much more evident if a human body had covered. Here you can see the video of the simulation of Moraes: So? The researcher holdsbased on those 3D models such as those used in cinema and video games for Simulate objects of objectsthat the image of the shroud could only have been created if it had been placed on a bas -relief of a human figure, such as a stone or wood size. If a human body had covered, the image of the shroud would not be so perfect and should be more distorted due to the greater depth of the body, especially on the sides. Come on, that the royal sheet shows a “photocopy” of a sculpture or bas -relief, not a human body. Having covered a body, I would have presented the documented effect “Agamemnon mask“ Moraes’ study shows what the silhouette of Jesus Christ really would be if the sheet had been on a body, on the left, in the face of the perfect representation of the body that shows the shroud, to the right Previous studies. Moraes’ is just One of the many analysis which have been done to verify the authenticity of the relic. The most famous, perhaps, is the test carried out in 1988 by Laboratories of Oxford, Arizona and Zurich in which the Carbon-14 and determined that the fabric had occurred at some point between 1260 and 1390 AD Apart from the studies, to dismant Godofredo de Chany He exposed it for the first time in a French town. And there are also no writings of the Christian tradition that mention the sheet. Of course, on the other hand, defenders of their authenticity argue that The most solid testthat of 1988, It could have been contaminated with materials after the time of Christ, and that the sheet would be about 2,000 years old. Another recent study He pointed out that the spots of the shroud corresponded to the blood that could occur with torture and crucifixion, but there are also those to indicate opposite. The shroud Criticism. The problem of the new study is what you can be imagining: it is an extremely powerful statement based on a theoretical analysis with strictly digital data such as those of a 3D simulation. And criticisms have not taken to arrive. The International Center for Syndonology of Turin (who are responsible for the study of the sheet), directlypoints out that Moraes’ work does not provide direct evidence on the historical piece and, although the 3D modeling It is valuable from the perspective of visualization of the tissue on the body, does not take into account variables such as the elasticity of the fabric, among other factors. And that it is a visual representation of a theory with a century behind it without adding much more. Other experts have commented that, although the study is interesting, the simulations, by themselves, They cannot replace direct analysis of the object. Convulsive context. The First statements De Moraes in 2024 on his study arrived at a complicated moment, since the Santa Neck was going to be an important piece in the 2025 jubilee acts. Not showing the real element, but a series of Very precise digital representations. And what does the Vatican? Interestingly, they have not spoken. But not with this 3D study, but historically. The official position is to promote the interdisciplinary study of the piece, without issuing a conclusive judgment. And this is something that is valued in the scientific community, since it maintains the living and open debate, allowing new study approaches in future research. Therefore … Is the holy sheet false? Moraes defends that its origin is that of a medieval art work, but its research through simulations cannot be definitive. Therefore, it follows the debate on whether it is the original sacred relic or if it is a medieval creation and, like Matteo Borrini, one of the researchers who maintains that it is a medieval artifact, commented A few years ago, “our faith is not based on the shroud, but on the gospels”, so it would give the same if the shroud is original or something much later, since the faith is above it. In Xataka | Boadilla del Monte is not famous for many things. So now he wants to lift a statue of 37 meters

NASA ignores Harvard’s study on an alleged extraterrestrial ship: “It is an interstellar kite”

by

On July 1, 2025 he will go down in history as the day that astronomers confirmed the presence of an interstellar third object In the Solar System. 3i/Atlas is, according to NASA, a kite from another star. But for Harvard Avi Loeb teacher, it could be something much more disturbing: a piece of extraterrestrial technology, possibly hostile. Wait, what? In a series of articles and a Paper scientist Not yet reviewed by pairs, Avi Loeb and its collaborators pose a hypothesis that touches science fiction. Known for his controversial position on ‘oumuamua, The first interstellar object ever discoveredwhich also described as possible alien technology, Loeb bases his new theory on a series of characteristics that he considers “anomalous” on the path and nature of 3i/Atlas. The anomalies of 3i/Atlas. Loeb Point out in your blog that the retrograde path of 3i/Atlas is inclined only about five degrees with respect to the plane in which the earth orbit. The director of the Harvard Astronomy Department estimates that the probability that this occurs by chance is only 0.2%. His career about Venus, Mars and Jupiter unusually. An orbit like this, it argues, would be ideal for a probe that would like to observe the planets of the interior solar system. On the other hand, Loeb highlights its huge size, initially estimated at 20 kilometers in diameter. According to his article, we should have seen a million objects of the size of ‘oumuamua (about 100 meters) for each object of the 3I/Atlas caliber. To top it off, the new interstellar visitor will reach its closest point to the sun (its perihelium) on October 29, 2025, at which time it will have been hidden from our view by the sun itself. The dark forest hypothesis. Loeb suggests that becoming invisible from our point of view is intentionally, since the perihelium is the optimal point to perform an inverse Oberth maneuver: a high efficiency braking to be gravitationally trapped by the solar system without being detected from the earth. To round his hypothesis, Loeb is part of this idea in the dark forest hypothesis, popularized by the author of “The problem of the three bodies”, Cixin Liu. The hypothesis, One of the explanations of the Fermi paradoxsuggests that advanced civilizations remain silent to avoid being detected by other potentially predatory civilizations. In this scenario, 3i/Atlas would be a recognition probe exploring the solar system. NASA does not believe it is an alien ship. Although Loeb’s arguments are intriguing, they face Ockham’s Navaja, who says that the simplest explanation is usually correct. In this case, the simplest explanation is that 3i/Atlas is a kite, As NASA says. And the astronomical community has more and more evidence to support this conclusion, refuting, point by point, alleged anomalies. Telescope images such as North Gemini or the Vera C. Rubin Observatory They show what a coma looks like, A diffuse gas and dust cloud surrounding the kite ice cream When heated by the sun. This should invalidate the argument of the size of 20 km, since the real core is much smaller. Loeb himself He later recognized That the elongated appearance is due to the movement of the object during the photographic exposure, not to its shape. Disassembling the Avi Loeb hypothesis. Loeb said that no specific gases were detected. However, as explained by astronomer Darryl Seligman, the object was still far from the sun when those statements were made. It is normal for comime activity (basically, sublimation of ice) is weak to those distances. It is expected that as he approaches the sun, The spectral firms of gases They become visible. Loeb’s hypothesis has been received with strong skepticism. Chris Lentott, Astronomo of Oxford, described the suggestion In Live Science as “a nonsense about stilts and an insult to the exciting work that is being done to understand this object.” This reaction is not by closure, but because the overwhelming evidence available points in another direction. The reality is that 3i/Atlas is a fascinating object, a piece of another solar system that visits us very far, and that has probably more years than the Sun. Studying its composition and trajectory will give us very valuable information about how the planets are formed in other places of the galaxy. In Xataka | These real images were unthinkable before the Webb Telescope: they are planets orbiting other stars to 130 light years Image | Gemini Observatory/Noirlab/NSF/Aura/K. Meech (Ifa/U. Hawaii); Processing: Jen Miller, Mahdi Zamani (NSF/Noirlab)

A study reveals that the best of the four -day work week is not what it achieves: it is what eliminates

by

There are discrepant voices among those who argue that it is impossible to reduce working hours Without bringing the economy to bankruptcy of the country, while others argue that applying the work week to four days without reducing salary is demonstrating to be beneficial Not only for employees but also for companies. International investigation published in the magazine Nature Human Behaviour It reveals that the reduction from working hours to a four -day work week model produces Clear improvements in well -beingphysical and mental health, and labor satisfaction of workers, without the change having any effect About productivity. A two -year study. The study ‘The reduction of working time through a 4 -day work week improves the well -being of workers‘, conducted by researchers from the University of Boston and Dublin, was carried out between 2022 and 2024. 2,896 employees of 141 companies in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Ireland and the United States participated. The researchers divided participants into three groups according to the amount of weekly reduction hours: one with a reduction of eight hours or more (32 hours per week), another with reductions of five to seven hours and another with reductions from one to four hours in their weekly day. In addition, they formed a control group of 285 workers from 12 companies that were initially interested in reducing the day, but Finally they did not apply it. According to the authors of the study, these countries were chosen “partly by linguistic convenience, but also because their neoliberal labor systems are known and the stress levels among employees are high.” Before starting, some tips. As indicated in the study, on average, companies reduced the weekly work hours of 39.12 to 34.48 hours, which is equivalent to 80% of the usual schedule, but maintaining 100% of the salary. 30.8% of employees managed to reduce his day In eight hours or more per week, while 24.3% maintained the same amount of hours. As already demonstrated in the pilot tests of the four -day week, it is impossible to reduce the working day Without applying some changes in the way of working in companies. Therefore, the researchers had mentoring of the non -profit organization 4 Day Week Global, which has supervised the tests of the work week of tests such as the one that It was carried out In Valencia. However, as investigations point out, their role was limited to consulting to advise companies, but did not participate directly in the study of the study or in the interpretation of the data. The results soon arrived. Such and as indicated in Popular Sciencethe biggest surprise was that there was no surprise. The studies of the study coincide largely with the results obtained from the analysis of the different four -day work week pilot programs that have been carried out around the world. The more visible results indicate that the feeling of work exhaustion (Burnout) decreased by 16% in those who participated in the four -day work week, while in the control group it increased its exhaustion by 1.4%. General fatigue was reduced by 14%, and improvement in physical and mental health resulted in better self -perception by employees. In addition, sleep problems also descended 16%, showing the direct connection among less work hours and better capacity for rest. Better results are more reduced. The group of employees that reduced their working hours in eight hours or more recorded the highest percentages of improvement, including a reduction in exhaustion, increased job satisfaction and improvements in mental and physical health. For their part, groups with a minor day reduction Between one and four hours and between five and seven hours, they also experienced similar benefits, although in these cases the improvement percentages were lower. Improve because they are committed. Although the results confirm the positive effects of the four -day work week for the health and productivity of the workers, the researchers warn about some conditions. All participating companies were predisposed to apply the reduction of working hours, which can influence the positive motivation of the results. In addition, the information comes mainly from employee self -reports, so future research should include more varied methods and broader samples to consolidate these conclusions, at least to the same extent as this study consolidated the Results obtained by other researchers that have been collecting the data in the different pilot projects around the world. However, its authors consider that “despite their limitations, this study has important implications to understand the future of work, in which probably 4 -day work week will be a key component.” In Xataka | Not everything is 38.5 hours a week: the formulas for a waiter or temporary to benefit from the reduction of day Image | Unspash (INNN agency)

The most experienced developers hoped to improve their productivity with AI. A study showed just the opposite

by

What happens when you give an advanced artificial intelligence platform to a group of expert developers and ask them to work on tasks that they know in detail? The logical thing would be to wait a productivity jump, a great combination between experience human and technological assistance. The tools are there, the flows are learned, the learning curve is not an obstacle. But it was not so. What happened even surprised the authors of the study, according to Reuters: AI did not improve the results. He got them worse. And he did it in such a subtle way that not even the developers themselves realized. The report does not talk about critical failures or serious mistakes, but the effect was clear: the work became slower. Slower than it would have been without artificial intelligence in between. More does not always mean more productivity Before starting, everyone agreed on something: using artificial intelligence was going to save them time. In fact, they estimated that their tasks would finish 24 % faster. It was a reasonable expectation, based on their experience and how these tools were presented. And when they ended, they were still convinced of having achieved it: their estimate was that They had been 20 % faster. In his own words, AI had allowed them to advance without blockages, without interruptions, with a more agile workflow. But not. Actually, they had taken longer. A lot more. The general average of the group was a 19 % increase in total time during the test carried out by Metr. It is not a minor difference. And it is even more striking if one takes into account that we talk about tasks that they themselves had defined as relevant, useful and realistic: bugs correction, new functionalities, refactors. They were not exercises designed to test the AI, but real work, of the one that is done every day in any mature project. The difference was so great that he left even words even to those responsible for the study. The developers were not novice or learning on the fly. They had been working on those same projects for years, They knew the repositories in detailThey knew what was behind each file and each function. They were in their field. And, yet, the tools of AI did not facilitate work. They complicated it. Part of the explanation is how these platforms work. The suggestions they offered were not entirely incorrect, but imprecise. They were often well aimed, but required adjustments. And those adjustments, instead of saving time, elongated it. Check, correct, check. Start over. What promised to be an aid became a more intermediate process: an additional layer between thought and the solution. The feeling of fluidity was misleading. They started with a base, yes, but that base rarely served as is. You had to crumble itunderstand what the model had wanted to say, compare with what already existed and rebuild what is necessary. As if each suggestion came with an invisible asterisk. A non -valid line of default code. The illusion of progress faster was held until the time came to compile, try or make a serious review of the code generated. And yet, many of the participants continue to use those same tools in their day to day. Not because they save them time, but because they do the most bearable job. In the study they mainly used cursor, a platform that integrates advanced language models such as Claude 3.5 and 3.7 Sonnetand that allows writing, completing and reviewing code directly from the development environment. Cursor does not do everything for you, but he accompanies you. That company, even when it is not entirely efficient, can make programming less exhausting. The AI ​​converts the effort to program in something more similar to being an orchestra director that to build everything from scratch with a solid knowledge base. We are already seeing it with the phenomenon Vibe Coding. In the midst of this scenario we have seen companies They cut development equipment for the possibilities offered by AI, although Some have had returned on their steps. AI is a valuable tool, but it doesn’t help everyone equally. Images | Global UI UX Design Agency procreator | Nubelson Fernandes | Cursor In Xataka | Nvidia reached 4 billion dollars of capitalization for one reason: its privileged position in the AI ​​boom

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

by

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

Intermittent fasting is the fashion diet. At least among scientists who study their effects on microbioma

by

Inside they coexist Billions of microscopic organismsmany of which have our Digestive tract set as a place of residence. Throughout the last decades we have been realizing the outstanding role that this internal ecosystem plays in our health, far beyond gastrointestinal health. There are many factors that can affect our microbiome, including our genetics, our place of residence, The people with whom we livethe drugs we consume or Our daily habits. And of course, our diet. Our diet can affect different ways to the microbiome of our interior. For example, the introduction of a pathogen such as the clostridium difficile bacteria can cause the Intestinal “ecosystem” balance Go to the fret due to the propagation of the bacteria. However, without reaching pathological extremes, the nutrients we consume, such as fiber, can also affect the microorganisms that reside there. What we eat affects, but this also implies that what we stop eating also matters. Following a diet leads us to make a series of decisions focused on achieving a goal, often (not always) this is that of losing weight, but the changes introduced will have diverse effects, including that of affecting, for better or worse, our microbiome. He intermittent fasting It is one of the most famous diets in recent years. That is why the diets that temporarily restrict our caloric intake and which are referred conventionally with the name of intermittent fasting have received Great attention by the Nutrition experts. Logically, this has led to various research groups to investigate How the intermittent fasting to our microbioma affectswhat are the potential benefits and what the risks of these changes. The problem is that, as usual, the results of these research are quite diverse. What seems true is that intermittent fasting affects our microbiota. One of the last studies in this regard has attracted the attention of some despite not having been published in a magazine after passing the pairs review process. The work was led by researchers at Anhui Medical University and it was Recently cited by the magazine Newscientist. The study, conducted with mice, suggested that intermittent fasting could damage the intestinal barrier and cause a disruption in the microbiota, increasing the risk of intestinal inflammation. However, the door also opened therapeutic roads that could avoid these problems, such as indolaletic acid administration. The manuscript detailing the analysis, available in repository Research Squareis still in the process of review for publication in the magazine Scientific Reports. That is why we must take these results with a certain degree of skepticism. In statements collected by the magazine itself NewscientistSathidananada Panda del Salk Institute for Biological Studies of California He raised some doubts Regarding the methodology, such as the fact that the manuscript did not point out the details of the diet to which it underwent mice or that these were of a very young age when starting with the diet. For better or worse Other studies have drawn a somewhat more optimistic perspective regarding the effects of intermittent fasting on our microbiota and with it on our well -being. Of course, I did it by introducing an additional element, combining the intermittent fasting with a protein dosing diet, which space in a balanced way the proteins that we consume throughout the day The studypublished almost exactly one year ago in the magazine Nature Communicationspointed out that intermittent fasting “It showed promise” in the improvement of intestinal health, and did precisely attending our microbioma. According to details the teamin addition to seeing an increase in their levels of certain proteins, such as cytokines, participants who followed the protocol marked by intermittent fasting also experienced an increase in the presence of beneficial microbes in their digestive system, microorganisms associated with lower body fat and better global health. The studies of Scientific Reports and of Nature Communications They are two of the most recent in the matter but not the only one. Last year a group of researchers published A systematic review of literature In the magazine Frontiers in Nutrition. This type of work compiles thoroughly the previous studies carried out by analyzing a specific relationship, in this case that of intermittent fasting and the gastrointestinal microbiota. What detected the team that led this “study study” is that there was a varied literature and a “substantial heterogeneity of the results” that made it difficult to validate results, although these seemed to suggest that intermittent fasting could improve the wealth and diversity of the microbiota. What seems increasingly evident is that this type of diets affects our microbioma and that we must continue studying the consequences of this relationship. In Xataka | We are increasingly clear that our microbiome is key to our health. Our protein sources can also alter it Image | Foodie Factor / Cats Coming

We already have a rigorous study of the impact of US tariffs on the technology we buy. It is shocking

by

The tariffs you are currently preparing The US government led by Donald Trump have American technology companies in suspense. In the middle of last April the US Customs and Border Protection Office He published a statement in which he officialized that some electronic devices and strategic components were tariff exempt. Of all of them. However, it is a strictly temporary measure, so presumably in the future tariffs will reach the consumer electronics industries and semiconductors. The US Technology Consumers Association (known as CTA for its English denomination) has published a very detailed report which has been prepared by Trade Partnership Worldwide (TPW), a consultant specializing in economic and commerce analysis. This study evaluates The foreseeable impact that tariffs They will have electronic consumer devices, and their conclusions are shocking. Two notes to get into flour: according to TPW, the Gross Domestic Product of the US will be reduced by 69,000 million dollars annually as a result of tariffs and consumers will spend 123,000 million less a year. The price of technology will increase between 11 and 70%, according to TPW Before moving forward it is important that we keep in mind that the study of this consultant describes a scenario in which the 90 -day suspension of the tariffs executed by the US administration ends in July and the highest taxes announced by the government led by Donald Trump are activated. This scenario is perfectly possible, hence the interest of this report, but at the situation of current instability it is also feasible that finally The announced measures are not implanted as the US government has foreshadowed. Video game consoles would be the most affected because most of them are manufactured in China Anyway, as I have anticipated a few lines above, the conclusions that TPW collects and those that CTA has given visibility are very worrying. According to this report, the average retail price of mobile phones will increase by 31%; that of the monitors, 32%; that of laptops and tablets, 34%; and that of video game consoles nothing less than 69%. The desktop PCs would not be released from an increase in their price close to 24%. Video game consoles would be the most harmed because most of them are manufactured in China, so they will presumably be subject to 145%tariffs. If so, according to TPW, imports in the US would fall by 71%. This almost apocalyptic scenario from a commercial point of view describes the impact that tariffs will have on the pocket of US consumers, but it is reasonable that we ask ourselves what will happen to US products that we will buy in Spain or other European countries. The most reasonable conclusion we can reach is that its price will also be increased by two reasons that run in parallel. On the one hand if US companies must assume higher costs due to the need to import components or manufacture abroad, prices of their products They will rise throughout the planet. And also If Europe decides to apply reciprocal tariffs To the imported products from the US, which currently seems most likely, again European consumers will pay more. We will see what happens finally, but the panorama is certainly not flattering. More information | TPW/CTA In Xataka | Tariffs force Apple to manufacture US iPhone in India. It is not a problem: it is a tactic with many advantages and few fissures

The “computer” of 2,000 years ago fascinates us for decades. A new study points out that it might have not served at all

by

125 years ago, divers who were collecting sponges in the Aegean Sea, in front of the island of Anticitera, They gave with remains of an old shipwreck. Among jewels, coins and ceramic remains, there was something that caught the attention: a copper fragment of something that seemed to be a gear. It was a compendium of gears that seemed to be part of something much bigger and was baptized as’Anticitera mechanism‘. For decades it was an ignored curiosity in the archives of the National Archaeological Museum of Athens, until the researcher Derek de Solla He recovered it, studied and determined that it was an advanced Greek “computer” built at some point between 200 and 100 AC after many theories, a group of Argentine researchers have put the anti -life mechanism to see how the first computer in history behaves .. And the conclusion is that … it was nothing more than an ingenious toy. The main piece First computer For decades, this mechanism fascinated us due not only to its antiquity, but because ignorance about its function allowed the elaboration of all kinds of hypothesis. However, it was Solla who studied more in depth at the beginning, creating physical simulations about the complete state of the mechanism. Thus, and according to the researcher, the anticitera mechanism was a piece corresponding to a more complex object, composed of at least thirty bronze gears placed strategically in a wooden box with approximate dimensions of 340 x 180 x 90 millimeters. It was activated by a crank that allowed to move the gears and perform its function. Which? Well … predict astronomical positions. According to Derek’s studies, the anticitera mechanism was a planetary computer, a very cool name to describe a “computer” that allowed predicting astronomical positions, lunar phases, eclipses and, therefore, calculating cycles of the 354 -day lunar calendar or dates for sports games, among others The pieces found Through different discs, it showed the astronomical data and, supposedly, was designed to reproduce the irregular movement of the moon in its rotation thanks to specialized gears that compensated the anomalies in its trajectory. And, after that first finding, we found more and more pieces of the mechanism, which has allowed us to get an idea of ​​how it was. It was evident that it was A very advanced machine for its timebut it is also clear that it had a number of limitations. The first: however advanced Greek astronomers were, the mechanism embodied knowledge to date, so comparing it with subsequent techniques and tools is meaningless. The position of some planets is very diverted with respect to modern measurements, for example. This is logical and It does not remove merit To the device, but there were two factors that limited their precision: the mechanics itself and the manufacture of the gears. Due to wear, copper teeth could be increasingly inaccurate and, in addition, as they were manufactured by hand and not in series in a assembly chain, any deviation in the gears would affect their accuracy in the calculations. And that is what previous studies reported, such as those of Mike Edmundsbeing one of the few who has been able to directly investigate the device and lead the equipment that is responsible for your analysis. For what supposedly served Another representation of the Anticitera mechanism Testing Now, some Argentine researchers from the National University of Mar de Plata, have simulated by computer the anti -litera mechanism and their conclusion is … that it was useless. Esteban Guillermo Szigeth and Gustavo Francisco Arenas are those researchers, and have shared their conclusions in Arxiv. For their simulation, they were based on previous studies that already took into account the influence of irregular triangular teeth and the consequences of physical inaccuracies in its construction. When performing it, they realized that the triangular teeth did not seem to have a negative impact on the functioning of the mechanism, but of traffic jams in the gears when turning the crank. That, they point out, would have made it very not very practical in scientific use, practically impracticable, reducing the mechanism to an “ingenious toy.” Now, they also claim that it is the result of a simulation about what they know about the device that It was found in 1900 And that it is possible that, taking into account the necessary skill for its construction, the irregular space between the gears could be a fruit of corrosion, and not something deliberate in its design. The researchers propose that the wheels, given the slightest mismatch, would be stuck as it is extremely pointed, when we wear out or not being well balanced by the manufacturing of the time The researchers propose a series of improvements for the gears that would avoid this defect found, but also comment that it must be “cautious to assume that the measurements perfectly reflect their original values” due to what is commented: someone took too many discomfort to build that and it is unlikely that there would be something so complex, but not functional. That is why they also point out that more must be investigatedeven developing more refined techniques, to better understand the real precision and functionality of an anti -litera mechanism that still has room to fascinate us. On the fact that it was found among the remains of a wreck, the answer is much simpler: surely It was part of the loot for some Roman emperor, probably Julio César. Therefore, the anticitera mechanism remains a source of speculation and fascination due to the tremendous merit of its construction more than 2,000 years ago, but study after study, the conclusion is that the easiest thing is that it served little. Even so, researchers point out that its construction was a technological milestone. And that is something that nobody has questioned. Images | GRB16, Zde, Tony Freeth, David Higgon, Aris Dacanalis, Lindsay Macdonald, Myrto Georgakopoulou, Adam Wojcik, Mike Peel, GTS-TG In Xataka | The myth of the creative genius or why most … Read more

A study has analyzed which cars are the ones that lose the most after five years and the clear answer: electric

by

You were young but there was a day when buying a Tesla was a round business. The demand was such and the shortage of vehicles so high that There were those who were willing to pay more money For a used tesla than to pay 10,000 euros less, commission it to the company and wait a few months upon arrival. The funny thing is that you were not so young. It was something that happened in 2022. First in the United States and then in Spain. Who was going to tell us now that the company dealt with a painful salesin which it is difficult to discern how much there is temporary with the renewal of the Tesla Model and and how definitive. Especially in countries where the issue is very sensitive, Like Germany. But, obviously, this is not the usual situation. In fact, if your idea is to buy an electric car and change it shortly (three/four years) it is very likely that it is a bad decision. Because, in general and except for very specific circumstances such as the previous one, the electric car is the type of car that is most devalued. A car for many years If you are thinking of getting an electric car, there are two especially interesting formulas. The first is called Renting. Although it is a formula in which more money is paid than with a share of a loan for the purchase of a car to use, it is a good option if you are not very sure of whether the electric car is for you and you do not want to mortgage in the very long term. The second option is to buy an electric car and You keep it as much as possible. If a car does not give problems this is always the best formula to save money but, in the case of a concrete electric car of an electric car, the more kilometers do, the more they fill the battery at low power and more time keep the car the best result will give. This is because yes, How we tell you in this articleyou can load the car at home, you can be saving about five times more money than with a day -to -day gasoline car in fuel consumption. Especially if the use is intensive or almost exclusive in the city. To this is added that, with the passage of the kilometers and the years, reviews, oil changes, filters and, ultimately, replacement of all types of mobile parts that in an electric car are non -existent, are accumulated in a combustion car. A taxi driver can confirm that it is good savings. But the electric car is a problem if you want to change vehicles or technology after a few years. Because, according to the portal ISEECARSspecialists in second -hand sale in the United States, the electric car is the type of vehicle that is most devalued. According to its calculations, an electric car loses 58.8% of its value after five years. The figure contrasts with those collected for other types of vehicles. A hybrid loses 40.7% From the value of the last car a five years and, on average, a car loses 45.6% of its value. The data leave the sale portal and the cars sold there, monitoring 800,000 vehicles sold between March 2024 and February 2025. If the car is not electric, the type of car that is most depreciated is the luxury car. When there is a combination of both values, the result is fateful. The Jaguar I-Pace is the car that has suffered the most depreciation in the last five years, reaching 72.2%. It is followed by the BMW 7 Series (67.1%) and the Tesla Model S (65.2%). Among the 10 cars that depreciate the most we find the Nissan Leaf or the Tesla Model X. The rest are luxury vehicles. It makes a lot of sense Although it may seem bad news, the high depreciation of an electric car makes a lot of sense. And, in fact, the data is better than in previous years. In ISEECARS They point out that the same study in 2023 signed a depreciation of the electric car five years ago 49.1%. It was a lower figure because The price of second -hand cars shot During the Covid-19 crisis and the posterior Shortage in the supply chain. The figure, however, remained the highest of any other type of car. But in 2019 depreciation reached 67.1%. That this figure has dropped out that more buyers are willing to get a second -hand electric car. A sign that there are more electric cars in the market and that the plaintiffs trust more in technology. Although Buy a second -hand electric car It should not be very different than doing it with a combustion car (in fact, in terms of mechanics, it should be easier), it is logical that those who have never had an electric car are reluctant to enter technology with the acquisition of a second -hand vehicle. In addition, the rapid innovations that the sector is living while more competitors arrive that reduce prices cause cars to lose greater value against combustion cars. The promises of new most ambitious batteries and RECHARGES TO RATIMOS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO IMAGINE They are especially relevant to those who are willing to jump into the electric car but prefer to wait a bit to the new models. Cars now bought are devalued to a greater extent because the qualitative leap of buying a new car will be higher than changing a gasoline used by a new one. It is normal that with technology in full development, the current car is obsolete more quickly. It is something that happens in all types of markets Until a technology reaches maturity. Photo | HAVEREDAS In Xataka | We do not trust the second -hand electric car: its value does not stop falling and it is a problem for the industry

More than half of the population in Spain has vitamin D. A study now question the benefits of supplementation

by

Vitamin D, in reality, is not strictly a vitamin. It is a prohormone. Even so, in this article we will continue to identify it as a vitamin by familiarity. Anyway has a fundamental role in the proper functioning of our body. Our body is able to produce it When we expose ourselves to sunlightalthough we can also get it from some foods or Taking supplements. Its importance lies in its ability to favor the absorption of calcium and phosphorus inside our intestine, so without it our bones would become fragile. However, this is not all. It also has the ability to improve muscle function, to activate some defensive cells of our immune system, to regulate blood pressure, and even reduce the level of inflammation of our body. In many regions of Spain, the Sun abounds for a good part of the year, and, even so, more than half of the Spanish population, between 50 and 60%, has an insufficient level of vitamin D (less than 30 ng/ml). This is the percentage defended by a good part of the most recent studies, such as, for example, the one prepared by the Spanish Society of Endocrinology and Nutrition In 2023, although this figure varies depending on the age and sex of the people collected in the report. Unfortunately many of these studies are not available publicly, but most of them argue that up to 60% of the general population has an insufficient level From this prohormone, as we have just seen. And if we stick to people 65 years of age or older, this figure is triggered until 80%. Vitamin D supplements are in question It is not easy to explain why in a country as sunny as Spain so many people of all ages have an insufficient level of vitamin D, but the most reasonable thing is to assume that it is due to a combination of several factors. On the one hand, many people avoid exposing themselves to sunlight during those hours in which this radiation source is more intense to prevent the appearance of skin cancer. And when they do they protect with solar creams that are capable of blocking up to 95% of the synthesis. In addition, a part of the population has acquired habits that invite you to spend more time at home and less outdoors. The intake of calcifediol supplements is the solution that doctors usually opt for to remedy the vitamin D deficit The diet can help us fight this lack, but the figures given by scientific studies show that in Spain we do not consume with the necessary abundance foods rich in vitamin Dsuch as wild salmon, sardines, cod liver oil or mushrooms. In these circumstances, the intake of calcifediol supplements, which is one of the types of vitamin D that circulate in our blood system, is the solution by which doctors usually opt to remedy this deficit. However, during the last decades Several scientific studies They have questioned the efficacy and benefits of the intake of vitamin D through supplementation. One of the most recent It has been led by Dr. Cynthia Thompson, of the Mel and Enid Zuckerman Public Health College of the University of Arizona (USA), and is very interesting because it tries to statistically evaluate two consequences of taking vitamin D supplements that other studies had only insinuated: the possibility that they reduce the risk of having cancer, but, at the same time, they increase that of suffering a heart disease. This random essay has lasted seven years and involves 36,282 women. Those who were randomly assigned the vitamin D supplementation and calcium supplementation experienced a 7% reduction in the cancer mortality rate. However, those same people also experienced a 6% increase in mortality from cardiovascular diseases. These figures are significant From a statistical point of view, but they do not allow us to reach a definitive conclusion in regard to general mortality. According to Dr. F. Perry Wilsonfrom Yale University (USA), vitamin D supplementation probably does not affect mortality, although it could slightly reduce the risk of some forms of cancer. However, it could also increase the risk of heart disease presumably due to the calcification of arteries. Whatever it is important that we keep in mind that the results of this study, and of those who have preceded it, are not conclusive, although, yes, they give us valuable clues that are worth taking into account. Image | Darina Bellonogova More information | Medium In Xataka | We have found some supplements capable of improving memory in the elderly: prebiot promising

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.