wings

a Russian startup has hacked their brains to turn them into drones with wings

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Nothing more a priori innocent than a pigeon flying over the buildings of a city or perched in a square. Or not, because in addition to being just another city dweller (sometimes excessively so, which becomes a problem), pigeons have been used as discreet express messengers from the ancient Sumerian and Egyptian civilizations. And also in war scenarios: in World War I, the United States Army created a carrier pigeon service called United States Army Pigeon Service for tactical messaging when all else failed or was destroyed. Now the Russian startup Neiry assures having given them one more twist: it has turned pigeons into biological drones. An electrode in the brain. What the Russian company proposes is not to biomimic a drone so that it resembles a pigeon, but to convert this animal into a transport vector by equipping it with implanted neural interfaces. More specifically, they implant electrodes in the brain, which are then connected to a stimulator attached to the head. That is, a kind of GPS that speaks with the brain of the bird. Neiry explains that the interface provides mild stimulation to certain brain regions, thus causing the bird to (artificially) prefer a certain direction. Otherwise, the bird behaves naturally. This system does not replace the bird’s will, but rather biases its sense of orientation to follow pre-established routes. Why birds? According to the Russian startupthe objective is to use biological carriers in situations where drones have limitations in range, weight or others such as a restricted area. Alexander Panov, CEO of the company, explains that birds can maneuver in complex environments, fly for long periods and operate in places where drones are restricted, such as collects Bloomberg. Anyone who has handled a drone knows that there is one critical element: the battery. Unlike unmanned aerial vehicles, a pigeon does not need to change its battery nor does it require frequent landings: its nature gives it everything necessary to carry out a long-distance flight. Millions of years of evolution make a bird beat any commercial drone and its 20-minute battery life in terms of flight stabilization and energy efficiency. In fact, up to 400 kilometers a day without stops. Pigeons with backpack. In the test flights that Neiry has carried out with these pigeon drones, the birds were equipped with this neural interface, in addition to a small backpack with the controller, solar panels mounted on the back and a camera. Of course, without giving as much singing as a drone, they did not go unnoticed, as can be seen in the video provided by the company. Pigeons are just the beginning. Panov has explained that although they currently focus on pigeons, “different species can be used depending on the environment or payload.” Bloomberg echoes of other similar implantations, such as the brain of cows for NeuroFarming, so that they produce more milk. And a rather spooky ultimate goal: “to create the next human species after Homo sapiens: Homo superior.” Possible applications. After the tests, the company ensures that the system is ready for practical implementation. According to Neiryhave no plans to use these birds for military purposes despite the fact that in a war or surveillance scenario their use is disruptive: the radars are programmed to filter out winged fauna as ‘noise’ or false positives. In short: they would go unnoticed. Among the ideas of use where they see an opportunity are infrastructure inspection, support for search and rescue, coastal and environmental observation or monitoring of remote areas in places like Brazil or India. Where is the ethics?. Mechanical drones are easier to control, they are capable of carrying larger loads and obviously, they do not need to feed nor will they defecate on you. And that’s not to mention the ethical implications of altering an animal’s behavior. Gizmodo details that after the surgery to implant the chip, the pigeons are almost ready to fly, so the risk “is low for the survival of the birds.” Of course, the startup has not provided independent third-party reviews, which makes specialists question the ethical implications of its technology. The bioethicist and law professor at Duke University Nita Farahany affirms that “Every time we use neural implants to try to control and manipulate any species, it is disgusting.” In Xataka | The war in Ukraine has become something absurd: there are drones shooting at Russian soldiers dressed as “penguins” In Xataka | We had seen everything in Ukraine, but this is unprecedented: Russia is not launching drones, it is launching “Frankensteins” Cover | sanjiv nayak and Andreas Schantl

Telework promised freedom to work from anywhere. Finance and cybersecurity have cut off his wings

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Although teleworking has lost some bellows In recent months, It has consolidated as a common option for many companies that offer flexibility and balance Between personal and professional life. However, as pointed out in A publication From LinkedIn Sandra Díaz González, Cazatalantos and Human Resources consultant, it is common for companies to condition that flexibility demanding that remote work is always done from the same place. It is not a whimthese limitations respond to various legal, organizational and security reasons that companies are obliged to comply with. Continuous or sporadic remote work. First of all, it is possible to make a distinction between the teleworking that is carried out constantly and full -time, of the one that takes place sporadicallyhow can it be During the summer or at specific times. Both require a previous agreement Between the company and the worker, but these conditions can become more restrictive as the case may be. In the first case, when the teleworking develops full -time, companies are much more restrictive in terms of the place from which it works since, as we will designate later, security factors, taxation or availability must be taken into account. OK To what is published by Self -employed and entrepreneursNot communicating the change of address from which teleworking can lead to a dismissal appointed by the Superior Court of Justice of Madrid. In the second case, in which teleworking is done occasionally, it will be enough for which company and employee establish a series of basic communications security measures given the sporadic character of remote work. Telework without risks. Law 10/2021, also known as Teleworking Lawit establishes that companies must take responsibility for the Occupational Risk Prevention even when that work is done at a distance. This implies evaluating and guaranteeing that the space from which telework meets the necessary conditions for Protect health and safetyof the employee in the same way that is done in the office. The company is obliged to verify that the job at home or in another fixed place is properly equipped and that the environment does not generate health risks No work accidents. These demands explain the need for the teleworking place to always be predictable and known by the company, avoiding changing spaces that hinder these measures. Communications and data security. Another fundamental reason why some companies condition the teleworking to be made from a fixed place is the Sensitive information protection and security in digital communications. Connect from the wifi network of a cafeteria, a hotel or a library does not always guarantee Data safety that are transmitted or of the servers to which it is connected, as the Cybersecurity Guide on Teleworking Published by INCIBE. Data protection regulations require that companies can implement controls that guarantee the confidentiality, integrity and availability of the data that are handled, more when working outside the central offices. To mitigate that risk, companies must facilitate Security software and establish limits for those incoming connections that are made from unregistered locations. Taxation for digital nomads. Teleworking allows employee to live anywhere in the world. However, the company must submit certain tax criteria when that employee has its Residence in another countrygenerating Additional tax obligations and possible legal conflicts. This consideration does not apply when an employee works remotely during a punctual trip, but when it takes place for a good part of the year. In that scenario, the Treasury could consider that the employee does not reside in the country and apply a different fiscal policy. Such and as they explain From the union to use, this situation would also lead to the company incurring a breach of the cross -border teleworking laws for social security contribution. For these reasons, many companies limit the possibility of teleworking under the condition of doing so within the national territory, thus avoiding economic sanctions and administrative problems. Teleworking near the office. The model of hybrid work It is the most used by companies that offer job flexibility to their employees, allowing them to work between one and four days remote, but maintaining a certain level of face -to -face in the office. By establishing that teleworking is always from a place near the office (the same city or community), the company ensures the Logistics and Organizational Management of its template at the time of Schedule meetings or corporate events. In Xataka | Digital nomadic visas: the countries hook to attract the best digital talent without paying the cost to keep them Image | Unspash (Johnny Africa)

folding wings, redesign cabin and the largest engine in the world

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We do not usually think about the plane when we buy a ticket. We think of the destination, in the budget, at the time of departure. But in a few years, something could make you stop a second more in the model that appears next to the flight number. Because that journey could be done aboard the new Boeing 777x (In one of its variants, 777-8 or 777-9), an aircraft designed to mark the future of the long radio: more efficient for airlines, more comfortable for those who travel. 777x does not arrive at any time. Boeing develops it with a very clear objective: reinforce its position in a strategic segment that for years dominated without discussion. The result is not a break with the past, but an evolution calculated on one of its greatest successes. With this new generation of 777The company seeks to respond to a growing demand for efficiency, scope and capacity without giving up what was already working. BOEING 777X Technical Card Boeing 777-8 Boeing 777-9 Launch of the program November 2013 November 2013 Squares (typical two classes configuration) 395 426 Scope 16,190 km 13,500 km Length 70.86 m 76.72 m Wingspan Extended: 71.75 m On land: 64.85 m Extended: 1.75 m On land: 64.85 m Cabin Wider; new customizable architecture; incorporates comfort innovations of 787 Dreamliner Wider; new customizable architecture; incorporates comfort innovations of 787 Dreamliner Configuration Double corridor (widebody) Double corridor (widebody) Engine GE9X GE9X Approximate price From 410 million dollars (Eplaneai) From 442 million dollars (Eplaneai) The 777x design is not only new: it responds to a very clear idea of efficiency and scale From a distance, 777x seems familiar. Its silhouette remembers that of other wide fuselage aircraft. But just approach to notice the differences. The wings, longer than usual, They curve with elegance until ending in folded tips that attract attention even before takeoff. The huge engines dominate the side view of the plane. The 777x wings are not only the longest that Boeing has ever mounted on a commercial plane. They are also the most innovative. They are manufactured in composite material, such as those of the 787 Dreamlinerand extend until they exceed 71 meters of size. To avoid airport problems, its ends fold when the plane is on land. It is a subtle gesture, but that hides one of the most complex decisions of design: how to gain efficiency without limiting your access to shipping doors. It is impossible to look at 777x without looking at its engines. The GE9X They are not just The largest that have been installed in a commercial plane: They are also among the most efficient. With a fan of 3.4 meters in diameter and carbon fiber blades, each one concentrates more than a decade of technological development. The result is an engine that consumes 10% less than the GE90-115Breduce noise and meet the limits of emissions established for your class. One of the great promises of 777x is inside. Although the fuselage maintains the same exterior width as its predecessors, Boeing has redesigned the internal structure To gain useful space. The ceiling is higher, the smoother lighting and the sensibly lower background noise. The humidity of the environment has also been improved and cabin altitude has been reduced, two factors that are not seen but that can make a difference in flights of many hours. The change is not limited to what passengers see. In the command cabin, the 777X introduces for the first time in commercial aviation Integrated touch screensa system that replaces part of physical controls Traditional by a cleaner and more flexible interface. The environment remembers that of 787 and maintains many similarities with that of 777, which facilitates the transition for crews. None of this has happened quickly. When Boeing presented 777x in 2013the first installment was scheduled for 2020. Years later, that horizon is still not materialized. Flight tests continue, certification processes have hardened And the first deliveries are not expected before 2026, with increasingly narrow margins. For Boeing, this is not a simple project: it is an opportunity that cannot afford to be missing. While the legendary American company hurries the deadlines of 777x, Airbus gains ground in the world. In China, for example, is about to close a massive order. According to SCMP, it could be up to 500 airplanes. And we are talking about largest aviation market in the world. In that context, as we say, 777x is not just a new plane: it is a strategic bet with which Boeing is playing part of his future. Images | Boeing (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) | Palacio do Planalto/Alan Santos (CC by 2.0) | Lamblukas (1, 2, 3, 4) In Xataka | The US will finally continue selling engines for C919. He has also given China a reason not to need them again

The trade war threatens to cut his wings in full takeoff

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The aeronautical sector It is emerging as one of the great victims by the Commercial War between the United States and China. At Growing tariff barriers imposed by both powers now adds Beijing’s alleged attempt to block the delivery of new Boeing aircraft in its territory. The information, Posted by Bloomberg earlier this weekalso points out that Chinese airlines will not be able to acquire equipment or pieces related to aviation to US suppliers. When a scenario like this is raised, it is easy to think that the closure of doors to Boeing and other American manufacturers can translate into an opportunity for firms such as Airbus or Comac. And, in part, it is. However, it is convenient to clarify: while Airbus’s main challenge is to increase its production capacity, in the case of Cabel the difficulties are deeper. The United States, in fact, could dynamite its most ambitious project overnight. As? Let’s look at the details. A plane with too many pieces borrowed In recent years we have seen how China has managed to make a decisive leap in multiple industries. One of the most obvious examples we have in front of our eyes: the automobile sector. For a long time, Chinese cars dragged a questionable reputation and a little competitive offer. Today the situation is very different. Something similar could be happening in commercial aviation. Although Airbus and Boeing continue to lead with slack, Cabe has been trying for years A hole in that historic duopoly. One of the key pieces in this important objective is the Comac C919a plane designed and assembled in China with an eye on competing directly with the Boeing 737 Max and the Airbus A320. With capacity for between 158 and 192 passengers and autonomy that ranges between 4,075 and 5,555 kilometers, its current deployment is still limited. However, if we attend to the growth rate of the Asian giant, everything indicates that it is a matter of time that the C919 is also consolidated outside its origin borders. But the project drags, at least for now, an Achilles heel that often goes unnoticed: a deep dependence on American technology. That’s how it is. The pride of Chinese aviation, the most ambitious development of its entire history in this sector, works thanks to key components manufactured by a rival country. For years, these pieces have crossed the ocean without major obstacles. But a block could hit the very heart of the Chinese dream of having its own regional reference plane. So what pieces are we talking about exactly? To understand it, it is convenient to go to Leeham News and Analysis worka specialized firm that has been closely following the ins and outs of the aerospace sector. Flight data recorders – General Electric (United States). Meteorological radar – Rockwell Collins (United States). Communications and Navigation Systems – Honeywell (United States). Antihielo Ala – Liebherr (Germany) system. Aluminum components for fuselage – Arconic (United States). Motors – CFM International, a joint venture between GE (United States) and Safran (France). Thrust investors – Safran (France). Fuel System – Parker (United States). Fire detection – Kidde (United Kingdom). Wheels and brakes – Honeywell (United States). Tires – Michelin (France). Landing train – Liebherr (Germany). Cola y Alas – Aviation Industry Corporation of China (Avic) (China). Just check the previous list to measure the blow that would mean the lack of any US component in the C919 assembly chain. Leeham News and Analysis already warns that the trade war threatens the project. In the same line is Ron Epstein, Bank of America analyst, who declared Reuters: “If China stop buying aeronautical components from the United States, the C919 program will stop or die” The current situation and future perspectives In recent days, the commercial war has intensified with rapid and unpredictable movements. And the truth is that half the world – individuals, companies, governments – still tries to understand how far their effects come. If we focus on the order of the Chinese government on aeronautical components, everything indicates that, for now, it affects only airlines. That would leave manufacturers such as Comac with margin to continue buying the pieces that need the United States. At least for the moment. However, The 125% retaliation tariff (that, added to the previous 20 % in the fentanyl case, leaves the invoice at 145 %) governs for imports from the United States. That includes engines, plane or brakes that Comac buys for their C919. The practical result is that each US component would cost me almost twice and a half its original pricea scenario hardly aware of any manufacturer who aspires to maintain the viability of your business. It is time to wait to see what all this flows. If the barriers imposed by both powers will fall and the trade will be reactivated. But there is also another scenario: that the United States imposes export controls on key components for Chinese aviation. He already did it with the Nvidia chips to stop his advance in artificial intelligence. This situation could reinforce China’s bet to develop your own key technology, although it still has a long way ahead. Images | Comac In Xataka | Before panic for US tariffs there are technological ones doing something uncommon: product collection

The tariffs have cut their wings before taking off

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The luxury articles industry faces a difficult crossroads before the new tariff policies imposed by the US. Although Trump has given a small 90 -day respite To the world economy, the imposition of tariffs up to 20% To European productsis a hard blow to fashion brands, watchmaking and high -end accessories. The luxury sector not only face an inevitable increase in the price of their products, but also puts on the table the future of the labels “Made in Italy” or “Swiss Made” that some of the more expensive and exclusive products as a synonym for design and quality. The luxury industry against tariffs. Europe has been the epicenter of fashion and world luxury for decades. Great brands such as Louis Vuitton, Hermès, Cartier, Chanel, Rolex or Phillipe Pattek thrive thanks to a balance between artisanal tradition and global strategies. However, the scenario has changed dramatically after commercial war drums of the United States. It is estimated that tariffs between 10% and 20% for certain luxury articles manufactured in Europe and the United Kingdom could raise the final cost for the consumer in a market that represents 24% of the total world expenditure on luxury, according to data from data from Bain & Company. Switzerland does not move. The question is even more serious for the watch industry. US has imposed a 31% tariff to Switzerland That, we remember, it does not belong to the EU. At the moment, the Swiss Executive position is not taking reciprocal tariff measures as is doing the rest of Europe, despite Be outraged with a policy that they consider unfair to the Helvetic country. Outstanding brands such as Rolex, Patek Philippe or Tag Heuer are among the most exposed to these increases since their manufacture is made in form exclusive in their workshops in Switzerland and do not consider taking part of the production to the US. Despite this panorama, the Swiss watch industry It is optimistic. They ensure that their main audience, composed of buyers of high purchasing power, will continue paying high pricesand consider that, for them, an extra cost of 31% is a minor inconvenience. Migrar is not on the road map. Given this new context, it could be thought that European luxury brands should consider moving their production to the US, as the automobile industry is being raised, to avoid tariffs. However, no fashion brand and luxury products have expressed its intention to abandon its current production centers. “In each conversation that I have had with customers during the last five to ten days, not even one person talked about building a factory in the United States,” assuredto The New York Times William Susman, managing director of the Investment Bank Cascadia Capital. Signatures like Victorinox, emblematic manufacturer Multipurpose knifeThey have made it clear that artisanal quality is inseparable from their identity and that any change in the location of production would compromise its essence. “This Swiss icon is inextricably linked to the quality promise ‘Swiss Made’. We will remain firm in it,” He sentencedCarl Elsener Jr., Executive Director of Victorinox to New York Times. The only exception is the Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy (LVMH) group, Bernard Arnault’s holding company, which in addition to having American brands such as Tiffany & Co, It has several factories In California and Texas, that opened Donald Trump himself in his first term. However, that would only free him from the cost of tariffs, since when importing high quality skins and fabrics from Europe and other regions, they would also be affected by reciprocal tariffs. The aspirational client: the great loss for luxury. Such and As they pointed out from Reutersthe US market represents between 20% and 30% of the sales of large fashion groups, cosmetics and luxury accessories such as LVMH, Keing, Richemont or Hermès. That percentage not only supplies millionaires who can pay it comfortably. There is also an important percentage of aspirational customer that, perhaps, is willing to pay $ 2,000 for a bag, but will think about it if that same product costs $ 2,400. “A 20% tariff on European luxury goods could depress luxury sales in the United States, especially for companies such as Burberry and Kering that focus more on a wealthy aspirational clientele than on ultra -up clients,” said the analysts of the Morningstar consultant in statements to Reuters. Another door that closes. The commercial war initiated by the US arrives at a time when, like The luxury cars sectorthe high -end products industry sought to recover from the fall in sales experienced in the Chinese market in 2024. Now, to lower their sales expectations in the US represents a hard blow, especially when the main brands in the sector had already opened new stores in the US, such and as they highlight in Business of Fashion. According to sector analysts, brands should rise between 4% and 6% their prices to mitigate the increase in costs. TO Tenor of the published by Business of Fashion Citing Barclays sources, a negative impact of 1.5% for the Fashion Division and LVMH leather articles and 2.4% for Prada and Hermès is expected. The dependence of the aspirational client would leave more exposed to companies such as Keing (Gucci, Balenciaga, Yves Saint Laurent, etc.) could suffer a fall of 8.7%, while the Swiss watches manufacturer Richemont (Cartier, Piaget, Baume & Mercier, Vacheron Constantin, etc.) could experience a 7.1%drop. All this, when sector forecasts They gave a growth of up to 3% for this year. In Xataka | How Louis Vuitton makes money: of the unattainable luxury to mass luxury In Xataka | Hermés’ heir millionaire adopted his gardener. His fortune has evaporated before he reaches his garden Image | Flickr (Trump White House Archced)

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