works

the underground works of the A-5 in Madrid

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Yesterday, January 19, 2026, a little before 8 in the morning, I was already in front of the computer preparing for the work day. I had been carrying out a task for a few minutes when suddenly, surprise: the websites I was trying to load in the browser did not load. The Wi-Fi connection had been cut offso I tried the network connection. Nothing. My wife, who was also online at the time, confirmed it to me. We didn’t have internet at home. Taking a look at the HGU router we use (we are O2 customers) I found two red lights flashing. I turned it off and on again, but the problem persisted. This looks bad, I thought. I immediately called O2 customer service, at 1551, and found the second surprise: they don’t answer until nine in the morning unless the phone is lost or stolen. Fortunately, the mobile data connection was still working, so I went to it: I shared that connection from my mobile to my work computer through tethering and I got to work without too many problems: the bandwidth of 5G connections is already more than enough for this type of scenario, so essentially I didn’t notice the problem too much. Shortly after nine in the morning I called O2 again, and a person answered the call to whom I told the problem. As soon as I did it, he told me that there was a service interruption in my area —”Oh, is it in my area, isn’t it something just mine?” I asked—and that they were working on solving it. “In the meantime,” he said, “We are going to offer you an unlimited data bonus both to your line and to all those associated with your contract. The person who assisted me also told me that the company would notify me by message when the incident was resolved. Some time later I received that confirmation message, and I continued working with the mobile data thinking that the problem would be resolved in a few hours. It’s been more than 24 hours and I’m still the same. The works on the A-5, recurring culprits Throughout yesterday I checked from time to time to see if the lights on the router changed, and just in case I restarted it to regain normal connectivity as soon as possible. There was no way. Source: Diario de Madrid. When several hours had passed and we still had no solution to the problem, I looked for some more information about the cause and quickly found an article in ADSLZone commenting on it: the underground works of the A-5who had left without internet an unknown number of Movistar and O2 clients. Those affected belong to the southwest area of ​​Madrid —Aluche, Campamento, Colonia Jardín, Pozuelo—, and I was one of them. This latest incident is not the first of its kind, and in fact there have already been cuts, for example in july, in August and in November. In all of them the reason was the underground works on the A-5, although at no time has the specific reason why these cuts occurred been clarified. This work is producing other side effects such as the saturation of Metro line 10, the dust and the deteriorated air quality for the residents of the surrounding areas, or traffic jams on the roads enabled in an extraordinary way throughout the underground. However, it is evident that the project is moving forward, and a few days ago the two sections of tunnel were connected executed to date. The tunnel is expected to be completed in Aprilalthough the vehicles They will not be able to circulate through it until the end of the year. Let’s hope that from now on there will be no more outages and the rest of the problems will also be mitigated. In Xataka | There is an extensive system to avoid being cut off in the 48 km underground of the M-30. It’s time to renew it

After 20 years of works and 4,000 million euros, Asturians demand one last thing for the AVE: traveling with their dog

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“Our dogs are family. They are not an extra suitcase, they are an essential part of the trip. Europe is already ahead of us by allowing dogs of all sizes on trains. Why can’t Renfe be just as modern and empathetic?” With these words and the support of more than 5,000 signatories, Isa Díaz Yusta, who promotes a petition on Change.org, summarizes the feelings of Renfe travelers in the north of the country as stated The New Spain. And the train company does not allow the access of dogs weighing more than 10 kg on the routes that go to Galicia, Asturias or the Basque Country. That impossibility has open a wound in northern Spain. The aforementioned request is not the only one. With almost 5,000 supports, another user of the same platform also has a petition open for Renfe to allow dogs weighing more than 10 kg to travel on these routes. “We can’t always drive or leave them with someone. Many of us need the train to go see family or for work, and leaving our colleagues behind is not an option,” says the promoter on this occasion. Arancha Gómez, again another Change.org user, asks that the possibility of carrying accompanying dogs be expanded on all lines operated by Renfe. It is the same thing that Laura Serena asks for, whose request has already been collected more than 26,000 signatures. I don’t have a driving license, so I depend entirely on public transportation. And, although I have been waiting for a change for years, Renfe only allows traveling with dogs weighing more than 10 kg on four routes. FOUR!!. The rest of the country remains inaccessible for those of us who travel with large dogs. Not without my dog Indeed, as noted in the last petition, Renfe only allows traveling with dogs weighing more than 10 kg on limited routes. Since the petition was launched, Renfe has been expanding the destinations in which you can travel accompanied by large dogs but, for now, the only AVE available are still the following: Madrid-Barcelona Madrid-Zaragoza Madrid-Alicante Madrid-Valencia Madrid-Seville Madrid-Málaga Madrid-Granada However, the company The possibility of traveling with dogs is not enabled between 10 and 40 kg on all high-speed and long-distance lines. On the contrary, dogs of this size and any other can ride on Cercanías trains. If we want to travel with a dog weighing less than 10 kg, Renfe allows us to do so on all AVE, long-distance, AVLO, medium-distance and metric gauge trains. Except in the latter, the pet can travel in a carrier that does not exceed 60x35x35 cm for a surcharge. On those trains that have places specifically reserved for dogs to travel, you can pay 35 euros so that the pet does not travel in the carrier. However, as we say, only on selected routes you can travel with dogs weighing more than 10 kg. In this case, it is mandatory to fill out a document discharging the company’s responsibilities and another to confirm that we are aware of the regulations. The dog will travel in the adjacent seat and this cannot be chosen because there are pre-established places for this purpose. Furthermore, in these cases, the company provides a travel kit and has a series of standards and recommendations that are summarized in this document. In the delivered kit there is a seat cover and a mat to place on the window seat. The dog must be on a leash of a maximum of 1.5 meters and with a muzzle. In all cases, only one pet is allowed per traveler, but in the particular case of dogs weighing more than 10 kg, no more than two pets are allowed per car on the same train. Furthermore, on the Madrid-Málaga and Madrid-Granada corridors, only one pet of this size is allowed per train. Asturian users, as we have seen, complain about this type of restrictions for a line that It opened in 2023 after 20 years of work (13 years late) and a investment of 4,000 million euros. Even on lines that do allow it, some travelers also complain that the purchasing process can be too complicated. They explain in the blog Pipperontour that not all trains on the enabled lines allow traveling with dogs and, furthermore, this possibility only appears to be added in the last step of the purchase process, which makes it difficult to get a ticket. To try to make everything clearer, Renfe has a space where all frequencies can be consulted that allow large dogs but the aforementioned blog states that this list is not always updated. To all of the above we must add that it is no coincidence that some of the popular petitions requested through the Change.org platform come from northern Spain. In one of them it is remembered that Gijón is one of the cities in our country with the most registered dogs and Asturias is the Autonomous Community with the most dogs per inhabitant of our country. Photo | john crozier and Phil Richards In Xataka | “In 1961 it took Bilbao three hours and five minutes. Now it takes three and ten”: Cantabria and Spain’s drama with the train

There is an obsession with protein to gain more and more muscle. Science has more and more doubts that it works

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Until not so long ago, protein was a technical term, linked to clinical nutrition and sports. Today it has become a cultural symbol. Under what some have called the era of Protein Chicprotein is no longer just a nutrient, but a promise: for health, body control and active aging. Eating well has come to mean, almost automatically, eating “with protein.” The market pushes. This change has consolidated an idea that is as simple as it is deceptive: that if protein is good, the more it is, the better. However, while the market push this logic Without nuances, the human body continues to function with very specific limits. And there arises the question that rarely accompanies packaging and slogans: how much protein do we really need to age well, and at what point does it stop adding up? What does science really say? This is where the noise of marketing collides with the evidence. In an extensive report published by The Washington PostProfessor Stuart Phillips, leading researcher in protein metabolism, muscle health and aging at McMaster University (Canada), issues a clear warning: “Consuming more and more protein is not necessarily better. There are no infinite benefits associated with higher intake.” Phillips is not a marginal voice in this debate. He has been studying for decades how nutrition and exercise interact to slow age-related loss of muscle mass —sarcopenia—and he is one of the scientists most cited in this field. His message dismantles much of the dominant narrative. So, let’s get to the data. The classic recommendation of 0.8 grams of protein per kilo of body weight —the well-known recommended daily intake (RDA)— is usually interpreted as an objective to achieve. In reality, it is designed as a minimum to avoid malnutrition. According to Stuart Phillipswhen the focus is on aging healthily and preserving muscle mass, the evidence points to somewhat higher ranges, always combined with strength training. This approach fits with what was published by harvard and Mayo Clinicpoint out that exceeding intakes close to 2 grams per kilo of body weight rarely provides clear advantages to the general population. Instead, they insist on the need to adapt the amount of protein to age, physical activity and health status. Protein: necessary, but not miraculous. It is worth remembering something basic that is often lost in public conversation: the body does not store protein. Once the needs are met, the excess is used as energy or transformed into fat. Eating more protein, by itself, does not build muscle. As they remember from Mayo Clinic: “Muscle is built by strength training, not by shaking.” From 40 or 50 years old, the equation changes slightly. The progressive loss of muscle mass begins and here protein takes on a strategic role, but always in combination with resistance exercise. Spreading the protein throughout the day (between 15 and 30 grams per meal) and not concentrating it only at dinner seems more effective in stimulating muscle synthesis, a point that also underlines the McMaster University researcher. The word of the year: protein. At least in the nutritional field, because – for those who want to know – the word of the year has been “tariff”, and no wonder. But getting back to the topic at hand, protein has sneaked in on social networks, in cafes and in viral morning routines. And going further, the new ritual of well-being involves coffees protein, clear protein, functional supplements and smoothies that promise sculpted bodies. This obsession coexists with other contemporary phenomena: the fear of aging, the cult of the “perfect” body and the popularization of weight loss drugs like Ozempic. In this context, protein is sold almost as a talisman: it satisfies, slims, tones and protects against aging. Nutritionists, however, are more cautious. Many agree that we are paying a premium for ultra-processed products that do not provide more benefits than the real food that we already have at home: eggs, legumes, fish or natural yogurt. The origin of the protein. Another important turn in this debate. We come to a meta-analysis that shows that following patterns like the Planetary Health Dietrich in plant proteins, is associated with both lower mortality and a lower climate footprint. It is not about eliminating animal protein, but about moving it from the center of the plate and prioritizing legumes, nuts and whole grains. The experts introduce a key concept here, widely cited by Harvard: he protein package. It’s not just the protein that matters, but what comes with it. It is not the same to obtain it from an ultra-processed “high in protein” food than from a dish of lentils with fiber, minerals and antioxidants. The nutritional context matters as much as the isolated macronutrient. So who really needs more protein? Protein deficiencies are not common in the general population. They appear especially in older people, patients with illnesses, very restrictive diets or chewing problems. In these cases, supplements can be a useful tool, never a universal shortcut. Alma Palau, dietician-nutritionist and manager of the General Council of Official Colleges of Dietitians-Nutritionists, warned in an interview in CuídatePlus that excess protein is not harmless. “Proteins that the body does not need are metabolized and eliminated, but this process involves making organs such as the kidney or liver work unnecessarily,” he explained. Palau insists that consuming more protein than necessary does not translate into more muscle or more health if it is not accompanied by sufficient carbohydrates, a varied diet and physical activity. In other words: without context, the protein loses its meaning. Along the same lines, Carlos Andrés Zapata, nutritionist interviewed by La Vanguardiawarns that protein has been overstated in current discourse and remembers that it is not more important than other macronutrients such as carbohydrates or fats, nor does it replace a balanced diet or strength training. Less obsession, more balance. Protein matters, a lot. It is essential to maintain muscle, autonomy and quality of life with age. But science does not support the idea that it is infinite or magical. … Read more

In 2025, the salary of 6,800 Valencian civil servants depends on an Access form. Only one person knows how it works

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According to has revealed According to the Audit of personnel expenses of the Generalitat Administration prepared by the Sindicatura de Comptes, the Valencian Community is experiencing a situation that is torn between the surreal and the negligence: two computer systems on which the payrolls of almost 6,800 civil servants and public employees depend cannot exchange data. The only way to achieve this is through an application made in Microsoft Access by a single person who would also be the only one who knows how to maintain and update it. SIGNO and GESPERJU2 do not speak to each other. He SIGN program (Integrated Payroll Management System and Others) is the internal computer system of the Generalitat Valenciana used for the management, calculation and payment of payrolls of civil servants and labor personnel of the Valencian Administration, including education, health and other services, allowing procedures such as direct debits and registrations or cancellations of employees. On the other hand, the GESPERJU2 program is a platform that manages the labor files of the personnel at the service of the Justice Administration of the Valencian Community, in processes such as the management of payrolls, permits and other administrative and human resources situations of its staff of judges, magistrates and Justice officials. What is expected is that the platform that manages payroll and the one that manages whether employees are on leaveon vacation or have requested a leave of absence were connected. To the surprise of the auditors of the Sindicatura de Comptes, these two platforms cannot exchange data. An “improvised” connection. As and stood out The Economistthat the officials of the Department of Justice of the Valencian Community receive their payroll on time and without errors depends only on a “patch” in the form of an application created with Microsoft Access. That’s not the auditors’ most surprising discovery, however. The person who created this application is the only one capable of updating the salary tables and other parameters necessary so that the officials’ payrolls are processed without problems. According to the Syndicate reportthis disconnection between platforms has left the Administration in a situation of “absolute dependence on a person”, in addition to “posing a high risk of continuity of operation if this person could not use this parallel application.” We imagine that at this moment, that person will be the best protected official in the Valencian Administration. Two platforms and end up doing it by hand. Another derivative is added to this unprecedented fact. The Access application has its limitations, so some payroll incidents must be done by hand by an official, so that they are reflected correctly. As the audit report noted, “the calculation of certain payroll incidents is carried out manually (arrears, three-year terms previously consolidated in General Administration positions, salary supplements for vertical replacements or guards), which increases the possibility of errors.” As described in the report, the integration problem would not be limited to Justice. Also mentioned is the risk that, due to a lack of communication between platforms, the same person who has had their position changed or promoted, could “collect two salaries simultaneously” (in the old position and in the new one) without being detected. TALIA: the great promise. TALIA is the new personnel management application that is proposed to replace the current ones and whose first phase has already would be tendered and awarded. The promise of TALIA is that personnel information and payrolls of Administration personnel will no longer live on separate and unconnected islands. However, its deployment is planned for years to come (if deadlines are met), and the precedent of delays and cost overruns in implementations like the one suffered with NEFIS in 2019. Until then, someone in the Valencian Administration will ensure that paid for the Office license. In Xataka | Companies bet everything on returning to the office. The public administration has an ace up its sleeve: teleworking Image | Unsplash (Rafael Oliveira)

What it is, how it works and what channels this free service offers

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Let’s explain to you What is Samsung TV Plus and how does it work?the free content service that you will find integrated into the Korean manufacturer’s smart televisions. Since it comes already included, you will not need to download anything or register, you will simply have access to its channels from the beginning. Let’s start by explaining what exactly this service is and some of its features. You will see that it is very easy to understand. Then, we will briefly explain part of how it works, and we will finish with a list of channels that it currently offers. What is Samsung TV Plus Samsung TV Plus is a free entertainment service created by Samsung, which is integrated into the manufacturer’s Smart TVs. You do not need to have any type of external device, since you will find it installed directly on the television, something that means you do not have to download anything either. Being a free service, you get the benefits by displaying ads in your content. Does not require any type of registrationso you will not have to create an account or enter your bank details. Instead of having a user account, the content is linked directly to your TV. Another thing you should keep in mind is that you cannot remove this service from the TVit will always be installed. But you will not have any obligation to use it either, it will simply be there for you to access whenever you want or need it. Samsung TV Plus will be shown to you when you turn on the TV, but you can also access directly from the app bar that is in the interface of your television. It’s like one more application in addition to the ones you may decide to install. As we will tell you at the end, the service offers a series of free channels so you have access to hours of content. This number of channels increases over time, so it is advisable to check it from time to time to see if they have added any with themes that you like. And finally, you must remember that Samsung TV Plus It is also available on mobile phones and tablets. Specifically, you will find it on the manufacturer’s Galaxy devices with an Android 11 operating system or higher. How to install/set up Samsung TV Plus Samsung TV Plus no need to installsince it comes installed as standard on all the manufacturer’s compatible televisions. This means that as soon as you connect it you will find it already available. Of course, to be able to use it normally you will need an internet connection on your television. This is an online channel service, so connection is essential to be able to see all its channels. If you want to configure the channel list To rearrange them, you have to press the list or CH List button on the controller. This will open a column with the channels, and on the top right you have a button with a pencil icon called Edit. Within this option, search and select a channel, and you can block it, change its number, delete it or change its name. You will also have another option such as reordering channels, or mark the ones you want as favorites and then access a list where only these appear. How to use Samsung TV Plus To access Samsung TV Plus you just have to turn on the television and press the button Home of your remote control. This will open an application bar at the bottom, and you can click on the icon TV Plus to access it. What channels does Samsung TV Plus offer? Now we are going to give you Samsung TV Plus channel list as of December 16, 2025, which totals more than 70. In it we highlight that Xataka TV is availablewith tests and comparisons, tips and tricks, reports, purchase recommendations and much more. In this list of channels we will include the dial and channel nameso you can access the one you want directly. Entertainment Channels 4001 Canal Sur Andalusia 4004 Style and Life – Rakuten TV 4007 The 1 4035 The 2 4064 MTV Cribs 4066 MTV Originals 4106 RTVE Know and Win 4157 Dhar Mann TV 4186 Yu-Gi-Oh! 4188 Beyblade 4190 Anime Vision 4191 Anime Vision Classics 4200 Pretty Girls TV 4201 Hello! play 4202 Mark Rober TV 4203 Ideas in 5 Minutes 4205 Xataka 4211 Aztec International 4213 Dog Whisperer 4215 Teen Vee 4216 H2O & Friends 4219 2M 4220 The Furniture 4222 Korean by CJ ENM 4223 Fireplace Vibes Series Channels 4002 Tell me how it happened 4235 RTVE The Promise 4236 RTVE La Moderna 4237 Baywatch – Baywatch 4241 FreeTV Stellar 4242 Red Eagle 4243 Heart 4246 BBC Series 4248 Vive Kanal D Drama 4255 The Gipsy Kings – Rakuten TV 4257 K-Drama+ 4260 Mr Bean Animated News Channels 4005 Euronews LIVE 4551 24H 4552 News 360 4553 Business TV 4555 The Country 4557 The Confidential 4561 CNN Headlines 4563 CNBC 4564 Al Jazeera 4565 NBC News NOW 4569 CNN in Spanish 4571 Sky News International 4573 FRANCE 24 FAST 4575 DW 4577 Bloomberg TV+ Crime Channels 4293 The Commissioner 4295 The Midsomer Murders 4297 Forensic Files 4298 All Crime 4299 Crime & History 4301 DATELINE 24/7 4303 True Crimes 4305 Crime – Rakuten TV 4307 Cobra Alert Sports Channels 4603 Tennis Channel 4605 MyPadel TV 4606 Tennis+ 4609 Red Bull TV 4631 Telesport 4633 The League Inside 4635 DFB Play TV 4641 FIFA+ 4658 Motorvision 4663 Rally.TV FAST+ 4671 Surf Channel 4673 World Poker Tour 4675 Conscious Television Children’s Channels 4771 Clan 4772 LooLoo Kids 4774 BABY SHARK TV 4775 Caillou 4777 Pocoyo 4779 duckTV 4781 Cry Babies 4797 SuperToons TV 4803 Maya the Bee 4805 Video Game Heroes 4807 Rabbids: The Invasion 4809 Rugrats 4811 SpongeBob 4815 Rantaro, The Ninja Boy 4821 Pluto TV Kids 4823 iCarly movie channels 4003 Runtime Christmas 4852 100% Christmas – … Read more

AEMET knows that what is coming is not just a train of storms, it is a ‘master class’ on how winter works in Spain today

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This beginning of December comes with a train of Atlantic storms, several cold fronts in a row, snow, wind and a lot of sudden thermal changes. But it goes much further than all this: what we are going to see is a perfect example of how winter in Spain works today (in the midst of the climate crisis). What is going to happen? The quick summary is that the start of December 2025 in Spain will be marked by a very active Atlantic circulation. And that takes the form of a “squall train” that will cross the Peninsula during the first 10 days of the month. The most immediate will be a cold front that will leave abundant rains in Galicia and the Cantabrian Sea (with local accumulations of up to 50 l/m²), snow above 1000 meters and strong gusts of wind on the coast. But, as I say, it is the first of at least four. The reign of the negative NAO. We said it a few days ago, the European Weather Forecast Center pointed because the first days of the month we were going to be in negative NAO. The ‘NAO’ is the ‘North Atlantic Oscillation‘ is what meteorologists call the relentless fight between the Azores anticyclone and the Icelandic low, the two great atmospheric phenomena that govern the meteorology of the North Atlantic. When the index we use to “measure who is winning” is negative, the Azores anticyclone is weaker than normal and, for this reason, it cannot block deep Atlantic storms. The direct consequence is that they circulate further south than normal: right at our latitude. This is exactly what is happening. For this reason (and as a novelty) “squall train” is not a funny journalistic metaphor: there are four very active fronts heading towards Spain. And it goes without saying that this is good news: we are coming from very dry and irregular autumns and, despite the cushion of dammed water that we havea phenomenon of this type is going to be really good for us. It remains to be seen if we will be able to take advantage of the rainfall that will arrive. Why do I say this is “a perfect example of how it works today (in the middle of the climate crisis) winter”? Because although the pattern of “chained storms” is classic of the Atlantic winter, these dynamics are encountering a warmer basal situation: the atlantic ocean and the Mediterranean Sea is warmer (and therefore have more energy). It’s “business as usual”, but at higher speeds. In this situation, in fact, a scenario is feared for Europe in which there is less rain in summer in the Mediterranean and more episodes of extreme rain in the cold seasons. This feeling that everything is very similar to the same as always, but in a completely different way, is very strange. Image | Tropical TidBits In Xataka | The most beautiful, exciting and hopeful thing about November has come out of England and it is a weather forecast

This is how the heat that comes from inside the Earth works

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Under the earth we walk on beats an energy that is born from internal heat, silent, so constant that neither the night nor the clouds can interrupt it. We don’t see it, we don’t hear it, but it is there: an engine running since the planet was formed. In recent decades, as we looked to the sun and wind to fuel our modern lives, that subterranean heat remained almost forgotten. It is an energy that has always been there, waiting to be understood. Here we are going to tell what it is about. What is geothermal energy? The geothermal energy It is basically take advantage of the heat that the Earth keeps inside or underground. This renewable energy is used to produce electricity or to heat and air condition buildings. That heat is trapped in rocks, soils and groundwater at different depths and temperatures. The Energy Information Agency mention a fact that is striking: the core of the Earth is at 5,982 ºCalmost the same as the surface of the sun. However, that heat does not stay down there, but rises slowly and warms the mantle and crust. As it rises, it becomes accessible, and with today’s technologies, we can capture it and transform it into useful energy. How is geothermal energy generated? The process itself is no mystery: the heat coming from the Earth’s interior heats the water under the ground. Sometimes that water is so hot that it exceeds the 150ºC and, in those cases, it can be used to produce electricity, as explained by the Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving (IDAE). When the temperature is lower—between 30 ºC and 100 ºC— that heat is used for district heating or for certain industrial processes. When the subsoil heat is not so high, what is known as surface geothermal. The idea it’s simple: the terrain maintains a fairly stable temperature, between 10 and 15 ºCand geothermal heat pumps take advantage of that stability. In winter they extract heat from the ground and in summer they do just the opposite, sending it downwards. This natural balance allows these systems consume much less energyin some cases between a 70 and 80% less than traditional solutions. In recent years, a technology that can revolutionize the sector has also begun to expand: Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS), that artificially create permeability into deep hot rocks to generate resources where none existed before. How does a geothermal power plant work? A geothermal power plant works in a similar way to a thermal power plant: a turbine that moves thanks to steam that drives a generator. The difference is in the origin of the steam, in the case of geothermal energy the heat comes from the subsoil. There are three main technologies: dry steam: uses steam directly from the reservoir. Flash: evaporates very hot water by decreasing its pressure. Binary cycle: transfers heat to a secondary fluid that vaporizes at a low temperature. After moving the turbine, the fluid is reinjected into the subsoil to maintain the reservoir and close the cycle. The advantage of these plants is decisive, since they generate electricity 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) emphasizes that its ability firm helps stabilize electrical grids and mitigate the variability of other renewables. What is geothermal energy used for? To begin with, it is used to generate electricity. In countries like Iceland, it is an important piece of your electrical system. In Europe the use is less, but even so the European Commission estimates that it is already there is about 1 gigawatt installed. The greatest growth does not come from electricity, but from something much more domestic: heating. In several European cities, the heat that comes from kilometers underground travels through pipes to the radiators of thousands of homes. In the EU they already have with almost 400 of these networks functioning totally or partially with energy from the subsoil. In addition, geothermal energy has a lot of direct uses in very different sectors. It is used to heat greenhouses, feed spas, dry industrial products, maintain stable temperatures in fish farms or air-condition large buildings, like university campuses. Pros and cons of geothermal energy We start with the advantages: Constant and manageable energy: It does not depend on the weather. Low emissions and minimal visual impact: It does not need towers, panels or large surfaces. Extreme efficiency in homes: Consumption can be reduced by up to 80%. Very long useful life: Between 25 and 50 years, with little maintenance. Possible extraction of lithium as a by-product: The European Commission highlights it as a key benefit for the continental industry. Now comes the not-so-good part: High initial investment: Drilling is expensive and risky. Need for complex geological studies: the systems may require complex technical interventions, especially in wells and underground circuits. Not all places have suitable deposits: either due to heat, permeability or access. Lack of specialized labor: A detected problem through Brussels. Insufficient regulatory framework: compared to other types of renewables. Are there geothermal power plants in Spain? Spain does not yet have any geothermal power plants, as detailed by the IDAE. However, there is clear growth in surface geothermal energy, which is used for heating and cooling. Thousands of homes, hospitals, universities and public buildings already operate with geothermal heat pumps. Although the big leap can arrive from the Canary Islands. Due to their volcanic origin, the islands concentrate the most promising medium and high temperature resources in the country. Added to all this is that the State is beginning to invest decisively. The program Deep Geothermalfinanced with NextGenerationEU funds, covers up to 50% of the cost of the surveys, which can reach 3,000 meters. It is an unprecedented bet in Spain In summary, Spanish geothermal energy is taking off, but it is doing so from an initial phase of deep exploration. The difference is that, for the first time in decades, there is funding, political interest and real projects underway. The … Read more

This is how the dangerous “Amazon of fertility” works

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Having a child is the dream of many people around the world, but finding a suitable father it can be a bit complicated. There are many couples or single mothers who decide to go to a fertility clinic or a hospital to find a sperm donor, but now This process has also passed to social networks such as TikTok or Facebook. The Internet has become a veritable ‘Amazon of fertilization’, with advertisements for men who highlight having “very strong sperm.” And it is not the letter of introduction that can be found on Tinder, but a phrase taken from a Facebook group where dozens of men advertise to offer their semen to women and couples who need a donor, although without following official channels. The problem. In the United Kingdom, the legal route to receive a donation from a donor is through the Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority (HFEA), which regulates assisted reproduction. In this case is established that donors cannot receive any financial compensation, except for justified expenses. Why it triumphs. A treatment at a fertility clinic can cost 10,000 poundsbeing a figure that many couples or single women cannot assume. That is why they decide to turn to a more economical system, although without regulation, such as social network groups. There are groups on social networks like Sperm Donors UK, Start a Family Here either Get Your Babydust Herewhere thousands of users publish “natural” or “artificial” donation offers. According to The Guardiansome of these groups have reached 10,000 members in one year with different announcements. In the case of Spain, this problem also exists, since although public healthcare covers a number of specific assisted reproduction cycles, the fact of consuming them also forces one to opt for the private route, which has significant costs. The speed. Also involved in this case is the fact of not being able to choose exactly the sperm donor, having to stick to certain physical characteristics that are sometimes met or not. With these dissemination groups, you can get a real photograph of the sperm donors to see if it fits the taste of the mother or the couple. And we get rid of having to wait for a profile with this style to appear, since it has been seen how a notice has been published saying “I need a donation tonight, I am ovulating and my donor has failed me. I am looking for a donor for this weekend.” This urgency creates the perfect breeding ground for the exploitation of this phenomenon. Felicity, a member of these groups cited by The Guardian, points out that the demographics are dangerous: very young recipients between 18 and 25 years old, and considerably older donors between 35 and 50 years old. There are many risks. When adjusting to this insemination method without any type of health regulation, it must be remembered that the donors have not been tested for sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV, nor have they undergone genetic analysis to rule out important diseases such as cystic fibrosis. The case of James MacDougall, an unregulated donor who I knew I was a carrier of fragile (which causes learning and cognitive disabilities) and still donated, is a clear example of the danger. A legal chaos. A priori it seems that it is very easy to have a child using this internet system, and the reality is that in the United Kingdom it is quite simple thanks to very lax legislation, where we already have the case of a man who claims to have 180 children and has begun to claim to have contact with them through the courts. This in Spain is about regulating, specifically thanks to the Law 14/2006 on assisted human reproduction techniques which indicates that the donation is anonymous, meaning that the recipient cannot know the donor, so they will not have responsibilities regarding paternity. But this outside of an authorized center ceases to have value. This means that if a woman uses a Facebook donor and he then claims paternity (proving it with a DNA test), a judge could give it to her, with all her obligations (maintenance) and rights (visitation). The anonymity that Spanish law protects disappears, creating a legal nightmare for the mother. How they spread. How is it possible for these groups to prosper? This is the question we can ask ourselves today, and to answer it we have to understand that technology plays an important role. Meta’s recommendation algorithm, designed to connect similar interests, actively promotes these communities. Although Meta’s policies prohibit the sale of bodily fluids, the reality is that the moderation of private groups is sometimes complex to understand. Although it has already gone from Facebook to influencers. There are men like the German Daniel Bayen They document their “giving tours” around the world on TikTok and Instagram. Bayen, who was also conceived by donation, promotes transparency and maintains contact with the families to whom he has donated his sperm. But if analyzed, this type of person is leaving a trail of dozens of biological half-siblings and the risk of consanguinity in the future may increase, especially if the recipient families live nearby. Images | Christian Velitchkov Thomas Breher In Xataka | We have visited the place where Spain’s demographic hopes are literally placed: the sperm bank of Granada

This is how forced ventilation works

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The cold arrives and the first bills scary heating. In many homes, the question is repeated every year: how to keep the house warm without skyrocketing costs? And, among neighborhood conversations, a technical term has emerged that generates curiosity (and some confusion): forced ventilation. What exactly is it? Is it mandatory? And why is there so much talk about her lately? When the cold reveals weak points. With the first freezing nights, the Association of Spanish Insulating Mineral Wool Manufacturers (AFELMA) has issued a warning: poor insulation takes its toll. According to their data, a third of final energy consumption in Spain – and CO₂ emissions – comes from buildings, mainly due to heating and cooling needs. “Every winter we see how many homes are not prepared to conserve heat,” says its president, Miguel Ángel Gallardo. But energy savings no longer depend only of good heating either to put weather stripping on the windows. In recent years, Spanish and European regulations have gone further: they are pushing towards a hermetic and efficient housing model, where ventilation stops being about opening a window “when necessary” and becomes a technical and health requirement. According to the Ministry for the Ecological Transition (MITECO)the Regulation of Thermal Installations in Buildings (RITE) establishes that all thermal installations must guarantee thermal well-being, hygiene and energy efficiency. In parallel, the Technical Building Code (CTE), in its section HS3 “Indoor air quality”requires homes to have a system that guarantees air renewal. That is, the law no longer understands ventilation as something optional. What changes is how it is done. So what is forced ventilation? Also known as mechanical ventilation, it consists of a system that automatically renews the air inside using electric fans and ducts. Unlike opening the windows, these devices guarantee a constant flow of fresh air and expel stale air without losing the accumulated heat. As explained by the specialized portal Heat and Coldthe current CTE regulations require ensuring a minimum indoor air quality, and there are two possible methods: Hybrid ventilation: It combines mechanical extraction and natural circulation when outdoor conditions allow it. Forced mechanical ventilation: Renews the air in a fully controlled manner using electrical equipment. In both cases, the goal is the same: ensure healthy indoor air without wasting energy. The key question: is it mandatory? In practice, all new or completely renovated homes must include one of these systems. If your house is old, you are not obliged to install it unless you do an energy renovation or seek an advanced efficiency certification. On the other hand, commercial premises, offices and other non-residential buildings are governed by the RITE, which also requires mechanical ventilation systems to maintain minimum levels of air quality, classified from IDA 1 to IDA 4, according to Certicalia. In other words, if you are going to renovate or build, you will have to include forced ventilation; If your apartment is old and you do not do any work, there is no immediate obligation. The other even more important question: price? Here comes the part that worries the most. Prices depend on the size of the apartment, the type of system and whether it includes a heat recovery, a device that uses the energy of the leaving air to temper the new air that enters. According to Certicaliaan efficient air conditioning and ventilation project can cost around 3,700 euros, although a basic installation with a heat recovery in a small apartment can be more affordable. However, experts emphasize that the investment pays off quickly thanks to energy savings. AFELMA estimates that improving insulation and ventilation can reduce heating consumption by up to 80%, in addition to avoiding humidity and condensation problems that can lead to costly repairs. As you remember from another specialized portalventilating in winter does not mean giving up thermal comfort. With a good system or simple habits—opening opposite windows for five minutes in the morning, using extractor fans in kitchens or installing heat recovery—you can keep the air clean without heat escaping. Towards a more efficient future. Forced ventilation with heat recovery is already one of the pillars of the Passivhaus standard, which defines almost zero consumption homes. Examples such as the Bolueta Tower in Bilbao or Casa 135 in Madrid show that these systems are not a fad, but rather a mature technology that allows you to save energy, improve comfort and breathe cleaner air. In the words of Siber Ventilationin just over a year, all new constructions must be Almost Zero Consumption Buildings. Mechanical ventilation, along with insulation and renewable energy, will be essential to achieve this. In a winter where every degree counts, knowing how the air enters and leaves our homes can make the difference between a cold home and a really comfortable one. “The real change begins with the materials that make up the home,” concludes the president of AFELMA. Because good thermal insulation—and adequate ventilation—not only saves energy: it turns a house into a healthier, more comfortable and winter-ready space. Image | FreePik Xataka | The patch to avoid another massive blackout is going to cost us 731 million euros. Iberdrola has already begun to collect it

How do I check that it works without alerting the DGT

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The DGT is clear about the two greatest strengths of the new V-16 beacon. The first is that it can be installed on the roof of the car without getting out of the vehicle. By putting our hand out the window we can place it on the roof to alert us that there is an obstacle on the road. The second is your connectivity. In fact, it is the main reason why you have to be careful if you still have to buy a beacon of this type. Until 2021, the intention was simply for the driver to carry the beacon on him but from that year onwards It was decided that this should be connected so that when we activate it we give notice to DGT 3.0. This platform is what Traffic uses to be aware of everything that is happening and alert other drivers through warning signs that there is an obstacle on the road. Additionally, the promise is that all connected cars will receive an alert in the instrument cluster called signal V-27. This is all very well but… how do we know that the beacon works and that it does not have any errors without alerting the DGT? 100 seconds test As we have already told you, the V-16 beacons can operate with batteries. Therefore, it is important to carry a spare pack if you use the first and regularly check if the battery is charged if you choose this second option. Doubts arise when turn on the beacon for the first time. And in addition to carrying it charged or having batteries, we will have to make sure that the beacon works correctly. In that case, there is no choice but turn it on at home. But don’t be afraid if you think you are going to open an incident on the DGT platform, they are going to find out where you live and they are going to send emergency services to you. For a start, the DGT assures that the information sent by the V-16 beacon is completely private. It only indicates its geopositioning but there is no private data such as the person who activated it, the broken down car or any other detail that Traffic knows at that moment. You will also not launch a rescue plan when you activate the V-16 beacon. The DGT remembers It is the responsibility of the driver or passengers to notify the emergency services, their only responsibility is to monitor the incident so that it is reflected in DGT 3.0. Finally, from the moment the beacon is activated until the first warning is given to the platform 100 seconds will pass. This time window acts as a safety net to avoid false positives, but it is also one of the reasons that guarantee that the emergency light can have a battery for the minimum required 30 minutes. The beacon connects to DGT 3.0 through IoT networksknown as the Internet of Things. This network is not part of the typical bandwidth of 4G or 5G networks and allows the sending of very small data packets in a single direction, which maximizes the use time of a device. Every 100 seconds, the beacon sends its positioning to the DGT again. The system is similar to that of a sports Smartwatch in which you can choose how often the GPS position is recalculated, with the aim of extending the battery. That is to say, there is no problem turning on the V-16 beacon when you receive it at home. If you want to check that it works and that everything is correct, it is best to start it to make sure. Of course, you must turn it off before 100 seconds have passed so that a false positive does not occur. Photo | DGT In Xataka | Disassembling a V16 beacon and keeping its “free” SIM for 12 years sounds great. has a little problem

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