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

November 14, 2025 by usatoday24

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

November 10, 2025 by usatoday24

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

November 8, 2025 by usatoday24

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

November 7, 2025 by usatoday24

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

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

November 5, 2025 by usatoday24

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

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

November 4, 2025 by usatoday24

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

requirements and how to check if the one you have or want to buy works for you

October 28, 2025 by usatoday24

January 1, 2026 is approaching, the date on which V16 beacons are going to become mandatory. V16 lights the substitutes for the classic triangles of a lifetime when it comes to informing other cars that yours has a breakdown or accident, and from 2026 if you do not have one in the glove compartment you are exposed to a possible fine. And as always happens before a new rule like this is implemented, there is a bit of confusion. The point is that not all V16 beacons will work for youso it is advisable to know the characteristics they need to have to be legal and so that you can use them. V16 beacon requirements The DGT has an official list of more than 200 models of beacons in this database. But if you don’t have access to it, there are several requirements that you have to make sure that the one you are going to buy or have meets. For example, you must ensure that have a certificate code to ensure that it is properly approved. This code is usually a combination of alphanumeric preceded by the letters LCOE or IDAE. The other key point is that the beacon must be connected. This means that you must have a non-removable eSIM with which to connect to the DGT to indicate your location. This point is very important because it is less known. Connectivity is mandatory for at least 12 years, and It should be free for you.. Come on, you don’t have to pay any type of fee, subscription or need an additional app. This beacon must provide automatic geolocation when used, and direct communication with the DGT 3.0 platform the moment it is turned on. The first V16s that came onto the market did not have this requirement, which will be mandatory, so if you already have one, it is a good idea to check it to make sure that it meets this essential requirement. In addition to these two essentials, beacons must also have a minimum autonomy of 30 minutesalthough there is no maximum. Come on, the longer it lasts the better, but its battery should last at least half an hour. Additionally, they should be easy to replace or replace, and should be powered by a USB rechargeable battery or AA battery. Its useful life must be at least 18 months. Another important point is that they must offer 360º visibility at 1 kilometer away At the very least, although again, the further away you can see the better. This will ensure that there is better visibility both at night and on very foggy days. These beacons must be able stay stable on flat surfaces. But if due to height you cannot access the roof of the vehicle, they should be equipped with a magnet or other means of attachment. Here, it is best that they have a magnet so that you can simply lower the window and place them on the roof before opening the door, or so that they can be fixed to the driver’s door itself. If your beacon does not meet these requirements you can have sanctions. For example, a fine of 80 euros without loss of points when your V16 beacon is not approved. And if you use it correctly to report an accident or incident, if you do not place it in its place or if you travel without a vest, the fine can rise to 200 euros. In Xataka | Clarifying all the mess that the DGT has on its hands: the V-16 light, the V-27 signal and the emergency triangles

What it is, how it works and how to use this internet browser with artificial intelligence

October 23, 2025 by usatoday24

Let’s explain to you what ChatGPT Atlas is and how it worksthe internet browser created by OpenAI. It is an alternative to Chrome and the rest of the browsers that stands out for having the artificial intelligence of ChatGPT integrated, and is used both as a search engine and to interact with the content you see. We are going to start the article by explaining what exactly this browser is like, both outside and inside. And then we will explain briefly how it works. What ChatGPT Atlas is and how it works ChatGPT Atlas is an internet browser created by OpenAI, one of the leading artificial intelligence companies. His proposal is to offer a vitaminized browser with AIso that you will be able to interact with ChatGPT at all times. The browser is based on Chromiumwhich is the same open source base that other browsers such as Brave, Microsoft Edge or Chrome itself are based on. This means that all the websites you visit will work practically as well as with the other most popular browsers. Using Chromium as a base also allows install the extensions available for Chrome. Come on, if you use extensions in Chrome, Edge or Brave, you may also be able to install them in Atlas. Other more technical advantages of this browser are that you can render pages with Blink, the Chromium engine, use its standard APIs such as tabs, history, cookies or bookmarks, nothing changes, or run JavaScript, CSS and HTML5 like in any modern browser. But the great attraction of the browser is its integration with ChatGPTwhich at launch uses the GPT-5 model, the same as the official AI app. You can use this artificial intelligence without having to open it in external tabssince it will be integrated into a native environment in the browser. The AI model does not execute web code or directly access a page’s servers for security. Additionally, Interactions have limited permissions, nor do they access your data outside of the context in which you are using Atlas. Yes indeed, you have the option to activate user memory. This means that ChatGPT will remember key data about things you talk about with the AI such as your interests such as personal tastes, personal contexts such as plants you may have at home, or styles. You can also deliberately ask him to remember things about you. These elements will be stored as small chunks called “facts” that you can configure in ChatGPT memory. And what is this for in Atlas? Well, it allows the browser to remember interests and browsing routines, to adapt the explanations it gives you when reading websites and documents, or to maintain coherence in different contexts such as tabs, searches, or projects. Imagine that ChatGPT has learned that you write in a digital medium about technological dissemination for beginners, as is my case. So, when you ask it to summarize a website, it will do so adapting to that context, and the explanation will be simpler and more colloquial to adapt to how you understand things. Furthermore, at combine memory with browser toolsit will remember your web projects or research, maintain styles in different sessions, remember configurations, etc. If you search for laptops, for example, you can ask them to compare the results with what you searched the previous month. How to use Atlas To download the Atlas browser, you have to go to the website chatgpt.com/es-ES/atlas. At the moment it is only available on macOS. Once you download the browser, during the installation process you will be able to import the data from another browser you have installed, such as Chrome or Safari. This data is passwords, bookmarks, history, everything. When you make the browser, you will see that it is very similar to Chrome. You will need to log in with your ChatGPT account, and then open a new tab ChatGPT will appear instead of Google to perform searches. When you do it, you will have several types of search results. By default you will see the AI responses, but above there are tabs that will allow you to see website results, just like in Google, and image results. This way you won’t miss anything in your experience. The other big change is when you are browsing any website. The browser has a button Ask ChatGPT which opens a column on the right where you can ask the AI anything related to the content of the website, such as a summary, or anything that comes to mind. Besides, when you select a text and right clickin the context menu you will have an option to ask ChatGPT about this content. Thus, you will be able to obtain context of words or phrases in a simple and fast way. Atlas also has a settings section where you can choose the appearance of the tabs, whether the bookmarks bar is displayed, and you can also control your browsing data and its customization. You’ll also be able to control your AI chat history directly from here, and much more. In Xataka Basics | The best prompts to save hours of work and do your tasks with ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot or other artificial intelligence

Crossing the A-5 works on foot has become a risky sport. The Madrid City Council solution: AI

October 22, 2025 by usatoday24

He burial of the A-5 It has become a headache for the neighbors. It is not only that traffic jams are the daily routine or that the works have forced the route to be diverted, creating a kind of Mario Kart where drivers have to avoid unexpected curves, unexpected exits or the appearance of cranes and heavy machinery. Pedestrians also begin to look with horror as his life becomes complicated every time they have to cross from one side of the highway to the other. The promise Being able to cross the road at the top of it surrounded by a park instead of dark and uninviting passageways is closer. But, for now, crossing from the Batán neighborhood to Lucero or Aluche is nothing short of a pipe dream. One in which the Madrid City Council has decided to intervene with artificial intelligence. With a little AI A couple of weeks ago, the large underground work on the A-5 appeared with a couple of unexpected traffic lights around Villagarcía Street, near the junction with Batán. The intention was to regulate traffic at one of the most complicated intersections in the area. Taking advantage of this unnecessary action, the neighbors began to demand that zebra crossings be set up so they could cross on foot to the other side of the road and have a quick access to the neighborhoods of Lucero and Aluche. In this way, residents would also have access, for example, to public transportation that circulates a little less than a kilometer from their homes, schools or work centers but which are much more difficult to reach on foot since the works began. Now we know that the Madrid City Council is going to take advantage of these works to also test one of the latest purchases announced: traffic lights with artificial intelligence. They explain in The World that current traffic lights already have cameras to control road traffic. This will help, taking advantage of an artificial intelligence system, to regulate traffic on demand. The traffic lights will detect the number of pedestrians waiting for the green light to turn and the system will decide when to let vehicles and pedestrians pass. Thus, it will open the way to the latter for a more or less time depending on demand. The area is conflictive because there are schools that are currently wedged between the Casa de Campo and the underground works of the A-5. With the installation of traffic lights with artificial intelligence, an attempt will be made to prioritize the passage of pedestrians at peak times when entering and leaving educational centers. The use of the system, as we said, is not new. a few weeks ago the Madrid City Council confirmed the installation of these systems in various parts of the capital, especially complicated by the large influx of pedestrians. For example, they already adjust the steps at the intersection of Calle Princesa and Alberto Aguilera, on the Segovia and San Isidro bridges (Madrid Río area) or in the Plaza de Grecia next to the Metropolitan Stadium where traffic lights with artificial intelligence regulate the passage if there are concerts or large events to improve fluidity. Photo | Xataka and Madrid City Council In Xataka | The residents of Madrid had been longing for the A-5 to be buried underground for years. Now he’s making their lives miserable.

The US has seized $15 billion in bitcoin. This is how the terrifying “pig slaughter” crypto scam works

October 15, 2025 by usatoday24

The US Department of Justice (DoJ) has confiscated about 15 billion dollars in the form of bitcoin. This fortune was in the hands of an alleged fraudster named Chen Zhi who supervised a gigantic crypto scam. One that sadly is becoming more and more frequent and is now known as the “pig slaughter” or the “pig fattening.” The name is a no-brainer. what has happened. We are facing the largest asset seizure in the history of the DoJ. The action focuses on the founder and president of an international conglomerate called Prince Holding Group based in Cambodia. Chen Zhi, 38, also known as “Vincent,” has been charged with wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering. The scam used has many peculiarities. The “pig slaughter”. In English they use the name “pig butchering” for this type of crypto scam, and here we could translate it as “pig slaughter” or “pig fattening.” The process that scammers follow to deceive their victims is as follows: Search and contact: Scammers contact victims (the “pigs”) through social media, dating apps, or direct messages. To do this, they use fake and attractive profiles. Fattening (trust building): for weeks a personal, friendly or romantic relationship is builtand the scammer gains the trust of the victim. This scammer usually presents himself as a successful person with “secret” knowledge in the world of investments. You invest, you will earn a lot of money: once trust is gained, the scammer presents the victim with a “guaranteed” and very lucrative investment opportunity, usually in cryptocurrencies. And indeed, it seems that you win: after a small investment and to reinforce hope and confidence, the scammer allows the victim to withdraw a small profit. The victim becomes even more confident. Invest more, this works– With the victim now encouraged, he is persuaded to invest much larger amounts, often emptying his savings or even taking out loans The slaughter: When the scammer determines that the victim has invested all they can, they execute the fraud. It blocks the victim’s withdrawal of funds and denies access to that account. Excuses (taxes, verification fees) are made to try to request even more money Disappearance: The scammer cuts off all communication, the fraudulent platform disappears and the victim’s money has been stolen and laundered by the criminal network. A multinational scam. According to prosecutors in the case, Prince Group operates in more than 30 countries and secretly grew to become “one of the largest transnational criminal organizations in Asia.” The company presented itself as a legitimate real estate development and financial services company. Dumb with studies. Although it may seem incredible, this scam manages to deceive people with advanced training. Grace Yuen of Gaso—an international anti-scam organization— explained on BBC that this type of fraud affects all types of profiles, even those that we would think would be somewhat more protected: “About 80% or more of the victims have university degrees and a large percentage of them have a master’s or doctorate. They are victims of all branches: from nurses and lawyers to computer scientists or telecommunications engineers. They are all highly educated people, usually between the ages of 24 and the end of 40. Although now we are also seeing older victims.” human trafficking. The organization allegedly operated forced labor camps in Cambodia. According to the indictment, Prince Group operated at least 10 complexes of this type in which hundreds of people were forced to work under threat of violence executing this scam with victims from all over the world. Two of the facilities were equipped with 1,250 mobile phones that controlled 76,000 accounts on a popular social media platform. Bribes. According to the investigation, Zhi and his network of managers managed to use their political influence in several countries to protect their criminal network. Thus, they are accused of paying bribes to public officials to prevent law enforcement from dismantling these operations. The stolen money was laundered through online gambling or cryptocurrency mining platforms, as well as spent on trips on private jets or yachts and also on works of art. On the run. The accusation of the DoJ has been added to that of the US Department of the Treasury. Said organism has imposed sanctions against Zhi and more than 100 associated individuals and entities. Chen Zhi, of Chinese origin, has become a fugitive, and faces up to 40 years in prison if convicted and arrested. Image | Kanchanara In Xataka | The founder of WhatsApp spared no expense when decorating his mansions and yachts with very expensive furniture. Most were fake.

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