How gold helps create oxygen on Mars

NASA plans to send a manned mission to Mars in the next few decades. This will require creating oxygen from the carbon dioxide present in the Martian air. Part of the device that makes this possible is made of gold.

Gold has played and continues to play a key role in space exploration. For example, this noble metal was already a staple of NASA’s first space walk in 1965. The cable connecting Colonel Ed White to Gemini 4 was coated with gold to secure his grip, and the visor of his suit was also coated with gold to protect his eyes from solar radiation. 

Gold’s durability and stability, as well as the fact that it does not rust and is a good conductor of electricity and heat, have led those responsible for many space projects to use it for a wide variety of purposes.

Mission to Mars

One of NASA’s great aspirations for the coming decades is to send a manned mission to Mars. A large amount of oxygen will be needed, both to burn the spacecraft’s fuel and to keep the astronauts alive. 

The best option to avoid having to transport all that oxygen from Earth is to create it on the red planet itself. And it can be made from the carbon dioxide that makes up most of the Martian air. That’s why the robotic rover Perseverance, which arrived at Mars in February 2021, incorporates an instrument called MOXIE that produces oxygen from carbon dioxide. 

Dr Michael Hecht, the principal investigator of this project, explains that “gold is critical to the operation of MOXIE”, which weighs 17 kilograms and is about the size of a car battery. MOXIE’s casing is made of gold because the metal “is extraordinarily stable, does not rust or corrode easily and is an excellent conductor of heat”, according to Hecht. This last property is crucial, as at certain times of the day the temperature is too high for the device to function.

A small-scale test

When MOXIE is running, the Perseverance remains virtually inactive, as it takes a lot of energy to separate the CO₂ molecules. Therefore, MOXIE does not run very often, only once every one or two months. 

MOXIE takes about two hours to become operational, as one of the parts needed for the process must be heated up to 800 °C. After that, the vehicle’s batteries allow oxygen to be produced for an hour, during which time the project managers sometimes change the voltage or speed of the compressor to learn more about the instrument. 

In that time, MOXIE can produce between 6 and 10 grams of oxygen. This is a minimal amount considering that each of us consumes between 10 and 20 grams of oxygen every hour. Still, it allows NASA to verify that this critical technology is working properly in the field.

In fact, the main goal of MOXIE is to demonstrate that this technology can be relied upon to keep future astronaut crews alive and bring them home safely. Also, to learn many technical details about how to build a much larger future MOXIE system. 

Two trips for one mission

Given the orbits of Earth and Mars, the optimal time for a trip between the two planets is every 26 months. One of the ideas for a manned mission is to first send all the necessary material – the living quarters for the astronauts on Mars, rovers, a power plant and perhaps a “big” MOXIE – and then send the astronauts 26 months later. 

Thus, the base would be in place some 20 months before the astronauts’ journey. This “big” MOXIE would have to manufacture and store a significant part of the oxygen that the astronauts and their rocket would need on the mission. This means that the device would have to produce between 2,000 and 3,000 grams of oxygen per hour, compared to the 6–10 grams produced by the current MOXIE. And it would have to do so virtually non-stop.

Bear in mind that the ascent rocket to leave Mars would require between 25 and 30 tonnes of oxygen, and that the astronauts could breathe between 2 and 3 tonnes during their 18-month stay on the red planet until the optimal time to return.

The first chapter of the series The Golden Thread, which deals with the importance that gold has in different areas of our lives, focuses on the fundamental role that this precious metal has played in the exploration of space.

If you want to discover the best option to protect your savings, enter Preciosos 11Onze. We will help you buy at the best price the safe-haven asset par excellence: physical gold.

Les criptomonedes han revolucionat el sistema financer mundial, però com tota nova tecnologia genera moltes preguntes. Hem preparat un petit glossari dels termes bàsics que hauries d’entendre per a iniciar-te en el món de les criptodivises. 

Les criptomonedes, també conegudes com a criptodivises o monedes digitals, són una divisa alternativa que es pot definir com un actiu digital que fa servir un xifratge criptogràfic per garantir la seva titularitat, assegurar la integritat de les transaccions, i controlar la creació d’unitats addicionals. Dit això, hi ha uns conceptes clau que cal tenir clars a l’hora d’entendre el funcionament de les criptomonedes.

Blockchain

El ‘blockchain’, o cadena de blocs en català, és una tecnologia que permet fer transaccions entre dues o més persones sense la necessitat d’intermediaris. Ve a ser el llibre de comptabilitat on es guarden totes les operacions distribuïdes en ordinadors, que poden estar en qualsevol part del món, interconnectats a través d’una xarxa Peer-To Peer (P2P), d’igual a igual, i sense la necessitat d’un servidor central. Es tracta d’una tecnologia que facilita la descentralització d’aplicacions financeres i qualsevol altre registre digital. A més, es considera molt segura perquè només es pot modificar el registre de tot el que ha passat a la xarxa si totes les parts hi estan d’acord.

Mineria

Mentre que en el sistema monetari tradicional, els Governs imprimeixen diners en funció de les seves necessitats, la creació monetària en l’ecosistema de les criptomonedes més populars, com per exemple el Bitcoin, està limitada. A més, les criptomonedes no s’emeten i queden disponibles per a tothom, es posen en circulació en blocs encriptats que han de ser desxifrats. D’aquí ve el concepte de la mineria de les criptomonedes, un procés computacional mitjançant el qual un conjunt d’ordinadors, els miners connectats a la xarxa, reben un nou algoritme per a resoldre un problema matemàtic, que, un cop solucionat, es recompensa amb una comissió per l’emissió d’una nova unitat de la criptomoneda, que s’afegeix a la cadena de blocs.

Moneders

Els moneders de criptomonedes o ‘wallets’ són moneders virtuals que ens permeten gestionar les nostres criptomonedes. La principal diferència amb altres moneders virtuals que podem trobar a molts bancs resideix en la seguretat que ofereix el seu programari, permetent un control absolut de les claus públiques i privades per signar transaccions i operacions executades amb criptomonedes a través de la xarxa blockchain. L’ús d’aquests moneders és indispensable a l’hora d’administrar monedes digitals basades en la criptografia, i que no existeixen en el món físic.

Staking i Hodling

El concepte de ‘staking’ consisteix en adquirir criptomonedes i mantenir-les bloquejades en un moneder amb la finalitat de donar suport a la seguretat i funcionament de la cadena de blocs. A canvi rebrem un guany, o recompensa, en forma de criptomonedes addicionals. El ‘hodl’ és un procés similar, però en aquest cas els actius no estan bloquejats i els pots utilitzar lliurement. Es tracta d’una opció que fan servir inversors que volen mantenir els seus actius durant un llarg període de temps amb l’esperança que es revalorin.

Tokens

Tot i que els conceptes de token i criptomoneda es poden considerar com a sinònims, la distinció està en el fet que les criptomonedes tenen una cadena de blocs pròpia, mentre que els tokens s’emeten en una altra cadena de blocs, com per exemple Ethereum. Un token és una unitat de valor emesa per una persona o per una empresa privada amb la qual pots representar diferents objectes dins d’una cadena de blocs. És un valor transferible dins de la xarxa de blockchain, però que no té un valor real fora d’ella, semblant al que ens passaria si tinguéssim fitxes d’un casino o punts d’una aerolínia. Per tant, un token pot tenir diferents finalitats: des de donar accés a més funcionalitats en un joc en línia, a poder ser intercanviat per objectes reals, col·leccionisme, participar en un esdeveniment …

11Onze és la fintech comunitària de Catalunya. Obre un compte descarregant la super app El Canut per Android o iOS. Uneix-te a la revolució!

L’acceleració de la digitalització, precipitada per la pandèmia, no ha fet més que confirmar la inevitabilitat de la transformació digital de la nostra societat. Una revolució tecnològica que ha canviat la nostra manera de treballar, comprar, estudiar i comunicar-nos, però que posa en qüestió aspectes vinculats amb les relacions personals.

En un món interconnectat on Internet, les xarxes socials i les eines telemàtiques han canviat radicalment la manera de comunicar-nos, ens hem acostumat a parlar davant d’una pantalla, a resoldre els assumptes més trivials del nostre dia a dia asseguts al sofà, a fer les compres des del llit i a treballar en pijama.

La comunicació electrònica ha augmentat la capacitat d’interacció entre les persones, i ens permet aconseguir una productivitat i eficiència sense precedents, tant en l’àmbit corporatiu com individual. L’auge del teletreball ha significat un canvi en positiu per molta gent, especialment pels que han experimentat una millora en la conciliació de la vida personal i laboral. Tanmateix, pels nadius digitals que s’han convertit en nòmades digitals que han fet del món la seva oficina.

La normalització de la convivència entre persones i intel·ligència artificial ens ha permès agilitzar les interaccions amb l’administració, establiments de comerç digital i entitats financeres. Ja no és necessari fer cua a una oficina física d’un banc, d’una asseguradora, o a la del SOC, podem fer pràcticament totes les gestions des del mòbil. Així mateix, han sorgit moltes noves feines basades en les tecnologies digitals, impensables només fa uns anys.

La importància de la interacció física

Tot i l’innegable progrés que ha suposat la transformació digital de la nostra societat, la realitat d’aquesta revolució no és tan idíl·lica com alguns volen dibuixar. L’absència física, intrínseca del món digital, presenta reptes pel que fa a l’empatia entre persones acostumades a l’anonimat dels espais virtuals, les interaccions personals entre treballadors, o la bretxa digital entre la gent més vulnerable i la resta de la societat.

La transformació digital ha propiciat que les fronteres entre el món físic i el digital siguin cada vegada més borroses. I, si ja tenim dificultats en adaptar-nos a aquest canvi de paradigma, pensem que el boom del metavers, l’Internet de les Coses, els NFT i la intel·ligència artificial encara ens acostaran més a una realitat virtual semi immersiva, que deixarà ‘fora de joc’ a una part significant de la població.

En aquest context, es fa evident la necessitat d’abordar de manera integral els canvis socio-tecnològics que estan definint i assentant les bases de la societat del futur. No només per assegurar-nos que la tecnologia segueixi sent una força positiva de progrés, sinó també, per evitar que part de la societat es quedi enrere, o que la immersió en el món digital castri l’essència del que ens defineix com a persones.

11Onze és la fintech comunitària de Catalunya. Obre un compte descarregant la super app El Canut per Android o iOS. Uneix-te a la revolució!

The fusion of new technologies and modern capitalism is quickly transforming our society. Technocapitalism is characterised by the hegemony of large technological corporations, where the digitalisation of information and communication establishes the basis for creating wealth and power.

The technological revolution we have experienced over the last few decades has evolved modern capitalism, generating new ways of creating wealth in the digital era. Technology giants such as Alphabet, Amazon, Apple and Meta have reshaped the socio-economic model, but this paradigm shift spurred by technocapitalism has also had some negative impacts on society.

Data protection and loss of privacy

One of the pillars of technocapitalism is the massive accumulation and processing of personal data. We share a lot of personal, public and private information, sometimes consciously, sometimes unconsciously. Tech companies use big data about users’ searches, conversations and preferences to predict and influence their behaviour. This has led to the monetisation of our privacy, which is sold to the highest bidder for commercial purposes.

Some big digital platforms justify the legitimacy of this business model by arguing that the commercialisation of user information covers the costs of their services. However, this loss of privacy not only means that we are the product, i.e. that our personal information becomes a lucrative asset for these companies, but also that it can be used to manipulate us.

These algorithms designed to keep us hooked on social media are not only destroying community bonds and our capacity for physical interaction, but they are also shaping our political, social and economic preferences – often without us being aware of it – leading to misinformation and social polarization. The Cambridge Analytica scandal is just one of many examples of how these corporations can misuse our personal information.

Monopolisation, dehumanisation and job insecurity

The success of big tech has resulted in the creation of monopolies and oligopolies that completely dominate the global market. These companies have inordinate power, not only economically, but also in terms of political and social control. This can lead to enormous inequalities, both between companies and between individuals.

The hegemonic control of the market by some of these corporations eliminates competition, castrates innovation and concentrates wealth in a few hands. Their power to influence public and international policy facilitates the promiscuous relationship between politics and business, where private interests and political power mix, undermining state sovereignty and democracy.

While digitalisation and robotisation have created new economic sectors, they have also led to the casualisation of some jobs. In the technocapitalist world, many employees are subject to unstable working conditions, temporary contracts or abusive practices, especially in sectors such as customer service, e-commerce logistics and service platforms like Uber or Deliveroo.

Similarly, the replacement of human workers by robots or algorithms is becoming a tangible threat. Physical and intellectual labour is being replaced by software with the promise of greater efficiency, but this has led to the destruction of traditional jobs and a growing polarization between skilled and unskilled workers. Other jobs requiring creativity, until recently considered safe from digital bots, are being threatened by the evolution of artificial intelligence models.

On the other hand, the inevitability of the digital transformation of our society has not been evenly distributed. Technocapitalism has accentuated the digital divide and the social inequalities of those with limited internet access or little knowledge of new technologies who are educationally, economically and socially disadvantaged.

11Onze is the community fintech of Catalonia. Open an account by downloading the super app El Canut for Android or iOS and join the revolution!

The Quantum Financial System (QFS) will introduce a new decentralised system of cross-border interbank payments based on a digital currency underpinned by physical assets such as gold.

While the world of financial services is constantly evolving, the Quantum Financial System (QFS) has the potential to revolutionise a banking sector that is often constrained by legacy systems that are overstretched by the need to adapt to the possibilities offered by new technologies.

Before delving into the role of gold within the QFS, it is important to understand that it is a new technological development that would use quantum computing and cryptography through a blockchain platform which would allow for secure and fast transactions without the need for intermediaries such as banks and financial institutions.

One of the main advantages of QFS is its ability to prevent fraud and money laundering, which are significant concerns in today’s financial system. This would be achieved through the use of advanced encryption and authentication technologies that would ensure the immutability of data, preventing manipulation and guaranteeing the integrity of transactions.

In addition, a quantum financial system would be particularly useful in applications where algorithms are fed by real-time data streams, facilitating the transfer of information and enabling near-instantaneous financial transactions, which customers could see immediately updated on their digital platforms.

The role of gold in the QFS

One of the ways in which the QFS could revolutionise the financial sector is through the creation of a digital currency backed by physical assets. This would not be a cryptocurrency but a digital currency that could be backed by physical gold, which would guarantee its value and stability. Thus, only gold-backed coins with a digital gold certificate would be able to participate in the transactions of a QFS.

The printing and pouring of large amounts of money into the economy through increasingly unsustainable fiscal deficits are damaging the credibility of the global fiat currency system and deteriorating government finances. It is therefore not surprising that economic uncertainty and loss of confidence in fiat currencies incentivise a return to fiat currencies backed by safe-haven assets such as precious metals.

In this context, gold is likely to play an increasingly important role in supporting currencies and transactions, a monetary system in which the value of currencies is underpinned by their convertibility into gold. The example of the QFS is not unique; Zimbabwe is about to introduce a gold-backed legal tender digital currency in order to help stabilise the economy in the face of the rapidly depreciating Zimbabwean dollar. A trend that some analysts see as an unmistakable sign of a paradigm shift in the international monetary system.

If you want to discover the best option to protect your savings, enter Preciosos 11Onze. We will help you buy at the best price the safe-haven asset par excellence: physical gold.

Avui dia ja podem accedir a les nostres finances, a les aplicacions o a dades personals sense necessitat d’ensenyar el document d’identitat en paper. A 11Onze analitzem com la digitalització de la identitat pot ajudar a reduir les desigualtats i millorar la qualitat de vida de la ciutadania d’arreu del món.

Un dels avantatges més celebrats de la digitalització és el fet de simplificar tràmits amb l’administració que impliquen una inversió de temps i diners important. Ara, ja podem aconseguir el padró sense haver-nos de desplaçar a l’Ajuntament; podem fer la declaració de la renda, amb assessorament inclòs, sense sortir de casa; o bé obtenir un certificat oficial, tot i viure en un poble, sense necessitat d’anar a la sucursal d’una gran ciutat. Aquest és un nou escenari de gestions en línia que gràcies a la identificació digital ens aporta agilitat i seguretat.

Aquesta utopia que, a poc a poc, esdevé la nostra quotidianitat, pot portar beneficis significatius a escala social, tant per a la ciutadania com per a l’administració, com ara reduir el frau o aconseguir un empoderament econòmic més inclusiu. Tot això, però, només s’aconseguirà si aquesta tecnologia es fa servir correctament.

El primer gran repte, identificar la població

Segons dades del Banc Mundial, de les 7.600 milions de persones que hi ha al món, gairebé 1.000 milions no tenen cap mena d’identificació reconeguda legalment. Els 6.000 milions restants es reparteixen entre aquelles persones que, tot i tenir identificació legal, no disposen de mecanismes per fer-la servir en l’àmbit digital i aquells que viuen en països on la identificació digital ja és una realitat, com és el cas de Catalunya.

A escala global, fer tràmits administratius o tributaris en línia no és tan habitual com a molts de nosaltres ens pot semblar, i això obre un altre debat: si oferir nous canals digitals implica més oportunitats i facilitats per a la ciutadania, la falta d’accés comporta més desigualtats? Tant els canals de comunicació com els processos administratius han adoptat la via digital com a punt de referència, i en tot aquest procés la tecnologia ha deixat enrere totes aquelles persones que prefereixen els canals tradicionals, sigui per desconeixement o per falta de recursos. Una dificultat afegida per accedir a bens i serveis que amplia la desigualtat social i suposa posar en risc el lliure accés als recursos públics.

Beneficis i riscos de la identificació digital es contraposen i, com en tot balanç, l’opció que pesa més és la que pot afavorir a més ciutadania, contribuir a la millora social i servir com a eina d’evolució, no només com a substitut d’antics mètodes. En aquest punt, les entitats i organismes que treballen amb col·lectius en situació de vulnerabilitat estan guanyant protagonisme.

iSocial: innovació tecnològica en l’àmbit social

ONG i entitats socials han fet un pas endavant en la lluita social i han introduït la innovació tecnològica en un sector que fins ara se n’havia mantingut al marge. És el cas de la fundació iSocial, orientada a oferir solucions innovadores per a la lluita social. La fundació ha creat Refugee Aid App, una aplicació pensada per al col·lectiu migrant a Europa que té dificultats en el procés d’acollida.

Gràcies a l’aplicació, anomenada RefAid, es posa en contacte persones que necessiten un suport i entitats que en presten, la majoria de les quals són ONG internacionals. Actualment, ja està disponible a 14 països, entre els quals encara no hi ha l’Estat espanyol. La mateixa empresa també ha tret al mercat Lifespots, una aplicació orientada a escala local, però amb la mateixa finalitat: facilitar els canals d’ajuda comunitària.

Una de les preocupacions per a les persones que han de migrar és la por a ser retornats al país d’origen. En aquest sentit, l’aplicació ofereix la seguretat que aquestes dades només es compartiran entre organitzacions socials i amb la finalitat de garantir l’article 14 de la Declaració Universal dels Drets Humans, que protegeix “el dret a buscar asil i a gaudir d’aquest a qualsevol país”.

La identificació digital s’obre camí

Un altre exemple és Protection People app (PPa), una plataforma també impulsada per iSocial i orientada a identificar digitalment les persones en situació administrativa irregular, que són prop de 1.000 milions arreu del món. Persones migrades, que viuen en situacions d’extrema vulnerabilitat o que han patit desastres naturals o humanitaris poden trobar-se en aquesta situació. Per acompanyar-les, aquesta aplicació els ofereix coordinació amb altres ONG per detectar necessitats i obrir nous camins, gràcies a les dades biomètriques (dactilar, facial i patró de venes del palmell de la mà, que no varien amb els anys) i a l’informe vital que l’acompanya. 

Identificar persones de forma 100% digital ja és una realitat i, en part, és gràcies a aplicacions que aconsegueixen fer, en qüestió d’hores, tràmits que els governs tarden mesos o, fins i tot, anys a completar. La innovació tecnològica en l’àmbit social obre un nou escenari per combatre la desigualtat social i aportar seguretat i facilitats a la ciutadania d’arreu del món.

11Onze s’està convertint en un fenomen com a primera comunitat fintech de Catalunya. Ara, llança la primera versió d’El Canut, la super app d’11Onze, per a Android i Apple. Des d’El Canut es pot obrir el primer compte universal al territori català.

The quantum financial system (QFS) is a new technological development that promises to revolutionise how we interact with money, streamlining and democratising wealth generation while ensuring privacy and data integrity.

In technical terms, quantum computing is fundamentally different from traditional computing. While current computing uses bits, quantum computing uses qubits. Bits can only work with binary results, i.e. from two possibilities, 1 or 0, whereas the electrons in the qubit can calculate all possible combinations at the same time, known as quantum superposition.

This different approach allows very complex calculations to be performed in minutes or hours, which would require months or years with today’s computers. Quantum computing, therefore, has the potential to solve problems of exponentially growing complexity that classical computers would be unable to tackle.

At a time when immense amounts of data are generated and have to be processed at high speed, quantum computing makes it possible to create new algorithms capable of analysing a multitude of data or encrypting and decrypting highly complex information faster. It is accordingly emerging as one of the key technologies in the profound transformation that the economy and society are undergoing through Industry 4.0.

A quantum financial system?

A quantum financial system (QFS) is a hypothetical financial system that would use quantum computing technology and quantum cryptography through a blockchain to manage financial transactions and data. Quantum banking could bring several advantages over traditional financial systems, such as increased security, faster transaction processing times and more sophisticated risk management capabilities. A new technological concept that would revolutionise the way we interact with money, offering a myriad of new financial possibilities for businesses and individuals.

One of the main advantages of QFS is that the data is immutable and cannot be manipulated by any malicious actor. This is because a QFS would issue a digital number for each currency (dollar, euro, etc.) in each bank account and the physical (GPS) position of each of these currencies will be monitored in real-time. That is, you will know exactly where it is, when it has been transferred, the account number and the details of anyone who has had access to the account.

Furthermore, a new global network for the transfer of funds that would protect all parties involved within the banking system would have the potential to replace the current US-controlled SWIFT system, democratising a global transaction system that is currently totally politicised.

Cryptocurrencies and quantum currencies

At first glance, it might seem that a quantum currency system would be very similar to a cryptocurrency system: decentralised, encrypted, blockchain, faster, and more efficient… In practice, however, they are two concepts with fundamental differences. It is not a cryptocurrency, but a digital currency backed by physical assets.

The two differ in the fact that quantum variations exist in physical form, which makes them more analogous to fiat currency than to their cryptographic cousins. Also, only gold-backed currencies with a digital gold certificate would be able to participate in the transactions of a QFS. This would assign a serial number to the gold certificate as a reference to a gold piece held in reserve to support the currency, assets that would determine the amount of currency accessible in each country.

Ultimately, a quantum financial system could be part of the solution to the problems currently facing the traditional financial system, addressing the lack of transparency, data insecurity, corruption and the intrinsic volatility of the lack of trust in the current monetary system.

11Onze is the community fintech of Catalonia. Open an account by downloading the super app El Canut for Android or iOS and join the revolution!

In the field of technology and the digital revolution, Europe is subordinated to the two great superpowers, the United States and China. The most recent realisation has been the microchip and semiconductor crisis. In 11Onze we look at how technological power is distributed around the world and how the European Union is struggling to build its digital sovereignty. Will it succeed?

Europe surfed the first wave of the technological revolution so superficially that it failed to counter US hegemony on the internet, but it needs to take advantage of the next wave. The European Commission recognises that Europe’s digital transformation and sovereignty are of paramount importance, and has set out a strategic plan to develop its own digital capabilities and technologies.

The new Cold War and growing tensions between the United States and China are an additional incentive for Europe to achieve technological independence if it is to avoid the risk of becoming a battleground in the struggle for technological and industrial supremacy between these two countries. The implementation of 5G networks and the US economic sanctions against China, under the excuse of espionage, are perfect examples.

The unilateral decision by President Trump’s administration to pull the United States out of the Iran nuclear deal and implement new economic sanctions highlighted the European Union’s inability to maintain a modicum of geopolitical sovereignty. Timid attempts by European states to create an alternative banking transaction system to SWIFT, to circumvent Washington’s threats and preserve the Iran deal, came to nothing.

Still, if we have learned anything from the Covid-19 pandemic, it is that digital infrastructure has been fundamental to social welfare and to the functioning of the economy. Digital connectivity has allowed us to maintain a certain normality when it comes to the general population getting access to educational and medical services during confinement, which would hardly have been possible without this technological metamorphosis.

Keeping Europe competitive

The single market is at the heart of making Europe’s digital economy a world leader, and the European Commission proposed a strategic plan to adapt the same concept to the digital realm. An ambitious project that has been expanded over the years and aims to strengthen the EU’s digital economy by improving the accountability and security requirements of digital platforms and service providers.

In this sense, last December, an investment of one billion euros was announced to support the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) programme, which defines the scope of application of the measures supported by the European Union, necessary for the creation of infrastructures and connectivity projects of common interest to its member states.

The recently announced new rules for the distribution of open-source software are another measure designed to make the source code of their software accessible to the public for the benefit of public services, businesses, and citizens, and thus encourage innovation.

All these proposals and measures seek to ensure that the European Union is not only a leader in the regulatory field, but can also compete or maintain a modicum of sovereignty in a geostrategic sector that is increasingly essential.

11Onze is the community fintech of Catalonia. Open an account by downloading the super app El Canut for Android or iOS and join the revolution!

The impact of climate change on the environment, the economy and society is becoming increasingly evident. To understand and cope with this phenomenon, scientists rely on complex predictive models that are crucial for assessing the risks of global warming.

Climate projections are essential for assessing the effects of global warming and the resulting risks. Thus, climate change prediction models are technical simulations of the future evolution of the Earth’s climate obtained by running and studying numerical models. These simulations can be performed on a global or regional scale based on the laws of physics, chemistry, biology and atmospheric dynamics.

Global climate models (GCMs) are carried out by a team of technicians and scientists of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which is based in Geneva and operates under the auspices of the United Nations. This is a multinational body that investigates the causes and effects of climate change throughout the world and is responsible for carrying out negotiations on the different scenarios that are foreseen, as was done within the framework of the Kyoto Protocol.

Although the Spanish State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) is responsible for regionalised climate projections in Spain, since 2008 the Meteorological Service of Catalonia (SMC) has carried out several studies – jointly with the Barcelona Supercomputing Center – to develop regionalised climate projections for the 21st century in our territory.

The methodology behind the prediction models

In order to achieve a reliable simulation, the different prediction models require as much input data as possible: concentration of greenhouse gases or aerosols in the atmosphere, solar radiation, emissions of polluting gases and other factors that can influence the climate.

Once a set of initial conditions based on observed data has been introduced, numerical models and fundamental equations governing fluid dynamics, energy conservation and others related to the interaction between the atmosphere, oceans and land surface can indicate the future behaviour of the climate system if certain scenarios unfold.

These scenarios define trajectories that represent concentrations of greenhouse gases and aerosols, i.e. they are mainly anthropogenic in origin and therefore depend to a large extent on our global behaviour and policy decisions.

Reliability of climate models

Firstly, it should be noted that, unlike a weather forecast, climate models are not intended to make exact, small-scale predictions of what will happen in the next few days, but rather to project climate changes over years or decades, but are by no means intended as a forecast of future weather.

In other words, these daily simulations are statistically interpreted to produce climate projections, leading to studies on the probability that particular weather conditions will be observed in the future. In this regard, an analysis of the reliability of 17 climate models dating back to the early 1970s concluded that most of the models were effective in predicting temperatures in the following decades.

Obviously, beyond an approximation, it is difficult for a climate prediction model to be 100% correct, but models are improving as technology advances and the scientific community is confident that these simulations are the best tool we have for dealing with climate change. In any case, regardless of their effectiveness, we know that we have the capacity to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases we emit on our planet, and we have no reason not to do so.

If you want to discover how to drink the best water, save money and help the planet, go to 11Onze Essentials.

The useful life of products is getting shorter and shorter and we are forced to replace them compulsively. This is what is known as planned obsolescence. But is the premature death of products really driving the market?

Welcome to Livermore, California. This is where you will find the world’s longest-lived light bulb in the world, located in the town’s firehouse. It was made in Shelby, Ohio, around 1895, and its filament is an invention of Adolphe Chaillet, created expressly to last.

The image of the bulb can be seen on the internet 24 hours a day and has already outlasted three webcams so far. A few years ago, in 1871, the inventor of the light bulb, Thomas A. Edison, had succeeded in producing a small light bulb. Edison had succeeded in producing a small light bulb with a comparatively enormous resistance, which in 1881 achieved a life of 1,500 hours.

A few years later, in 1924, a group of men met in Geneva with a secret plan: to create the first cartel to control the world’s light bulb production and share the profits. The cartel was called Phoebus and was made up of major light bulb manufacturers from Europe, the United States and even the colonies in Asia and Africa. At the time, Phoebus proudly advertised a life of up to 2,500 hours in its bulbs.

Despite advances in science, Phoebus’ milestone was cut short the following year by the “1,000 Hour Life Committee”, set up to technically reduce the lifetime of light bulbs. Phillips (Holland), General Electric (USA), OSRAM (Germany) and Lámparas Zeta (Spain), among others, were members.

Why is the life of products shortening?

Obsolescence is the depreciation of capital goods as a result of technical progress. Following this idea, planned or programmed obsolescence is the at least reprehensible practice of companies and manufacturers to offer products with performance and qualities that are inferior to the technology available. The aim is that these objects cease to function after a certain period of time and that the consumer is forced to replace them.

The main reason why companies design products with planned obsolescence in mind is, of course, the argument that it increases sales. In an article in Printers Ink, an advertising manual from 1928, it was already argued that ‘an article that does not break down is a tragedy for business’. Therefore, the main cause of the rise of planned obsolescence has ultimately been the very economic system that governs our societies. An economic system based on growth economics, where the logic is not to grow to satisfy needs, but to increase profits.

In short, businessmen will say: an economic system based on growth, of course, has no future without growth; and therefore, if the consumer does not buy, the economy does not grow. Industrial designer Brooks Stevens, often cited as the inventor of planned obsolescence, defined it as ‘the need to own something newer, something better, something sooner than necessary’, although his idea was to make the consumer always want something new, rather than to create low-quality products that were necessary.

Is an economy without planned obsolescence viable?

Possibly, there is an alternative to planned obsolescence, but only if it is supported by the administration and the business community. In our country there are already several initiatives that seek to reduce the impact of planned obsolescence. This is the case of the Catalan association Millor Que Nou, which promotes appliance repair and exchange as an alternative to generating more technological waste.

On the other hand, the Energy and Sustainable Innovation Foundation (Feniss) concluded that a family of four could save 50,000 euros over a lifetime if household appliances lasted longer or were designed to be repaired. Experts explain that labelling the durability of products could help consumers make purchasing decisions.

The European Union has also taken part and is committed to circular economy models. Technology brands should allow parts of their products to be taken back for replacement. There are also plans to create a label for products that are easy to repair, one of the proposals of the so-called Right to Repair Act, which aims to increase the lifespan of electronic devices to achieve

11Onze is the community fintech of Catalonia. Open an account by downloading the app El Canut for Android or iOS and join the revolution!