New blog: "Worth Reading"

Follow the information and news published daily (written in English) by a Spanish journalist on the blog:   "Worth Reading"

The first known extraterrestrial allergy

Astronauts who walked on the Moon in 1972, in addition to bringing back several kilograms of rocks, also brought back a mild allergic cold... the first known extraterrestrial allergy.
 
Although all astronauts who stepped on the lunar surface came into contact with the Moon's dust, it was the last astronauts who were most affected by it, possibly because the crew of the final missions spent more time and took more walks on its surface. This dust is so fine that it can stick to the joints of spacesuits and be transported into the spacecraft, where once inside, it can penetrate the pores and lungs of lunar explorers, causing not only temporary discomfort but also potentially leading to more serious conditions like silicosis or heavy metal poisoning.
 
Gene Cernan, commander of Apollo 17, the last man to step on the Moon, said it took him two months, with daily showers, to get rid of all the lunar dust he brought back from his mission. Both he and Jack Schmitt, a geologist and the only scientist to walk on the Moon, spent over three days in the Taurus-Littrow Valley, in the southeastern part of the Sea of Serenity on the Moon.
 
In December 1972, these two adventurers conducted three long walks with the aid of a lunar vehicle, covering 30 kilometers and collecting 110.5 kilograms of lunar rocks in the 22 hours and 4 minutes they were outside the lunar module. Clearly, this was more than enough time to be completely covered in that dark lunar dust.
 
Cernan's first impression was that it was "soft like snow, but oddly abrasive." Even more curious is the remark by astronaut John Young from Apollo 16, who asserted that its taste "isn't all that bad." However, one thing all agreed on, from Neil Armstrong to Cernan, was that lunar dust "smells like burnt gunpowder."
 
Every time the lunar explorers returned to their refuge in the lunar module, they inadvertently brought the dust with them. It stuck to their boots, legs, and gloves, and no matter how hard they tried to brush it off before entering the cabin, there was always a significant amount that made its way inside. Once inside, without their helmets or gloves, they could smell and taste the Moon.
 
This element caused the first case of extraterrestrial allergy when geologist Jack Schmitt reported to Houston with a congested voice, saying: "After taking off my helmet after the first outing, I was quickly hit with a dust reaction. I felt my nostrils getting wet." A few hours later, the reaction subsided. "But it came back after the second and third outings, though with less intensity. I think I developed some sort of immunity to lunar dust," he later declared.
 
It's interesting that the only civilian among the astronauts to walk on the Moon was also the only one to report this reaction. Did the others not experience it, or did they not admit it? Laughing, Schmitt says, "Pilots are reluctant to report their ailments; they fear being grounded."
 

A journey through the history of the pharmaceutical industry and one of its great laboratories that had its origins in Alfred Nobel...
“From Alfred Nobel to AstraZeneca” (Vicente Fisac, Amazon) is available in e-Book and print editions: https://a.co/d/9svRTuI

Dentists now only think about business

How far back those times seem when dentists were true superheroes, committed at all costs to saving our teeth! Only when there was no hope would they resort to extractions, crowns, bridges, or any other measures of that kind. Today, dentists only think about business, and their obsession is to put implants in us at all costs because it's the most expensive option. Dental clinics advertise themselves like cosmetic surgery clinics since what they sell us is the need for a "beautiful smile" (for which you need several implants), whereas before they were the repair shop we visited only when something was broken. But of course, fixing only breakages doesn't fill their offices or their pockets; that's why they now exaggerate and fix everything with implants instead of fillings, bridges, or crowns; with teeth cleanings every six months instead of annually; and even with scaling instead of cleaning, because the former is much more expensive than the latter, and it doesn't matter if it might cause serious problems like tooth loss, etc. Because if that happens, it's better for them as they'll have a new client for implants.

A journey through the history of the pharmaceutical industry and one of its great laboratories that had its origins in Alfred Nobel...
“From Alfred Nobel to AstraZeneca” (Vicente Fisac, Amazon) is available in e-Book and print editions: https://a.co/d/9svRTuI

Israel: The endless war

From ancient times to the present day, Israel has been a theater of conflict, a land where the struggle for control, identity, and sovereignty has been constant and, often, violent. Understanding how Israel has managed to be a nation at war throughout the centuries requires examining a series of historical, religious, geopolitical, and cultural factors.

Ancient and Religious History
Israel's history dates back to biblical texts, where it is described as the Promised Land for the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The biblical narrative recounts tales of wars between the Israelites and neighboring peoples like the Philistines, Moabites, and Ammonites. This religious legacy has deepened the Jews' connection to the land, providing a historical and spiritual justification for their presence there, but it has also sown the seeds of conflict with other religious groups claiming the same sacred territory.
 
Empires and Conquests
Israel, or Palestine as it was known under various rulers, has been a battleground for many empires. From the Assyrians to the Romans, through the Persians, Greeks, Macedonians, and finally the Ottoman Empire, each has left its mark on the region, often through conquest and warfare. Each shift in power has brought with it tensions and struggles for autonomy and territorial control.
 
The 20th Century and the Creation of the State of Israel
The 20th century marked a critical turn in Israel's history. With the rise of Zionism in response to Jewish persecution in Europe, especially after the Holocaust, the push for a Jewish state in Palestine intensified. The 1917 Balfour Declaration by the United Kingdom endorsed the idea of a "national home" for the Jewish people in Palestine, which exacerbated tensions with the established Arab population.
 
The 1947 UN partition plan for Palestine, proposing the creation of a Jewish state and an Arab state, was accepted by Jewish leaders but rejected by Arab leaders, leading to the 1948 war, known in Israel as the War of Independence and by Palestinians as the Nakba (Catastrophe). Since then, Israel has been in conflict with various Arab neighbors and the Palestinians, with significant wars in 1956, 1967 (Six-Day War), 1973 (Yom Kippur War), among others.
 
Geopolitical and Strategic Factors
Israel is located in an extremely strategic region, near the vital oil resources of the Middle East and at the crossroads of three continents. This positioning has made Israel a focal point for global and regional powers, contributing to its constant state of threat and need for defense. International alliances, such as Israel's with the United States, have played a crucial role in its ability to sustain and defend itself.
 
Contemporary Conflicts
In modern times, Israel faces multiple conflict fronts: with Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the struggle for Palestinian sovereignty and rights in the West Bank. Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory, control over Jerusalem, and the status of Palestinian refugees remain ongoing points of friction fueling violence.
 
Culture of Resilience and Defense
The constant threat has cultivated a culture of resilience and defense in Israel. Mandatory military service and a highly militarized society reflect this reality of living in perpetual alertness. The collective memory of past persecutions and the survival of the Holocaust also reinforce a national identity that values security above all else.
 
The struggle over land deemed sacred by several religions, the imperial ambitions of countless powers, and the power dynamics from the 20th century to the present day have kept Israel in a state of perpetual conflict. Given this scenario of endless war, where historical, religious, geopolitical, and cultural factors intermingle, any attempt at finding...

A journey through the history of the pharmaceutical industry and one of its great laboratories that had its origins in Alfred Nobel...
“From Alfred Nobel to AstraZeneca” (Vicente Fisac, Amazon) is available in e-Book and print editions: https://a.co/d/9svRTuI

Differences between a writer and a poet

Most poets write in the first person, channeling their personal feelings, emotions, life perspectives, stances, dreams, and aspirations into their poetry. They often write about love, but they can also celebrate or mourn nature, beauty, sadness, life, or death. They might portray current or historical events, sketch biographies of well-known figures or obscure individuals who resonate with them, or even write about poetry itself or their muse. In essence, poets write about whatever inspires them at any given moment.
 
A novelist, historian, or essayist decides when to write, crafting their work through study, erudition, education, research, and hard work. Their creations are the fruits of their labor. A poet, however, operates differently. Poets don't write on command; they write when they feel. A writer might sit down to write by choice, but a poet is driven by an internal force. Without inspiration, without that magical spark, a poet cannot commit words to paper.
 
A writer is made through dedication, study, effort, and, undeniably, innate talent. But a poet is not crafted; they are born. No amount of studying or hours of work can manufacture a poet. However, a poet can refine their technique through study, but that's as far as it goes. Poetry springs from an emotion of mysterious origin, and the poet is someone who can sense these vibrations and translate them, with varying degrees of success, onto the page.
 

An enthralling story of love, friendship and honor in the Olympic Games (2,600 years ago)
“Life debt” (Vicente Fisac, Amazon): https://a.co/d/hono34C