The concept of death in Medicine has evolved

In contrast to those doctors who view “death as a failure” and strive to artificially prolong life—and suffering—without hope, Dr. María Sáinz Martín, coordinator of the Social Area at the Madrid College of Physicians, argues that the concept of death in medicine has evolved. Today, it is understood as “a biological, psychological, social, and spiritual process.” This shift emphasizes the need to “provide care and support to both the dying person and their family.”

As the author of the book "Before I die, let me tell you", Dr. Sáinz Martín outlines the proper ways to care for terminally ill patients and their loved ones. Her recommendations include: 
 
- Listening to their needs with genuine interest and calm. 
- Alleviating the patient’s suffering. 
- Allowing the patient to understand their condition and accept or refuse related decisions knowingly. 
- Being attuned to the patient’s fears and needs. 
- Avoiding unnecessary prolongation of suffering. 
 
Respecting and addressing the wishes and needs expressed by both the patient and their family.
Dr. Sáinz Martín also highlights key guidelines for healthcare professionals delivering bad news. She considers empathy the most critical: “Putting yourself in the other person’s shoes—feeling their suffering, uncertainty, and pain—can transform how patients or families remember the moment they receive the news.” She also stresses the importance of choosing words carefully and paying attention to nonverbal communication, such as eye contact, touch, and body posture. “All of this contributes to effective communication, and there may be no moment in a person’s life when clear, compassionate communication matters more than when announcing an impending death—whether of the patient themselves or a loved one.”
 
The simplest way to grasp this is clear: “Healthcare professionals should ask themselves: How would I want this news delivered to me?”
 

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

Winter and dry eye: An unwelcome connection

Modern lifestyle habits, including a significant increase in screen time, combined with the winter season—when people spend more hours indoors with heating—contribute to a rising incidence of dry eye disease. In Spain, over 5 million people already suffer from this condition, caused by a lack or deficiency of tears or poor tear quality. Winter is also the time when the disease tends to worsen, making it advisable to pay extra attention to eye health during this period.

According to Professor José Manuel Benítez del Castillo, Chair of Ophthalmology at the Complutense University of Madrid, “studies show that the worst months are from October to February, which is why special care is needed during this time, along with following guidelines to alleviate symptoms and pursuing appropriate treatment.”
 
Dry eye disease (DED) is a common ocular condition and one of the most frequent reasons for visiting an ophthalmologist. It causes irritation, a gritty sensation, burning, light sensitivity, dryness, pain, and eye fatigue. These symptoms hinder everyday activities such as reading, driving, watching TV, or working on a computer screen. Furthermore, moderate to severe DED is associated with reduced vitality, poor overall health, and often depression.
 
Globally, the prevalence of dry eye disease reaches up to 33% in some populations, with 5% to 10% experiencing moderate to severe forms. However, experts believe that modern lifestyle habits are negatively impacting symptoms and, consequently, the disease’s incidence. This situation has worsened since the Covid-19 pandemic, which led to an increase in average screen exposure time.
 
Aging populations also play a role. Ocular conditions like dry eye disease and its symptoms become more common with age. As a result, the prevalence of the disease rises with an aging population, a trend linked to the growing incidence of related conditions such as diabetes, which is associated with DED.
 
Women, in particular, are among the most vulnerable groups. As Benítez del Castillo notes, “they have a higher risk of developing dry eye disease.” This risk increases notably during menopause, when women experience a decline in sex hormones. This hormonal drop affects the ocular surface epithelium and tear glands, exacerbating the condition. 
 

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

Plants experience a form of menopause too

In plants with a single reproductive cycle, known as monocarpic plants, the onset of reproduction is signaled by the emergence of their first flowers. The triggers for flowering—such as light, seasonal changes, temperature, and the plant’s age—have been extensively studied. Yet, another critical reproductive milestone has received less attention: its conclusion. In many species, after producing a certain number of fruits, flower production ceases entirely. This halt is driven by the shutdown of meristems, the reservoirs of stem cells responsible for sustaining plant growth and organ development.
 
“This process, known as proliferative arrest, could be thought of as a kind of plant menopause,” explains Cristina Ferrándiz Maestre, a researcher at the Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology of Plants (IBMCP) and co-author of the study published in Current Biology. She elaborates: “Proliferative arrest represents a significant evolutionary adaptation. By halting the formation of new organs like flowers and fruits, the plant redirects nutrients toward seed production, ensuring their optimal development and the survival of the species.”
 
Many economically vital crops, such as legumes and cereals, are annual monocarpic plants that flower just once before exhausting their resources and dying. Proliferative arrest is a widespread phenomenon across diverse species, making the findings of this study highly relevant. They open the door to innovative biotechnological strategies aimed at boosting crop yields—either by extending the flowering period or delaying the onset of proliferative arrest.
 
The research was conducted by a team of scientists at the Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology of Plants (IBMCP), a joint center of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV).
 

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 

Harvard's incoherence: Seeking funds without accountability

Harvard University, one of the world’s most prestigious academic institutions, is at the center of a controversy that calls into question its institutional coherence. In recent days, the Trump administration has frozen over $2.2 billion in federal funding allocated to the university due to its refusal to comply with a series of directives imposed by the White House. These measures, according to the government, aim to combat alleged antisemitism on campus and ensure that educational institutions receiving public funds align with certain values and practices. However, Harvard’s response reveals a stance many consider incoherent: it rejects the government’s demands and defends its autonomy while simultaneously expecting to continue receiving massive federal allocations without accountability.
 
The White House Demands and Harvard’s Response
 
The Trump administration sent Harvard a letter outlining ten categories of changes the university must implement to maintain its federal funding. These demands include measures such as reporting students deemed “hostile” to American values to the government, ensuring “diversity of viewpoints” in every academic department, and hiring a government-approved external entity to audit programs and departments accused of fostering antisemitic harassment. According to the White House, these requirements stem from the perception that Harvard has not adequately addressed antisemitism on its campus, particularly in the context of student protests related to the Gaza conflict.
 
Led by its interim president, Alan Garber, Harvard has categorically rejected these demands. In a letter to the university community, Garber stated that Harvard “will not surrender its independence or its constitutional rights,” asserting that the measures exceed the government’s legal authority and undermine academic freedom protected by the First Amendment.
 
The Incongruity: Absolute Autonomy, but with Public Funds
 
Harvard’s stance raises an ethical and practical dilemma. On one hand, the university claims its right to operate without external interference, invoking its autonomy as a private institution and its commitment to free expression. On the other hand, it seems to overlook that the $2.2 billion in federal funds it receives annually is not a gift but a public investment that entails responsibilities and accountability. This contradiction has sparked criticism accusing Harvard of wanting to enjoy the benefits of public funding without accepting the conditions it entails.
 
With an endowment of $53 billion, Harvard is the wealthiest university in the country and could, in theory, operate without relying on federal funds. However, much of its globally renowned scientific and medical research is financed precisely by these grants. The decision to reject the government’s directives while expecting the funds to keep flowing reflects an attitude that some view as arrogant. As the Department of Education noted in a statement, Harvard’s declaration “reinforces the troubling mindset of privilege” pervasive among elite universities.
 
Trump’s Reaction and the Tax-Exemption Debate
 
The Trump administration’s response was swift. In addition to freezing the funds, the president has threatened to revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status, a move that could cost the university millions annually. On his Truth Social platform, Trump labeled Harvard an institution that “teaches hate and stupidity” and suggested it should be treated as a political entity rather than a nonprofit educational organization. This escalation has intensified the conflict, with Harvard filing a lawsuit accusing the government of illegally attacking free speech and academic autonomy.
 
The confrontation has sparked a broader debate about the role of universities in society and their relationship with the government. For Harvard’s critics, the university cannot claim to operate as a fully independent entity while relying on American taxpayers. Meanwhile, Harvard’s defenders, including figures like former President Barack Obama and Senator Bernie Sanders, applaud its resistance.
 
A Broader Context
 
Harvard’s case is not isolated. Columbia University, for instance, complied with several White House demands after facing the threat of losing $400 million in federal funding. Other universities, such as MIT, Stanford, and several Ivy League institutions, are facing similar pressures. Harvard’s resistance could inspire other institutions to challenge the government, but it could also set a dangerous precedent if the university loses its legal battle or faces significant economic sanctions.
 
In Summary…
 
Beyond political rhetoric, the conflict highlights a fundamental tension: To what extent can private universities demand total autonomy when they rely on public funds? Harvard’s attitude in this standoff with the Trump administration reveals a hard-to-ignore contradiction. The university vehemently defends its autonomy and right to operate without interference but appears surprised and offended when the government questions its entitlement to billions in public funds. By refusing accountability, Harvard seems to overlook that federal funds are not a right but a shared responsibility.
 

A well-documented exploration of Medicine, Pharmacy, and rural society in the 19th century through two biographies that should not be forgotten:
“Kisses are tears”: https://a.co/d/eCok2Y0

Enceladus has a warm heart

Until recently, active volcanism was known to exist only on two planets, Venus and Earth, and on Jupiter’s moon Io. However, it has now been confirmed that Enceladus, a moon of Saturn, also exhibits this phenomenon.

This satellite orbits Saturn at a distance of 238,040 km, doing so synchronously (always showing the same face) in 32.9 hours. It is nearly spherical, with a diameter of 499 km, and its icy surface displays remarkable diversity: some regions are almost smooth, devoid of geological features, while others show fracture lines from tectonic activity, and still others are dotted with impact craters. The most striking feature, however, lies at its South Pole.
 
There, scientists have identified what they’ve dubbed “tiger stripes”—grooves stretching 130 km long, 2 km wide, and 500 meters deep. From these, massive jets of water vapor, solid materials like sodium chloride crystals and ice, volatile compounds, and—surprisingly—organic material are continuously ejected into space at a rate of up to 200 kg per second. The Cassini spacecraft, which explored this moon, detected over 100 such geysers, confirming the presence of an internal heat source. The concentration of this activity at the South Pole may be due to centrifugal forces pushing denser material toward the equator and lighter material toward the poles. Some of the expelled water vapor falls back as snow, while the rest escapes, contributing to Saturn’s outermost and faintest E ring, within which Enceladus orbits.
 
This internal heat source drives volcanoes and hydrothermal vents, similar to those found on Earth’s ocean floors. Beneath its icy surface, Enceladus harbors a liquid water ocean about 30 km deep and 10 km thick, situated above its central core. Yet, there may be additional, unknown heat sources at play. For instance, Enceladus is in an orbital resonance with its neighboring moon Dione (completing two orbits around Saturn for every one of Dione’s), which helps maintain its orbital eccentricity and generates extra heat through geological activity. Between these factors, scientists are left astounded—especially upon discovering that the heat output at the South Pole reaches nearly 16 million watts, ten times higher than previously estimated, with no clear explanation yet uncovered.
 
At the surface, Enceladus is blanketed in ice, with an average temperature of -198°C. This varies by location and time, ranging from -240°C to -128°C—except, of course, in the South Pole regions where the constant geysers emerge.
 
Its atmosphere consists of water vapor (91%), nitrogen (4%), carbon dioxide (3.2%), and methane (1.7%). This composition, along with its subsurface ocean and hydrothermal activity, has sparked significant scientific interest, positioning Enceladus as one of the most promising locations in our solar system for potential life, particularly near its hydrothermal vents.
 

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”: https://a.co/d/9svRTuI

What is political correctness?

What’s known as “political correctness” has taken over our society to such an exaggerated degree that a conversation I stumbled upon online perfectly captures its essence.

A daughter asks her mother, “What does it mean to be politically correct?”
 
And the mother replies, “It means giving up your own judgment to gain the fake approval of a bunch of idiots.”
 
The next time someone asks you—or you wonder yourself—what political correctness is, just remember this answer.
 

A chance encounter will take him far away, on a thrilling adventure full of action and emotion that will change his life... but also the lives of everyone around him…
“Fleeing into silence”: https://a.co/d/7SUfVb3

The death we don’t understand

(Sunday Poetry Corner) We all know we’re going to die, yet most people consciously choose to shut their eyes to that reality, trying to ignore it. When death takes a loved one, we feel the sorrow of selfishness because they’ll no longer be with us, without considering that the dear person who has left might be far better off and happier from that moment on. As someone reaches old age, whether they like it or not, they gradually grow accustomed to the nearing day of goodbye, though—for reasons they can’t quite explain—they hope it remains as far off as possible. When an elderly person passes, others will say, “Well, they were very old,” and that certainty softens their grief. But what happens when the one who dies is young? Here, the trauma is greater because we all think, “They had so much life ahead of them, so much left to do,” without pausing to consider that perhaps, in those few years, they had already fulfilled the earthly mission entrusted to them. And I’ll take it a step further: what happens when a child dies? Here, there are no answers, and so I won’t offer any… only the reminder of the certainty that, in the end, they’ll be better off there than here.

Today, I found myself reflecting on all of this as I recalled the death of a seven-year-old girl, a playmate of my granddaughter at the park after school. What can be said about such a death? Or rather, what can be felt about it? I’ve expressed it this way, especially remembering the things she used to tell me—how she was learning to play the ukulele, how she loved minerals and discovering so much about life… But she’s gone, and we’ve had to settle for her memory.
 

A UKULELE IN HEAVEN
 
She arrived on Christmas Day.
It had to be that day!
She was light, pure and divine,
taking form on Earth
to draw near to us
and show us the way
to true life.
 
With her example in seven years,
it should be enough, if only we see
beyond the material.
It hurts to lose friends,
even more so parents and children,
and yet we depart
without having asked to.
 
They’ll say she was just a girl,
that she had ahead of her
a thousand plans in her life,
but she left us,
leaving behind as her legacy
her kindness and her smile.
 
That’s why she came, to tell us
to forget our quarrels,
our obsession with this world,
forgetting that life
is what awaits beyond,
it’s what Sandra breathes
from today, in harmony.
 
To the celestial orchestra
a new soloist arrives,
her ukulele will resound
from now on in the memory
of those of us fortunate enough
to have shared her joy.
 
(In memory of my friend Sandra Pino. She was barely seven years old…)

A chance encounter will take him far away, on a thrilling adventure full of action and emotion that will change his life... but also the lives of everyone around him…
“Fleeing into silence”: https://a.co/d/7SUfVb3

The "Death Star" does exist

Many people have compared Mimas to the “Death Star” from the movie Star Wars due to its striking resemblance. Although it is not a perfect sphere—being somewhat deformed by Saturn’s gravitational pull—one of its sides stands out with an enormous crater, Herschel, measuring 130 km in diameter, mirroring the proportions and position seen in the film. Considering that the average diameter of this moon is 397 km, the crater’s immense size becomes clear, as evidenced by the fracture lines on the opposite side of the satellite, a result of the tremendous impact that created it. The frigid temperature of its surface (-209°C) seems fitting for its “Death Star” likeness, as does its low reflectivity (albedo of 0.07).

One peculiar feature of this moon is the wobble it exhibits around its polar axis, suggesting that its interior is not uniform. Some speculate that it may have a melon-shaped rocky core, while others propose the existence of an internal ocean beneath a layer of ice, approximately 25 to 30 km thick, which could partially explain this wobbling motion.
 
Beyond the Herschel crater, Mimas’ surface has reached a point of saturation, meaning any new asteroid impact would inevitably strike one of the countless craters already covering it. While it’s uncertain whether Mimas experienced geological activity in the past, it displays very ancient grooves, about 1 km deep, which might hint at such internal processes. Across its rugged terrain, some craters have walls rising up to 4 km high, containing dusty material likely produced by landslides. 

Additionally, despite the prevailing cold, not all areas of the surface share the same temperature, with some regions detected as being slightly less frigid.

Mimas orbits Saturn at a distance of 185,520 km and is tidally locked, always presenting the same face to the planet. It completes one orbit in nearly a day (22.5 hours). Its gravity, meanwhile, is a mere 0.07.
 
Finally, it’s worth noting a curious role Mimas plays: it helps clear particles from the gap between Saturn’s A and B rings.
 

A chance encounter will take him far away, on a thrilling adventure full of action and emotion that will change his life... but also the lives of everyone around him…
“Fleeing into silence”: https://a.co/d/7SUfVb3

The wastefulness of USAID

A significant portion of the spending by USAID (United States Agency for International Development) can be described as “outrageous,” if not outright “controversial,” prompting the Trump administration to target the agency as a prime candidate for budget cuts. Let’s break it down…

“Diversity and Inclusion” Projects Abroad
Estimated Amount: Up to $1.5 million in a single case (Serbia).
Description: Reports have highlighted expenditures on “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI) programs in countries like Serbia, where USAID allocated funds to promote initiatives that offer no tangible benefit to U.S. interests or its citizens. A glaring example of “ideological waste” is the sponsorship of a DEI-themed musical in Eastern Europe, costing $70,000. This is just one of many such budget items.
 
Funding for Questionable NGOs
Estimated Amount: Billions of dollars (exact figures vary by source).
Description: USAID has been used to funnel money to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) tied to political agendas linked to figures like George Soros or events like the Davos Forum, with little to no transparency for taxpayers.
 
“Environmental Studies” with Dubious Purposes
Estimated Amount: $520 million (based on specific critiques).
Description: One highly criticized expenditure is a supposed “environmental study” costing $520 million, denounced as an attempt by USAID to influence global media under the guise of “sustainability.” This is seen as exorbitant spending on “progressive” agendas that do not directly benefit Americans.
 
Questionable Humanitarian Aid in Conflicts
Estimated Amount: $3.7 billion in 2024 for Sub-Saharan Africa.
Description: While much of USAID’s foreign aid goes to humanitarian programs—like the $3.7 billion allocated in 2024 for health and refugee support in Africa—some items raise eyebrows, such as the $50 million sent to Gaza for “condoms.”
 
Global Reproductive Health Programs
Estimated Amount: Hundreds of millions annually (varies by year).
Description: USAID has historically funded reproductive health initiatives, including access to contraceptives and abortions in developing countries. These programs are viewed as a misuse of public funds to push agendas contrary to American values.
 
All these expenditures potentially add up to billions of dollars and are now in the crosshairs of the new “America First” policy. As the government points out, every budget item must answer the question: “Does this make America stronger, more prosperous, and safer?” For this reason, plans are already underway in 2025 to slash USAID’s staff from 10,000 to fewer than 300 employees and significantly reduce its budget.
 

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

"This food is crap": A "brown" humor anecdote

Surely, at some point, you’ve wrinkled your nose at a dish served to you and muttered, “This food is crap.” But have you ever stopped to think that crap can actually be food? No, I’m not talking about bacteria, flies, or other insects. This story is real, and I’m telling it just as it was told to me…

Luis García was a coworker who loved traveling to exotic countries. On one occasion, he shared some hilarious anecdotes from a trip to India. He and his group visited a small village where the humble locals welcomed them warmly. But then, Luis suddenly felt an urgent need to use the bathroom. The bathroom? What bathroom? They were in a remote spot with just a few huts in the middle of the jungle. How did people manage their urgent needs there?
 
After explaining—more with gestures than in English—what he required, the villagers directed him to climb a small tower where a shack was perched, supposedly for doing his business. Luis found it odd to have a toilet several meters above the ground, but necessity trumped curiosity, so he climbed the ladder to the tiny shack at the top. Inside, there was nothing but a hole in the floor, presumably for his waste. He peered through the hole and saw only bare ground below—no pile of excrement, which puzzled him. If people used this spot regularly, shouldn’t there be something down there? For a moment, he wondered if they were playing a prank on him, but with no time to hold it in and demand answers, he decided to proceed. At least the shack offered some privacy. So, he dropped his pants and underwear, aimed at the hole, and got to work.
 
Barely had the first “sausage” dropped when a commotion erupted below—running, shouting, grunting. He had no idea what was happening down there, but finishing his business took priority. He hurried through it, stepped out of the shack, and started down the ladder—only to freeze halfway at the sight below: several pigs were scrambling and fighting over the “sausages” he’d just released. In that hungry region, even human waste was a delicacy to the pigs. Later, they explained that the shack was placed high up precisely to keep the pigs from charging at you the moment you dropped your pants. Luis was so stunned that, for days afterward, he kept glancing around nervously every time he used the bathroom—even in a city hotel room—half-expecting a pig to pop up nearby.
 

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”: https://a.co/d/9svRTuI

Today we’re talking about “Rare Earths”

Rare earths, also known as rare earth elements (REE), are a group of 17 chemical elements in the periodic table, comprising the 15 lanthanides (from lanthanum to lutetium), plus scandium and yttrium. Despite their name, they are not particularly rare in the Earth’s crust; what makes them "rare" is their dispersion and the difficulty of finding them in economically viable concentrations. These elements possess unique properties, such as high electrical conductivity, magnetism, and heat resistance, making them essential components of modern technology.

Why are they so important?

Rare earths are critical in the manufacture of advanced technological products and in the transition to a more sustainable economy. Their main uses span the following fields:
Electronics: Mobile phones, LED screens, hard drives, and batteries rely on elements like neodymium, dysprosium, and cerium. 
 
Renewable Energy: Permanent magnets in wind turbines and electric vehicle motors require neodymium and praseodymium for their high efficiency. 
 
Defense: Missile guidance systems, radars, and laser technologies use rare earths for their optical and magnetic properties. 
 
Medical Industry: MRI machines and other diagnostic devices employ gadolinium.
In a world increasingly dependent on digitalization and clean energy, the demand for rare earths has grown exponentially, turning them into a strategic resource and a source of geopolitical tensions. However, the primary challenge they present lies in the difficulty of their extraction.

Challenges of Extraction and Processing

Although rare earths are not scarce in geological terms, their extraction and processing pose significant challenges:

Low Concentration: These elements are rarely found in pure or concentrated deposits. They are typically mixed with other minerals, requiring complex separation processes. 
 
Intensive Processes: Extraction involves open-pit or underground mining, followed by chemical techniques such as acid leaching. This generates large amounts of toxic waste, including heavy metals and radioactive materials like thorium and uranium, which are often associated with rare earth deposits. 
 
Environmental Impact: Soil, water, and air pollution are recurring issues. For instance, in China—the world’s largest producer—there have been documented cases of rivers and farmland contaminated by mining waste. 
 
Economic Cost: The necessary infrastructure, refining methods, and environmental regulations (in countries where they are enforced) drive up costs, making production unprofitable without subsidies or economies of scale.

Due to these difficulties, many countries prefer to import processed rare earths rather than develop their own extraction industries.

Major Deposits
While rare earths are present worldwide, the largest and most economically viable deposits are concentrated in a few countries:
China: The undisputed leader, accounting for over 60% of global production and about 37% of known reserves (approximately 44 million tons). The Bayan Obo mine in Inner Mongolia is the largest in the world. China not only dominates extraction but also processing, controlling nearly 90% of the global refined supply. 
Australia: With estimated reserves of 4.1 million tons, Australia is an emerging producer. The Mount Weld mine, operated by Lynas Corporation, is one of the most significant outside China. 
United States: It holds reserves of around 1.8 million tons, with the Mountain Pass mine in California as its main asset. However, much of its production is sent to China for refining. 
Russia: With about 12 million tons in reserves, Russia has significant potential, though its current production is limited. 
Other Countries: Brazil (22 million tons in reserves), India, Vietnam, and Greenland also have notable deposits, but their exploitation is less developed.

Conclusion

Rare earths are a cornerstone of modern technology and the fight against climate change, yet their extraction raises environmental and economic dilemmas. The concentration of production in China has sparked concerns about global dependency and supply security, prompting countries like the United States, Japan, and the European Union to explore alternatives—whether through recycling, developing new deposits, or researching substitutes. In an interconnected and technologically advanced world, rare earths will remain a critical resource and a geopolitical tipping point in the decades to come.
 

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”: https://a.co/d/9svRTuI 

The Arctic lightning that illuminates European Football

In the icy city of Bodø, nestled in the heart of the Arctic Circle, beats the heart of a club that has defied expectations and written a golden page in the history of Norwegian football: Fotballklubben Bodø/Glimt. Founded in 1916, this team, known as "The Lightning of Bodø" (Glimt means "flash" or "lightning" in Norwegian), has overcome geographical, climatic, and competitive barriers to become the first Norwegian club to reach the semifinals of a European competition, the UEFA Europa League in 2025. This milestone calls for a journey through the fascinating trajectory of a team that embodies resilience, ambition, and the spirit of northern Norway.
 
Origins and Early Steps (1916-1960)
 
Bodø/Glimt was born on September 19, 1916, relatively late compared to other clubs in the Nordland region, such as those in Narvik or Mo i Rana. Founded as Footballclub Glimt, it had in Erling Tjærandsen, its first president, a key figure who also excelled as a footballer and skier. In its early days, the club faced a lack of local rivals, playing its first match against the Bodø Institute. In 1919, Glimt won its first title, the Nordland County Championship, laying the foundation for its regional prestige.
 
The 1920s were challenging, marked by economic troubles and a morale crisis that led to considerations of merging with Skiclub B. & O.I., an idea that ultimately fell through. However, the arrival of figures like Jørgen Juve in 1929 and the adoption of indoor training in the 1930s to counter the harsh Arctic winters revitalized the club. During this decade, Bodø/Glimt established itself as a reference in the north, winning nine regional championships.
 
The Fight for National Recognition (1960-1980)
 
Until the 1960s, teams from northern Norway, including those from Nordland, Troms, and Finnmark, were marginalized from national football due to the belief that they could not compete with southern clubs. It wasn’t until 1963 that they were allowed to participate in the Norwegian Cup, and until 1972 in the Eliteserien, the top tier. This exclusion fueled resentment in the north but also stoked the determination of clubs like Bodø/Glimt.
 
In 1976, after defeating Odd 4-0 and drawing 1-1 with FC Lyn Oslo, Bodø/Glimt earned promotion to the first division, becoming the second northern team to achieve this after FK Mjølner. Their 1977 debut was spectacular: runners-up in both the league and cup, though they fell to Lillestrøm SK in both competitions. However, instability marked the end of the decade, with relegation in 1980 after finishing last.
 
The Dark Years and Resurrection (1980-2000)
 
The 1980s were the most difficult in the club’s history. Relegated to the second division and even the third regional tier, Bodø/Glimt lost its status as Bodø’s main team, temporarily surpassed by Grand Bodø. However, a revival came in 1991 under Jan Muri’s leadership, which returned the club to the first division. In 1992, with Trond Sollied as coach, Bodø/Glimt achieved a historic milestone: Norwegian Cup champions (2-0 against Strømsgodset IF) and league runners-up in 1993, a meteoric rise that marked a golden era.
During the 1990s, the club solidified its place in the Eliteserien and began making a name in Europe, facing clubs like Sampdoria (1994) and Napoli (1976-77) in the European Cup Winners’ Cup, though with mixed results. These experiences laid the groundwork for future international aspirations.
 
The 21st Century: From Instability to Dominance (2000-2020)
 
The new millennium brought ups and downs. After years of promotions and relegations, Bodø/Glimt hit rock bottom in 2016, dropping to the second division. However, this setback marked the start of a transformation. In 2017, under Kjetil Knutsen’s guidance, the club returned to the Eliteserien, and in 2019, it finished second, signaling the dawn of a dominant era.
 
The year 2020 was historic: Bodø/Glimt won the Eliteserien for the first time, with an attacking style that yielded 103 goals in 30 matches and a 19-point lead over second-placed Molde. This title, the first for an Arctic club, broke the hegemony of Rosenborg and Molde. In 2021, they retained the championship, cementing their status as a Norwegian powerhouse.
 

The Conquest of Europe (2020-2025)
 
Bodø/Glimt’s European breakthrough began in the 2021-22 Conference League, where they stunned the world by thrashing José Mourinho’s Roma 6-1 and reaching the quarterfinals, matching the best campaigns of Norwegian clubs. Their vertical 4-3-3 style and strength at the Aspmyra Stadion, with a capacity of 8,270, became their trademark.

In 2025, Bodø/Glimt made history by qualifying for the Europa League semifinals after defeating Lazio in a dramatic penalty shootout. With 30 wins in 37 European home matches since 2020, the club proved that its snow-covered stadium, battered by -4°C temperatures, is an impregnable fortress. Under Knutsen’s leadership, the team’s mentality has been bolstered by Bjørn Mannsverk, a former fighter pilot turned psychologist, helping players overcome adversity.
 
Identity and Legacy
 
Bodø/Glimt is more than a football club; it is a symbol of resilience in a city of 55,000 inhabitants that experiences the "midnight sun" and endures extreme winters. Its fans, known as the "Yellow Horde," cheer with giant toothbrushes, a quirky 1970s tradition reflecting their humor and passion. With four league titles (2020, 2021, 2023, 2024), two national cups (1975, 1993), and nine northern championships, the club has transcended its humble origins.
 
Today, Bodø/Glimt not only represents Norway but inspires teams from remote regions to dream big. Its motto, "Superlaget" (the super team), and nickname, "Den Gule Horde" (the Yellow Horde), reflect an identity forged in ice but fueled by a fire that lights up European football. As they prepare to face Tottenham in the Europa League semifinals, the Lightning of Bodø continues to flash, proving there are no limits for those who defy the cold and history.

A chance encounter will take him to Norway, on a thrilling adventure full of action and emotion that will change his life... but also the lives of everyone around him…
“Fleeing into silence”: https://a.co/d/7SUfVb3

Innovation for acne-prone skin

Spanish pharmaceutical company Reig Jofre has unveiled the launch of Vincobiosis Acneic, an innovative range of topical products that blends science and nature to care for acne-prone skin.

This new line, designed and developed by Reig Jofre’s innovation team, is centered around Canonia Allysis, a unique plant-derived biotechnological ingredient. Obtained through an advanced process leveraging Vytrus Biotech technology, it harnesses the natural defense mechanisms certain plants use to combat bacterial infections and external threats.
 
Clinical studies have shown that Vincobiosis Acneic effectively reduces blemishes on acne-prone skin in a natural and gentle way, preserving the skin’s ecosystem without disrupting beneficial microorganisms.
 
Initially, this groundbreaking product will be introduced in Spain through medical representative channels and pharmacies. Throughout 2025, it will expand to other international markets via Reig Jofre’s subsidiaries and licensing agreements with partner laboratories.
 

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