Paleontologists discover ancient mites in amber exhibiting unusual behavior

Questions about the viability of electric cars go beyond autonomy and charging time. They encompass the environmental impact of mass adoption, the logistics of battery disposal, and how the transition from combustion to electric (or hybrid) vehicles has been managed by government agencies and manufacturers.

The Theft Scenario in Brazil Versus Europe

A new concern has arisen due to the significant increase in the rate of theft and robbery of electric cars in various regions of Brazil over the last twelve months. This analysis was stimulated by an independent internet investigation, in which researcher Marco de Carvalho cross-referenced data from Brazilian reality with principles of criminal economics, focusing on the reverse logistics applied by organized crime to national electrification.

In contrast to the narrative of the European automotive press, which frequently portrays the electric vehicle as extremely safe, data from a recent study by the electromobility association Electra, based on information from the French Ministry of the Interior, indicates that electric cars accounted for only 3% of stolen vehicles in France. Hybrids totaled 36%, while traditional combustion models led with 54% of registrations.

The European research suggests that an electric car is approximately twenty times less susceptible to being stolen than a combustion model. This is attributed, according to them, to continuous geolocation connected to manufacturer servers, encrypted digital marking of traction and inverter components, and the fact that batteries are a very difficult and dangerous prize to remove clandestinely.

Differences in the Brazilian Market

In Brazil, the public safety reality presents a distinct picture. Data from insurance companies and monitoring firms reveals that the rate of theft and robbery of electrified vehicles (electric and hybrid) in the State of São Paulo doubled during the period analyzed by Ituran Brasil, rising from 44 to 88 incidents in less than a year.

Rio de Janeiro shows an even more serious panorama: the Syndicate of Insurers (SindSeg RJ/ES) reports that the frequency of theft and robbery for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles reached 3.85% of the insured fleet, surpassing the 2.17% rate recorded for traditional combustion cars. Proportionally, an electric or hybrid vehicle has almost twice the chance of being stolen in Rio de Janeiro.

This high incidence disproves the notion that the encryption of embedded systems constitutes absolute protection. Criminals have adapted their tactics, carrying out armed assaults at traffic lights, taking the vehicle with the owner inside and keeping the system active. Furthermore, the São Paulo civil police identified clandestine dismantling shops equipped with specific tools to handle high-voltage systems, where electromagnetic signal blockers (jammers) are used to nullify trackers before dismantling.

Illegal Charging: Operational Symptom

Some sensationalist news in the Rio de Janeiro press suggested that trafficking had turned to electric cars due to the possibility of recharging them for free in favelas through illegal power connections, known as 'gatos'. Communities such as Vila Aliança, Complexo da Maré, Penha, and Alemão were cited as locations with residential charging points (wallboxes).

However, it is crucial to distinguish the symptom from the real cause. Considering free charging via an illegal connection as the reason for stealing high-value electric vehicles is economically illogical. An armed trafficker would not risk stealing a highly trackable vehicle just to save a minimal amount of fuel, finding it more advantageous to steal any common flex vehicle.

Moreover, leaving an electric car stationary at a fixed charging point within the community attracts police and insurance tracking systems. The investigation in Vila Aliança confirmed that the vehicles found at these points were, in fact, destined for dismantling for parts resale. Thus, the charger serves as a tool for the dismantler's work, not as the catalyst for the crime.

The Supply Chain Bottleneck

The true driving force behind electric car theft in Brazil lies in the organized crime economy. Criminologist Louise Shelley, in her work Dark Commerce, describes the clandestine market as an 'informal problem solver for logistics'. When the formal market fails to offer products with agility and competitive pricing, the parallel economy fills this gap.

While the electric auto parts supply chain in Europe is well-established and traceable, Brazil faces a scenario of disorganization. Driven by tax incentives, the country saw a large influx of brands selling thousands of electric and hybrid vehicles quickly, but the dealership infrastructure and local spare parts stock did not keep pace with this rhythm.

Many owners or ride-share drivers face waits of 60 to 90 days for imported components, such as inverter modules or headlights. This delay makes the driver's subsistence unviable, opening space for the parallel market. The theft does not primarily target the battery pack, which is heavy and difficult to resell, but rather the electronic control modules (multimedia centers, wiring harnesses), collision components (full-LED headlights, bumpers), and wear parts.

Gangsters supply these 'dubious origin' parts to independent workshops and online marketplaces, solving problems in 48 hours instead of months at the official dealership. It is concluded that Brazilian organized crime merely exploited the logistical void left by Chinese manufacturers.

Financial Impact and Total Loss

This structural imbalance directly impacts the cost of insurance. With the high cost of repair and the increase in claims, premiums rise. However, a more subtle factor is 'preventive PT'. The battery pack, located in the floor, is protected only by thin plates. In a combustion car, minor damage is easily repairable; in an electric one, any deformation triggers rigorous safety protocols.

Due to the battery's high voltage, any internal fissure can cause thermal runaway, leading dealerships to refuse repairs and recommend complete pack replacement. Financially, a new battery pack represents between 50% and 80% of the vehicle's value. If the repair exceeds 75% of the market value, the insurer is legally obligated to declare a total loss.

This results in a negative cycle: the insurer pays the full amount, assumes the scrap, and the flow of usable parts feeds the parallel market. The consumer, who thought they were saving on fuel, sees the deductible and annual insurance value skyrocket. The insurance market begins to treat electric and hybrid vehicles as an isolated risk category, compromising their long-term financial viability.

Researchers analyzed the strontium isotopic composition in the teeth of 152 freed Africans buried on Saint Helena island in the 19th century after being rescued from slave ships. This analysis helped confirm historical assumptions that most of these people may have originated from western regions of Central Africa, although individuals from other parts of the continent, including inland areas, were also present in the group.

Context of the Transatlantic Slave Trade

From the 16th to the 19th century, spanning approximately four centuries, the transatlantic slave trade was active. According to historical estimates, about 17 million people were forcibly removed from Africa during this period, of whom approximately 12.5 million were planned to be transported to America. Europeans primarily took enslaved people from the ports of West Africa, where human resources were exchanged for various goods. A significant portion of Africans died before reaching the New World due to poor sanitary conditions, overcrowding, and other reasons; historians note that about 1.8 million out of 12.5 million did not survive the crossing of the Atlantic Ocean.

Role of Saint Helena Island

Saint Helena Island, located in the middle of the ocean, played an important role in the history of the slave trade, serving as a place where Africans were held as slaves for a long time. However, starting in 1840, the British, having already banned the slave trade, began using the island as a naval base to combat slave ships. Over 27 years, they landed about 27,000 freed Africans on the island. Most of them were sent to work in colonies as hired laborers, while only a small fraction were allowed to remain. Furthermore, about 8 out of the 27,000 freed people died shortly after arriving on the island.

Archaeological Findings and Research

In 2007–2008, during excavations preceding the construction of the airport on Saint Helena island, archaeologists discovered two large necropolises containing the remains of freed Africans. A total of 325 articulated skeletons and numerous scattered remains were found. Scientists from the UK, Denmark, China, the Netherlands, and the USA, led by Hannes Schröder from the University of Copenhagen, conducted a study to determine the strontium isotopic composition in the dental enamel of 152 individuals and establish their regions of origin.

Results of Isotopic Analysis

The analyses showed that none of the individuals in the studied sample were born on Saint Helena island itself, confirming that the graves contained freed Africans who died shortly after arrival. Overall data confirmed historical accounts that most of these people originated from western regions of Central Africa, which was also supported by written sources and recent limited genetic analysis. Scientists were also able to determine that the people captured into slavery came not only from coastal areas but also from inland regions. For example, the sample included individuals likely born in a small region of Angola far from the sea. A small proportion of people might have originated from the interior of East or Southern Africa, but their share was insignificant.

Researchers' Conclusions

The researchers concluded that most of the analyzed individuals were likely born within a few hundred kilometers of the coastline, although some may have traveled more than a thousand kilometers to the port. These findings align with eyewitness accounts that some captives traveled long distances to the ports from which slaves were shipped. Most of them apparently did not stay long in the coastal area. An exception was one man who lived for 19–25 years; the analysis of his teeth showed that he was likely born in the interior of Angola and then moved to the coastal area at the age of 7–9, where he lived long enough for it to be reflected in the ratio of light and heavy strontium isotopes.

Comparison with Other Studies

Similar studies are also being conducted in the USA. Several years ago, geneticists studied the DNA of over thirty people whose graves were found in Charleston (South Carolina) and found that most of them likely originated from Western or western regions of Central Africa.

Additional Mummy Study

It is worth noting the study of the ancient Egyptian mummy 'The Braided Woman,' which scientists analyzed using computed tomography. This mummy is housed in an American museum, and researchers confirmed that it belonged to an adult woman who presumably lived during the XVIII–XXI dynasties and belonged to the non-royal elite. Scientists determined details of her body preparation for burial but did not find the cause of her early death. The results of this work were published in the journal Radiology Case Reports.

The MA Residence, located in a residential condominium in Atibaia, was designed by Estúdio Rossi Arquitetos. The home's design was conceived from a detailed analysis of the terrain's geography, the surrounding landscape, and domestic needs, aiming to create a permanent home suitable for continuous year-round use.

Relationship with the Local Landscape

The lot features a steep slope and opens up to a permanent preservation area, as well as Pedra Grande, a geological landmark nationally known for climbing and mountain sports. The residents, a couple with four children (three adults), were already avid outdoor sports practitioners and frequented the region on regular trips from São Paulo. This strong connection to the territory and nature was a determining factor both in choosing the location and in defining the architectural project.

Functional Needs and Structural Solution

The move required a property that was practical, functional, and highly integrated, capable of supporting various daily usage dynamics. It was crucial for the family that the spaces operated fluidly, promoting constant visual interactions between environments, even when being used simultaneously. Although the initial intention was for a single-story, open house, the steep topography forced the conception of a two-story building, but resolved in a way that maintains the perception of a ground floor on the upper main level.

The base of the structure consists of a reinforced concrete floor that serves to overcome the terrain's unevenness and functions as a platform for the upper volume. This lower level contains the garage, technical support areas, and a workshop, as requested by the resident, intended for equipment maintenance, woodworking tasks, and the family's sporting activities. Two sets of stairs—a social one connected to the garden, and another service one, more private—organize the flows clearly between the floors. This foundation is surrounded by a reinforced concrete wall and facades clad in crushed stone, whose organic contours harmonize with the terrain, providing privacy from the condominium street.

Upper Pavilions and Materials

On top of this platform, which establishes a continuous plateau on the upper floor, two independent structures are set, arranged on the same level and configured as pavilions suspended over the garden. One of these pavilions houses the social spaces, while the other is dedicated to the intimate areas. The arrangement respects the trapezoidal geometry of the lot: the social pavilion is aligned with the access road, while the intimate pavilion follows the diagonal of the land, generating different scales of garden and common areas between them. Both ends are defined by facades clad in crushed stone, reinforcing the materiality and tectonic aspect of the composition.

The volumes were built using glued laminated timber (Glulam), in collaboration with Ita Engenharia, a specialist in engineered wood construction. The prefabricated structure, made of certified eucalyptus, provides visual lightness, high construction precision, and assembly agility, while also allowing for large spans and wide openings. The modular system, with pillars and beams in a regular grid, ensures spatial flexibility and structural clarity, minimizing waste and the environmental impact of the work. The roofs are also industrialized, reinforcing the overall constructive rationality.

Formal Differences and Common Areas

Despite the material uniformity, the masses present formal distinctions. The first pavilion has an inclined roof, which maximizes the free height in the social area and facilitates the entry of natural light and cross-ventilation, while the second uses a flat roof. A transition roof connects the two slabs, marking the meeting point and organizing internal paths. A central landscaped patio functions as an articulating element of the residence, defining flows, framing views, and mediating the interaction between architecture and landscape. The landscaping project, developed by Cate Poli, unites the built spaces, intensifying the continuity between the interior and the exterior.

Social and Intimate Areas

The main pedestrian access occurs through a staircase that winds across the front and side of the lot to a covered hall, situated at the convergence point of the two pavilions. This meeting point forms a triangular design, creating a landscaped area visible to both those arriving and those heading to the bedrooms, serving as a central visual axis.

In the social pavilion, living rooms, dining rooms, and kitchen form one large continuous space, planned for family conviviality and daily use, without rigid barriers between rooms. The facade facing the condominium street is protected by a series of modular panels that balance solid surfaces and strategic openings. The frames combine fixed panes and opening systems, allowing views of the preserved forest on the opposite side of the road, while ensuring partial privacy due to the tree canopy. The roof beam projects externally, creating wide eaves that protect the facade and extend to the veranda facing the patio.

Internally, extensive continuous carpentry runs throughout the space, acting as a layout organizer and support for various functions, such as a TV panel, library, wine cellar, and kitchen cabinets. Made of wood with a tone similar to the exposed structure, it contributes to visual unity. Some doors have a lattice design, facilitating air circulation and the storage of audiovisual equipment. Above this element, a continuous linear grille houses the air conditioning system diffusers, discreetly integrating technical aspects into the furniture design.

The room decoration is complemented by solid wood furniture, reinforcing the feeling of warmth and timelessness. There is a fireplace at the end of the social area, providing thermal comfort on cooler days. On a perpendicular facade, large glass windows can be fully retracted, expanding the connection between rooms, the veranda, and the outdoor area. The veranda floor is made of São Tomé quartzite, in an irregular chip pattern, and extends along the paths and contours of the pool.

The kitchen is organized around a main 'L'-shaped counter, combining stone countertops, carpentry, and a large central island equipped with an induction hob and seating areas, finished in a greenish tone that dialogues with the house's natural palette. This arrangement transforms the kitchen into a meeting point, maintaining direct communication between the cook and others present. The first counter is located under a window and extends outdoors, providing support to the external area and the barbecue, which is a contained space integrated into the architecture, protected by the roof overhang.

Intimate Pavilion and Leisure

The intimate pavilion has five bedrooms, all configured as suites. The access corridor functions as a glazed gallery facing the landscaped setback of the lot, ensuring abundant natural light and constant contact with the outdoors. In the bedrooms, the materiality follows the structural logic of the residence: exposed wooden pillars and beams, stone headboard walls, and wood parquet flooring. Large floor-to-ceiling frames frame views of the patio, and the east orientation optimizes the entry of sunlight in the early hours of the day.

The bathrooms maintain the natural material palette, featuring stone countertops and travertine Roman mosaic linings. In the master suite, the glazed panels offer views from the bathtub area. In the children's suite bathrooms, skylights aid in natural lighting. Externally, the lighting design distributes light points every three beam modules, creating a nocturnal graphic effect that highlights the structure.

The central patio includes a swimming pool, which serves as a leisure area and articulation point of the complex, accompanied by a sauna volume positioned at the back of the lot, intended for sports support and physical recovery. The landscaping permeates the entire residence, from the entrance to the main level, using vegetation masses of various heights and tropical species adapted to the local climate, reinforcing the notion of permanence and continuity between the built and nature.

Project Conclusion

The MA Residence exemplifies how the combination of intelligent layout, judicious use of certified materials, and industrialized construction systems results in efficiency, longevity, and reduced environmental impact. Simultaneously, the planned openings and direct connection to the exterior promote thermal comfort, natural ventilation, and well-being. The project illustrates the capacity of architecture to sustain an active lifestyle connected to nature, balancing quality of life, functionality, and ecological awareness.