Hoy por Hoy | Magazine

SER Podcast – October 2, 2025

Host: Àngels Barceló
Main Guests (Science & Technology segment): Jaime García Cantero, Nuño Domínguez

Brief Overview

This “Hoy por Hoy” magazine episode balances sharp, critical conversation and cultural curiosity, tackling myths and realities around longevity, the business of eternal youth, the life and legacy of pioneering birdwatchers, cultural and film reviews, and an authentic exploration of Bologna's cuisine. Host Àngels Barceló leads thoughtful, witty exchanges with resident experts and guests, toggling between in-depth science, humor, personal stories, and practical cooking tips.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Remembering Jane Goodall and Women in Conservation

Segment: [00:54–03:18]

• Jane Goodall’s passing prompts a discussion of her legacy in conservation and primatology:
  • "Tuvo un papel clave para concienciarnos de que nuestros parientes más cercanos… estaban siendo amenazados." – Nuño Domínguez [01:22]
  • Her unorthodox, personal approach was initially criticized but ultimately recognized by Cambridge with an honorary doctorate.
  • Nuño notes, "La clave de mi éxito ha sido ponerle nombres humanos a los chimpancés." [01:47]
  • Discussed alongside other key female conservationists like Dian Fossey, highlighting the rare but pivotal female presence in the field.

Memorable Moment: Mention of the iconic photo of Goodall embracing a chimpanzee, symbolizing empathy in science [02:57].

2. Premios Retina and the State of Sustainability Innovation

Segment: [03:35–05:48]

• Jaime García Cantero summarizes the 2025 Premios Retina:
  • Emphasis on sustainability innovations despite a challenging global climate.
  • Standout winners include Tubos Reunidos (clean steel), Fito Semillas (family seed company), Barcelona’s urban waste-to-heat project, and the ECities initiative in Sevilla, Málaga, and Granada.
  • "Que una empresa con una trayectoria larga apueste hoy por la innovación y la sostenibilidad es maravilloso." – Jaime García Cantero [04:30]
  • Reflection on increased urgency and political opposition to sustainability, referencing Donald Trump's recent UN speech [05:35].

3. Science: Life on Enceladus?

Segment: [05:48–07:18]

• Nuño Domínguez discusses the latest findings about Saturn’s moon Enceladus:
  • Trace organic compounds have been detected in geysers, hinting at possible microbial ocean life.
  • Positioning Enceladus as possibly “el mundo más habitable dentro de nuestro sistema solar, más que Marte.” – Nuño Domínguez [07:07]
• Side note: Elon Musk’s “Groquipedia” and dominance in tech and space, met with skepticism and irony by the panel.

4. Longevity: Science, Myths, and the Business of Eternal Life

Segment: [08:36–22:54]

A. Science of Aging

• Two major longevity conferences in Madrid prompt examination of scientific advances and pop-culture myths.
• Insights from Nobel laureate Michael Young (circadian rhythms, sleep and aging), Michael Hall (rapamycin and cellular aging):
  • “El envejecimiento no es una enfermedad...pero sí pueden intentar aliviarse los resultados negativos.” – Nuño Domínguez [10:55]
• Focus is not on living forever, but improving quality in final years: “La clave...no tanto vivir muchísimos años, sino...mejor[ar] que el de las generaciones anteriores.” [11:04]

B. Case Study – María Brañas, Supercentenarian

• Her longevity attributed in the media to daily yogurt consumption, which the hosts joke about as their own habit.
• Nuño underscores the limits of such association: “Es imposible saber qué es. Hay muchísimos factores…es cuestión multifactorial.” [12:15–13:14]
• Socioeconomic status ("los códigos postales predicen tu esperanza de vida") discussed as a hugely significant factor [13:39–13:53].

C. Debunking Pseudoscience and the Longevity Business

• Discussion pivots to José Luis Cordeiro (“la muerte es opcional”) and his conference:
  • Nuño and Jaime label him a “futurista” and “vendehumo.”
  • “Cuando dice que la muerte es opcional, tú puedes elegir. Ese es el claim de marketing.” – Jaime García Cantero [15:50]
  • Warning that such conferences blend serious science with commercial interests (“negocios interesantes” [17:20]), targeting the wealthy.
  • Silicon Valley’s obsession with immortality and survivalist bunkers highlighted as an ideological issue threaded with elitism and fear of social unrest.
  • "Si inviertes suficiente dinero en tratamientos, es posible que llegues a esa inmortalidad." – Nuño Domínguez [19:41]
• The only proven advice? Lifestyle basics: "Vida sana, deporte, leer mucho, tener amigos." – Nuño Domínguez [20:11]
• Host’s pointed question: “¿Para qué quieres ser inmortal si…te quedas solo?” [20:28]

D. Quirky News

• Trump’s viral (and later deleted) AI-generated video about “milagrosa cama médica” for Americans, highlighting the intersection of politics, fake news, and health scam narratives.

E. Biotech Breakthrough

• Human eggs produced from skin cells: a revolutionary step for fertility, with cautious optimism about its ethical and scientific implications [22:13–22:54].

5. "Usted no sabe con quién está hablando": The Birdwatcher – Ignacio Torres Ruiz Huerta

Segment: [23:59–40:43]

• Ignacio, a passionate “pajarero” (birdwatcher), recounts visiting over 70 countries to spot over 6,100 bird species.
  • “Pretendo ver casi todas las aves del mundo… Llevo 6.174 especies de las aproximadamente 11.100 que hay en el planeta.” – Ignacio Torres Ruiz Huerta [25:02, 87:22]
• The birdwatching world—IBird citizen science platform, top-100 rankings, the thrill of the chase, the pleasure of planning and observing, and ethical self-policing among birders.
• Humor in the trade-offs and obsession: neglecting other vacation types, patience, early mornings, complex logistics, and spousal tolerance.
• Famed for organizing “birdwatching for non-birders”—trips even for friends uninitiated in the culture.
• On elusive targets: the “suimanga palestina,” a resistance symbol and victim of political naming disputes [38:23–39:02].
• Reveals ecological challenges, like invasive parakeets in Spain, and connects birdwatching to his professional work in biodiversity conservation.

Notable Quote:
“La suimanga palestina es el ave nacional de Palestina… Un símbolo de la resistencia.” – Ignacio Torres Ruiz Huerta [87:22]

6. Film Review with Javier Ocaña

Segment: [46:01–63:40]

A. “Un fantasma en la batalla”

• New film by Agustín Díaz Llanes about a Civil Guard agent infiltrated in ETA:
  • Suffers from release overlap with the similar, recently acclaimed “La infiltrada.”
  • “Es injusto, seguro que es injusto, pero es que no se te va de la cabeza.” – Javier Ocaña [50:02]
  • More sobria, documentary-infused, and political, integrating real archive footage of historical events [51:21].
  • Both films decry terrorism, yet acknowledge the complex, sometimes gray realities during Spain’s conflict [51:27–52:33].
  • Ocaña ultimately recommends it: “Es una buena película. No debería [perder público].” [53:34]

B. “The Smashing Machine”

• Profound disappointment with this UFC/MMA biopic starring Dwayne Johnson:
  • “Aún más básica y gruesa que el deporte que practica… No hay nadie que me reconcilie con ella.” – Javier Ocaña [56:24]
  • Praises Johnson’s performance, but not the film’s violence, clichés, or lack of emotional depth.
  • Notes trend of directors choosing offbeat sports for new films [59:42].

C. “Sweeney Todd” (Criticism-on-demand)

• Ocaña, less enthusiastic than the audience, singles out his dislike for digitalized visuals and the challenging, unmemorable score, while acknowledging the musical’s dark complexity [63:31].

7. Cooking Feature: The Ragu of Bologna with Ainhoa Aguirregoitia

Segment: [64:31–79:44]

• Celebrates the prized Italian meat sauce, deconstructs its regional roots (Emilia-Romagna), and offers an in-depth, traditional recipe.
  • Key points: slow-cooked, meaty, lots of patience (“muchísima paciencia” [73:53]), tagliatelle not spaghetti, purposeful use of animal cuts (even tuétano/bone marrow).
  • “Perseguir el ragú perfecto es una misión imposible… no existe una versión definitiva.” – Ainhoa Aguirregoitia [73:23]
• Shortcuts offered for busy cooks, but stresses that the original’s patience and depth are unparalleled.
• Best spot to try it: Antica Hostería del Mirasol (recommended with loving reluctance to reveal a beloved address) [76:07].

8. Lighthearted Panel Discussions & Closing Thoughts

Segment: [81:10-end]

• Skippable news reviews, then playful, philosophical musings:
  • If given a chance to live forever or reincarnate, what life would you choose? (Tongue-in-cheek “sorteo” of gender, country, virtue, defect) [83:44–85:40].
  • “¿Para qué quieres la vida eterna? Mejor vivir un ratito más, pero bien.” – Nuño Domínguez [20:19, echoed in wrap-up]
  • Program wraps with group laughter, musical interludes, and a soft plug to revisit the segments on podcast.

Notable Quotes (with Speaker & Timestamp)

• “La clave de mi éxito ha sido ponerle nombres humanos a los chimpancés.”
  – Nuño Domínguez recalling Jane Goodall [01:47]

• “Que una empresa con una trayectoria larga apueste hoy por la innovación y apueste por la sostenibilidad es maravilloso.”
  – Jaime García Cantero on the Retina Awards [04:30]

• “El envejecimiento no es una enfermedad, pero sí que pueden intentar aliviarse los resultados negativos.”
  – Nuño Domínguez [10:55]

• “Es imposible saber qué es. Hay muchísimos factores… es una cosa multifactorial.”
  – Nuño Domínguez (about longevity) [12:15]

• “Cuando dice que la muerte es opcional, tú puedes elegir. Ese es el claim de marketing.”
  – Jaime García Cantero (re: Cordeiro) [15:50]

• “Si inviertes suficiente dinero en tratamientos…es posible que llegues a esa inmortalidad.”
  – Nuño Domínguez, on Silicon Valley’s dream [19:41]

• “Vida sana, deporte, leer mucho, tener amigos.”
  – Nuño Domínguez, real secrets of longevity [20:11]

• “Pretendo ver casi todas las aves del mundo… Llevo 6.174 especies de las aproximadamente 11.100 que hay en el planeta.”
  – Ignacio Torres Ruiz Huerta [25:02 / 87:22]

• “Es injusto, seguro que es injusto, pero es que no se te va de la cabeza.”
  – Javier Ocaña, re: ‘Un fantasma en la batalla’ vs. ‘La infiltrada’ [50:02]

• “Perseguir el ragú perfecto es una misión imposible… no existe una versión definitiva.”
  – Ainhoa Aguirregoitia [73:23]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Remembering Jane Goodall: 00:54–03:18
• Retina Awards & Sustainability: 03:35–05:48
• Enceladus & Science News: 05:48–08:36
• Longevity Science, Myths & Business: 08:36–22:54
• Birdwatching Feature – Ignacio Torres: 23:59–40:43, highlight at [25:02], [38:23]
• Film Reviews: 46:01–63:40
• Cooking: Ragu Bolognese: 64:31–79:44
• Philosophical Panel / Wrap-up: 81:10–end

Structure and Tone

The show weaves scientific skepticism with practical wisdom, humor, and cultural appreciation, all delivered in a conversational (and often irreverent) tone true to Àngels Barceló’s flexible, intelligent hosting style. The dialogues remain accessible, yet never dumbed-down, ensuring listeners grasp both the myth and magic of living better—never necessarily forever.