Today, Saint James, TheGrandma wants to remember all those,whohave not yet been accorded dignity and who continue to sleep in
places where their families cannot keep vigil over them, nor their
neighbours honour them.
Paisatge
de l’Ebre (Les sabates d'enJaume)is a poem by JosepGualLloberes that was set to music byTeresa Rebull (Sabadell, September 21,1919-Banyuls-sur-Mer, April 15,
2015).
I carry the burden of exile -my past- with me, and the songs bear that weight- said Teresa. Of anarchist background, she grew up constantly packing and unpacking her bundles in a Sabadell with a working-class flavour. Her adult life would be equally nomadic and turbulent. A POUM militant and collaborator with the maquis (resistancefighters), she found her most powerful weapon against the dictatorship in songs.
Proof of this is her most famous song, Paisatge de l’Ebre -also known as Lessabates d’en Jaume- a poem by Josep Gual about a Civil War soldier. Yet, she never stopped seeking new paths of struggle.
Avui he tornat a la Serra de Pàndols I a la cova he trobat les sabates d'en Jaume Un forat a les soles, una pinta de bales Dins d'un plat enfangat, tres cascots de metralla
Des de l'any trenta-vuit Jo no havia tornat A la Serra de Pàndols I a la cova han quedat Les sabates d'en Jaume
Dins d'un plat enfangat, tres cascots de metralla A la cova han quedat les sabates d'en Jaume I els dies de l'oblit, si és que això mai s'oblida Veurem el cel vermell d'aquesta nova albada
A Pàndols i a Cavalls centenars de companys Després d'haver passat aquesta torbonada No s'han podrit en va i, aquest ossos, qui sap Si seran nous garbons que prendran arborada
Des de l'any trenta-vuit Jo no havia tornat A la Serra de Pàndols I a la cova han quedat Les sabates d'en Jaume
Today I returned to the Serra de Pàndols And in the cave, I found Jaume's shoes A hole in the soles, a clip of bullets Inside a mud-caked plate, three shrapnel fragments
Since the year '38 I had not returned To the Serra de Pàndols And in the cave remain Jaume's shoes
Inside a mud-caked plate, three shrapnel fragments In the cave remain Jaume's shoes And in the days of oblivion -if such a thing is ever forgotten- We shall see the red sky of this new dawn
At Pàndols and Cavalls, hundreds of comrades After having weathered that violent storm Did not rot in vain; and these bones -who knows? Perhaps they will be new saplings that grow into trees
Since the year '38 I had not returned To the Serra de Pàndols And in the cave remain Jaume's shoes
Today, The Grandma has been reading about JohnNewton, the English evangelical Anglican cleric who wrote the hymn Amazing Grace -a song that endures from generation to generation and has been translated and adapted into various languages.
On this day we remember the death of John Newton (1725–1807), a man whose life remains one of history's most extraordinary stories of moral transformation. His name may not be instantly familiar to everyone, yet the words he wrote have echoed across churches, concert halls, battlefields, and memorial services for more than two centuries.
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound, That saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found, Was blind, but now I see.
John Newton (24 July 1725-21 December 1807) was an English evangelical Anglican cleric and slavery abolitionist. He had previously been a captain of slave ships and an investor in the slave trade. Newton served as a sailor in the Royal Navy (after forced recruitment) and was himself enslaved for a time in West Africa. Newton is noted for being author of the hymns AmazingGrace and Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken.
Newton went to sea at a young age and worked on slave ships in the Atlantic slave trade for several years. In 1745, he became a slave of Princess Peye, a woman of the Sherbro people in what is now Sierra Leone. Newton was rescued, returned to sea and the trade, and captained several slave ships. After retiring from active sea-faring, he continued to invest in the slave trade. Some years after experiencing a conversion to Christianity during his rescue, Newton renounced his trade and became a prominent supporter of abolitionism. Now an evangelical, Newton was ordained as a Church of England cleric and served as parish priest at Olney, Buckinghamshire, for two decades and wrote hymns.
John Newton was born in Wapping, London, on 4 August 1725, the son of John Newton the Elder, a shipmaster in the Mediterranean service, and Elizabeth (née Scatliff). Elizabeth was the only daughter of Simon Scatliff, an instrument maker from London.
Newton lived to see the British Empire's abolition of the African slave trade in 1807, just months before his death.
Newton's life was filled with contradictions. He crossed the Atlantic as a sailor, endured hardship, commanded slave ships, experienced a profound spiritual awakening, became an Anglican clergyman, and eventually spoke publicly against the very trade that had once shaped his career. His journey was neither simple nor immediate, but it left behind one of the most enduring hymns ever written: Amazing Grace.
History often remembers John Newton for a single hymn. Yet reducing his life to Amazing Grace would be overlooking a far more remarkable story. His legacy is not that he was perfect, but that he dared to confront his own failures and spent the rest of his life trying to make amends. In an age that often demands flawless heroes or irredeemable villains, Newton reminds us that human beings are rarely so simple. His greatest achievement may not have been writing one of the world's most beloved hymns, but proving that genuine repentance can lead to meaningful change.
Some songs transcend the boundaries of language, culture, and even faith. They are sung in small country churches and magnificent cathedrals, at state funerals and private memorials, during moments of national grief and personal despair. Their melodies become so deeply woven into human memory that many people recognize them long before they know who wrote them. Amazing Grace is one of those extraordinary hymns.
Yet behind its timeless words stands a man whose life was anything but simple. John Newton was not born a saint, nor did history remember him as a flawless hero. He was a sailor, a slave trader, a survivor of storms, and eventually an Anglican clergyman whose profound sense of guilt shaped one of the most enduring expressions of hope ever written. His remarkable journey from the deck of slave ships to the pulpit of an English parish remains one of the most compelling stories of spiritual transformation in modern history.
Long after his ships had disappeared beneath the tides of history and his sermons had fallen silent, John Newton's voice continued to travel the world through a simple hymn. Sung by countless generations in moments of sorrow, gratitude, remembrance, and hope, Amazing Grace became far more than a religious song. It became a reminder that even in the darkest chapters of a human life, compassion and redemption may still find a way to speak.
To understand why Amazing Grace continues to move millions of people more than two centuries after it was first written, we must first understand the extraordinary life of the man who composed its unforgettable words.
Today, The Grandma has received the wonderful visit of Joseph of Ca'th Lon,who has left his beloved Switzerland to spend a few weeks with her. A major eclipse is scheduled for August 12th, and Joseph and The Grandma are preparing for the occasion.
As they waited for that day to arrive, while having breakfast and listening only to the sound of waves crashing against the rocks, the two friends have been talking about Eileen Collins, the American astronaut who became the first female space shuttle commander on this day in 1999.
When people think of the pioneers of space exploration, names like Neil Armstrong, Yuri Gagarin or John Glenn usually come to mind. Their achievements transformed humanity's understanding of what was possible beyond Earth. Yet the history of spaceflight is also shaped by individuals who broke barriers that were not technological, but social.
Among those pioneers stands Eileen Collins, a woman whose determination, skill and leadership changed the history of NASA forever. She became the first woman to pilot a Space Shuttle, the first woman to command one, and later led one of the most important missions in the agency's history: the return of the Shuttle fleet to flight after the tragic loss of Columbia.
Her career is about much more than collecting firsts. It is the story of someone who pursued excellence in one of the world's most demanding professions,proving that talent and perseverance matter far more than gender.
Today, every woman who flies military aircraft, commands spacecraft or dreams of exploring Mars walks through a door that pioneers like Eileen Collins helped to open.
Eileen Marie Collins was born on November 19, 1956, in Elmira, NewYork, a city with a rich aviation history. From an early age she became fascinated by airplanes and by the possibility of flying.
Unlike many astronauts of previous generations, Collins did not grow up during an era when women were encouraged to become pilots. Commercial aviation, military aviation and the astronaut corps were almost entirely male professions.
At that time, NASA had never selected a female astronaut. Many people would have accepted those limitations as reality. Collins did not.
Instead of allowing society's expectations to define her future, she focused on preparing herself. She studied mathematics and economics before continuing her education in operations research and space systems management. Every decision she made moved her one step closer to the cockpit.
She once explained that she never expected success to come easily. She simply believed that if she became good enough, opportunities would eventually appear. History proved her right.
The United States Air Force became one of the most important chapters of Collins' career. Military aviation demands exceptional discipline, precision and emotional control. Pilots must make life-changing decisions within seconds while operating extraordinarily complex aircraft.
For decades, women had been largely excluded from these opportunities. Collins entered military pilot training at a time when female pilots were still extremely rare. Rather than asking for special treatment, she focused on mastering every aspect of flying. Her professionalism earned the respect of fellow pilots and instructors alike. Eventually she accumulated thousands of flight hours across numerous aircraft and later became a respected flight instructor and test pilot. These experiences were crucial.
NASA's Space Shuttle was often described as one of the most complicated vehicles ever built. Flying it safely required exactly the kind of technical expertise and calm decision-making that Collins had spent years developing.
Everything changed in 1990. NASA selected Eileen Collins as an astronaut. Only twelve years earlier, in 1978, NASA had chosen its first class of female astronauts, including Sally Ride, Judith Resnik, Anna Fisher and Kathryn Sullivan.
Collins belonged to the generation that transformed those first breakthroughs into normal professional achievement. After years of demanding training, she qualified as a Shuttle pilot. Even then, another barrier remained. No woman had ever piloted the Shuttle. That would soon change.
In February 1995, Space Shuttle Discovery lifted off on mission STS-63. For Collins, it represented a personal milestone. She became the first woman ever to pilot a Space Shuttle. But the mission itself carried an even deeper historical significance. STS-63 marked the first close rendezvous between a Space Shuttle and the Russian space station Mir.
Only a few years earlier, such cooperation would have seemed unimaginable. During the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union had competed fiercely in the Space Race. The launch of Sputnik. Yuri Gagarin's first orbital flight. Apollo. The Moon landings. Each achievement symbolized national prestige. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, however, space exploration became an opportunity for cooperation rather than competition.
The Shuttle-Mir Program represented a remarkable political and scientific transformation. Instead of racing against one another, American astronauts and Russian cosmonauts began working together. STS-63 approached Mir to within only a few metres, rehearsing techniques that would later become essential for docking operations. Those experiences directly contributed to the construction of the International Space Station (ISS), one of the greatest examples of peaceful international cooperation ever achieved. Collins therefore became part of two historic moments simultaneously: the first woman to pilot a Shuttle, and one of the astronauts helping transform former Cold War rivals into scientific partners.
Her second mission, STS-84 in 1997, continued NASA's cooperation with Mir. The Shuttle docked successfully with the station, delivering supplies, scientific equipment and exchanging crew members. These missions taught NASA valuable lessons about long-duration human spaceflight. Engineers studied how astronauts adapted to months in orbit. Scientists investigated the effects of microgravity on the human body. Operational teams refined the procedures that would later become routine aboard the International Space Station. Every successful Shuttle-Mir mission became another building block toward humanity's permanent presence in space.
In July 1999, Collins made history again. She became the first woman ever to command a Space Shuttle during mission STS-93. Commanding a Shuttle was an enormous responsibility. The commander was responsible not only for flying the spacecraft but also for leading the crew and making critical decisions throughout the mission.
NASA entrusted Collins with launching the Chandra X-ray Observatory, one of the most powerful space telescopes ever built. Unlike optical telescopes such as Hubble, Chandra observes the universe through X-rays, allowing astronomers to study black holes, exploding stars, neutron stars and the hottest regions of the cosmos. Although the launch experienced unexpected technical problems shortly after liftoff, Collins remained calm. The mission continued successfully.
Chandra reached orbit and remains one of NASA's greatest scientific observatories, continuing to produce discoveries more than two decades later. Her leadership during STS-93 demonstrated exactly why NASA had chosen her. She was not simply making history because she was a woman. She was leading because she was exceptionally capable.
On February 1, 2003, Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated during re-entry, killing all seven astronauts aboard. The accident shocked the world. NASA grounded the Shuttle fleet while engineers investigated every aspect of the disaster. The investigation concluded that damage caused by insulating foam striking the Shuttle's wing during launch had allowed superheated gases to enter during re-entry. The tragedy forced NASA to rethink its safety culture. Procedures changed. Inspection techniques improved. Repair methods were developed. Every future mission would face unprecedented scrutiny. When the agency finally prepared to fly again, the choice of commander became enormously important. NASA selected Eileen Collins.
Mission STS-114, launched in July 2005, carried enormous expectations. Its objective extended far beyond scientific research. The mission needed to restore confidence in the Shuttle program itself. Collins led a crew responsible for testing new inspection procedures, evaluating repair techniques and delivering supplies to the International Space Station. Every stage of the mission was watched by millions around the world. The crew performed detailed inspections of the Shuttle while in orbit using new imaging technologies. For the first time, NASA carefully examined the spacecraft in space to identify any damage before returning home. STS-114 succeeded. The mission demonstrated that NASA had learned valuable lessons from Columbia. Although later missions continued improving safety procedures, Collins' flight marked the beginning of the Shuttle program's final successful decade. Few astronauts have carried greater responsibility.
People often describe Collins through the milestones she achieved. First female pilot. First female commander. Yet those achievements tell only part of the story. Her greatest contribution may have been her leadership style. Colleagues consistently described her as calm, prepared and deeply committed to teamwork. She believed that successful space missions depended on trust rather than individual heroics. Her example challenged outdated stereotypes without ever making confrontation her primary message. Instead, she allowed excellence to speak for itself. That approach earned respect throughout NASA.
Today, women serve as fighter pilots, airline captains, astronauts and commanders across the world. NASA's Artemis programme aims to land the first woman on the Moon. Female astronauts regularly command missions aboard the International Space Station. This progress did not happen automatically. Every generation has depended upon pioneers willing to enter environments where few people looked like them. Collins belongs among those pioneers. Her career demonstrated that leadership is defined by competence, preparation and integrity -not by gender. Young girls visiting air shows today can see women flying military aircraft. Students interested in engineering can imagine themselves designing spacecraft. Future astronauts no longer need to wonder whether women belong in space. That question has already been answered.
Space exploration has always represented humanity's desire to go further than previous generations believed possible. Sometimes those frontiers are physical. Sometimes they are social. Eileen Collins crossed both. She flew beyond Earth's atmosphere while simultaneously helping society move beyond outdated assumptions about who could lead the most complex missions ever attempted. The significance of her achievements extends well beyond NASA. They remind us that progress often depends on individuals willing to prepare for opportunities that do not yet exist.
When Collins began dreaming of becoming a pilot, there was no female Space Shuttle commander. When she entered military flight training, few believed women would one day command spacecraft. When she joined NASA, many barriers still remained. She overcame them all. Not through slogans. Not through publicity. But through discipline, professionalism and exceptional ability. Her story is ultimately not only about women in space. It is about human potential. It reminds us that history changes when talent is allowed to flourish, regardless of background.
As humanity prepares for new journeys -to the Moon, to Mars and beyond- the example of Eileen Collins continues to inspire a simple but powerful idea: The future belongs to those who dare to imagine themselves where no one like them has gone before.
We want to explore. We're curious people. Look back over history, people have put their lives at stake to go out and explore... We believe in what we're doing. Now it's time to go.
There I was in uniform Looking at the art teacher I was just a girl then; Never have I loved since then
He was not that much older than I was He had taken our class to the Metropolitan Museum He asked us what our favorite work of art was, But never could I tell it was him Oh, I wish I could tell him Oh, I wish I could have told him
I looked at the Rubens and Rembrandts I liked the John Singer Sargents He told me he liked Turner Never have I turned since then No, never have I turned to any other man
All this having been said, I married an executive company head All this having been done, a Turner -I own one Here I am in this uniformish, pant-suit sort of thing, Thinking of the art teacher I was just a girl then; Never have I loved since then No, never have I loved any other man
My parents were serious working musicians, but they were not stars -not like pop stars that you have now. They had to make a living and that meant touring, working hard, going on the road -and we were roped in.
Today, The Grandma has gone shopping in La Bordeta, a neighbourhood neighbouring Sants in Barcelona that is historic for many reasons -among them, being the point where the Camiño de Santiago crosses the Sants-Montjuïc district, following the historic route of the old Royal Road to Aragon.
Thinking of the Camiño de Santiago brings to mind Galician friends and an ancient culture that is fighting to keep its memory alive. Close your eyes and transport yourself to the lands of Galicia,evoking its music, its landscape, and, above all, its people.
Arguably, no one studies, elevates, and shares Galicianmusic better than Luar Na Lubre. Founded in A Coruña in 1986, Luar na Lubre is one of the most influential Celtic folk groups from Galicia. Their music combines traditional Galician instruments, such as the gaita (Galician bagpipes), with contemporary arrangements, helping to preserve and share Galicia's cultural identity with audiences across Europe and beyond.
Memoria da Noite (Memory of the Night) is one of the most beloved songs by the Galician folk band Luar na Lubre. Written by the Galician poet and lyricist Xosé María Abad, the song is a moving reflection on love, memory, and the enduring presence of those who are no longer with us. Rather than speaking of loss alone, it reminds us that memories can keep people alive in our hearts, especially during the quiet hours of the night.
Musically, the piece blends traditional Galician folk melodies with Celtic influences, creating an atmosphere that is both intimate and timeless. Luar na Lubre has played a crucial role in bringing the rich musical heritage of Galicia to audiences around the world, and Memoria da Noite has become one of the band's signature songs.
The song speaks a universal emotional language. Even listeners who do not understand Galician often connect deeply with its melody and its sense of longing, hope, and remembrance. It is a beautiful example of how music can cross linguistic and cultural boundaries, carrying emotions that need no translation. Some songs are not simply heard -they are remembered. Memoria da Noite is one of those rare melodies that reminds us that love and memory can outlast time itself.
At dawn, a sleeping harbour becomes the setting for a story of love, loss and remembrance. The sea, once a source of life, turns into a place of grief after tragedy strikes. Empty fishing nets, silent boats and the absence of seagulls paint a landscape of devastation.
The song denounces those who try to hide the truth or reduce human suffering to money and empty excuses. Yet it ultimately becomes a declaration of resilience. Memory refuses to fade, and the community vows never to accept humiliation or forget what happened. The final words, Nunca Máis (Never Again), transform personal sorrow into a collective promise to protect both the people and the sea from such disasters in the future.
Some songs belong to an artist. Others belong to a people. Memoria da Noite became the voice of a community that refused to forget, proving that music can preserve memory long after the waves have fallen silent. When words are no longer enough, music remembers. And sometimes, memory becomes the strongest form of hope.
Madrugada, o porto adormeceu, amor A lúa abanea sobre as ondas Piso espellos antes de que saia o sol Na noite gardei a túa memoria
Perderei outra vez a vida Cando rompa a luz nos cons Perderei o día que aprendín a bicar Palabras dos teus ollos sobre o mar Perderei o día que aprendín a bicar Palabras dos teus ollos sobre o mar
Veu o loito antes de vir o rumor Levouno a marea baixo a sombra Barcos negros sulcan a mañá sen voz As redes baleiras, sen gaivotas
E dirán, contarán mentiras Para ofrecerllas ao Patrón: Quererán pechar cunhas moedas, quizais Os teus ollos abertos sobre o mar Quererán pechar cunhas moedas, quizais Os teus ollos abertos sobre o mar
Madrugada, o porto despertou, amor O reloxo do bar quedou varado Na costeira muda da desolación Non imos esquecer, nin perdoalo
Volverei, volverei á vida Cando rompa a luz nos cons Porque nós arrancamos todo o orgullo do mar Non nos afundiremos nunca máis Que na túa memoria xa non hai volta atrás: Non nos humillaredes NUNCA MÁIS
Today, The Grandma has been preparing for the big chess tournament starting in Sitges this week. She loves chess and everything surrounding it; that is why a day like today -InternationalChess Day- is very important to her.
International Chess Day is annually celebrated on 20 July, the day the International Chess Federation (FIDE) was founded in 1924.
International Chess Day is celebrated every year; the reason behind its celebration is to commemorate the formation of FIDE, the globally recognized governing body of chess. The idea to celebrate the International Day of Chess was first proposed by UNESCO, and it has been celebrated as such since 1966 after it was established by FIDE.
In 2013, International Chess Day was celebrated in 178 countries according to Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, the then President of FIDE.
On 12 December 2019, the UN General Assembly unanimously approved a resolution recognizing the day.
The United Nations refers to the observance as World Chess Day. According to the UN, the day serves as a platform to promote dialogue, solidarity, and a culture of peace, including education, gender equality, and social inclusion.
On 20 July 2026, Chess.com released a new flair for everyone who logged in on that day. They also held a special service that would renew your highest streak on that day.
Chess is a board game for two players, played on a square board consisting of 64 squares arranged in an 8×8 grid. The players, referred to as White and Black, each control sixteen pieces: one king, one queen, two rooks, two bishops, two knights, and eight pawns, with each piece type having a different pattern of movement. An enemy piece may be captured (removed from the board) by moving one's own piece onto the square it occupies. The object of the game is to checkmate (threaten with inescapable capture) the enemy king. There are also several ways a game can end in a draw.
The recorded history of chess dates back to the emergence of chaturanga in 7th-century India. Chaturanga is also thought to be an ancestor of similar games like janggi, xiangqi, and shogi. After its introduction to Persia, it spread to the Arab world and then to Europe. The modern rules of chess emerged in Europe at the end of the 15th century, becoming standardized and gaining universal acceptance by the end of the 19th century. Today, chess is one of the world's most popular games, with millions of players worldwide.
Organized chess arose in the 19th century. International chess competitions today are governed by the International Chess Federation FIDE (Fédération Internationale des Échecs).
The first universally recognized World Chess Champion, Wilhelm Steinitz, claimed his title in 1886.
A large body of chess theory has developed since the game's inception. Aspects of art are found in chess composition, and chess has in turn influenced Western culture and the arts, and has relevance to other fields such as mathematics, computer science, and psychology. One of the goals of early computer scientists was to create a chess-playing machine.
In 1997, Deep Blue became the first computer to win a match against a reigning World Champion when it defeated Garry Kasparov. Modern chess engines are significantly stronger than human players and have greatly influenced the development of chess theory. Chess, however, is not a solved game.
It has been another sweltering night, so TheGrandma has got up early and has headed to the Port of Barcelona -where Claire Fontaine was waiting for her- to board her small boat, and after slathering on sunscreen, they have sailed 25 nautical miles (about 46 km) to Sitges -that fascinating town in the Garraf county- intending to spend the day enjoying its beaches, cuisine, beauty and its indiano mansions, which recall the history of Catalans overseas.
Tomorrow morning, TheGrandma has to work in Castelldefels, so they will set off on the return journey early. They will stop at Port Ginesta, and while The Grandma attends her training session, Claire will enjoy the beaches of the neighbouring town -this time, in the Baix Llobregat area, before returning to Barcelona.
During the trip, they have enjoyed the stunning spectacle of the Barcelonacoastline as seen from the sea and they have been accompanied by some very special travel companions: dozens of jellyfish. Taking advantage of the high temperatures and sea currents, these creatures have been appearing in large numbers recently along the beaches of el Barcelonès, el Baix Llobregat, and el Garraf areas.
Every summer, thousands of people visiting the Mediterranean coast are surprised -or alarmed- by the appearance of jellyfish drifting close to the shore. Beaches may be temporarily closed, warning flags raised, and swimmers advised to stay out of the water. Yet jellyfish are not newcomers to the Mediterranean. They have inhabited these waters for millions of years and play an important role in marine ecosystems.
So why do they suddenly appear in such large numbers along our beaches? Are there really more jellyfish than in the past, or are we simply noticing them more? The answer lies in a fascinating combination of ocean currents, weather conditions, marine ecology, climate change, and human activity.
Jellyfish are among the oldest animals on Earth. Their ancestors appeared more than 500 million years ago, long before dinosaurs walked the planet. Despite their simple appearance, jellyfish are highly successful marine organisms that have survived multiple mass extinctions.
The Mediterranean Sea hosts dozens of jellyfish species, although only a handful are commonly encountered by beachgoers. Along the Catalan coast and much of the western Mediterranean, the most familiar species include the mauve stinger (Pelagia noctiluca), the fried-egg jellyfish (Cotylorhizatuberculata), the barrel jellyfish (Rhizostoma pulmo), and the compassjellyfish (Chrysaora hysoscella). Each species has different habits, preferred temperatures, and ecological roles. Some possess powerful stings, while others are almost harmless to humans.
To understand why jellyfish suddenly appear in large numbers, it is important to understand their life cycle. Most jellyfish alternate between two completely different forms. One stage is a tiny polyp attached to rocks, harbour walls, shells, or other hard surfaces. The other is the familiar free-swimming jellyfish, known as the medusa.
When environmental conditions become favourable -particularly water temperature and food availability- the polyps reproduce, releasing many young jellyfish into the sea. Within weeks or months, these tiny organisms grow into adult jellyfish capable of reproducing themselves. This means that what people observe on beaches is only the final stage of a much longer biological process that has often begun months earlier.
Jellyfish are surprisingly poor swimmers. Although they can pulsate their umbrella-shaped bodies to move vertically or make small adjustments, theycannot swim against strong currents. In practice, they are largely transported by the sea itself.
The Mediterranean is a dynamic environment where surface currents constantly move water masses across large distances. These currents can carry jellyfish dozens or even hundreds of kilometres from where they originated.
Along the Catalan coast, prevailing winds often determine whether jellyfish remain offshore or are pushed towards beaches. When persistent onshore winds blow for several days, surface waters carrying jellyfish gradually move landward. As a result, beaches that were completely free of jellyfish one day may experience large numbers only a few days later. Conversely, offshore winds may quickly remove them from coastal waters.
Weather conditions also play an important role. Strong storms may break up offshore jellyfish aggregations and redistribute them across coastal waters. Changes in atmospheric pressure, wave action, and wind direction can all influence where jellyfish eventually appear. Interestingly, many large beach strandings occur after periods of calm weather followed by changing winds. This explains why jellyfish appearances can seem unpredictable even though they often follow well-understood oceanographic processes.
Climate change is one of the factors receiving the greatest scientific attention. The Mediterranean is warming faster than many other seas around the world. Sea surface temperatures have increased significantly during recent decades, and marine heatwaves are becoming increasingly frequent.
Warmer waters can benefit certain jellyfish species in several ways:
-Longer reproductive seasons.
-Faster growth rates.
-Higher survival of juvenile stages.
-Expansion into areas that were previously too cold.
However, scientists emphasize that climate change alone does not explain every jellyfish bloom. It is one contributing factor among several interacting processes.
Jellyfish feed mainly on zooplankton, fish eggs, fish larvae, and tiny crustaceans. When plankton populations increase, jellyfish have abundant food available, allowing them to grow rapidly and reproduce successfully. Nutrient-rich waters -sometimes enriched by river runoff or human activities- can stimulate plankton growth, indirectly benefiting jellyfish populations. This ecological chain illustrates how changes at the microscopic level may eventually become visible to beach visitors.
Another important factor may be overfishing. Many commercial fish species consume plankton or compete directly with jellyfish for food. Others prey on juvenile jellyfish. When fish populations decline due to intensive fishing, competition decreases and jellyfish may gain an ecological advantage. Although the relationship is complex and varies between regions, many marine biologists consider overfishing one of the possible drivers behind increasing jellyfish bloomsin some Mediterranean areas.
Modern coastlines contain many artificial structures such as marinas, breakwaters, piers, and harbour walls. These hard surfaces provide ideal places for jellyfish polyps to attach and reproduce. As coastal development expands, the number of suitable habitats for polyps also increases. This hidden stage of the life cycle often goes unnoticed because polyps measure only a few millimetres and resemble tiny sea anemones.
No two summers are exactly alike. A year with abundant jellyfish usually results from several favourable conditions occurring simultaneously:
-Successful reproduction during spring.
-Warm sea temperatures.
-Plenty of plankton.
-Persistent winds carrying jellyfish towards the coast.
-Ocean currents concentrating them near beaches.
If one or more of these factors are absent, jellyfish numbers may remain relatively low. This is why one summer may experience widespread blooms while the following year has very few jellyfish despite similar temperatures.
This remains one of marine biology's most debated questions: Are jellyfish increasing?
Some long-term studies suggest that jellyfish blooms have become more frequent in certain regions of the Mediterranean. Other researchers argue that natural population cycles have always existed and that improved monitoring, satellite observations, and increased public reporting make blooms appear more common than they once seemed. Most scientists agree on one point: local increases are real, but there is no universal trend affecting every part of the world's oceans equally.
Despite their reputation, jellyfish are valuable members of marine ecosystems. They serve as food for loggerhead sea turtles, ocean sunfish, some seabirds, and numerous fish species. Young fish often shelter among their tentacles for protection from predators. When jellyfish die, their bodies sink to the seabed, transporting organic matter that supports deep-sea communities. Rather than being merely a nuisance for swimmers, jellyfish contribute to the health and complexity of marine food webs.
Complete elimination of jellyfish from Mediterranean beaches is neither possible nor desirable. Instead, scientists focus on monitoring environmental conditions and predicting blooms using satellite observations, oceanographic models, weather forecasts, and citizen science initiatives.
In Catalonia, organizations monitor jellyfish throughout the bathing season, helping local authorities provide timely information to the public. By understanding how currents, winds, climate, ecosystems, and human activities interact, we gain a clearer picture of why jellyfish appear on our shores.
Far from being mysterious invaders, jellyfish are natural inhabitants of the Mediterranean, carried by the sea and responding to environmental changes. Their seasonal arrival reminds us that even seemingly simple marine creatures are part of an intricate ecological system whose balance increasingly depends on how humans care for the oceans.
A jellyfish, if you watch it long enough, begins to look like a heart beating. It doesn't matter what kind... like a ghost heart -a heart you can see right through, right into some other world.
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