Here’s how easy (and cheap) gadget repair can be.

this halloween you Ghosts, zombies, or werewolves may come to mind, but the real phenomenon is probably scarier than these mythical creatures: cracked iPhones.

A tragedy like this can end in an expensive visit to the Genius Bar at the mercy of Apple engineers. Thankfully, the new bill could completely change the way smartphones, laptops, and other personal devices are repaired. It may be easier with

Ch-ch-change — In June of this year, the New York legislature passed the country’s first Right to Repair bill. Businesses selling “digital electronic products” in the state must make parts, tools, and instructions available to consumers and independent stores.

“For independent repair shops, this news is huge. Independent repair shops will finally be able to compete with manufacturers, and by restricting access to parts and tools, they will be able to take advantage of the repair market that manufacturers have created. You’ll be able to resist integration,” repair resource website iFixit wrote in a blog post.

Consumers can also benefit from lower prices for parts and services.

Other states have passed less comprehensive right-to-repair laws. For example, the 2020 Massachusetts law only applies to car data, and the 2022 Colorado law covers wheelchair repairs.

Honey, I reduced the bill— An early draft of the New York bill covered all sorts of technology, including game consoles, microwave ovens and lawn mowers, according to a recent report by . Albany Times UnionBut lobbying from industry groups and businesses put pressure on lawmakers to limit the bill to exclude lawn mowers, microwave ovens and other appliances.

Going forward, the bill still required the signature of Gov. Kathy Hochul, and she could always say no. But if it’s approved, New York will become a role model for the nation and give more Americans a say in the often-broken gizmo.

Learn more about billing here.

on the horizon…

Plastic straws are often soggy and disappointing, but fans of iced beverages needn’t worry. One day we may make them out of wood-based plastic alternatives that have unique effects on your drink of choice.

This futuristic material is as flexible, moldable and see-through as traditional petroleum plastics. But rather than being derived from fossil fuels, which exacerbate climate change, they are mostly made of wood.

Recent reviews published in Comprehensive Environmental Science suggests that transparent wood has great potential to reduce carbon emissions.

Researchers have found that wood-based materials are up to 10 million times more sustainable than polyethylene, the world’s most widely produced plastic. They also evaluated five different manufacturing techniques for clear wood to determine which was the most environmentally friendly.

Of all the methods they evaluated, the scientists found that dissolving the lignin in an alkaline solution and replacing it with epoxy proved to be the most environmentally friendly from start to finish.

As more and more researchers explore the potential of transparent wood, “it’s only a matter of time before we see real applications,” says Peter, an organic chemist at the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden. Olsen says t is involved in new research.

For more information, read the full article.

Here’s what we read…

• Scientists say they can decipher thoughts from brain scans. the scientist break it down
• Adding solar capacity in Europe costs one-tenth as much as keeping a gas-fired power plant running. The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has led to skyrocketing gas prices, but increased investment in solar could ease the transition, he said. pv magazine.
• Newly discovered compounds may be able to treat antibiotic-resistant MRSA bacteria. Cytec Daily has details.
• A new stretchy battery package keeps out moisture and gas. Scientists have long tried to develop flexible batteries to make wearables more practical, according to a press release.
• Online age verification systems for adult content in Australia can expose people’s sensitive data. Guardian Let’s see.