Second Life

Used electric vehicle batteries could be given a second life as large-scale storage, helping Europe hold on to the solar and wind power that is currently wasted when supply exceeds demand. Reporting describes the retired batteries as 'a gold mine' for the energy transition, since they can store cheap renewable electricity and release it when the grid needs it, easing curtailment and supporting Europe's shift away from fossil fuels.

Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao, who left school as a child to help support his family in the Philippines, has been awarded an honorary doctorate, capping a long personal pursuit of education alongside his fighting career. The story highlights how the former multi-division world champion and senator continued studying later in life, and it is being shared as an inspirational example of perseverance and second chances.

Hacksmith Industries has released episode 2 of a series documenting its effort to build working Batmobile gadgets inspired by the Batman films. The video shows the Canadian engineering group developing functional versions of the fictional car's equipment. It has drawn close to 440,000 likes, with viewers praising the team's mix of practical engineering and pop-culture fan service.

A woman pregnant with her first child at 44 says Anne Hathaway's 'buzzer beater' analogy for later-in-life pregnancy resonated with her. The actress described having children in her thirties as a last-second shot, a framing that has struck a chord with women starting families at older ages and prompted wider conversation about the pressures and timing of motherhood.

Volunteers are taking apart firearms and forging the metal into garden tools and works of art, turning instruments of violence into objects of everyday use and beauty. The initiative gives decommissioned weapons a second life while drawing attention to gun violence and how communities can respond to it creatively.

WVU Medicine in West Virginia has held its second annual luncheon bringing together survivors of ECMO treatment, a life-support therapy used for patients with severe heart and lung failure. The event reunites former patients with the medical teams who cared for them and highlights the hospital system's growing ECMO program.

Euronews reports on proposals to give retired electric vehicle batteries a second life as stationary storage across Europe. Repurposed packs could soak up surplus solar and wind power that is currently curtailed and release it when generation drops, reducing waste and supporting the EU's energy transition. Commenters in energy and climate circles are sharing the piece as an example of turning a growing battery waste problem into grid infrastructure.

Brighton-based design studio Gomi is transforming discarded Barbie dolls and other plastic waste into colourful tech products such as speakers and chargers. The studio melts down non-recyclable plastics to create marbled, one-of-a-kind designs, drawing attention for showing how toy waste and hard-to-recycle plastics can be given a second life as consumer gadgets.

Engadget has published a guide listing ten practical ways to repurpose an old Android phone instead of throwing it away. The piece offers ideas for giving ageing devices a second life, from everyday utilities to recycling, and is aimed at Android users wondering what to do with handsets left in drawers after upgrades.

The Delaware Council of Wildlife Rehabilitators is being featured for its work rescuing and rehabilitating injured and orphaned wild animals before releasing them back into their natural habitats. The organization's volunteers and rehabilitators care for a range of native species, offering the animals what the group describes as a second chance at life in the wild.

A Japanese golfer is documenting a solo golf trip across Hokkaido, playing North Valley Country Club as part of a journey aiming for Cape Soya, Japan's northernmost point. The round report highlights solo-booking golf, senior players and second-life golf travel, with stops around places like Obira and Maruseppu.

An open-source enthusiast has given a 13-year-old router a second life, upgrading its RAM and storage chip, adding I2C and GPIO ports, and building a screen and buttons into the lid. The device runs a custom-compiled OpenWrt system with cross-compiled Raspberry Pi and Arduino code, and reportedly works. The project is drawing attention as an example of how open-source software can extend the life of old hardware well beyond its intended lifespan.

The Emmabuntüs collective is being highlighted in a new article by Good Tech, which covers its work on Linux accessibility, computer refurbishment and digital inclusion, including projects in Togo. The team thanked the outlet for the coverage, and the piece is drawing attention to the volunteer project's efforts to give old hardware a second life with a beginner-friendly Linux distribution.

A tinkerer has documented how to convert a DirecTV HR54-700 satellite receiver into a standalone media server running Jellyfin, giving the unused hardware a second life for home streaming. The write-up is drawing attention among home theater and cord-cutting communities interested in reusing old set-top boxes instead of discarding them.

A physicist has put forward a plan to repurpose a Cold War-era early warning radar system to monitor Arctic sea ice. The proposal suggests the aging military infrastructure could be given a second life as a scientific instrument, providing data on shrinking polar ice at a time when the Arctic is changing rapidly and satellite coverage has limits.

Apple TV has renewed its French drama series 'Carême' for a second season. The period drama, which chronicles the life of famed French chef Antonin Carême, has earned a follow-up order shortly after its debut. Details on the cast, release timing and storyline for the new season have not yet been announced, but the renewal signals Apple's continued investment in international, non-English-language original programming.

BMW's i3, the compact electric car with its unusual design and carbon-fibre body, is winning a devoted second life on the used-car market. Once discontinued, the hatchback is now prized by budget-conscious EV buyers who value its light weight, rear-wheel drive and city-friendly size, giving it a cult status among second-hand electric vehicles.

Cleveland is converting two former landfills into new energy facilities, giving the closed sites a second life as sources of power for the city. Local coverage highlights the projects as part of broader efforts to reuse brownfield land and expand clean energy capacity in northeast Ohio.

Democratic Rep. LaMonica McIver of New Jersey has given birth to her second child, according to The 19th News. The announcement makes her one of relatively few members of Congress to have a baby while serving in office, drawing attention to the challenges parents face balancing family life and federal legislative duties.

A Minecraft Movie, the 2025 adaptation of the iconic Mojang video game, has arrived on Netflix and is drawing renewed attention from viewers. The film, which was a major box office draw earlier in the year, is finding a second wave of popularity through streaming, with audiences revisiting the blocky adventure and clips circulating widely online.