Cinemas have begun playing a short video ahead of A Minecraft Movie screenings, asking viewers to refrain from hurling their popcorn everywhere, and to be kind and respectful to others. Read more

Landmark antitrust trial could force Zuckerberg to sell Instagram16 hours agoLily JamaliNorth America technology correspondent•@lilyjamaliReporting fromSan FranciscoReutersA trial in the landmark antitrust case against social media giant Meta kicks off in Washington on Monday.The US competition and consumer watchdog alleges that Meta, which already owned Facebook, bought Instagram in 2012 and WhatsApp in 2014 to eliminate competition, effectively giving itself a monopoly.The FTC reviewed and approved those acquisitions but committed to monitor the outcomes. If the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) wins the case it could force Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to sell off both Instagram and WhatsApp.Meta previously said it was sure it would win and experts have told the BBC it is likely to argue that Instagram users have had a better experience since it was taken over."The [FTC's] argument is the acquisition of Instagram was a way of neutralizing this rising competitive threat to Facebook," says Rebecca Haw Allensworth, a professor of antitrust at Vanderbilt Law School.Ms Allensworth says Mr Zuckerberg's own words, including those from his emails, may offer the most convincing evidence at trial."He said it's better to buy than to compete. It's hard to get more literal than that," Ms Allensworth says.Meta, on the other hand, is likely to argue that intent is not particularly relevant in an antitrust case."They're going to say the real question is: are consumers better off as a result of this merger?," she said. "They'll put on a lot of evidence that Instagram became what it is today because it benefited from being owned by Facebook."Mr Zuckerberg and the company's former chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg are both expected to testify at the trial, which could run for several weeks.Shifting politicsThe case, FTC v Meta, was filed during US President Donald Trump's first administration but risks becoming politicized during his second term.Mr Zuckerberg has lobbied Trump in person to have the FTC drop the case, according to the Wall Street Journal.When asked by the BBC to confirm that report, Meta sidestepped the question but said in a statement: "The FTC's lawsuits against Meta defies reality.""More than 10 years after the FTC reviewed and cleared our acquisitions, the commission's action in this case sends the message that no deal is ever truly final," a Meta spokesperson told the BBC.Relations between Mr Zuckerberg and Trump had been frosty partly because Trump was barred from Meta's social media platforms after the US Capitol riot in January 2021.Since then, the relationship has thawed somewhat.Meta contributed $1m (£764,400) to Trump's inaugural fund, and in January announced Ultimate Fighting Championship Fighter (UFC) boss Dana White, a close Trump ally, would join its board of directors.The company also announced in January that it was doing away with independent fact-checkers.'A very clear message'President Trump's move to fire two FTC commissioners in March also hangs over the case.As Democrats, Rebecca Kelly Slaughter and Alvaro Bedoya were in the minority on the five-seat commission.Until Wednesday, just two seats of those seats were filled, both by Republicans. Another Republican was confirmed by the Senate on Thursday.Slaughter and Bedoya - who are suing the Trump administration to be reinstated - say the move to push them out was meant to intimidate."The president sent a very clear signal not only to us but to Chairman Ferguson and Commissioner [Melissa] Holyoak that if they do something he doesn't like, he could fire them too," Slaughter told the BBC in a recent interview."So if they don't want to do a favor for his political allies, they're on the chopping block as well," Slaughter said.Slaughter and Bedoya both expressed alarm at recent reports about Zuckerberg's lobbying efforts. "My hope is that there is no political interference," Mr Bedoya told the BBC.ReutersThe FTC did not respond to a request for comment from the BBC.Ferguson, who was appointed as FTC chair by Trump, recently told The Verge he would "obey lawful orders" when asked what he would do if the president directed him to drop a lawsuit like the one against Meta. Ferguson added that he would be very surprised if anything like that ever happened.The FTC is considered a key antitrust watchdog. In recent years, it has returned hundreds of millions of dollars to victims of fraud, in addition to passing laws that ban junk fees and subscription traps.But as the Meta trial begins, it's among the many independent regulatory agencies that the administration seems keen to rein in.Chair Ferguson is also recently quoted reaffirming his belief that independent regulatory bodies are "not good for democracy."The FTC's 'uphill battle'FTC v Meta begins as another major antitrust case - USA v Google - enters what's known as the remedies phase.The Department of Justice won the first phase of that case last summer when Judge Amit Mehta found that Google holds a monopoly in online search, with a market share of around 90%.Last month, the DOJ reiterated a demand made during the Biden administration that a court break up Google's search monopoly.The FTC's case against Meta will be tougher to prove, says Laura Phillips-Sawyer, an associate professor of business law at the University of Georgia."I think they have a real uphill battle," Ms Phillips-Sawyer said of the FTC."They have a long road before any consideration of divestiture of Instagram or WhatsApp is considered."That's because compared to online search, there's more competition in the personal network services space that Meta operates in, Ms Phillips-Sawyer said.Meta in a statement said the evidence at trial "will show what every 17-year-old in the world knows: Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp compete with Chinese-owned TikTok, YouTube, X, iMessage and many others."Sign up for our Tech Decoded newsletter to follow the world's top tech stories and trends. Outside the UK? Sign up here.InstagramMark Zuckerberg

Image: Zion Grassl / Nintendo LifeThis week's update for the Nintendo Music mobile app adds the original Legend of Zelda soundtrack from the NES era. The update includes a total of 12 tracks with a runtime of nine minutes in total. You can listen to the iconic title theme, the overworld theme, and more. Here's the full list of tracks on offer in this latest update: The Legend of Zelda (NES) Title Theme Overworld Theme Puzzle Solved Important Item Acquired Underworld Theme Got a Triforce Fragment Recorder Melody Game Over Death Mountain Theme Ganon is Defeated Zelda is Saved Ending Theme Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube808kWatch on YouTube In addition to this, Nintendo has also added the Famicom Disk System soundtrack. This includes a total of 12 tracks with a runtime of 10 minutes: The Legend of Zelda (Famicom Disk System) Title Theme (Famicom Disk System) Overworld Theme (Famicom Disk System) Puzzle Solved (Famicom Disk System) Important Item Acquired (Famicom Disk System) Underworld Theme (Famicom Disk System) Got a Triforce Fragment (Famicom Disk System) Recorder Melody (Famicom Disk System) Game Over (Famicom Disk System) Death Mountain Theme (Famicom Disk System) Ganon is Defeated (Famicom Disk System) Zelda is Saved (Famicom Disk System) Ending Theme (Famicom Disk System) This follows on from the addition of the Luigi's Mansion soundtrack last week, which added a whopping 73 tracks. You can see the full list of Nintendo Music offerings in our guide here on Nintendo Life. A mobile music app exclusive to Switch Online members Luigi's Mansion was also recently confirmed for NSO Will you be revisiting this soundtrack on Nintendo Music? Let us know in the comments. Related Games See Also Share:0 2 Liam is a news writer and reviewer for Nintendo Life and Pure Xbox. He's been writing about games for more than 15 years and is a lifelong fan of Mario and Master Chief. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment... Related Articles Upgrade Pack Price For Zelda: BOTW And TOTK Has Been Confirmed A pleasant surprise! Switch 2 GameChat Choppy Frame Rate Explained By Nintendo It's about ensuring the "game experience" is at its best Zelda: BOTW Switch 2 Edition Won't Include The DLC, Nintendo Confirms "That DLC is available as a separate purchase" Video: Nintendo Today Gives Us Another Look At Zelda: Wind Waker For Switch Online The GameCube library is exclusive to Switch 2 ICYMI: Switch 2 'GameCube Controller Adapter' Compatibility Confirmed Good news for Smash and retro fans

Shared micromobility company Lime has reached an agreement to send batteries used in its scooters and e-bikes to Redwood Materials, which will extract and recycle critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, and copper. The agreement announced Monday makes Redwood Materials the exclusive battery recycling partner for Lime’s shared scooters and e-bikes located in cities throughout the United States, Germany, and the Netherlands. The agreement doesn’t cover every region in which Lime operates, a list that includes cities throughout Europe, Asia, and Australia. Lime has had other recycling partnerships in the past, notably with Sprout via its downstream vendors. However, this is the first time the shared micromobility company has had a direct relationship with a battery recycler in North America that will directly process material for recovery and return it to the supply chain. Redwood Materials, the Carson City, Nevada-based startup founded by former Tesla CFO JB Straubel, will recover materials from the batteries once they can no longer be used. Once recovered and recycled, the materials will be reintroduced in the battery manufacturing process. This closed-loop manufacturing system — which can reduce demand for mining and refining minerals — is at the heart of Redwood Materials’ business model. The effort also aligns with Lime’s own sustainability goals. Lime has a goal to decarbonize its business by 2030. The company has made progress in reducing Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions by 59.5% in five years from its 2019 baseline years. Lime plans to report its 2024 Carbon Emissions results in May. “This collaboration marks significant progress towards establishing a more circular supply chain, helping ensure our batteries are not only responsibly recycled once they reach their end of life, but that their materials are returned into the battery supply chain,” Andrew Savage, VP for Sustainability at Lime, said in a statement. Lime also has partnerships with Gomi in the U.K. and VoltR in France and other European countries to harvest these viable battery cells for “second life” applications, including for consumer electronics, such as portable speakers and battery packs, among other uses. Redwood Materials has agreements with other micromobility companies, including Lyft, Rad Power Bikes, and Specialized to recycle their e-bike and scooter batteries. Redwood, which has raised more than $2 billion in private funds, announced earlier this month it has opened an R&D center in San Francisco.

It's easy to think that disposable batteries are on the way out, but they're not. Americans -- myself included -- toss away over three billion batteries a year, totaling 180,000 tons of hazardous waste. Now thanks to developments in battery technology, rechargeable batteries can significantly reduce this e-waste pile.I tested and ranked the best rechargeable batteries of 2025 to help you get top-tier performance, longevity, and value from your batteries. Here are my top picks. What is the best rechargeable battery right now? So, when you need to stock up on batteries, we recommend getting one of our top picks. Our best overall rechargeable battery choice is the Panasonic Pro rechargeable battery due to its high capacity, variety of battery types, and excellent product quality.The following rechargeable batteries are all top-notch and available in AA and AAA models. Keep reading to discover our favorite rechargeable batteries, including affordable bulk packs and convenient USB charging options. Sort by All The best rechargeable batteries of 2025 Show less The Panasonic Eneloop Pro rechargeable battery pack is the perfect starter kit for those in need of rechargeable batteries. Not only are they some of the best batteries available on the market, but this kit comes with AA, AAA, as well as C and D cell batteries and a charger at a really good price. The AA and AAA rechargeable batteries are pre-charged at the factory using solar power and maintain up to 70% of their charge after 10 years when not in use.I've bought several of these kits over the years, and while the boxes have gone on to do something else, all the batteries are holding out strong after several years of use.The reviews for this battery pack are exactly as I'd expect -- lots of users are happy with the quality of these batteries.Panasonic Eneloop Pro features: 12 Eneloop AA rechargeable batteries | Two AAA Eneloop rechargeable batteries | Two C and D rechargeable batteries | CC17 advanced quick rechargeable battery charger | Convenient plastic battery storage case Pros Great selection of batteries High capacity Quality products Comes with a charger Cons Case can be bulky to store The Panasonic Eneloop Pro rechargeable battery pack is the perfect starter kit for those in need of rechargeable batteries. Not only are they some of the best batteries available on the market, but this kit comes with AA, AAA, as well as C and D cell batteries and a charger at a really good price. The AA and AAA rechargeable batteries are pre-charged at the factory using solar power and maintain up to 70% of their charge after 10 years when not in use.I've bought several of these kits over the years, and while the boxes have gone on to do something else, all the batteries are holding out strong after several years of use.The reviews for this battery pack are exactly as I'd expect -- lots of users are happy with the quality of these batteries.Panasonic Eneloop Pro features: 12 Eneloop AA rechargeable batteries | Two AAA Eneloop rechargeable batteries | Two C and D rechargeable batteries | CC17 advanced quick rechargeable battery charger | Convenient plastic battery storage case Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less The Panasonic Eneloop AAA and AA rechargeable batteries redefine the idea of disposable batteries. Quality products and engineering mean that these batteries are good for 2,100 recharge cycles. If you charged and discharged them daily, they'd easily last for six years. Another plus side is that after you've charged them, these batteries will hold 70% of their charge for 10 years when stored, which is a fantastic shelf life and means that you'll always have charged batteries ready to go.While I can't test the 10-year claim, I've had some of these batteries on the side for over a year, and they're still close to being fully charged, which is excellent.Amazon reviews for these batteries are also strong, with users happy with the capacity and longevity of their batteries.Panasonic Eneloop AAA and AA rechargeable batteries features:  4-pack AAA batteries | 4-pack AA batteries | Recharge up to 2,100 times | Maintain up to 70% of their charge after 10 years when not in use | Up to 800mAh type, 750mAh min, AAA Ni-MH batteries Pros Long life Can be stored in a charged state for years Cons Not cheap Will last for years The Panasonic Eneloop AAA and AA rechargeable batteries redefine the idea of disposable batteries. Quality products and engineering mean that these batteries are good for 2,100 recharge cycles. If you charged and discharged them daily, they'd easily last for six years. Another plus side is that after you've charged them, these batteries will hold 70% of their charge for 10 years when stored, which is a fantastic shelf life and means that you'll always have charged batteries ready to go.While I can't test the 10-year claim, I've had some of these batteries on the side for over a year, and they're still close to being fully charged, which is excellent.Amazon reviews for these batteries are also strong, with users happy with the capacity and longevity of their batteries.Panasonic Eneloop AAA and AA rechargeable batteries features:  4-pack AAA batteries | 4-pack AA batteries | Recharge up to 2,100 times | Maintain up to 70% of their charge after 10 years when not in use | Up to 800mAh type, 750mAh min, AAA Ni-MH batteries Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less View now at Amazon The AA is the most commonly used battery size, and these batteries can be found in everything, from computer mice to pocket flashlights. If you need to have any size of battery, this is the one!This 24-pack of batteries is perfect for those wanting to stockpile rechargeable batteries on a budget. You can charge them up, stick them in the cupboard, and have batteries ready to go at a moment's notice as they should retain some 80% of their charge for a couple of years. I've used a lot of these and they're good quality and offer fantastic value for money. They'll have paid for themselves in no time at all.Reviews for these batteries are good, but there does seem to be a concern that they are very slightly bigger than regular AA batteries and this can be a problem in some devices with tight tolerances. I've not experienced this issue at all so cannot comment, and the sizes of the ones I've tested seem to be very close to the standard.Amazon Basics rechargeable AA batteries features: 24-pack of pre-charged AA rechargeable NiMH batteries (2,000 mAh) | Can be recharged up to 1,000 times with minimal power loss, provides consistent discharge performance, but requires separate battery charger | Maintains 80% capacity for two years | Has a shelf-life up to five years for everyday or emergency use Pros Cheap 5-year shelf life Cons Some users say that they can be slightly bigger than standard AA so this might sometimes be a problem The AA is the most commonly used battery size, and these batteries can be found in everything, from computer mice to pocket flashlights. If you need to have any size of battery, this is the one!This 24-pack of batteries is perfect for those wanting to stockpile rechargeable batteries on a budget. You can charge them up, stick them in the cupboard, and have batteries ready to go at a moment's notice as they should retain some 80% of their charge for a couple of years. I've used a lot of these and they're good quality and offer fantastic value for money. They'll have paid for themselves in no time at all.Reviews for these batteries are good, but there does seem to be a concern that they are very slightly bigger than regular AA batteries and this can be a problem in some devices with tight tolerances. I've not experienced this issue at all so cannot comment, and the sizes of the ones I've tested seem to be very close to the standard.Amazon Basics rechargeable AA batteries features: 24-pack of pre-charged AA rechargeable NiMH batteries (2,000 mAh) | Can be recharged up to 1,000 times with minimal power loss, provides consistent discharge performance, but requires separate battery charger | Maintains 80% capacity for two years | Has a shelf-life up to five years for everyday or emergency use Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less View now at Amazon As our gadgets get smaller, so do the batteries, and since AAA is the second most common battery size, it makes sense to have a few on the shelf ready to go.This 16-pack of AAA batteries from Amazon is an affordable way to build a stockpile of rechargeable batteries. Like the AA option above, they're good quality, store their charge well, and offer fantastic value for money.The reviews for these are strong, as I would expect.Amazon Basics rechargeable AAA batteries features: 16-pack AAA rechargeable performance-capacity batteries, 800 mAh | Can be recharged up to 1,000 times | Maintains 80% capacity for 24 months Pros Cheap 5-year shelf life Cons Need to purchase battery charger separately As our gadgets get smaller, so do the batteries, and since AAA is the second most common battery size, it makes sense to have a few on the shelf ready to go.This 16-pack of AAA batteries from Amazon is an affordable way to build a stockpile of rechargeable batteries. Like the AA option above, they're good quality, store their charge well, and offer fantastic value for money.The reviews for these are strong, as I would expect.Amazon Basics rechargeable AAA batteries features: 16-pack AAA rechargeable performance-capacity batteries, 800 mAh | Can be recharged up to 1,000 times | Maintains 80% capacity for 24 months Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less While D-cell batteries aren't as common as they used to be. I remember every Christmas morning, there would be some toy that would need about a dozen of them! If you need them now, then using rechargeable batteries makes sense given their size and cost.These batteries have a built-in USB-C port, allowing them to be recharged from any USB port and making them super convenient. You just have to plug them in, leave them to charge, and in a couple of hours you come back to fully charged batteries.These are ideal for powering toys, radios, flashlights, and anything else that draws its power from D-cell batteries.User reviews for these batteries are good, with most users being happy with the quality and capacity.Lankoo Lithium Ion D rechargeable batteries features: Two D Batteries 1.5V | 12,000mWh capacity | Charged in four hours | Constant 1.5v output | Can be recharged 1,200+ times | Built-in integrated safety circuit protects the battery from over-discharge/overcharge Pros Convenient to recharge Very lightweight Cons Doesn't last as long as high-capacity alkaline batteries While D-cell batteries aren't as common as they used to be. I remember every Christmas morning, there would be some toy that would need about a dozen of them! If you need them now, then using rechargeable batteries makes sense given their size and cost.These batteries have a built-in USB-C port, allowing them to be recharged from any USB port and making them super convenient. You just have to plug them in, leave them to charge, and in a couple of hours you come back to fully charged batteries.These are ideal for powering toys, radios, flashlights, and anything else that draws its power from D-cell batteries.User reviews for these batteries are good, with most users being happy with the quality and capacity.Lankoo Lithium Ion D rechargeable batteries features: Two D Batteries 1.5V | 12,000mWh capacity | Charged in four hours | Constant 1.5v output | Can be recharged 1,200+ times | Built-in integrated safety circuit protects the battery from over-discharge/overcharge Read More Show Expert Take Show less What are the tariffs in the U.S.?The recent U.S. tariffs on imports from countries like China, Vietnam, and India aim to boost domestic manufacturing but are likely to drive up prices on consumer electronics. Products like smartphones, laptops, and TVs may become more expensive as companies rethink global supply chains and weigh the cost of shifting production.Headphones, accessories, and wearable devices, which are predominantly manufactured in these regions, are now subject to tariffs as high as 54% on Chinese imports and 46% on Vietnamese goods. As a result, consumers may see price increases of approximately 20% on these items. Manufacturers are exploring options like relocating production to countries with lower tariffs, but such shifts are complex and may not provide immediate relief. In the short term, shoppers should anticipate higher costs for headphones and wearables due to these trade policies.Right now, it looks like some tech may be exempt from the issued tariffs, but since it's always changing and developing, we are keeping an eye on it and will update you on the latest.Also: Tariff exemptions for electronics offer a break for tech - but not for long  Which are the best rechargeable batteries? I've been using Panasonic Eneloop and Amazon Basics batteries extensively over the past few years and found them to be excellent. They last for years, hold a decent amount of charge, and have proven themselves to be safe and reliable.I also purchased a couple of sets of the Lankoo D cell batteries for testing and found that they worked great. They passed all my testing for capacity, current, and safety.This chart will help you pick the right rechargeable batteries for you. Best rechargeable batteriesCostBattery Type Charger IncludedPanasonic Eneloop Super Power Pack$5812 AA, four AAA, two C and DYesPanasonic Eneloop AAA and AA rechargeable batteries$30Four AAA and four AA NoAmazon Basics 24-pack rechargeable AA Ni-MH batteries$2524 AANoAmazon Basics 16-pack rechargeable AAA Ni-MH batteries$1316 AAANoLankoo D cell USB and Type-C rechargeable batteries$13Two DNo*Lowest price at the time of writing. Please note that prices may vary based on retailer and available promotions, sales, or discounts. Show more Which rechargeable batteries are right for you? Depends on what you need. Do you want a starter pack because you're starting out replacing your throw-away batteries with rechargeable, or are you someone who wants to buy some bulk batteries? Do you want the very best brand out there, or are you happy with a more budget buy?Choose this rechargeable batteryIf you need…Panasonic Eneloop Super Power PackA starter kit that includes rechargeable batteries and a charger. This is the perfect kit for those serious about putting disposable batteries into their past.Panasonic Eneloop AAA and AA rechargeable batteriesA good selection of AA and AAA rechargeable batteries. This is perfect for those who want a small starter selection of batteries or want to add to their current collection.Amazon Basics 24-pack rechargeable AA Ni-MH batteriesA bulk pack of AA rechargeable batteries that won't break the bank. AA batteries are everywhere, and this is a budget way to replace them.Amazon Basics 16-pack rechargeable AAA Ni-MH batteriesA budget bulk pack of AAA rechargeable batteries. AAA batteries aren't as common, but if you need them, here's the kit you need.Lankoo D Cell Batteries USB and Type-C Rechargeable Lithium Ion D BatteriesLithium Ion D rechargeable batteries that don't need a separate charger. These are super convenient for use in toys or flashlights. Show more Factors to consider when choosing rechargeable batteries There's not an awful lot to rechargeable batteries. But still, here are some things to take into consideration before buying some:Which ones do you need? The most common battery in use nowadays is the AA, with the AAA coming in second place. How many? No point buying a dozen of each size if you only need two AA for a remote control. Similarly, if you need a good selection then a starter pack might be the way to go.Which charger do you need? If you have a lot of batteries to shuffle then you might need an all-singing, all dancing charger that takes multiple batteries. But if you only have a few batteries in use, you might be able to get away with a more basic unit.How much do you want to spend? Set a budget and stick to it. You can always buy more batteries down the line at a later date. Show more How did we choose and test these rechargeable batteries? I've been testing and using rechargeable batteries for many years, some great, a lot of junk. Over that time, I've narrowed down the field to the batteries and chargers that offer the best performance. Here's what I look for:Longevity: I need them to last dozens of recharge cycles over many months. Performance: I want batteries that give decent performance with each recharge, as I don't want to be swapping the batteries in my TV remote control every few weeks. I test the capacity of batteries both with real-world usage and benchmark drain tests using a variety of loads.Value for money: Sometimes, it works out much cheaper to buy a big pack of batteries than it is to buy them in packs of two or four. In this list, we've included the packs that offer the best bang for your buck.Good shelf life: Most people charge up a rechargeable and store it in a box until needed. I demand that rechargeable batteries can hold at least 80% of their charge capacity for a year.Safety: During tests, I check the batteries' temperature both during recharging and under heavy load to ensure they remain safe. Show more FAQ's on rechargeable batteries What does the mAh number mean? mAh stands for milliampere-hour, a unit of electric charge commonly used to describe the capacity of batteries. It is a measure of how much electric charge a battery can store and deliver over time.The mAh rating indicates the total amount of energy a battery can deliver at a constant rate over a period of one hour. For instance, a battery with a capacity of 1,000 mAh can deliver 1,000 milliamperes of current for one hour before it is fully discharged. Alternatively, it could deliver 500 milliamperes for two hours, 250 milliamperes for four hours, and so on, assuming the discharge rate remains constant and efficient. Show more What is a "recharge cycle"? A recharge cycle -- or charge cycle -- refers to the process of charging a rechargeable battery from 0% to 100% and then discharging it back to 0%. It is a complete cycle of battery use and recharge.A recharge cycle can happen two ways.There's a full cycle where the battery is charged from 0% to 100%, then the battery is used until it drops back to 0%.The other, more common way is partial cycles, where the recharge cycle can also be made up of several partial charges and discharges. For example, charging from 75% to 100% and then using the battery down to 75% would be a quarter of a cycle. Four of those would be a full cycle.The number of recharge cycles a battery can undergo before its capacity significantly decreases is a measure of its lifespan. For instance, a battery might be rated for 500 recharge cycles before its capacity drops to 80% of its original value.Over time, as the number of recharge cycles increases, the battery's ability to hold a charge decreases. This is normal wear and tear -- called chemical wear -- and it mean the battery will not last as long between charges as it did when it was new. Show more What is Ni-MH? Ni-MH stands for Nickel-Metal Hydride, which is a type of rechargeable battery commonly used in various consumer electronics, power tools, and hybrid vehicles. It is a significant improvement over its predecessor, the Nickel-Cadmium (Ni-Cd) battery, offering better performance, higher capacity, and a more environmentally friendly composition. Show more Can you recharge a regular "disposable" battery? No, don't do this. Regular "disposable" batteries, also known as primary batteries, are not designed to be recharged. These include common types such as alkaline and zinc-carbon batteries. Attempting to recharge these batteries can be dangerous and is generally not recommended because of the risk of leakage or even explosion. Show more Are there any other alternatives worth considering?Yes, check out these other picks we cam across during our research and testing.  Further ZDNET Tech Coverage Smartphones Smartwatches Tablets Laptops TVs Other Tech Resources ZDNET Recommends

Looking for help with today's NYT Mini Crossword puzzle? Here are some hints and answers for the puzzle.

Following a mission early on Monday, the first stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket entered the record books by becoming the first one to launch and land 27 times. The Falcon 9 launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida at midnight on Monday, April 14, in a mission that successfully deployed 27 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit. Recommended Videos Below is a clip of the record-breaking rocket lifting off on its 27th mission: To enable reuse of the first stage, SpaceX has developed a system that brings home the booster by landing it upright on the ground or on a barge — described as a “droneship” by SpaceX — floating off the coast of Florida. In Monday’s mission, the rocket landed on the Just Read the Instructions droneship about eight minutes after launch. The video below shows the safe landing, which paves the way for the booster’s 28th flight. This particular first-stage booster previously launched CRS-22, Crew-3, Turksat 5B, Crew-4, CRS-25, Eutelsat HOTBIRD 13G, O3B mPOWER-A, PSN SATRIA, Telkomsat Merah Putih 2, Galileo L13, Koreasat-6A, and now 16 Starlink missions. Related Prior to Monday’s mission, the B1067 booster last flew on February 15 when it also deployed a batch of Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit. Reusing the first stage of the rocket has allowed SpaceX to slash launch costs, making spaceflight more affordable for a greater number of commercial firms, government bodies, and scientific institutions, among others, that wish to put satellites into space. Following a number of failed attempts, SpaceX performed its first Falcon 9 booster landing in 2015, and since then the team behind the technology has nailed the process. SpaceX engineers have applied what they’ve learned to the next-generation Starship rocket, whose first-stage booster, the 71-meter-tall Super Heavy, descends into the embrace of the launch tower’s giant mechanical arms when it returns to Earth.  If you’ve never seen it, the impressive maneuver is definitely worth a look. SpaceX hopes that with continued development, Starship flights using the same Super Heavy booster will be possible within just a few days, once checks and refurbishment work is complete. When ready, the Starship is expected to fly crew and cargo to the moon as part of NASA’s Artemis program, and also conduct the first crewed mission to Mars, possibly in the 2030s. Editors’ Recommendations

Just say no Harvard says no chance it will comply with changes feds demand The university also turned its homepage into a tribute to research. John Timmer – Apr 14, 2025 6:39 pm | 39 Credit: US Schools Credit: US Schools Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only   Learn more The Trump administration has been using federal research funding as a cudgel. The government has blocked billions of dollars in research funds and threatened to put a hold on even more in order to compel universities to adopt what it presents as essential reforms. In the case of Columbia University, that includes changes in the leadership of individual academic departments. On Friday, the government sent a list of demands that it presented as necessary to "maintain Harvard’s financial relationship with the federal government." On Monday, Harvard responded that accepting these demands would "allow itself to be taken over by the federal government." The university also changed its home page into an extensive tribute to the research that would be eliminated if the funds were withheld. Diversity, but only the right kind Harvard posted the letter it received from federal officials, listing their demands. Some of it is what you expect, given the Trump administration's interests. The admissions and hiring departments would be required to drop all diversity efforts, with data on faculty and students to be handed over to the federal government for auditing. As at other institutions, there are also some demands presented as efforts against antisemitism, such as the defunding of pro-Palestinian groups. More generally, it demands that university officials "prevent admitting students hostile to the American values and institutions." There are also a bunch of basic culture war items, such as a demand for a mask ban, and a ban on "de-platforming" speakers on campus. In addition, the government wants the university to screen all faculty hires for plagiarism issues, which is what caused Harvard's former president to resign after she gave testimony to Congress. Any violation of these updated conduct codes by a non-citizen would require an immediate report to the Department of Homeland Security and State Department, presumably so they can prepare to deport them. However, the most striking aspect of the letter is the complete shift in tone about diversity. After having presented Harvard's existing diversity efforts as the antithesis of a merit-based approach, it suddenly demands that the university enforce what it terms viewpoint diversity. It never defines what this term means—perhaps alchemy in the chemistry department? But the implications are that it amounts to affirmative action for conservatives. Harvard is directed to "audit the student body, faculty, staff, and leadership for viewpoint diversity, such that each department, field, or teaching unit must be individually viewpoint diverse." Any department that fails the audit would be required to start hiring new faculty until it can pass the undefined standards demanded by the feds. Again, all this is being presented as necessary for Harvard to continue receiving research funds. Harvard says nope! The university has decided these demands force it to fight, and it's attacking on two fronts. The first is public-facing; Harvard has turned its homepage into a tribute to its researchers and the work they pursue. Although it starts with a huge banner article as shown here, links to 30 individual articles on research fill the entire page. I have a fairly high-resolution screen, and it took hitting page down nine times to finally reach the bottom, where a handful of links to the rest of the university finally appear. The message is clear: The research that's under threat matters, and humanity will be worse off if its funding is cut. Harvard University's homepage on April 14, 2025. Credit: Harvard Separately, Harvard's legal response, which it made public today, is basically: nope. After detailing the steps the university has already taken to address antisemitism, it gets to the crux of the issue: "your letter disregards Harvard’s efforts and instead presents demands that, in contravention of the First Amendment, invade university freedoms long recognized by the Supreme Court." The harms these demands are meant to address, the letter alleges, haven't actually been demonstrated through processes that are required by law. It continues by essentially calling the government's demands the equivalent of a hostile takeover: The university will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights. Neither Harvard nor any other private university can allow itself to be taken over by the federal government. Accordingly, Harvard will not accept the government’s terms as an agreement in principle. Let's be clear: There is a good chance that Harvard is risking a catastrophic loss of funding, resulting in entire research programs being shut down, layoffs, and grad students with no way to pursue their thesis projects. It could well be a crisis that requires generations of new faculty hires to recover from. At the same time, the university also saw one of its peers, Columbia University, accede to a somewhat more limited set of demands, and have its funding put on hold anyway. Given that, the decision to prepare to gain public support and fight it out in court doesn't seem unreasonable. John Timmer Senior Science Editor John Timmer Senior Science Editor John is Ars Technica's science editor. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Biochemistry from Columbia University, and a Ph.D. in Molecular and Cell Biology from the University of California, Berkeley. When physically separated from his keyboard, he tends to seek out a bicycle, or a scenic location for communing with his hiking boots. 39 Comments

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Visiting Venice in March felt like the best of both worlds: fewer tourists and nice weather. Kelsey Vlamis 2025-04-15T01:44:50Z Save Saved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? As a reporter who covers overtourism, I was a bit nervous to visit Venice. I visited in March and found going in the offseason was a great way to avoid crowds. Here are my best tips for visiting Venice and getting away from all the tourists. Venice is famous for its palace-lined canals, old-school gondola rides, and iconic landmarks dating back a millennium, but it has also come to be associated with something a lot less desirable: overtourism.As a reporter who covers overtourism — and someone who prefers to travel off the beaten path — I was well aware of the problems facing Venice when I decided to visit.The Italian city draws an estimated 20 million visitors each year, with the vast majority sweeping in just for the day to catch a selfie with the Bridge of Sighs and then bounce. Venice has taken steps to counter the impacts of overtourism, including enacting a fee of about $5 for day trippers during the busy season and limiting cruise ship arrivals. But it's an ongoing problem for the historic city.Although I had heard the horror stories of huge crowds making it difficult just to walk over its iconic bridges, I was determined to avoid the same fate. And while there were still plenty of tourists when I visited in late March, I was pleasantly surprised to find it was nothing like what I had feared, and I mostly managed to avoid the hordes of tourists.Here are three things I did that made a huge difference. The Rialto Bridge, one of Venice's top tourist sites, was not very busy when I visited. Kelsey Vlamis Go in the offseasonYou know all those shots you've seen of massive crowds near Venice's Rialto Bridge or St. Mark's Basilica? They all have something in common: they were taken during the busy season.For Venice, that's generally considered April through October, with each month drawing well over half a million visitors in 2023, according to data from the city. July, the busiest month, and August both drew more than 600,000 visitors. November to March, in contrast, is considered the "slow" season, drawing less than 400,000 visitors a month in 2023.Sustainable tourism experts have previously told me that a key driver of overtourism is not the total visitor numbers but that people often want to visit the exact same places at the same time.That was evident as I traveled through Venice, experiencing a fraction of the crowd sizes that I had braced myself for.I visited a TikTok-famous bookstore that online reviewers said they waited an hour to get into and that there was not enough crowd control. But when I got there I simply wandered in, looked at the books, noticed some tourists taking selfies, and then moved on.I got a last-minute lunch reservation at a beloved local restaurant that some travelers online said I should book well in advance. Instead, I booked the day before and there were several time slots available. There were also last-minute timed entry slots available for main attractions like Doge's Palace and Gallerie dell'Accademia. The area near the Bridge of Sighs, pictured here in the background in June 2019, gets crowded with tourists looking for a photo op during the summer. Soeren Stache/picture alliance/Getty Images The popular photo spot for the Bridge of Sighs had some tourists when I visited but it wasn't too crowded. Kelsey Vlamis And we walked right into Caffe Florian, which claims to be the oldest coffeehouse in Italy that dates back to the 1700s and sits right on St. Mark's Square. Folks online said there was a long wait to sit and the coffee was overpriced — it's the kind of touristy thing I would normally avoid. But when we walked by and saw there was plenty of open seating, inside and outside, we walked right in, sat down, and enjoyed a fancy coffee in a gorgeous, old-school café without any of the crowd-induced chaos I had been warned about.This happened time and time again in Venice.Restaurants right along the Grand Canal in the most touristy areas seemed to always have seats available. The longest line I saw was probably for a gelato shop that's beloved on TikTok, Suso, and even that looked to be about a 10-minute wait.The offseason months may not have the best weather, but visiting during a shoulder season month like March felt like the best of both worlds. It was warm enough but not hot, requiring only a jacket and sometimes not even needing it, and we only experienced a little bit of drizzling rain. Personally, I would take that weather any day over the sweltering heat of July. There were plenty of open tables inside and outside at Caffe Florian. Kelsey Vlamis Stay in a residential neighborhood and let yourself wanderThough Venice is made up of over a hundred islands, the main island, or historic center, is about 2 square miles, so it's not exactly big enough to totally escape the tourists, which I've personally found to be a lot easier in big, sprawling cities like Rome or Paris. But choosing to stay out of the most touristy neighborhoods goes a long way in insulating you from the crowds. San Marco is the most popular neighborhood for tourists to stay in Venice, and it has the souvenir shops to prove it.Instead of choosing somewhere closer to the main sites, I decided to stay in Cannaregio, one of the most residential districts of Venice's historic center, which only has about 50,000 permanent residents.Cannaregio was a lot quieter and had a more authentic feel than the more popular areas of Venice, but it was still not too far to walk to the main sites. The district had a seemingly endless number of quiet paths and canals to explore, allowing us to take in the beauty of Venice without another soul in sight. We visited restaurants and bars that were full of locals, as well as tourists. We saw groups of local preteens sitting on the canals and small kids in soccer uniforms walking home with their parents.I was genuinely and pleasantly surprised to see real glimpses of local life so close to the overly touristy areas. Restaurants with outdoor seating along the Grand Canal in the most touristy areas had plenty of open tables. Kelsey Vlamis Visit another islandWe had about four days to explore Venice, a city where most people don't even spend the night, and those who do spend an average of just over two, according to city data. But staying longer encouraged us to venture even further out of the historic center.We took a ferry — basically, Venice's equivalent of a public bus — to Murano, a small island that is famous for its glassmaking and that essentially feels like a quieter and smaller version of the main island.Even though it was only about 10 minutes by boat from the historic center, Murano was much quieter than Venice, making it even easier to wander without having to worry about overcrowding. It felt almost like a little getaway from the hustle and bustle of the main island, and sipping Aperol on the canal was just so much chiller than a comparable experience in the historic center.There are other more remote islands you can visit via the public water buses, like Burano, a tiny fishing village with rows of colorful homes, and Torcello, the historic island where Venice began with only a handful of residents left.Manage your expectationsVenice surpassed my expectations and I ended up enjoying it a lot more than I anticipated. If you travel to Venice expecting to find quaint images of authentic, untouched, historic Venetian and Italian life, you may be disappointed.But you'll likely see why it draws so many people from all over the world in the first place if you can manage your expectations, take some of these tips, and keep in mind you are visiting a place for which tourism has been a significant part of its economy since the end of the 18th century. Recommended video