Disposable vapes face heavy criticism for their environmental impact. Millions of these devices end up in household waste monthly, despite containing functional lithium-ion batteries. To demonstrate the wasted potential of these discarded electronics, British YouTuber and engineer Chris Doel built a massive home power bank using salvaged vape batteries.
Doel, a 29-year-old engineer at Jaguar Land Rover, collected over 500 discarded disposable vapes for his latest project. He extracted the batteries, testing each one to ensure viability. For this large-scale build, he selected only the larger 5 Wh cells, discarding smaller 1.8 Wh batteries to optimize efficiency.
Powering a Home…
British American Tobacco (BAT) has announced plans to eliminate 20% of its global workforce as part of a sweeping restructuring plan to transition away from traditional cigarettes. This major operational shift occurs amid historic declines in global smoking rates, forcing the tobacco giant to aggressively reallocate resources toward next-generation nicotine products.
The job cuts will affect approximately 9,000 positions by the end of this year, consisting of 5,500 direct layoffs and 3,500 outsourced roles. BAT expects these measures – which exclude its US-based subsidiary, Reynolds American – to generate $793 million in annual savings by 2028. Chief Executive Tadeu Marroco…
As travelers touch down at Los Cabos International Airport (SJD) in 2026, many are caught off guard by Mexico’s increasingly stringent customs screenings. While most visitors anticipate a seamless transition to the beaches of Cabo San Lucas, honest packing errors regarding everyday items are currently triggering severe delays, costly confiscations, and unexpected legal penalties at the border.
To ensure your Mexican getaway starts on the sand rather than in a customs interrogation room, travelers must understand the strict border regulations enforced this year. Below is the definitive guide to the five banned items most likely to flag security officials at…
E-commerce giant Shopify has confirmed plans to ban all vape and e-cigarette sales on its platform as early as this week. This decisive move comes amid a coordinated crackdown by a bipartisan coalition of 25 U.S. state attorneys general, directly threatening the online infrastructure of a multi-billion-dollar market.
The policy shift follows months of negotiations starting in late 2025. Led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta and the City of New York, the coalition urged the Ottawa-based company to stop facilitating the sale of unlicensed and flavored nicotine products that bypass state and federal laws.
A Shopify spokesperson stated that…
The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the global youth market is on the brink of a “new addiction revolution.” This warning comes as celebrity-driven retro aesthetics and modern alternative nicotine products converge, driving a worrying resurgence in youth nicotine consumption despite a steady decline in traditional cigarette smoking.
Recently, the cultural glamorization of smoking has resurfaced in celebrity circles. Trays of free cigarettes were reportedly offered to guests at Dua Lipa’s wedding, while pop star Rosalia gifted Charli XCX a bouquet of flowers and cigarettes for her birthday. Additionally, influencer Addison Rae openly flaunted traditional cigarettes in her…
A growing body of scientific research has revealed that cooling additives in e-cigarettes, long utilized to create popular “ice” flavors, may trigger irregular heartbeats and cardiovascular stress. This discovery comes as researchers shift focus from nicotine addiction to the systemic health impacts of synthetic flavoring chemicals.
Popular “ice” flavours rely on menthol or synthetic cooling agents like WS-3 and WS-23. Rather than actually lowering the temperature of the vapor, these compounds activate the TRPM8 receptor—the body’s cold sensor—effectively tricking the brain into registering cold. This sensory illusion makes the aerosol feel smoother, encouraging users to inhale more deeply and vape more frequently.
However,…
The Russian State Duma is set to review a bill that would empower regional authorities, including Krasnoyarsk Krai, to completely ban the retail sale of vapes and e-liquids. This legislative push comes amid a 30% surge in respiratory illnesses and widespread public demand to protect youth from nicotine addiction.
State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin emphasized that the public overwhelmingly supports decisive action. “Vapes are causing immense harm,” Volodin stated, noting that young people under 35 are the primary victims of vaping-related lung complications.
In regions like Krasnoyarsk, vape shops have proliferated rapidly due to low financial entry barriers and high…
One year after the disposable vape ban took effect, three new studies indicate the policy has achieved only limited success in curbing youth vaping and reducing environmental waste. While youth usage has dropped, weak enforcement and a lack of retail recycling options continue to undermine the legislation.
According to environmental advocate Material Focus, a major obstacle is the “recycling lottery.” Retailers are failing to provide legally mandated recycling points. Convenience stores are the worst offenders, with 63% failing to offer visible recycling facilities, compared to 43% of supermarkets.
On a positive note, a YouGov poll suggests the ban is successfully…
Researchers at the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine have confirmed that vaping alters thousands of genes, with flavorings and device types driving two-thirds of these biological changes. This discovery, published in the journal Frontiers in Oncology, suggests that specific product characteristics pose significant disease-related risks regardless of how frequently a person vapes.
While chronic diseases take decades to develop, analyzing changes in gene expression provides scientists with vital early clues. Previous research has already linked vaping to genetic changes associated with cancer, heart disease, and lung disease. This new study, however, isolates the exact catalysts behind these…
The Argentinian Ministry of Health has officially legalized vaping, heated tobacco, and nicotine pouches under Resolution 549/2026, repealing long-standing prohibitions in favor of a regulated market. This bold policy shift addresses a reality where illicit smoke-free alternatives already circulated widely, establishing state oversight, quality controls, and a structured registry to curb the black market.
The decision was heavily influenced by a 2025 Sedronar survey showing that 35.5% of high school students used e-cigarettes. Recognizing that prohibition failed to stop consumption, the government chose pragmatism over blind bans. Furthermore, Resolution 549/2026 legally and philosophically recalibrates the “precautionary principle,” declaring that precautionary…
