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online game free bonus Amazon Fire tablets rank among the best cheap tablets around; they're lightweight, durable, and come with quite a few useful apps. However, unlike other Android tablets , Fire slates don’t (officially) have access to the Google Play Store, so you can’t download many new apps. The Google Play Store is a staple of the Android experience and your gateway to the world's best Android apps . Amazon Fire tablets only let you download from a curated list of apps – a far smaller selection than the Play Store offers – so many people choose to side-load the Play Store onto their Amazon devices. If that’s you, a word of warning: installing the Play Store onto an Amazon tablet is complicated, time-consuming, and frustrating. I’ve been writing about technology for years and even I found this process hard – I had to reset my tablet multiple times when I accidentally made a mistake, or couldn’t figure something out and needed to start again. If I wasn’t tasked with covering this subject for work, I would’ve just bought a cheap Android tablet . Only try this if you’re well-versed in tech, have a good half-hour to an hour to spare, and don’t mind having to reset your Fire tab a few times if you make a mistake. I’d also recommend backing up your data and removing any memory cards, to be safe, and most importantly reading this guide before you begin . So, if you hardy tech users are ready, here’s how to get the Google Play Store on an Amazon Fire tablet. To install the Play Store on your Amazon Fire tablet, you’ll need two things: A Google account , which you created previously. An Amazon Fire tablet . It’ll work on any kind, though the model will affect the process – more on that later. It needs to be connected to the internet. In short, here’s how you get the Play Store on your Amazon Fire tablet. For a more in-depth guide, continue reading. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Set up your tablet by backing everything up, finding out your slate’s model number and software version, and allowing installations from Silk. Download APKs of the four apps you’ll need: Google Account Manager, Google Services Framework, Google Play Services, and Google Play Store. Install the four apps in the above order. Reboot your tablet and log into the Play Store. Get your tablet ready, it’s time to begin. 1. Set up your tablet To install the Google Play Store, you’ll need to get your tablet ready first. Before you even begin, I’d recommend backing up your data so you can easily reset the tablet without worrying about losing anything. First, you’ll need to know what kind of Amazon tablet you actually have. To find out, select the Settings app from the home page and then press Device Options near the bottom. Here, under About Fire Tablet , you’ll see your model – mine, as you’ll see in the image, is the Fire HD 10 (13th Generation). Make a note of this because it’ll be vitally important for the later steps. Next, navigate back to the Settings app because we’re not finished here yet. Next, we’re making sure we can install the apps we need. From the Settings app, press Security & Privacy and then Apps from unknown sources under the Privacy sub-menu. You’ll now be shown a list of all the apps you install – on mine, you can only see Silk, but if you’ve installed other apps, you’ll have a longer list. Select Silk Browser because this is the one you need, and toggle Allow from this source on (the dot will be on the right side, and the toggle slider will be light red). Before we proceed, double-check that you have a decent internet connection, because we’ll be downloading some files. Once you’re definitely connected, it’s time to move on. 2. Download the apps you need To get the Google Play Store on your Amazon Fire tablet, we’re going to be using what are known as Android Packages or APKs, which are files you download from your internet browser to install apps. It’s a way of circumnavigating app stores to get apps, basically, but there’s an element of risk since you’re allowing unvetted files onto your tablet. You’ll need to download four different ones, in order to use the Play Store on your Fire tab. I’ll run you through the process in detail for the first app, so you know how to download APKs, and then help you work out which you need to install. The tricky bit is that, depending on which Fire tablet you have, the exact files are different. Quite a few websites online let you download APKs. For this guide I used APKMirror, but APKPure and F Droid are generally considered to be two other safer options. The first app you’ll need is the Google Account Manager, and there are two options to download. If you have a Fire 7 from the 8th generation or above, Fire HD 8 from the 8th generation or above, Fire HD 10 from the 9th generation or above, or Fire Max 11 from the 9th generation or above, you’ll need one called Google Account Manager v7.1.2. Other tablets need v5.1. You can find these apps on APKMirror here . On that page scroll down to ‘All Versions’ and the v7.1.2 option is right at the top – v5.1 is lower down. Select the one you need. Then scroll down to Download Google Account Manager [version] and select it. On this new page scroll down to Download APK in red and select it. A pop-up will confirm that you really want to download the file – select download and the process will begin. One down, three to go, but now the real work begins – at least you know the process for downloading an APK now. Download numero dos is Google Services Framework, which you can find on APKMirror here . There are various apps to pick from so it’s time for another list. If you have an Amazon Fire 7 that’s 12th gen or beyond, go for Google Services Framework V10. If it’s 9th gen then it’s Google Services Framework v9, if it’s 8th gen it’s Framework v7, and if it’s older it’s Framework v5. If you’ve got a Fire HD 8 that’s 11th gen or beyond it’s v10, 10th gen it’s v9, 8th or 9th gen it’s v7, or older it’s v5. Next, Fire HD 10, and that’s Framework v9 for 9th gen or beyond and Framework v5 for earlier. Finall,y Fire Max 11 is Framework v9. Phew! Now onto download three, and it’s Google Play Services ( not Google Play Store yet! ). Find it on APKMirror here , and prepare to balk at how many versions of this there are (it gets updated most days, sometimes multiple times a day, and each new version is listed individually here). What worked for me was simply selecting a version from the list that was listed with nodpi, and the right version of Android that my tablet had. So, which version does yours have? Well, it depends on the generation. Anything from 2022 and beyond, from gen 12 or later, is Android 11+, and if you bought a new tablet more recently than that, it’ll be this one. If it’s in the 9th to 11th gens, it’ll be Android 9+. The exception is the Fire 7, with the 9th-gen one requiring Android 6+ alongside the 8th-gen models. Anything earlier than that needs Android 5+. Now we’re onto the final app, and it’s the main one: Google Play Store, found on APKMirror here . As before, there are a horrid number of options in the list – pick the most recent one and find a file that’s listed as nodpi and universal for the version of Android your tablet has. Once again, download it. 3. Install the apps you need Here’s the reason I told you to read this whole article in advance: if you install the apps in the wrong order, then you could ruin your chances of installing the Play Store, period. I did this and found that the best option was to simply wipe my tablet and start again. Firstly, here’s how to install APK apps on your Fire tablet. On the home page, select Files (the icon is a folder) and then press the three-horizontal-line hamburger menu at the top-left (next to the word Documents in the blue bar). In here, select Downloads . Now you’ll see listed all the files you downloaded, and I’d recommend holding your tablet landscape for this part so you can better see the file names. To install an app, press it , then when the disclaimer appears select continue . You’ll get another disclaimer, press install . Now the app will install. Vitally for this process, every time you install an app, press Done and NOT Open! Now on to the order: 1. com.google.android.gsf.login (Google Account Manager) 2. com.google.Android.gsf (Google Services Framework) 3. com.google.android.gms (Google Play Services) 4. com.android.vending (Google Play Store) For the Play Store installation, you’ll again be prompted to open it but do not press open! 4. Prepare your tablet for the Play Store There’s one vital final step before you use the Play Store: reboot your tablet . Reboot your tablet by pressing and holding the power button (that’s the one you press to lock and unlock the device). If you hold it for a few seconds, a menu will appear letting you restart the tablet or turn it off (turn it back on by pressing and holding this button again). Once your Amazon Fire tablet has warmed back up, give it a few moments, and then press the Play Store icon on your home page. You’ll have to log in to the Play Store using your Google account and then, in theory, you should be in! When I first did this, the Play Store initially thought something was wrong and gave me an error message, but then it let me go through to the Play Store and log in anyway. Once you’ve logged in to the Play Store, you can now download apps just as you would on any other tablet. If you’ve installed the apps in the wrong order by accident (or because you don’t like following rules), then you’re out of luck. I’d recommend resetting your tablet and restarting the process from the top. I had this: if you can see the Play Store icon on your home page, but pressing it doesn’t do anything, then you haven’t got the right apps installed, or you didn’t install them in the right order. You’ll have to reset and start again. As I said, this is a really complex process, especially if you’re not a determined tech fan who knows the model number and software version of their tech off by heart. The first step of the above guide will help you find your tablet number, and using either Google or a TechRadar review, you can see which software version you’re on. Make sure your software is up to date (also in the Settings app) while checking this. If you’re still struggling to get the downloads to work, you might need to try the old trial-and-error approach. Researching for this guide, I found countless people online who’d had to install loads of different files to work out the right one! There may be some cases when you follow these instructions to the letter and it just doesn't work. This might be because the APK versions have changed since this article was written in December 2024, or because Amazon's tablets have changed software. I've seen reports online that some Amazon Tablets just don't work with the Play Store, whatever you do, and some do or don't depending on which software version you're on. Most confusingly of all, sometimes updates will suddenly make it work or stop working on certain devices. I'd recommend making sure you're on the newest software update and that you've rebooted your device several times if it doesn't work straight away. But if nothing gets this to work, it might be worth simply picking up a different tablet to access the Play Store, or just getting used to the apps that the Amazon Tablet provides.Union of Investment Companies Releases the 20th Issue of The Investor Magazine for December 2024

Photo: The Canadian Press This photo provided by Ford shows the 2025 F-150 Raptor R. The Raptor R has a V8 engine and a specialized suspension that helps it stay in control when driving off-road at high speed. (Courtesy of Ford Motor Co. via AP) Just about everyone dreams about cars they wish they could own, and there’s no better time than the holidays to make a list of vehicles you’d love to have in your driveway. The car pros at Edmunds rounded up five of their favorite dream-worthy vehicles. But rather than just list the most outlandish and expensive exotics, they focused on highlighting models that are expensive but not so pricey that it’d be completely unrealistic for you to own one one day. The vehicles are ordered in ascending order of price and include destination fees. Ford F-150 Raptor R Off-road trucks look fantastic and are extremely capable. What truck enthusiast wouldn’t have one topping their wish list? The king of the hill for 2025 is the F-150 Raptor R. The regular Raptor is already impressive, and the R takes it to the next level with a bonkers 720-horsepower supercharged 5.2-liter V8 engine, upgraded Fox dual-value shock absorbers, and massive 37-inch all-terrain tires. An R-specific grille and hood are also part of the R’s upgrades. Thankfully, the Raptor R isn’t all bark and bite. It also has plenty of features to make it a livable truck for daily driving. Standard features include leather upholstery, cooling front seats, a premium sound system, and a surround-view camera to help make this big truck easier to park. Starting Price: $112,825 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Few sedans can match the Mercedes-Benz S-Class for opulence, luxury and prestige. This grand sedan showcases nearly every luxury, technology and performance innovation that Mercedes-Benz has concocted. Everything you touch inside is likely covered in leather, heated, or bathed in disco-worthy ambient light. A novel could be written about all of the S-Class’ luxury and comfort features, but one of the most notable is the E-Active Body Control system. It scans the road surface ahead and adjusts the suspension to deliver the best ride possible. The S-Class also boasts an extensive list of advanced safety features and has an augmented reality head-up display that projects images that appear to float in front of the car. For the ultimate S-Class, get the 791-horsepower AMG S 63 E Performance model. Starting Price: $118,900 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 Who needs a European exotic car when the Corvette ZR1 is just as capable? A sports car fanatic’s wish list wouldn’t be right without the ZR1. The new Corvette hit a record-setting top speed of 233 mph, making it the fastest car ever built by an American automaker and the fastest current production car priced under $1 million, according to Chevrolet. The top speed record was possible thanks to the ZR1’s turbocharged 5.5-liter V8 engine that cranks out a staggering 1,064 horsepower. Its carbon-fiber aero package kept it glued to the track by generating over 1,200 pounds of downforce at top speed. Chevrolet also says the ZR1 can accelerate through the quarter mile in less than 10 seconds. We expect the Corvette ZR1 to go on sale in early 2025. Estimated starting price: $150,000 Cadillac Escalade-V Does your wish list include a big and powerful SUV? If it does, the Escalade-V should top it. The big Caddy roars like a muscle car thanks to its supercharged 6.2-liter V8 that churns out 682 horsepower and helps it hit 60 mph in just 4.4 seconds. The Escalade-V also boasts enormous 24-inch wheels and large Brembo brakes that help bring the three-ton SUV to a stop. But the Escalade-V isn’t only about brute power. It also has three rows of seating, plenty of cargo space and offers impressive tech like Super Cruise, a hands-free highway driving system, and an enormous 55-inch curved display that spans the dashboard. Starting Price: $161,990 Lucid Air Sapphire What if we told you there was a car that could outpace almost anything on a drag strip, keep up with high-end sports cars on a racetrack, and be comfortable enough for daily errands? Well, if that sounds amazing, add the Air Sapphire to your dream list. The Air Sapphire is a high-performance electric luxury sedan made by Lucid, an electric vehicle startup. It’s one of the most powerful production cars in the world, producing an astonishing 1,234 horsepower from its three electric motors. Lucid says it has a top speed of 205 mph and can rocket to 60 mph in a mind-numbing 1.9 seconds. You can adjust the vehicle’s setting for exceptional track performance or simply provide a comfortable ride around town. Starting price: $250,500 Edmunds says Even if you can’t afford any of these vehicles, you can still picture one sitting in your driveway or imagine yourself cruising around town in it. And who knows, maybe holiday magic will give you the opportunity to own one in the future.The retrial of the notorious Yu Hua Ying case is scheduled to take place on December 19th, and it is expected to once again thrust Yang Niuhua into the spotlight as she prepares to face Yu Hua Ying for the sixth time.

As the highly anticipated UEFA Champions League matchday approaches, football fans around the world are buzzing with excitement for the upcoming clashes between some of Europe's top teams. Among the standout fixtures set to unfold, Liverpool will be looking to secure their sixth consecutive victory, Atletico Madrid will lock horns with Inter Milan, and Real Madrid will once again face off against their perennial rivals, Paris Saint-Germain.CENTENNIAL, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov 22, 2024-- NUBURU, Inc. (“NUBURU” or the “Company”) (NYSE American: BURU), a leading innovator in high-power and high-brightness industrial blue laser technology, today announced it has received a notice of non-compliance (the “NYSE Notice”) from the staff of the NYSE American Market (the “Exchange”) indicating that the Company has become noncompliant with the continued listing standard set forth in Section 803B(2)(c) of the NYSE American Company Guide (the “Company Guide”), since the Company’s Audit Committee is no longer comprised of at least two independent directors, as a result of the recent resignation of an independent director from the Company’s Board of Directors. The NYSE Notice stated that, pursuant to Section 803B(6)(b) of the Company Guide, the Company has until the earlier of its next annual meeting of stockholders or one year from the occurrence of the event that caused the failure to comply with the audit committee composition requirements to regain compliance with the continued listing standards; provided that, if the annual meeting of stockholders occurs no later than 75 days following the event that caused the failure to comply, the Company will instead have 75 days from such event to regain compliance. As a result, the Company has until January 4, 2025 to regain compliance. The Board is undertaking a process to identify two independent directors to join the Board within the permitted time frame. The NYSE Notice does not have any immediate effect on the listing of the Company’s common stock on the Exchange, which remains trading under the trading symbol “BURU”. There can be no assurance, however, that the Company will be able to regain compliance with the continued listing standard discussed above in the permitted time frame. About NUBURU Founded in 2015, NUBURU, Inc. (NYSEAM: BURU) is a developer and manufacturer of industrial blue lasers that leverage fundamental physics and high-brightness, high-power design to produce higher quality welds and parts at a faster rate than current lasers can produce for laser welding and additive manufacturing of copper, gold, aluminum and other industrially important metals. NUBURU’s industrial blue lasers produce minimal to defect-free welds at a rate that is up to eight times faster than traditional welding methods — all with the flexibility inherent to laser processing. For more information, please visit www.nuburu.net . Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this press release may be forward-looking statements. Some of these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words, including “may,” “should,” “expect,” “intend,” “will,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “predict,” “plan,” “seek,” “targets,” “projects,” “could,” “would,” “continue,” “forecast” or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, among other things, developments with our Board of Directors and our compliance with Exchange listing standards. All forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are based upon estimates, forecasts and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by NUBURU and its management, are inherently uncertain and many factors may cause the company’s actual results to differ materially from current expectations which include, but are not limited to: (1) the ability to continue to meet the Exchange’s listing standards; (2) failure to achieve expectations regarding its product development and pipeline; (3) the inability to access sufficient capital to operate as anticipated; (4) the inability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the business combination, which may be affected by, among other things, competition, the ability of the company to grow and manage growth profitably, maintain relationships with customers and suppliers and retain its management and key employees; (5) changes in applicable laws or regulations; (6) the possibility that NUBURU may be adversely affected by other economic, business and/or competitive factors; (7) volatility in the financial system and markets caused by geopolitical and economic factors; (8) failing to realize benefits from the partnership with GE Additive; and (9) other risks and uncertainties set forth in the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in NUBURU’s most recent periodic report on Form 10-K or Form 10-Q and other documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Nothing in this press release should be regarded as a representation by any person that the forward-looking statements set forth herein will be achieved or that any of the contemplated results of such forward-looking statements will be achieved. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. NUBURU does not give any assurance that it will achieve its expected results. NUBURU assumes no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by applicable law. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241122726110/en/ CONTACT: Investor Relations: NUBURU, Inc. ir@nuburu.net (720) 767-1400 KEYWORD: COLORADO UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: MACHINE TOOLS, METALWORKING & METALLURGY MINING/MINERALS MANUFACTURING NATURAL RESOURCES MACHINERY STEEL SOURCE: NUBURU, Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 11/22/2024 06:45 PM/DISC: 11/22/2024 06:47 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241122726110/en

CARLSBAD, Calif. , Dec. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Ourself, a leader in the next generation of skincare, today announced that clinical data evaluating Ourself's patented delivery technology, Tiered-Release VesiclesTM (TRVs), was published in Dermatologic Surgery , the official journal of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery. The publication highlights that TRVs have the potential to revolutionize skincare by enabling the delivery of large, bioactive molecules directly into the epidermis and dermis. The Ourself delivery method promises to reshape the way we care for our skin and opens new possibilities for enhancing cosmetic outcomes topically. "Publication of this data reinforces that Ourself is setting a new standard in topical delivery," said Jim Hartman , Ourself's Chief Executive Officer. "We are excited to lead these advancements and look forward to the growth and innovation this breakthrough will inspire for our brand and the industry as a whole." "Tiered-Release Vesicles represent a revolutionary advancement in dermal delivery technology, addressing a stagnation in the industry that has persisted for over four decades," said Ashish C. Bhatia , MD, FAAD, author and board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon at Oak Dermatology. For decades, the skin's outermost layer, the stratum corneum, has long been a barrier that limits the effectiveness of skincare products, blocking essential ingredients from reaching deeper layers. Traditional delivery systems like liposomes have failed to penetrate deeply enough to achieve substantial results—TRVs change this paradigm. "It's not just about the ingredients but also how the ingredients get to where they need to go. Ourself is revolutionary and a game changer in our industry because we've had the same delivery systems for 40 years. Now we have something better," said Amy B. Lewis , MD, board-certified dermatologist at Lewis Dermatology and Associates. "The Tiered-Release Vesicle delivery system is a major step forward for skincare. These developments redefine what is now achievable in topical delivery, unlocking limitless potential for the future of skincare," said Amir Moradi , MD, MBA lead author and double board-certified facial plastic and otolaryngology-head and neck surgeon at Moradi MD. ABOUT OURSELF Leveraging decades of biotech and skincare expertise, Ourself developed a new, scientifically advanced delivery technology to broaden the capabilities of cosmetic skincare forever. Utilizing patented Tiered-Release VesiclesTM, Ourself "hero" products ensure deep ingredient delivery, sending larger molecules, powerful peptides and all-in-one formulations directly to the layer of the skin where they're needed most to improve loss of volume, lines & wrinkles, and uneven pigmentation. Ourself developed the first non-injectable Lip Filler clinically proven to restore volume by delivering two sizes of hyaluronic acid into the lips, topically. Ourself is based in Carlsbad, CA. For more information, visit Ourself.com . REFERENCE: Moradi A, et al. In Vivo and Ex Vivo Evaluation of a Novel Method for Topical Delivery of Macromolecules Through the Stratum Corneum for Cosmetic Applications. Dermatol Surg. 2024 View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/clinical-validation-of-ourself-delivery-technology-published-in-dermatologic-surgery--tiered-release-vesicles-poised-to-revolutionize-skincare-302330774.html SOURCE Ourself‘Depressing’ photo of suburb on the outskirts of Melbourne enrages Aussies

LPDDR5 is the latest generation of low power DDR memory technology, specifically designed for mobile devices and other applications that require high performance and energy efficiency. With a data rate of 6400Mbps, the LPDDR5 memory modules from Chemosun offer blazing-fast speeds and responsive performance, making them ideal for gaming, multimedia, and other memory-intensive tasks.

Following closely behind "Path of Exile 2" in the rankings is the ever-popular battle royale game "Fortnite," which secures the third position. Developed by Epic Games, "Fortnite" has become a cultural phenomenon since its release, attracting millions of players worldwide with its unique building mechanics, vibrant aesthetic, and constant updates and events. Despite facing stiff competition in the crowded battle royale genre, "Fortnite" continues to hold its own on Steam's weekly sales chart, proving its staying power and enduring appeal among gamers of all ages.

In conclusion, the story of the missing female master's graduate male being sheltered by the villagers is a powerful testament to the enduring bonds of community and the innate goodness that resides within us all. It serves as a poignant reminder that in times of adversity, it is our collective humanity that shines the brightest.

A tragic incident occurred aboard a flight today as a passenger suddenly fell ill and, despite efforts to save them, tragically passed away before the plane could land. The prompt response from the airline crew and fellow passengers who assisted in administering first aid must be commended, however, it was a heartbreaking outcome that highlights the unexpected nature of medical emergencies while traveling by air.

The controversy surrounding this supposed agricultural phenomenon first surfaced when photos and videos depicting the oversized Chinese cabbages started circulating on social media platforms. Many netizens were astonished by the unusually rapid growth rate and impressive size of the vegetables, prompting questions about the methods and practices employed by the villagers to achieve such exceptional results.The eLEAP OLED technology developed by JDI has been touted as a breakthrough in the field of display innovation. Known for its superior image quality, energy efficiency, and flexible design capabilities, eLEAP OLED displays have generated significant interest from manufacturers and consumers alike. The delay in mass production is reportedly due to unforeseen technical challenges and production issues that need to be addressed before the displays can be brought to market.

A recent study that recommended toxic chemicals in black plastic products be immediately thrown away included a math error that significantly overstated the risks of contamination, but its authors are standing by their conclusions and warn against using such products. Published in the peer-reviewed journal Chemosphere , experts from the nonprofit Toxic-Free Future said they detected flame retardants and other toxic chemicals in 85% of 203 items made of black plastic including kitchen utensils , take-out containers, children's toys and hair accessories. In a blog post, Joe Schwarcz, director of McGill University's Office for Science and Society in Canada, explained that the Toxin-Free Future scientists miscalculated the lower end of what the EPA considered a health risk through a multiplication error. Instead of humans being potentially exposed to a dose of toxic chemicals in black plastic utensils near the minimum level that the EPA deems a health risk, it's actually about one-tenth of that. (Dreamstime/TNS) The study initially said the potential exposure to chemicals found in one of the kitchen utensils approached the minimum levels the Environmental Protection Agency deemed a health risk. But in an update to the study, the authors say they made an error in their calculations and the real levels were "an order of magnitude lower" than the EPA's thresholds. The error was discovered by Joe Schwarcz, director of McGill University's Office for Science and Society in Canada. In a blog post, Schwarcz explained that the Toxin-Free Future scientists miscalculated the lower end of what the EPA considered a health risk through a multiplication error. Instead of humans being potentially exposed to a dose of toxic chemicals in black plastic utensils near the minimum level that the EPA deems a health risk, it's actually about one-tenth of that. Though Schwarcz said the risks outlined in the study aren't enough for him to discard his black plastic kitchen items if he had them, he agreed with the authors that flame retardants shouldn't be in these products in the first place. "The math error does not impact the study's findings, conclusions or recommendations," said Megan Liu, a co-author of the study who is the science and policy manager for Toxic-Free Future . She added that any traces of flame retardants or toxic chemicals in cooking utensils should be concerning for the public. Flame retardants are getting into commonly used items because black-colored products are being made from recycled electronic waste, such as discarded television sets and computers, that frequently contain the additives. When they're heated, the flame retardants and other toxic chemicals can migrate out. If you're wondering whether your old black plastic spoon or other utensils are a part of this group, Liu shared some more guidance. It's nearly impossible to know whether a black plastic product is contaminated. That's because these products that include recycled e-waste don't disclose a detailed list of all ingredients and contaminants in the product. Liu said it's also unclear how many types of flame retardants are in these black plastic products. Some of the products that researchers tested in this recent study "had up to nine different harmful chemicals and harmful flame retardants in them," she said. Anytime you're looking for the type of recycled plastic a product is made of you're going to look for a number within the chasing arrows (that form a triangle) logo. Recycling symbols are numbered 1 to 7 and we commonly associate the numbers with what we can toss in our blue recycling bins. The 1 through 7 numbers stand for, respectively, polyethylene terephthalate, high-density polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), low-density polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene or Styrofoam, and miscellaneous plastics (including polycarbonate, polylactide, acrylic, acrylonitrile butadiene, styrene, fiberglass and nylon). The study found higher levels of toxic flame retardants in polystyrene plastic, which is labeled with the number 6, said Liu. There isn't a definitive timeline of when recycled electronic-waste started to be incorporated into black plastic products specifically, but e-waste started to get recycled in the early 2000s, Liu said. The way computers, cellphones, stereos, printers and copiers were being disposed of previously was to simply add them to a landfill without reusing salvageable parts. But as the National Conference of State Legislatures notes, electronics production required a significant amount of resources that could be recovered through recycling. Recovering resources such as metals, plastics and glass through recycling used a fraction of the energy needed to mine new materials. However, the study pointed out that flame retardants and other chemical contaminates have been detected in and near e-waste recycling facilities, in indoor air and dust at formal e-waste recycling facilities in Canada, China, Spain and the U.S. It also noted contamination in soil samples surrounding e-waste recycling sites in China and Vietnam. The safest nontoxic material options for kitchen utensil are wood and stainless steel. The 20th century brought airplanes, radio, television, the internet, and plastic. Lots of plastic. That plastic is now showing up on shorelines, forming islands in oceans, and generating mountains of translucent trash on land. Around 700 species of animals in the sea have been found to interact with plastic daily. Companies across every industry face pressure to reduce the amount of plastic they produce. Seventy-two percent of the world's largest have made voluntary commitments to reduce their plastic waste, according to a Duke University analysis. One industry, in particular, has greatly benefited from advancements in single-use plastic technology: the medical industry. Only in recent years have businesses and academics in the field begun to talk about minimizing their impact on our environment like beverage manufacturers and other consumer goods-producing businesses. Medical Technology Schools analyzed academic studies published in the National Library of Medicine , the American Medical Association , and news reports to shed light on the medical community's use of plastics through history, their environmental problems, and proposed solutions to reduce their impact. And the impact can be significant. A single hospital patient generates nearly 34 pounds of waste a day —as much as a quarter of it is plastic. The COVID-19 pandemic only worsened the problem. The pandemic pushed hospital capacity to the brink and led to a massive increase in personal protective equipment and medical supply usage. Medical-grade masks and other protective equipment like face shields, made mostly of nonrenewable plastics, were in high demand. In 2020, the World Health Organization estimated that the international need for PPE manufacturing would boost 40% to address the public health crisis. Hospitals needed an estimated 89 million masks, 76 million gloves, and 1.6 million goggles every month of the pandemic. To date, nearly 677 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered, each requiring their own plastic syringe, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Global consulting firm Frost & Sullivan estimated that the U.S. would produce a year's worth of medical waste in just two months due to the pandemic. The World Economic Forum warned that the COVID-19 crisis threatened to " stall and even reverse progress " to reduce large plastic waste. It's a challenge researchers acknowledge today as they search for solutions. Plastics introduced an era of ultraconvenience to the world. It makes our clothes. It's made bike helmets and airbags possible. And it's a cheap material to produce, meaning it's cheap for consumers too. Almost as importantly, it's durable and incredibly easy to make into complex shapes—a trait that helped plastics invented in the mid-20th century quickly replace more expensive metal and wooden goods. That adoption extended to the medical field, where the single-use nature of plastics represented a move toward more hygienic tools for physicians and hospitals. But it wasn't plastic's sanitary qualities that the industry first latched onto. Like so many other technical advancements, convenience and cost were the initial driving factors. That they were more conducive to creating a sterile environment for patients was a benefit that health care began to tout closer to the end of the 20th century. PVC, or polyvinyl chloride, replaced glass bottles previously used to hold IV solution and replaced rubber tubing used throughout hospital settings. Plastic has also become the go-to material for making syringes and catheters. Plastic products are generally made from chemicals derived from the oil and natural gas refining process. Chemists use those byproducts to create synthetic materials with malleable and durable chemical structures. The low cost of these materials has helped medical device-makers support better health outcomes for communities across the U.S. since the 1900s. No longer was health care priced at rates only the elite could afford—it was accessible to a much larger swath of the public. In the last decade, the U.S., in particular, has emerged as a massive market for medical plastics. The country generally accounts for nearly half of the global market for medical devices. Plastic's durability is not only a benefit but a detriment to the environment, as the material can take many years to deteriorate when it enters landfills or trashes oceans. Estimates vary widely, but scientists ballpark that depending on the kind of plastic and the environment in which it decomposes, it could take dozens to thousands of years to break down entirely. COVID-19, which remains a burden for health care systems, isn't the only force raising the stakes for a health care industry pressured to reduce reliance on plastics or find ways to reuse them. Global annual production of plastic has doubled in the last two decades , according to the Environmental Protection Agency. As the U.S. looks toward the future, its aging population is another factor that could exacerbate the rate at which medical plastics end up in landfills. People require more medical care as they age, and aging baby boomers are expected to place increased demand on the medical device industry. At the same time, governments are under pressure to lower health care costs, which have become unaffordable even for those insured . As recently as 2021, researchers lamented a lack of data on efforts to recycle medical plastics. Around 350 hospitals participate in Practice Greenhealth's Environmental Excellence Awards . Practice Greenhealth is an organization working to help hospitals increase their sustainability. It's one of the few sources of hospital sustainability data, and its roster of participating hospitals represents a small fraction of the more than 6,000 hospitals operating in the U.S. To meet the need to reduce plastic waste generation, some hospitals are moving away from using plastic in certain applications. Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center replaced health care workers' disposable plastic isolation gowns with reusable cloth gowns at its hospitals in the last decade, saving money and preventing literal tons of medical waste. It also implemented a process for sterilizing and incinerating the boxes that hold used needles, allowing them to be reassembled and reused in a health care setting. Recycling plastic medical waste is complicated by the potential for contamination and the need to separate contaminated and noncontaminated waste; once separated, they can be broken down with heat or treated with chemicals and reprocessed. However, using chemical methods to break down and dispose of plastics has drawbacks. Over 200 nongovernmental organizations signed a letter in 2023 urging the Biden administration to end federal support for methods like these, arguing they generate toxic pollutants. The Vinyl Council of Australia is working with hospitals to recover used materials made of PVC . The materials are broken down into tiny pieces, washed and heated at high temperatures, and remade into things used outside medical settings. In the U.S. and Europe, there's the Healthcare Plastics Recycling Council, a coalition of companies working in the health care device space that includes DuPont, Johnson & Johnson, and Medtronic. In 2021, the HPRC, advised by professionals at Kaiser Permanente and other health systems, rolled out a medical waste recycling pilot project with hopes of scaling it across more hospitals. Story editing by Ashleigh Graf. Copy editing by Paris Close. Photo selection by Clarese Moller. This story originally appeared on Medical Technology Schools and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio. Sign up here to get the latest health & fitness updates in your inbox every week!