Toyota's 'Factory Upgrade' Program In Japan Lets You Pay For New Features In Your Older Car - Jalopnik

Front 3/4 view of a previous-gen Toyota RAV4.

Toyota

The idea of "planned obsolescence" — that is, companies deliberately limiting the lifespan or repairability of a product so you'll spend money replacing it — should be familiar to anyone who's ever felt their iPhone slow down just as Apple unveils a new one. Retrofitting existing products to keep up with the new stuff isn't really part of the modern capitalism playbook, which is why Toyota's new "Factory Upgrade" program in Japan feels so refreshing to learn about. 

First full zoysia grass genetic blueprint opens doors for drought-tolerant turf

First full zoysia grass genetic blueprint opens doors for drought-tolerant turf
Murukarthick Jayakodi, Ph.D., Texas A&M AgriLife Research plant genomicist and assistant professor in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, evaluates diverse zoysia grass accessions in a controlled greenhouse environment at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Dallas. Credit: Texas A&M AgriLife

A new genomic resource from the Texas A&M AgriLife Research plant genomics team is providing a powerful new foundation for faster, more precise turfgrass genetics and breeding. The team discovered a breakthrough genome that finally reveals the full genetic blueprint of zoysia grass.

Ellie Kemper: I'm giving my kids a less scheduled summer. It's made me a better parent.

Ellie Kemper: I'm giving my kids a less scheduled summer. It's made me a better parent.

As told to

Kelly Burch

You're currently following this author! Want to unfollow? Unsubscribe via the link in your email.

‘Tony’ Writers Talk Honoring Anthony Bourdain, Capturing ‘70s-Era Cape Cod And Getting ‘Jaws’ Permission From Spielberg

Screenshot 2026-08-07 at 10.05.01 AM

L-R: Antonio Banderas as Chef and Dominic Sessa as a young Anthony Bourdain in A24's 'Tony.'

Courtesy of Seacia Pavao

“We know that it ends in a clam bake…”

That was pretty much all Todd Bartels and Lou Howe had when the screenwriting duo pitched Anthony Bourdain’s estate on a biopic concerning the late culinarian.

What Rockstar Games’ Netflix Pact for ‘GTA 6’ Reveal Signals About Hollywood’s Growing Relationship With Gaming

“Grand Theft Auto 6” was already set to make history in the video game world — but now it’s making a hot prerelease spin through Hollywood as well.

On Aug. 27, Netflix will debut an “extended look” at one of the most anticipated games of all time, which has been in development for more than a decade. While the first two “GTA 6” trailers bowed on YouTube and social media platforms, Rockstar Games decided to give Netflix exclusive access to new footage before going wide with the content online six hours later.

A Fan-Favorite Fortnite Feature Will Return in Chapter 7 Season 4

Follow

Link copied to clipboard

4

Published Aug 7, 2026, 2:04 PM EDT

It looks like sprites are here to stay

Fan-favorite Fortnite feature returns in Chapter 7 Season 4

homer simpson runs around with john wick sprite on his back Image: Epic Games via Polygon

Sign in to your Polygon.com account

Millions in England face longer waits for mental health care as NHS providers plan cuts

Millions of adults and children in England face being forced to wait longer for mental health care, with more than two-thirds of NHS providers planning to cut services and half expected to axe jobs, the Guardian can reveal.

Birdsong and whale song show patterns similar to human language

Birdsong and Whale song show patterns similar to human language
A teaching situation—left is a son and right is the father. Credit: Kazou Okanoya, Teikyo University, Japan.

An international team of researchers has uncovered a previously undetected structure in the birdsong of Bengalese finches that has the same statistical patterns found in human languages.

'What a Relief' — Sadie Sink Finally Discusses Secret Spider-Man Role, Teases Conversations With Marvel for What's Next

Warning! Spoilers for Spider-Man: Brand New Day follow.

Sadie Sink has finally opened up about her mystery role in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and it sounds like she's already had conversations with X-Men director Jake Schreier about what's next.