Skip to main content

Made with metal from illegal firerms, Yevo 1 headphones aim to curb gun violence

Your headphones may be more commonly used to shut out conversations rather than start them, but the new Yevo x Humanium Metal headphones are nothing short of a conversation piece about a global problem. Created in partnership between
Recommended Videos
Yevo Labs, a Stockholm-based innovation lab, and Humanium Metal by IM, which focuses on sourcing valuable metal from firearms, these are some seriously unique earbuds.

Heralded as the first product to ever be created from metal melted down from illegal firearms, the headphone makers seek to repurpose violence and serve as the start of a global initiative for peace. Making their debut at CES 2018, Yevo 1 headphones will aid in creating a new source of funding for conflict-torn regions affected by illegal weapons violence.

Digital Trends invited Yevo founder Andreas Vural to our booth at CES, where we chatted (see video above) about the Yevo 1 and the Humanium Metal initiative.

YEVO x Humanium Metal
YEVO x Humanium Metal Image used with permission by copyright holder

“Creating Yevo x Humanian Metal, a product that elicits change in such a positive way, is the greatest reward,” said Vural. “This collaboration is bigger than headphones. It’s part of a global movement that removes illegal firearms from the streets and recycles them into a material that helps move us toward a more peaceful future, all while giving back to those affected by violent crime.” According to Vural, one person is shot and killed every minute with some sort of firearm.

Humanium Metal will be incorporated into the headphone’s earbuds, as well as the charging case.”The sound is really clean, and you can customize the equalizer via a smartphone app,” said Vural. The Yevo 1 are sleekly designed, fully wireless earbuds featuring customizable touch controls on each bud, but of course, the real draw will be their backstory. For what it’s worth, Vural promises buyers won’t have any issues getting through airport security.

“For us, it’s of great meaning to be able to work with brands who want to invest in and contribute to a brighter future,” said Josefina Rovan, head of marketing and communications at IM. “By using Humanium Metal in products, [Yevo] can bring awareness and sustainable value to consumers, and at the same time, generate financial support and empower the people living in countries affected by gun violence.”

Be warned, though, these headphones will cost you a pretty penny. Sourcing metal from illegal firearms, after all, can’t be a cheap enterprise, and as such, the headphones will start at $499 when they become available early in 2018. Fifty percent of proceeds, however, will be dedicated to addressing illegal firearms violence.

Lulu Chang
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Fascinated by the effects of technology on human interaction, Lulu believes that if her parents can use your new app…
The 5 best DNA test kits for 2024
We spit in a ton of test tubes to find the best and most unique DNA tests
A 23andme DNA kit.

Despite the fact that tons of competitors have sprung up in recent years, 23AndMe still makes the best DNA test on the market. It's the quickest, it's very comprehensive, and the way the company presents your genetic data is simple and easy to digest. However, depending on what kind of information you're looking for, there are other, more specialized DNA tests that might be better suited for you. Whether it's ancestry, fitness, disease risk, or something else entirely, there's likely a DNA kit that'll uncover that data.

With the rising popularity of these tests, we decided to take a closer look and see which ones are worth the investment. To do this, we secured a mail-in kit from as many DNA testing services as we could find, then shipped them a spit tube full of our precious genetic code for analysis. After looking through all the data and personally trying all of these services, there were a few that stood out from the pack. Here are our favorites:
The best DNA test kit in 2024

Read more
How to buy Bitcoin
Faux bitcoin coin on a laptop.

Bitcoin is increasingly seen as a strong store of value, and a there are a range of different ways you can take advantage of its big swings in price to generate some profit for yourself, or create a digital nest egg for the future. But futures and ETFs aside, if you want to own your own Bitcoin, and follow the mantra of "Not your keys, not your coins," then you'll need to buy Bitcoin directly.

Fortunately, buying Bitcoin today is more straightforward than ever before, with a wide range of methods for doing so. Here's our favorite.

Read more
New report claims the PlayStation VR2 is in serious trouble
A side view of the PlayStation VR2, which sits on a wood table.

There have been a lot of signs that Sony hasn't been investing a lot of resources into VR, specifically its PlayStation VR2 headset, and according to a new report, the situation might be worse than previously believed.

In an Android Central article published Thursday, sources said that Sony was slashing budgets related to VR and that there would be "very few opportunities for VR game development" in the future. Another source mentioned that there were only two PSVR2 games in development at the company.

Read more