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Every day, we humans dream up more and more ways to use technology to make the world a better place. Whether its solar panels that generate green energy, 3d printed prosthetics, or gene editing tools that eradicate diseases; there’s no shortage of world-changing tech out there. But it’s also easy for all those good things to get buried beneath all the bad news on the Internet. That’s why we started Tech For Change: an ongoing series in which we shine a spotlight on positive uses of technology, and showcase how they’re helping to make the world a better place.
Scientists found a way to turn plastic bottles into cookies you can actually eat
Scientists have engineered yeast that can turn plastic bottle waste and crop leftovers into food ingredients, including proteins, fats, vitamins, and flavorings.
EXCLUSIVE: How to ace ‘real’ blood pressure sensing on a watch? Huawei made a big leap and told us the secrets
Huawei Watch D3 takes blood pressure monitoring to the next level. We speak to Huawei’s wearables president about its new technology, accuracy and medical ambitions.
Smart rings focus on the heart. I saw the future, and it’s a sweat-sensing lab on your finger.
Experts at the University of California San Diego have developed a smart ring that can measure multiple biomarkers simultaneously by passively extracting sweat from your fingers.
A random TikTok helped scientists discover a rare underground eel in India
A blurry TikTok clip of a fish coming out of a borewell led scientists straight to a brand new species living underground beneath the India-Nepal border. Meet Gangaichthys indonepalicus.
Original Series
AI can turn a cloud of scuba bubbles into an early warning for divers
University of Minnesota researchers taught an underwater robot to estimate a diver’s breathing from exhaled bubbles, creating a contactless monitor that could eventually flag unusual respiration without pretending it can diagnose distress.
Scientists made robots curious like toddlers, and it helped them learn language twice as fast
Researchers at OIST gave a virtual robot curiosity, and it learned language twice as fast, playful detours and toddler grammar slip-ups included.
A new AI model wants self-driving cars to think before they swerve
A Seoul National University team built an AI that scores self-driving cars' safety choices in real time, and it just landed a rare CVPR highlight paper nod.
An AirPods-sized mini lab could help catch disease markers in minutes
The AirPods-case-sized VPodDuo connects to a smartphone and reads molecular tests for viruses, bacteria, and cancer-associated biomarkers in around 10 minutes.
Next-gen smart knitted fabric flips switches, counts steps, and even changes shape
Harvard researchers created programmable knitted fabric that changes shape, acts as electronic switches, and could power the next generation of wearable technology.
Exclusive: YouTube reveals how it can make you speak languages you don’t know
YouTube Product Lead for Autodubbing, Buddhika Kottahachchi, tells DigitalTrends how auto-dubbed videos will soon use AI to accordingly change the lip movement and make it look natural.
New biodegradable fiber tech helps with e-waste
What’s happened? Researchers from Seoul National University, led by Professor Seung-Kyun Kang and Dr. Jae-Young Baehave developed a groundbreaking biodegradable fiber that could revolutionize textile electronics, tackling the growing e-waste problem. This eco-friendly material, detailed in a July 2025 study published in npj Flexible Electronics, degrades naturally without harming the environment, unlike traditional electronic textiles […]
How to buy over-the-counter hearing aids
After years in the making, over-the-counter hearing aids are now available for purchase without a prescription: Here's what to you need to know.
How to responsibly recycle old and unused phones
Your old phones have had a good life, and now it's time to recycle them responsibly. Let's run through the steps.
The future of hand and wrist rehabilitation is fun arcade games
A team of researchers in Spain are using video games developed on a free platform and a specialized controller to help with hand and wrist rehabilitation.
Low-cost smart ring shows the future of sign language input on phones
The SpellRing can track the shape of hands, movement, and palm orientation to enable word spelling in American Sign Language (ASL) with impressive accuracy.
When the grid died, these EV owners powered their homes with their cars
In an era of increasingly hard-hitting disasters, some people are turning to their EVs as a part of their recovery plan.
How two apps are turning smartphones into navigation devices for the blind
A team of researchers has built two apps that only need the sensors fitted inside a phone to help blind people navigate buildings. Here's how they work.
Recycling and the movies: how filmmaking is going green and making the world (and movies) better
In the new millennium, Hollywood has become far greener, embracing recycling technologies and making real progress for the entertainment industry.
The brain-computer interface revolution is just getting started
Brain-Computer Interfaces fascinate the sci-fi and medical communities in equal measure. Here's how close the transformative technology is to everyday use.
Why turning on your subtitles might be more radical than you think
In an interview with Digital Trends, Henry Warren, co-founder of Turn on the Subtitles, explains why opting in for subtitles can improve a child's literacy.
Digital Trends 2024 Tech for Change Awards
From helping users with disabilities to bringing distracted audiences back together, our 2024 Tech for Change award winners are making an impact.
How headphones are helping people with sensory needs live a calmer life
For people with sensory needs such as the neurodivergent or those with ADHD, the sounds of the world can be excruciating. Here's how headphones can help.
How solar panels went from ’50s satellites to your backyard
Solar panel technology has come a long way. Ever wondered how we got here? Come and follow the surprising path the world's greenest power source has taken.
I tried a $500 health tracking app. Here’s why it’s worth every penny
Looking for a health tracking solution that goes deep? I tried InsideTracker, a $500+ health tracking app unlike anything else. Here's why it's a game-changer.
These video games are changing the conversation on sustainability
This year's Games for Change festival highlighted three projects that are rethinking how games can send a message about sustainability.
They raised $50 million for charity with dusty consoles. Here’s how
Games Done Quick has raised over $50 million for charity over the past 14 years. Here's the tech that keeps the show going.
5 ways PCs are becoming more sustainable, from recycling to smarter design
PCs are always getting faster, but are they becoming more sustainable too? Here are five reasons to be optimistic.
How I made my PC more sustainable, just in time for summer — and you can too
The summer months are rolling in and turning everyone's gaming room into a sweat box. Here's how to make yours more bearable in summer 2024.
To build a PS5 controller for anyone, Sony had to reinvent the wheel
PlayStation raised the bar for accessibility with its Access Controller. It took a lot of feedback and iteration to get there.
How tech powers the sensory-friendly screenings that open theaters to everyone
Sensory-friendly screenings are becoming more normalized, but there's still a long way to go. How do these showings work and who benefits from them?
Two years later, over-the-counter hearing aids are still finding their groove
Americans have been able to buy over-the-counter hearing aids for almost two years. Have they made a difference? We ask the experts.
This AI gadget let me speak in languages I don’t know or understand
The Timekettle X1 is a gadget dedicated solely to helping you speak and translate different languages. But is it any good? Here's what happened when I used it.
How futuristic display tech is trying to save your eyes
We can't escape screens, but a few brands are trying to make the ordeal less harmful for eyes. Science, however, has other thoughts about our screen habits.
Watch Neuralink’s first human brain-chip patient play chess via thought
Neuralink has live streamed a video showing its first human patient using its brain implant to play chess just by thinking about it.
I had written off bicycles, until e-bikes unlocked an entire world for me
E-bikes weren't even on my radar until the Himiway C5 came along and turned me into an e-bike enthusiast over the course of my very first ride.
Google is launching a powerful new AI app for your Android phone
Google’s latest mobile app is Gemini, which leverages generative AI tricks. But t the same time, it also aims to double as a Google Assistant replacement.
The Oura Ring showed me how months of stress destroyed my sleep
The Oura Ring showed me how stress ruined my sleep, and prompted me to take action. It also made me realize too much data isn't always a good thing.
NASA is looking for volunteers for yearlong simulated Mars mission
If you've ever wanted to visit Mars, then NASA has an offer for you. The agency is running a simulated mission to Mars, and it's looking for volunteers.