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Tech for Change

plastic waste in the ocean

Plastic-eating bacteria are amazing. But they aren’t going to save the planet

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but plastic-eating bacteria aren’t going to save the planet. Here's why they aren’t a silver bullet for the environment.
An Aventon Level 2 ebike sits outside a grocery store.

I was wrong. E-bikes are so practical, they’re a transit cheat code

You’ve probably rolled your eyes at them. So have I. And we’re both wrong. E-bikes are the commuting solution right under your upturned nose.
iPhone 14 Pro showing Battery & Health

Your iPhone has a secret feature that helps the environment — here’s how it works

You're always going to need to charge up your iPhone, but did you know your iPhone has a clean charging feature enabled by default? Here's how it works.
Kia Niro EV Charging Port

Lithium-ion vs. NiMH: EV batteries explained and compared

Electric vehicles are on the rise, but not all EV batteries are created equal. Here's a look at the different kinds of EV batteries.
Sally Ride NASA

How NASA’s astronaut class of 1978 changed the face of space exploration

NASA's 1978 astronaut class was a turning point for the agency, and it set the stage for the more diverse and inclusive space program we have today
ElliQ showing a workout while displayed on a white background.

ElliQ is a smart home companion designed for your grandparents

ElliQ is a standalone smart home companion that provides an easy way to check the news, listen to music, chat with friends, or play a few games.
Jeep Wrangler 4xe charging at a NYC curbside charger.

What I’ve learned after a year of driving the best-selling plug-in hybrid in the U.S.

After a year and 6,000 miles driving my Wrangler 4xe, here's what I've loved and hated about owning a plug-in hybrid. And why I know I'm not ready for an EV.
Genesis Electrified GV70 Three Quarter

Genesis Electrified GV70 first drive review: a killer high-end EV with one flaw

The Genesis Electrified GV70 takes the much loved GV70 crossover and slaps a battery and electric powertrain in it. Is that the right strategy?
Users addicted to their phones

How a tiny social media break can give you surprisingly big health benefits

According to a remarkable research courtesy of Swansea University, cutting down on social media can fix health, immune function, loneliness, and depression.
electric car charging

Can electric car batteries be recycled?

Electric cars may be better for the environment than gas-powered cars, but they still have their own environmental challenges -- like their huge batteries.
An iPhone with apps from Black developers downloaded on it.

Our 5 favorite iPhone and Android apps by Black developers

As Black History Month comes to a close, here are five of some of the most thought-provoking apps made by Black developers in the U.S.
In the Neutral Buoyancy Lab at Johnson Space Center, NASA astronaut Victor Glover tests collection methods for ISS External Microorganisms, which examines microbes released from the space station to help limit contamination on future exploration missions.

The science experiments that the Crew-6 astronauts will be performing on the ISS

Four astronauts will soon launch to the ISS where they'll perform scientific research, working on a wide variety of experiments.
bill gates surprised

Bill Gates investment aims to tackle cow burps

Bill Gates' interest in battling climate change is well known, and his latest investment aims to help reduce methane emissions by tackling cow burps.
Digital Trends CES 2023 Tech For Change Award Winners Feature

Digital Trends’ Tech For Change CES 2023 Awards

Of all the world-changing technologies and innovative ideas on display at CES 2023, these ones impressed us the most.
acapela group voice cloning ad

This AI cloned my voice using just three minutes of audio

My Own Voice certainly isn't the only voice-cloning tool out there, but what's impressive about it is that it only needs a tiny amount of input.
Belkin chargers side-by-side comparison.

Belkin just made a huge bet on sustainability at CES 2023

Belkin has taken to CES 2023 to announce updates for some of its most popular accessories, which will now be made with post-consumer recycled plastic.
nasa swot launch

NASA launches fresh water observation satellite

NASA has launched its first mission to survey fresh water systems from a global perspective.
Personal holding five SIM cards fanned out.

The SIM card in your phone has secret power to make medicine cheaper

Research from Imperial College London suggests that gold compouds recovered from discarded SIM cards can significantly lower the cost of making medicines.
young woman playing video games on a PC

Gaming to boost mental health: 5 tips from a clinical psychologist

Clinical psychologist and video game designer Dr. Kelli Dunlap shares how to reap the mental health benefits of gaming while avoiding the pitfalls.
A OnePlus phone being traded in for a OnePlus 10 Pro.

OnePlus wants your help to plant thousands of new trees

The next time you trade in a OnePlus phone, you might help plant a tree.
The Apple Watch Ultra's heart rate sensor active.

Sensor breakthrough brings us closer to blood glucose monitoring on wearables

A medical breakthrough courtesy of Kennesaw State University promises a smartphone-connected device offering a noninvasive method of blood sugar analysis.
The DART spacecraft's livestream seconds before impact.

When will we know if NASA’s asteroid defense test was a total success?

NASA has successfully crashed a spacecraft into an asteroid in a planetary defense test. But when will we know if the impact has altered the asteroid's path?
The cover screen on the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4.

How the Galaxy Z Flip 4 fixed my unhealthy phone habits

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4's outer display has helped me fight the urge to get lost in the flurry of unwanted notifications and social media posts.
dish smartphone repairs iphone repair feature 1

Big Tech’s superficial support is undermining the right-to-repair movement

Big names like Google, Samsung, and Apple are all starting to get on board with right to repair, but how substantial are their latest programs?
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4.

Samsung lays out plan for net zero emissions by 2050

Samsung has detailed a decades-long road map to sustainability across its many business arms.
Rendering of the Jeep Recon electric SUV.

Jeep is launching its first two electric SUVs in the U.S. in 2024

Jeep plans to launch four electric SUVs by 2025, with two confirmed for the U.S.
the wikipedia logo on a pink background

Meta wants to supercharge Wikipedia with an AI upgrade

Meta, the company formerly known as Facebook, has proposed a surprisingly simple way to make Wikipedia articles more transparent and trustworthy
Xbox Series S

Xbox again teams up with the Special Olympics for inclusive esports event

Gaming for Inclusion 2022 will once again feature Special Olympics athletes and Unified partners in online competitions in Rocket League.
Luci autonomous wheelchair on orange backdrop

Meet the startup that gives wheelchairs aftermarket superpowers

Rather than starting from scratch and building a cutting-edge wheelchair from the ground up, these inventors built a high-tech wheelchair upgrade kit.
Chrome OS Flex on a ASUS laptop.

How ChromeOS Flex turns old PCs into Chromebooks for free

Google's ChromeOS Flex is now out of beta and can help you repurpose your old computer to a Chromebook.
Jeans made using upcycling technology

Beer maker transforms brewing waste into denim jeans

A Japanese beer maker is using upcycling technology to turn waste products from the brewing process into blue jeans, winning the company new fans.
8bitdo is launching bluetooth controller for gamers with limited mobility lite se

8BitDo created a console-agnostic controller for players with limited mobility

8BitDo is launching a Bluetooth controller for gamers with limited mobility, which was made thanks to the father of a young gamer with a rare muscular disorder.
Adjusting the temperature on the Google Nest Thermostat.

Five must-have eco-friendly products for your smart home

Make your life a little greener with these eco-friendly smart home devices. We look at everything from bidets to smart composters.
A screen of Instagrams new NFT feature on an iPhone 13.

Meta to offset use of NFTs by ‘buying renewable energy’

There are valid environmental concerns about Meta's recent inclusion of NFTs in apps like Instagram. Here's what we know about how Meta plans to address them.