Researchers at MIT have found a way to grow bacteria to function as signal-senders that might allow plants to "sense and respond to environmental conditions such as drought or attack by pests". More about MIT researchers engineer bacteria that could program plants for self-defence
California-based company 1X Technologies has updated the hands of its humanoid robot Neo to "perform virtually any task a human can do with their hands". More about 1X Technologies designs humanoid hand to "match or surpass human capability"
Frustrated by her own struggle to stay focused while studying, product design student Carrie Lee has developed a portable task timer that hopes to rival the addictiveness of smartphones. More about Overstimulated design student creates satisfyingly minimal focus timer
London studio United Visual Artists mocks the surveillance software of controversial spy-tech company Palantir in its graphics created for trip-hop duo Massive Attack's latest run of live shows. More about Massive Attack stage graphic creates "illusion of data being harvested" from audience
As countries drag their heels on adopting right to repair legislation, designers are forging ahead and reimagining some of our most used products – from sofas to whole electric cars – so they can be fixed by anyone. More about Five everyday products that are leading the self-repair revolution
Creative agency Ogilvy has created a special edition packaging for KitKat that doubles as a kind of tiny smartphone jail once the biscuit is removed, allowing users to "have a break" from their hyperconnected lives. More about KitKat reimagines packaging as signal-blocking smartphone pouch
Samsung chief design officer Mauro Porcini has called for a shift away from technology-led innovation towards "love" and human values in this talk hosted by Dezeen during Milan design week. More about Technology should "free you from technology" says Samsung design chief
A trio from Seattle have created Tin Can, a landline telephone that allows children to make calls without giving them access to the harmful distractions of a smartphone. More about Tin Can is an old-school phone with modern safety measures for children
Red Bull's GamePop magazine has developed a "first-of-its-kind" cover with a built-in display and controllers, allowing readers to play a game of Tetris on its paper surface. More about Paper-thin playable Tetris game forms cover of GamePop magazine
A study by AI company Anthropic has found that much work done by architects and engineers could be done twice as quickly with large language models, but claims there has been little impact on jobs so far. More about Architects and engineers among professions most automatable by AI according to Anthropic
An AI pocket pet, a vibrating ultrasonic knife and a "paper battery" were among the interesting and unusual products on display at the world's most influential technology fair, CES, in Las Vegas this week. More about Ten gadgets that caught our attention at CES 2026
Tech company Cozytime has debuted a grilling and roasting device that uses infrared light to cook food and senses food type using AI, at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. More about Cozytime debuts grill that uses light to cook "four times faster than fire"
Singapore tech company Flint has announced production on a rechargeable "paper battery", which it claims will biodegrade at the end of its life cycle, at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. More about Flint announces production of biodegradable "paper battery"
Toy manufacturer Lego has released its Smart Play system, which includes Lego bricks, tags and minifigurines with built-in sensors and a tiny speaker at this year's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. More about Lego releases "ground-breaking" responsive Smart Brick system
As part of our review of 2025, Dezeen contributing editor Rima Sabina Aouf shares her picks of this year's gadgets, including a tiny sunlight emulator, a video player for your dreams and a vest for listening to trees. More about The top 10 gadgets of 2025
Architect Danish Kurani has developed a prototype for a "connected" classroom, designed to enable expert teachers to remotely provide lessons to students in rural communities. More about Connected Classroom by Danish Kurani allows teachers to reach rural students in Alabama
Danish design studio Swift Creatives has developed a collection of modular CCTV cameras with forms reminiscent of silly straws, promising to make home surveillance more playful. More about Swift Creatives brings "architectural sophistication" to home surveillance cameras
In this week's comments update, readers are discussing a retrofuturistic kitchen robot that uses AI to generate recipes based on leftover ingredients. More about "Another camera in your home watching you" says commenter
The latest edition of our weekly Dezeen Agenda newsletter features a kitchen robot that uses AI to generate recipes. Subscribe to Dezeen Agenda now. More about Dezeen Agenda features AI appliance that generates recipes based on leftovers
Students from MIT have developed a retrofuturistic kitchen robot that uses AI to look at the ingredients available and makes suggestions for what to cook based on your mood, skill level and available time. More about Kitchen Cosmo is a "playful and intentional" AI appliance that generates recipes based on leftovers