Launched in October 2014, Penny for London is an initiative that lets Londoners give to charity just by using their contactless cards to get the bus or Tube. The partnership between Barclaycard and the Mayor of London makes it easier than ever to donate to charity.

People are willing to show support for social causes – provided they don't have to do much - and brands are finding new ways to tap into the strength of the herd. By re-engineering menial actions – from buying body lotion to having sex – there are ways to reward everyone.

A Samsung-powered Android alarm app helps researchers at the University of Vienna find cures for diseases. It harnesses your phone's processing power at night while charging to crunch protein calculations and send them to the researchers via Wi-Fi.

The good intentions that drive giving can be fleeting, easily forgotten when you’re trying to remember bank details and which number to call. Snapdonate wants to makes donating seamless. Just take a picture of a charity's logo and say how much you want to give.