1. Bones and muscles
At the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, researchers have been able to print bones, muscles, and ears—a process known as bioprinting—and successfully implant them into animals. What's truly exciting is that the printed tissue survives after implantation and becomes functional tissue.
2. Ovary
Overcoming infertility is often a long, painful, and expensive process. But a groundbreaking experiment offers hope that we may see an innovative new treatment in the future. At Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, a mouse was implanted with a synthetically printed ovary. The mouse went on to give birth to healthy babies.
3. Pastries
Dinara Kasko, a pastry chef with an architectural background from Ukraine, has gained fame on Instagram by posting photos of her striking geometric 3D-printed pastries. And Kasko isn't the only company printing food…
4. Pizza
The Fodini 3D food printer, manufactured by Natural Machines, is designed to create personalized printed food. It can print pizzas, bean burgers, and a range of healthier options using edible ingredients.
5. Buildings
Russian startup Apis Cor can 3D print a typical house in just 24 hours, saving up to 40% on construction costs. The mobile printer lays layers of concrete mixture to build the walls, and then insulation, windows, and a roof are added once the printer is removed. Moreover, because Apis Cor's printing equipment is mobile, houses can be printed on-site rather than in a factory.
6. A boat
The University of Maine has set a Guinness World Record by 3D printing the largest boat ever made—a 25-foot, 5,000-pound vessel named 3Dirigo. The oversized printer used to build the boat was capable of printing objects up to 100 feet long and 22 feet wide.
7. Kayaking
Jim Smith of Grass Roots Engineering created a full-size kayak on a home printer in 42 days, proving you don't need industrial kits to create impressive 3D printed objects. The colorful kayak is completely waterproof and works perfectly, requiring approximately $500 worth of materials to build.
8. Shape memory materials
4D printing is certainly not as widespread as 3D printing, but one example demonstrates its potential future uses. Researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory have printed a flexible silicone material that can adjust itself when heated. For example, this could be used to create truly customizable, form-fitting shoes that adapt to the wearer's foot.
