3D Printing

While there are many uses for soft-bodied robots, the things are still only built in small batches. Scientists are out to change that, with a mass-production-capable soft bot that is 3D-printed in a single piece which walks off of the print bed.

Likened by its creators to an "ornate layered cake," the ambitious Tor Alva is the world's tallest 3D-printed building. The remarkable white tower took around 900 hours to print and rises to a height of almost 100 feet.

Philips just launched a program to offer up 3D printing files so anyone can produce their own spare parts for its trimmers for free. More brands should follow suit to make their products last longer – and avoid being trashed way before they're due.

So this is a weird but ridiculously cool one. Anker Innovations – a well-known worldwide brand with a solid reputation in power banks, chargers, and cables – has a sub-brand called Eufy – and it's built the very first desktop-sized 3D texture printer for home projects.

Researchers have developed a 3D-printable electrode that looks like a single strand of human hair and measures brain activity more reliably than the current method used to diagnose things like epilepsy and sleep disorders.

3D-printed construction is really taking off in the USA and the variety of projects being printed is remarkable. The latest example of this comes from the country's first 3D-printed Starbucks coffee shop.

While we're making progress in phasing out animal testing in the cosmetics industry around the world, there's still a ways to go in developing reliable alternatives. 3D-printed 'imitation skin' could be the ticket.

3D-printed architecture continues to go from strength to strength, with all kinds of projects being created with the burgeoning technology. The latest example of this is a new train station that will be built in just six hours.

Leading 3D-printing firm Icon has revealed plans to build a dozen new residences in Austin, Texas. The homes will feature an eye-catching mix of cutting-edge 3D printing and traditional building techniques, and will have two levels.

Combining lab-grown muscle tissue with a series of flexible mechanical joints has led to the development of an artificial hand that can grip and make gestures. The breakthrough shows the way forward for a new kind of robotics.

Hating how the PS5 looked when laid on its side, passionate DIYer Devyn Johnston got to work mocking up a simple but elegant console redesign. He's 3D printed replacement panels that elevate the look of the machine, and you could soon buy them too.

As 3D-printed architecture continues to mature from niche proposition to disruptive technology, housing developments are becoming more popular, including this new affordable housing project, which was printed in impressive time.