Titanium

The 3D-printing of titanium-alloy objects does open up some intriguing possibilities. That said, the finished items aren't always as strong as they could be. New research suggests that adding copper to those alloys could make a big difference.

Refrigeration and air conditioning could use a boost in efficiency. On that road, researchers have now developed an unusual new technique that could lead to "twist fridges", which cool by unraveling fibers that are tensely twisted.

Rock guitarists sometimes have a strange relationship with their instruments, with many sacrificing them to their art. When Sandvik decided to make an unbreakable all-metal guitar, naturally the company asked fellow Swede Yngwie Malmsteen to try and destroy it.

​In a demonstration of what could be commercially possible within the near future, HRE Wheels recently teamed up with GE Additive’s AddWorks team to create the first-ever titanium wheel to be 3D-printed via Electron Beam Melting. The process is said to be more efficient than traditional machining.

Lockheed Martin is no stranger to 3D printing components, but now the company has created its largest piece to date – titanium domes to cap off satellite fuel tanks. Using additive manufacturing can help satellites be assembled faster and with less wasted materials.

​Australian company Titomic has unveiled what it claims is the world's largest metal 3D printer. Utilizing a patented process co-developed with Australian federal scientific research agency the CSIRO, the 3D metal printer boasts a build area 9 m long, 3 m wide and 1.5 m high (29.5 x 9.8 x 4.9 ft).

​Titanium is very biocompatible, which is why it's so often used for medical implants. That said, chemical compounds in the metal sometimes do result in implants being rejected by the body. Scientists at RMIT University are attempting to address the problem, by coating such implants with diamonds.

​Nothing beats a simple squeezable bottle when it comes to staying hydrated on the move, but the plastics used for these receptacles come at a cost. So the team behind Keego thought, why not use elastic metals instead?

Over the last few years, perovskite has proven itself to be a promising material for photovoltaic solar cells, but it’s not without its problems. Now, a team has found a way to helps solve at least one of those issues, removing toxic lead from the device by substituting in titanium.

Exoplanets are a constant source of surprise and wonder, and now astronomers have noticed something strange about a gas giant called WASP-19b. In the upper atmosphere of this “hot Jupiter” sits a layer of titanium oxide, which has flipped the usual atmospheric temperature structure on its head.

Apparently, being the only titanium car in the world isn't enough to woo a suitable buyer. Icona is shopping the on-off Vulcano Titanium around, and following forays into the USA and China, the car has now returned to Europe.

In its short history, Horacio Pagani's boutique rival to Ferrari and Lamborghini has developed a back catalogue of automotive erotica to make any petrol head weak at the knees. We didn't think it possible, but the company's latest offering might just be its most beautiful car yet.