smart materials

Revolutionizing Materials: 3D Printing Living Bacteria into Functional Complex Structures

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What Happened Researchers have advanced the frontier of additive manufacturing by successfully 3D printing living bacteria into complex, functional materials, as reported by Science | AAAS. This breakthrough integrates living microorganisms directly into printed architectures, enabling the creation of materials that are not only structurally complex but also biologically active and functional. Why It Matters … Read more

VA Puget Sound Launches Cutting-Edge 3D Bioprinting Facility to Revolutionize Veteran Healthcare

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What Happened In a groundbreaking development for medical technology and Veteran care, the VA Puget Sound Health Care System has unveiled a nation-leading 3D bioprinting facility aimed at transforming healthcare for Veterans. The announcement, detailed on VA.gov Home | Veterans Affairs, highlights the establishment of a state-of-the-art bioprinting center dedicated to producing bio-embedded materials that … Read more

Leonardo UK’s 3D Printed Touch Table Integrates Embedded Sensors for Immersive Air Combat Simulation

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What Happened Leonardo UK has developed an innovative touch table that uses 3D printing technology to create a hands-on air combat simulation experience. According to a report by VoxelMatters, this touch table integrates embedded sensors within 3D printed components to enable interactive simulation, enhancing the training and operational planning capabilities for air combat scenarios. Why … Read more

Revolutionizing Defense Manufacturing: The Rise of Living Materials in Additive Manufacturing at NUWC Keyport

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What Happened The U.S. Department of War recently highlighted groundbreaking advancements at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Keyport, where additive manufacturing (AM) is being leveraged to introduce cost-saving innovations (source). While the article focuses broadly on additive manufacturing’s cost efficiencies, emerging trends suggest integration with smart and bio-embedded materials—specifically living materials—is an under-covered frontier … Read more

Unlocking the Future of 3D Printing with Conductive Filaments: Smart & Bio-Embedded Materials

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What Happened Recent developments in 3D printing have increasingly focused on the integration of conductive filaments into additive manufacturing processes, as detailed in the All3DP article on filament types. These materials enable the printing of components that not only form structural parts but also conduct electricity, opening pathways to embedded sensors, wearable electronics, and smart … Read more

Advancing 3D Printing with Conductive Polymer Composites: Emerging Trends and Future Outlook

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What Happened? Recent research highlighted in Wiley Online Library sheds light on recent developments in additive manufacturing using conductive polymer composites. These advances focus on integrating conductive fillers into polymer matrices to fabricate 3D printed parts with electrical functionality. This emerging class of materials, often referred to as conductive filaments, is gaining traction for creating … Read more

ETH Zurich’s 3D Printed Living Material Revolutionizes CO2 Capture and Storage

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What Happened Researchers at ETH Zurich have engineered a groundbreaking 3D printed living material capable of capturing and storing carbon dioxide (CO₂). This innovative development combines the fields of additive manufacturing and synthetic biology to create a bio-embedded material that actively interacts with its environment. The original report by 3D Printing Industry highlights this novel … Read more

Unlocking the Future of 3D Printing with Bio-Embedded Microsystems and Lab-on-PCB Technology

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What Happened Recent breakthroughs in bio-microsystem integration and Lab-on-PCB technology have opened new frontiers in the development of smart, bio-embedded materials for 3D printing. According to a Nature article published on May 8, 2025, these advances highlight the integration of biological components with printed circuit board (PCB) technology to create compact, multifunctional microsystems. This fusion … Read more

Advancing Tissue Engineering: 3D Bioprinting of Collagen-Based Perfusable Scaffolds

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What Happened Researchers have achieved a significant breakthrough in 3D bioprinting by developing collagen-based, high-resolution internally perfusable scaffolds designed for engineering fully biologic tissue systems. This advancement was detailed in a recent publication by Science | AAAS. The team successfully printed scaffolds composed of collagen, a natural extracellular matrix protein, with intricate internal channels that … Read more

Embedding Sensors in Metal 3D Printed Components: The Future of Smart Manufacturing

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What Happened Recent advances in metal additive manufacturing have enabled the integration of embedded sensors and electrical functionalities directly into 3D printed metal components. According to tctmagazine.com, metal 3D printing techniques are evolving to embed sensors within components during the build process rather than adding them post-production. This breakthrough enables the creation of smart metal … Read more