Selected from the archive for the 3D Printing collection — a quick, visual way into the topic before you go deeper.
At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Tibbits and researchers from the firms Stratasys and Autodesk Inc were trying to come up with a way of describing objects they were creating on 3D printers... objects that not only could be printed, but thanks to geometric code, could also later change shape and transform on their own. Basically, 3d printed programmable material. This 4D printing process ... which turns code into "smart objects" that can self-assemble or change shape when confronted with a change in its environment... could very well pop up in a number of industries, from construction to athletic wear. Or imagine micro-particles moving around inside our bodies maintaining our health.... a protein is in fact a self-reconfiguring material. Visit the 3D Printing Store. Learn about Bioprinting . Read more: Give the gift of Smithsonian magazine for only $12! Follow us: @SmithsonianMag on Twitter