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3DPrinting: the future of construction and lunar technology

3D printing could revolutionise theconstruction industry and is now entering the front lines of lunar technology.Jason Ballard, the young CEO of Icon, is not only aiming to create faster,cheaper, hurricane-resistant and eco-friendly homes, but is also working withNASA to explore the lunar potential of 3D printing. The US currently faces ahousing shortage of around 3.8 million homes, with the majority of homesavailable for purchase priced out of reach for Americans.

Ballard sees 3D printing as a criticalshift in the construction industry. Traditional construction methods have manydrawbacks, such as their susceptibility to natural disasters and ecologicalimpact. Meanwhile, Icon's technology, which builds walls from a single materialusing a robot, produces less waste. The process involves robots mixing dryconcrete powder, water and additives, then printing the material layer by layeraccording to a pre-programmed plan.

But Ballard doesn't stop there. Icon isalso working with NASA to develop 3D printing technology for lunarinfrastructure. The goal is to create materials on the moon that don't requireraw materials from Earth. Current experiments are using lasers to melt lunarregolith, a lunar surface material, to make a strong building material.

While many are sceptical about Ballard'sambitious plans, he is optimistic about the future, claiming that buildingswill soon be designed by artificial intelligence, projects will be managed bysoftware and almost everything will be built by robots. The question is whetherthese visions are realistic or just the exaggerated promises of a young CEO.

3D Printing on the Frontline: The Marine Corps' NewPath

The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is at the forefront ofintegrating 3D printing technologies into the defense system, which is notsurprising given the military sector's longstanding openness to innovation. Thelatest report from the USMC highlights the activities of the AdvancedManufacturing Systems (AMS) team, which aims to improve supply and logisticalefficiency with the help of additive manufacturing.

According to their new guidelines, the Marine Corps places ahigher strategic priority on additive manufacturing, especially in preparationfor potential conflicts in the Pacific. The fundamental goal is to ensureimmediate access for soldiers to the best equipment and spare parts, withoutthe hindrances of long supply chains and geographical obstacles.

The team's leader, Robert Davies, emphasizes the importance ofpractical solutions in the realm of 3D printing: "Parts break – that's thereality of the battlefield. Today, we are no longer at the mercy of time: ifsomething breaks, we can print it immediately."

While 3D printing offers numerous advantages, the AMS teamstated that additive manufacturing complements traditional manufacturing,rather than replacing it. The technology provides immediate, on-site solutions,but not for mass production.

Revolutionary 3D Printing: Innovative Repair forBrain Injuries at the University of Oxford

Researchers at the University of Oxford have developed a'revolutionary' 3D printing technique, which in the future could offer uniquerepairs for those who suffer from brain injuries. They demonstrated that nervecells can be 3D printed in a way that replicates the architecture of thecerebral cortex.

Brain injuries - resulting from trauma, stroke, or surgeries dueto brain tumors - often cause significant damage to the outer layer of thehuman brain, leading to issues in cognition, movement, and communication.

According to the researchers involved in the project, tissueregenerative therapies, especially those where patients receive implantsderived from their own stem cells, could be promising in treating braininjuries. However, until now, there has been no method to ensure that theimplanted stem cells replicate the architecture of the brain.

The researchers produced a two-layered brain tissue using 3D printing.After implantation into mouse brain slices, they convincingly integrated withthe host tissue.

"This advancement is a significant step towards thefabrication of materials that fully replicate the natural structure andfunction of brain tissues. In the long run, the research offers hope to thosesuffering from brain injuries," said Dr. Yongcheng Jin, the lead author ofthe study.

The university states that the researchers intend to furtherrefine the droplet printing technique to create complex, multi-layered cerebralcortex tissues. The engineered tissues could also be used for drug evaluation,studying brain development, and enhancing understanding of the fundamentals ofcognition.

Dubai Innovates in 3D Construction: A QualityBreakthrough in Poured Concrete

Dubai, at the forefront of construction innovations, is onceagain keeping pace with industrial progress. According to a report from theEmirates News Agency (WAM), Dubai's City Hall has introduced the world's firstcertification and comparative system for 3D printing in the constructionindustry. The initiative aims to enhance the quality of poured concrete infactories operating in Dubai and to simplify related processes.

In doing so, Dubai reaffirms its pioneering role in 3D printingfor construction, further solidifying its commitment to innovative andsustainable building methods.

Al Hajri, the Director of Dubai City Hall, stated that thecertification system was established in alignment with the proactive vision ofDubai City Hall. It adopts international best practices to provide outstandingservice to both the community and individuals. Concurrently, with its 3Dprinting strategy, Dubai aims to utilize technology for the betterment ofhumanity.

Professionals from the Dubai Central Laboratory will overseethis system, with a particular focus on product evaluation, audits, andlaboratory testing.

Integrating 3D printing into construction results in fewererrors, reduced resource wastage, and a faster completion of projects with lesslabor. With this move, Dubai opens a new chapter in the construction industry,offering new opportunities for business decision-makers and corporate leadersworldwide.

3D Bioprinting: A New Era in Cancer Research

Two leading companies have announced a new partnership toaccelerate the development of anti-cancer drugs using 3D bioprintingtechnology. During the collaboration, new protocols will be developed thatallow the creation of 3D bioprinted tumor models from cancer cell lines. Thesemodels aim to enhance the accuracy and speed of drug development, which cansignificantly reduce development costs and increase research outcomes.

The global number of cancer cases remains high, and despitesignificant advances in medicine, the number of effective cancer therapies islimited. The new partnership offers researchers advanced tools to betterunderstand drug development and cancer biology.

Using these new protocols, researchers can create 3D bioprintedcancer models that have undergone strict quality control measures, ensuringtheir reliability and accuracy. The goal of these protocols is to provideresearchers with faster and more accurate results, promoting the development ofnew anti-cancer drugs.