3D printing has grown in sophistication since the late 1970s; TED Fellow Skylar Tibbits is shaping the next development, which he calls 4D printing, where the fourth dimension is time. This emerging technology will allow us to print objects that then reshape themselves or self-assemble over time. Think: a printed cube that folds before your eyes, or a printed pipe able to sense the need to expand or contract.

The emergence of "4D printing"

Programming materials to shape and build themselves is moving from nano labs to real-world construction. A single strand printed with multiple materials can fold into the letters MIT when dropped in water, all on its own. This approach could solve stubborn problems in infrastructure, like pipes that adapt to changing flow needs without manual labor. By merging lessons from molecular self-assembly and human-scale design, entire industries could be reimagined.

Self-Assembling Materials Are Transforming Manufacturing and Design

Book Skylar Tibbits to speak at your next event

TED Fellows