The Next Level of 3D Printing: Liquid Metal

The possibilities afforded by 3D printing keep expanding. From to , the sky seems to be the limit.

Researchers at North Carolina State University took the technology one step further with the discovery of a method for printing liquid metal (watch above)

Michael Dickey and his team used a mixture of gallium and indium alloy, which remains liquid at room temperature. When the metal makes contact with air, it develops a thin skin that is strong enough to hold the liquid's shape.

As of now, Dickey and his team are using a syringe to squeeze the alloy out and create shapes with it. The droplets can be easily arranged; the researchers created simple figures by aligning the drops in bead-chains that managed to stand upright.