This turbofan engine was made with 3-D printing (except for the copper pipe, obviously). A student project at the University of Virginia School of Engineering & Applied Science, it "contains at least 70 pieces of hardware and is a "pretty good representation of an engine," says Sheffler. Powered with compressed air, it will spin up to 2,000 RPM.

Courtesy David Sheffler, University of Virginia

3-D printing: Wave of the future

As Michigan doctors print a trachea and cure a child with a dangerous breathing problem, we ask: How far, how fast, with 3-D printing?

Layer by layer, 3-D printers fuse tiny particles of plastic or metal, building complex parts from computer instructions -- forget hold the prototype or template! How good are these parts? What are they used for? Are 3-D printers the wave of the manufacturing future? More »

Comet explores sun!

Comet explores sun!

Reveals secrets of strong, changing magnetic fields

A suicidal comet brushes past the sun -- and gives detailed evidence for the sun's swirling magnetic fields, source of the solar wind. As scientists strive to understand that wind and the "space weather" it creates, we pause to celebrate the noble comet Lovejoy. More »

Science Teachers: Hip yourself to a great resource!

Teaching the science standards? Looking for extra-credit projects?

Live birth in ancient marine reptile!

Live birth in ancient marine reptile!

Unmistakable: Fetus inside mother in ancient fossils!

78 million years ago, a pregnant predator of the Cretaceous ocean died and sank to the sea floor. Today, her fossil gives the first proof that plesiosaurs, one of the commonest and baddest marine reptiles of the era, did not lay eggs. It gave birth. More »

In The News

7 convicted in Netherlands for killing soccer referee!

Losing in politics & sportsWhat's the attachment to "my" team. How do we deal with the inevitable disappointment? Is murder part of the game? Could sports affiliation protect against suicide? More »

Court bans gene patents: breast cancer test will be cheaper!

Cancer genetics: Angelina Jolie’s decisionBy going public about her preventive mastectomy, Jolie sought to raise awareness of the most radical form of cancer prevention: surgical removal. But how widely does her example apply? Can genetic sequencing help in cancer treatment? More »

AAA report: voice-actuated services in car: Dangerous!

Driving while blabbingTexting already banned for truckers, etc. What do research and reality say about the danger of hitting the keys or yakking on the mobile? More »

Oklahoma tornado disaster!

Tornado predictionTornadoes need wet air, dry air, and wind shear. What explains the big improvement in tornado prediction? Is climate change boosting these storms? More »

Chicago sinkhole injures 1, swallows 3 cars!

Sinkholes: When the ground collapses!What are sinkholes, and how dangerous are they? Can we detect and prevent them? Should you be asking more questions about the ground we're standing on? More »


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