3D Nanoprinting

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-17357374

As the article above states, a team of researchers at Vienna University have been able to create structures as small as 0.285mm in just over four minutes. With this technique, many more applications of nanotechnologies may be seen in the world as they become more available to individuals with the help of this new, quick method of production, called "two-photon lithography". The next step to increasing the use and benefit of these tiny technological objects is to make them biologically compatible to enable humans and other living things to use them within their bodies for medical reasons. Researchers have already started looking into possible applications of the devices, a major one being the use of nanotechnologies to act as scaffolds to promote the regrowth of bones. Softer tissues such as cartilage and muscle will also be able to benefit from this process as it is able to complete its tasks even in water-based environments. This advancement in nanotechnology is certainly predicted to better the medical field, but it makes one wonder how many other ways it could impact our lives... I think the possibilities are truly endless.

This is a great accomplishment in technology. Not only can this advancement in nanotechnology be used in the medical field like Cassidy said, but can be used in many other ways as well. We can benefit in many ways as day to day devices we use are resigned to use nanotechnologies - like our cell phones and ipods - making them even smaller but with the same function. As well in the medical field, maybe one day these nanotechnologies can be used as scaffolds for bone growth outside of the body, instead of only bone growth inside of the body.
This new technique makes me wonder what other new techniques will be thought out in the new future that can advance technology like this one.

The amount of detail and precision the researchers have successfully achieved through the use of 3D printing techniques is absolutely astounding! As Cassidy and Suzanne have already stated, it is quite clear that the advancements in this field will have wide-spread impacts, particularly in the medical field. The technology itself is fascinating. In basic terms, it involves focusing a laser beam to harden liquid resin, which can occur anywhere within the resin using this new technology. Two photons must be absorbed in order for the resin to solidify, hence the name "two-photon lithography". The researchers have managed to speed up the process by a factor of 500 or in some cases 1000 times, primarily by improving the control mechanism for the mirrors used to focus the laser. This technology has uncapped potential, and in my opinion, we can probably expect to see this process making its way into real world applications quite soon, where formerly it was too inefficient to be deemed useful.