More Than Just Plastic
If you have access to a 3D printer, you can now print your own plastic that can conduct electricity! Researchers at the University of Warwick introduced the printable material called “carbomorph,” and have demonstrated that it can be used as a heat sensor in a coffee mug, a flex sensor in a glove and buttons on a video-game controller. And the methodology is online in an open access paper. Wired – Tim Maly

This Is The House That 3D Printing Built
Brick-and-mortar houses could be a thing of the past in as little as ten years. London architecture firm Softkill Design recently completed a 3D-printed model home, known as the “Protohouse.” No detail has been spared – the house includes windows, stairs and is even fully furnished. 3D printed houses save labor and materials, making them more sustainable than their counterparts. Humans Invent – Leo Kent

Make Your Own Mini-Me
Familiar with the photo booths where you and your friends strike silly poses that are captured in a strip of four photos? There s a new way to save your memories. The Omote 3D photo booth, a pop-up in the Harujuku district of Tokyo, opened on November 24th and produces full-color 3D replicas of its visitors that are up to eight inches tall. All you have to do is stand still. Wired – Philippa Warr

Oops!…I Printed Your Head
Will.i.am and Britney Spears have teamed up to make a music video for their new song, “Scream & Shout.” The glittery video, which includes shots of gadgets of all kinds, features a Makerbot 3D printer in the middle of replicating Will.i.am.’s head. A bust of yourself? Talk about a unique gift for the holidays. Betabeat – Jessica Roy

Print Good, Feel Good
The Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine might soon be able to replace your cartilage. Researchers have created what they are calling a “3D bio-printer” that prints out implantable human cartilage. The cartilage is a mix of synthetic and natural materials; the synthetic components ensure the cartilage’s strength while natural gels promote the growth of new cartilage around the implanted stuff. Institute of Physics via Gizmodo – Leslie Horn