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.

Skylar Tibbits: The emergence of "4D printing"

The emergence of "4D printing"

Exploring the revolution at micro and nanoscales, materials are programmed to change shape, hinting at future self-assembling structures.

In envisioning adaptive infrastructure, imagine water pipes that expand, contract, or even move water without pumps, redefining efficiency.

Imagine water pipes that adapt their capacity or flow rate on their own, promising a revolution in infrastructure efficiency.