A team of researchers in Holland have pioneered an inexpensive method for 3D printing bacteria into shapes and patterns, opening the door to a wide range of potential real-world applications from mother-of-pearl fake teeth to powerful new microlenses that boost the effectiveness of solar panels or cameras.
The lab is already using the technique to 3D print plaque onto cow’s teeth as a potential avenue for studying oral hygiene.
The technique could also be used in the bacterial production of graphene, the one-atom-thick material that is both the thinnest and the strongest compound ever discovered, with over 100 times the strength of steel.