Researchers at Vanderbilt University in the U.S. have developed a technique that allows gold to actually ‘shine’ inside 3D printed parts to highlight any problems. The scientists used particles of gold that are 100,000 times thinner than a human hair and that show up as a deep maroon colour. The elements were embedded inside printing material to see whether it could help flag defects. The process involves mixing the gold nanoparticles with a dissolved plastic polymer, dispersing it throughout the medium. When it dries and hardens, the plastic is extruded or pressed into gold nanoparticle-filled polymer filaments, or ... (full story)