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A group of researchers from the Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society and the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin have found out that a semiconductor can be converted to a metal and back by light more easily and more quickly than previously thought. This discovery may increase the processing speed and simplify the design of many common technological devices.

Nearly three million Texans are enduring extreme cold and are without power in their homes. The embattled ERCOT, which manages the state’s power grid, said power is restored for 600000 households.


Nearly 3 million Texans are enduring extreme cold and are without power in their homes. The embattled ERCOT, which manages the state’s power grid, said power has been restored for 600000 households.

This bolt-on system creates a drone that can fly straight out of your fabricator.


It’s been very cool to watch 3D printers and laser cutters evolve into fairly common tools over the last decade-ish, finding useful niches across research, industry, and even with hobbyists at home. Capable as these fabricators are, they tend to be good at just one specific thing: making shapes out of polymer. Which is great! But we have all kinds of other techniques for making things that are even more useful, like by adding computers and actuators and stuff like that. You just can’t do that with your 3D printer or laser cutter, because it just does its one thing—which is too bad.