10 Incredible Inventions Which Could Change The Future Of The Planet

6. 3D Printing

3D printing hasn't been around for very long but already it's proving that it has the capacity to bring about a radical transformation in the way in which manufacturing works, not only cutting down on production costs but also democratising production itself. While on one end of the spectrum 3D printers are being used to construct entire buildings and companies use automated 3D printers to manufacture their products, the availability of affordable 3D printers for the consumer means that virtually anyone can print their own materials and cut out the middle man, whether it's stylish shoes (pictured above) or a model of your own face. As 3D printing becomes commonplace in the home, research into 4D printing continues. These structures are designed to transform in a pre-programmed way in response to stimuli, for instance footwear which adapts to the user's temperature and terrain on which they're walking. It's another step towards self-repairing machinery.