How 3D printing is changing the way we make (and break) smartphones

New printing methods with advanced materials open up new avenues of design for our devices

New developments in 3D printing might be the answer to many of our smart phone woes, from how easily they shatter to how quickly their batteries drain. Using 3D printed material could even reduce the environmental impact of mobile phones by limiting the need for rare earth metals and making them easier to recycle.

In this video, Eric Duoss, a research engineer at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and an expert in advanced materials and manufacturing, explains how 3D printing will radically alter our mobile devices in years to come.