Sulfur could fix 3D printing's waste problem

Researchers have developed a 3D printing material made from sulfur—an industrial waste product—that can be crushed by hand and immediately reused without reprocessing, solving the chronic waste problem where failed prints become permanent trash. The material's reversible sulfur bonds allow printed objects to be heated, deformed, and reprinted up to ten times without degradation, while also enabling 4D printing capabilities where objects can move and respond to temperature, light, or magnetic fields without motors or batteries.