Even though Thingiverse is more popular in the 3D printing world, it offers a number of laser cutting and laser engraving projects.

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While the technology is still in the very early stages, 3D printing is nearing becoming a real world application. 3D printing is a tool that can be used to validate a design, ensure pieces fit together properly and even make a product mock-up for marketing.

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In October, 3D-printing startup Shapeways opened its New York production facility in Long Island City, Queens, the biggest consumer-focused 3D printing factory in the world.

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Experts like Joris Peels, creator of the first 3D printer for children, agrees that grade school kids are ideally suited to the brave new world of 3D printing.

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The bad news: just as much of the world is starting to get excited about the prospects of 3D printing, science is moving on to the world of 4D.

ENGADGET: 3D? Feh. MIT has already moved on to 4D printing (video) Alt

At first, 3D printing seems straight from another world.

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It's hard to deny that 3D printing has the ability to change the world -- especially after learning about a two-year-old girl who gained the use of her arms with the aid of a 3D-printed robotic exoskeleton (she calls them her "magic arms").

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In other green tech news, 3Doodler launched the world's first 3D-printing pen and a group of teens are working on turning mosquitos into "flying syringes" to deliver vaccines to humans.

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Even the world of physical things will soon become an information technology with the advent of 3D printing (The Economist Magazine recently had a picture of an actual violin that was printed out on a 3D printer).

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