Japan has constructed the world’s first 3D-printed train station, completing the futuristic structure in under six hours. This groundbreaking project showcases the potential of 3D printing in revolutionizing public infrastructure. With France also exploring the tech for housing, 3D printing is rapidly becoming a global solution to construction challenges.

Japan constructed world's first 3-D printed train station

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is all set to send a surgical robot and a 3D metal printer to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of Northrop Grumman’s 20th commercial resupply services mission. The Cygnus cargo spacecraft, scheduled for launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in late January, will carry out scientific investigations that include testing a 3D metal printer, semiconductor manufacturing, and thermal protection systems for Earth reentry.

Speaking over 3D metal printing in space, Rob Postema of European Space Agency (ESA) stated, “This investigation provides us with an initial understanding of how such a printer behaves in space.”

The study is aimed to uncover differences in printing in space compared to Earth and explore the range of shapes achievable. The insights gained could revolutionise long-duration space missions, enabling on-the-go creation of equipment parts, thereby reducing the need for extensive pre-planning and saving resources for future lunar and Martian exploration.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-loses-but-regains-contact-with-ingenuity-helicopter-on-mars-682066">NASA regains contact with Ingenuity helicopter on Mars after unexpected outage</a>

“A 3D printer can create many shapes, and we plan to print specimens, first to understand how printing in space may differ from printing on Earth and second to see what types of shapes we can print with this technology. In addition, this activity helps show how crew members can work safely and efficiently with printing metal parts in space,”&nbsp;Postema added.&nbsp;

Airbus Defence and Space SAS, under contract with ESA, is spearheading this investigation, NASA said.&nbsp;

<h2>Surgical procedures beyond Earth</h2>

While, the Robotic Surgery Tech Demo will evaluate the performance of a remotely controlled robot capable of conducting surgical procedures in space.

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Virtual Incision Corporation in collaboration with the University of Nebraska is leading the investigation where the small robot will use two "hands" to mimic surgical actions, with the goal of assessing the impact of microgravity and time delays between space and ground on surgical procedures.

Watch | NASA unveils X-59 plane to test supersonic flight over US cities

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"Results from this investigation could support the development of robotic systems to perform these procedures,” NASA said.&nbsp;With longer space missions on the horizon, the need for surgical capabilities in space becomes crucial.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is all set to send a surgical robot and a 3D metal printer to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of Northrop Grumman’s 20th commercial resupply services mission.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is all set to send a surgical robot and a 3D metal printer to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of Northrop Grumman’s 20th commercial resupply services mission. The Cygnus cargo spacecraft, scheduled for launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in late January, will carry out scientific investigations that include testing a 3D metal printer, semiconductor manufacturing, and thermal protection systems for Earth reentry. Speaking over 3D metal printing in space, Rob Postema of European Space Agency (ESA) stated, “This investigation provides us with an initial understanding of how such a printer behaves in space.” The study is aimed to uncover differences in printing in space compared to Earth and explore the range of shapes achievable. The insights gained could revolutionise long-duration space missions, enabling on-the-go creation of equipment parts, thereby reducing the need for extensive pre-planning and saving resources for future lunar and Martian exploration. Also Read | NASA regains contact with Ingenuity helicopter on Mars after unexpected outage “A 3D printer can create many shapes, and we plan to print specimens, first to understand how printing in space may differ from printing on Earth and second to see what types of shapes we can print with this technology. In addition, this activity helps show how crew members can work safely and efficiently with printing metal parts in space,” Postema added. Airbus Defence and Space SAS, under contract with ESA, is spearheading this investigation, NASA said. Surgical procedures beyond Earth While, the Robotic Surgery Tech Demo will evaluate the performance of a remotely controlled robot capable of conducting surgical procedures in space. Also Read | Scientists unveil secrets of imagination, memory formation with Artificial Intelligence Virtual Incision Corporation in collaboration with the University of Nebraska is leading the investigation where the small robot will use two "hands" to mimic surgical actions, with the goal of assessing the impact of microgravity and time delays between space and ground on surgical procedures. Watch | NASA unveils X-59 plane to test supersonic flight over US cities × "Results from this investigation could support the development of robotic systems to perform these procedures,” NASA said. With longer space missions on the horizon, the need for surgical capabilities in space becomes crucial. (With inputs from agencies)

NASA gears up to send surgical robot, 3D metal printing to space station

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fate-of-wto-top-court-threatened-with-trump-administrations-move-to-block-new-appointments-267597">Trump administration</a> is finalising a set of narrow rules to limit exports of sophisticated technology to adversaries like China, a document seen by Reuters shows, in a boon to US&nbsp;industry that feared a much tougher crackdown on sales abroad.

The Commerce Department is putting the finishing touches on five rules covering products like quantum computing and 3-D printing technologies that were mandated by a 2018 law to keep sensitive technologies out of the hands of rival powers.

Before drafting the rules, Commerce sought industry comment last year on a raft of high-tech sectors that it could cover under the law, from artificial intelligence technology to robotics. That fuelled concerns among US&nbsp;businesses the department would craft broad, tough regulations that would stymy a host of exports to key customers.

But the internal status&nbsp;update seen by Reuters shows for the first time that Commerce is finishing a first batch of rules that touch on just a few technologies that will be proposed to international bodies before taking effect, a reprieve for US&nbsp;companies.

"Based on their titles, the rules appear to be narrowly tailored to address specific national security issues, which should go a long way to calming the nerves of those in industry concerned that the administration would impose controls over broad categories of widely available technologies," said Kevin Wolf, former assistant secretary of commerce for export administration. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Commerce declined to confirm any details but said it has a number of proposed rules in the review process.

Despite the apparent reprieve, Commerce could issue more rules in the future regulating sales abroad of cutting-edge items. The document failed to outline when the rule proposals would be made public or what the controls would look like for specific countries, buyers and&nbsp;uses.

In a move that should appeal to US&nbsp;firms, the rules will be submitted to international bodies for approval so that they may be implemented overseas, not just by the United States. That would establish a level playing field for US&nbsp;companies abroad, but would also take much longer to review and go into effect, likely until mid-2021 at the earliest.

Commerce is expected to seek industry comment on the rules before submitting them to the groups, a source said, adding that a sixth rule, covering artificial intelligence, will go into effect in the United States without a comment period.

The revelations come amid growing frustration from Republican and Democratic lawmakers over the slow pace of the rule roll-out, with Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer urging the Commerce Department to speed up the process.

In a statement to Reuters, Republican Senator Tom Cotton said he was "disappointed at the lack of political will" at the Commerce department, accusing it of a "troubling" lack of urgency.

"While bureaucrats and industry shills twiddle their thumbs, the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/standing-up-to-chinas-alleged-human-rights-abuses-265914">Chinese Communist Party</a> continues to purchase sensitive US&nbsp;technologies with clear military applications," he said. "I will be digging deep into the Commerce Department's actions."

"China firmly opposes the US' generalisation of the concept of national security and abuse of export control measures to interfere with and restrict the normal communications and cooperation between businesses," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a regular briefing in Beijing on Wednesday, when asked about the rules.

Limiting tech exports will not disrupt China's innovation or development, said Geng.

According to the status&nbsp;update, the agency plans to regulate exports of quantum diluted refrigerators, which are&nbsp;used to keep qubits cold in some quantum machines. Qubits are&nbsp;used in quantum computers to perform calculations that would take conventional computers thousands of years.

Major makers of the refrigeration devices include UK-based ICE Oxford, Finland-based Bluefors and US-based Janis Research. The rules would apply to exports of goods from the United States as well as shipments of items made abroad that contain a significant amount of US&nbsp;technology or components.

That rule was sent to the Commerce Department's Office of Policy and Strategic Planning on November&nbsp;19, along with another rule regulating 3-D printing for explosives, the document shows.

Another regulation on exports of the so called "Gate-All-Around Field Effect transistor technology, which is&nbsp;used to manufacture semiconductors, was awaiting comments from other agencies on December&nbsp;5.

The transistors are expected to play a major role in newer, faster semiconductors that are under development by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/samsung-electronics-board-chairman-jailed-on-union-busting-charge-268655">Samsung Electronics</a> Co Ltd&nbsp;and Intel Corp.

Two other rules would regulate chemicals&nbsp;used to make Russian nerve agent Novichok and single-use chambers for chemical reactions.

The Trump administration is finalising a set of narrow rules to limit exports of sophisticated technology to adversaries like China, a document seen by Reuters shows, in a boon to US industry that feared a much tougher crackdown on sales abroad.

The Trump administration is finalising a set of narrow rules to limit exports of sophisticated technology to adversaries like China, a document seen by Reuters shows, in a boon to US industry that feared a much tougher crackdown on sales abroad. The Commerce Department is putting the finishing touches on five rules covering products like quantum computing and 3-D printing technologies that were mandated by a 2018 law to keep sensitive technologies out of the hands of rival powers. Before drafting the rules, Commerce sought industry comment last year on a raft of high-tech sectors that it could cover under the law, from artificial intelligence technology to robotics. That fuelled concerns among US businesses the department would craft broad, tough regulations that would stymy a host of exports to key customers. But the internal status update seen by Reuters shows for the first time that Commerce is finishing a first batch of rules that touch on just a few technologies that will be proposed to international bodies before taking effect, a reprieve for US companies. "Based on their titles, the rules appear to be narrowly tailored to address specific national security issues, which should go a long way to calming the nerves of those in industry concerned that the administration would impose controls over broad categories of widely available technologies," said Kevin Wolf, former assistant secretary of commerce for export administration. Commerce declined to confirm any details but said it has a number of proposed rules in the review process. Despite the apparent reprieve, Commerce could issue more rules in the future regulating sales abroad of cutting-edge items. The document failed to outline when the rule proposals would be made public or what the controls would look like for specific countries, buyers and uses. In a move that should appeal to US firms, the rules will be submitted to international bodies for approval so that they may be implemented overseas, not just by the United States. That would establish a level playing field for US companies abroad, but would also take much longer to review and go into effect, likely until mid-2021 at the earliest. Commerce is expected to seek industry comment on the rules before submitting them to the groups, a source said, adding that a sixth rule, covering artificial intelligence, will go into effect in the United States without a comment period. The revelations come amid growing frustration from Republican and Democratic lawmakers over the slow pace of the rule roll-out, with Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer urging the Commerce Department to speed up the process. In a statement to Reuters, Republican Senator Tom Cotton said he was "disappointed at the lack of political will" at the Commerce department, accusing it of a "troubling" lack of urgency. "While bureaucrats and industry shills twiddle their thumbs, the Chinese Communist Party continues to purchase sensitive US technologies with clear military applications," he said. "I will be digging deep into the Commerce Department's actions." "China firmly opposes the US' generalisation of the concept of national security and abuse of export control measures to interfere with and restrict the normal communications and cooperation between businesses," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a regular briefing in Beijing on Wednesday, when asked about the rules. Limiting tech exports will not disrupt China's innovation or development, said Geng. According to the status update, the agency plans to regulate exports of quantum diluted refrigerators, which are used to keep qubits cold in some quantum machines. Qubits are used in quantum computers to perform calculations that would take conventional computers thousands of years. Major makers of the refrigeration devices include UK-based ICE Oxford, Finland-based Bluefors and US-based Janis Research. The rules would apply to exports of goods from the United States as well as shipments of items made abroad that contain a significant amount of US technology or components. That rule was sent to the Commerce Department's Office of Policy and Strategic Planning on November 19, along with another rule regulating 3-D printing for explosives, the document shows. Another regulation on exports of the so called "Gate-All-Around Field Effect transistor technology, which is used to manufacture semiconductors, was awaiting comments from other agencies on December 5. The transistors are expected to play a major role in newer, faster semiconductors that are under development by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, Samsung Electronics Co Ltd and Intel Corp. Two other rules would regulate chemicals used to make Russian nerve agent Novichok and single-use chambers for chemical reactions.

US finalising rules to limit sensitive tech exports to China, others: Report

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Japan constructed world's first 3-D printed train station

NASA gears up to send surgical robot, 3D metal printing to space station

US finalising rules to limit sensitive tech exports to China, others: Report