We have all been there—the moment when you realize someone you love is gone forever, and one day, you will be, too. Whether you like it or not, death is inevitable. But we all know, or would like to believe, that there is a way around this: achieving immortality. We have seen it in some movies or TV shows; for example, in Doctor Who, the Doctor can live forever by, essentially, “regenerating” himself.

3D printing, or additive manufacturing, is the process of making three-dimensional (3D) solid objects from a digital file or model. It uses an additive process that adds successive layers of material until the object is created. 3D printing can produce complex and detailed shapes using less material than traditional manufacturing methods, which involve removing material through carving, milling or machining.