Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have developed a method for 3D printing artificial hair, allowing them to print everything from paintbrushes to fake fur (+ movie). More about MIT researchers create 3D-printed fur, opening up "a new design space"
Future Makers: German athlete Denise Schindler is working with Autodesk to become the first cyclist to compete with a fully 3D-printed prosthetic leg at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games (+ movie). More about Denise Schindler to become world's first Paralympic cyclist to use 3D-printed prosthesis
Auto brand Nissan has created an energy storage system for the home using a recycled car battery, and announced plans for a trial in the UK that will allow electric vehicle owners to sell power back to the grid. More about Nissan reveals its answer to Tesla's Powerwall battery system for the home
Google's virtual reality painting app, Tilt Brush, could allow architects and designers to walk through their sketches in 3D as they draw them (+ movie). More about Google launches Tilt Brush app for virtual reality sketching
Milan 2016: in our next movie from Nike's The Nature of Motion exhibition, architect Greg Lynn explains how his body temperature-regulating chair could help athletes significantly improve their performance. More about Greg Lynn's microclimate chair for Nike could give athletes "a distinct performance advantage"
Researchers and students from the University of Stuttgart employed robots to mould and stitch together this laminated plywood pavilion, which is based on the anatomy of a sea urchin (+ movie). More about Robotically fabricated pavilion by University of Stuttgart students is based on sea-urchin shells
The volume dial is the only focal point on London designer Paul Crofts' pared-back amplifier, created for new hi-fi company Audioberry (+ slideshow). More about Paul Crofts designs minimal white amp for Audioberry
Milan 2016: Italian design studio Tipic has created a smart kitchen countertop that integrates various interactive functions including a sink that appears out of the surface with a simple gesture (+ movie). More about Tipic's smart Tulèr kitchen features a sink that appears with the wave of a hand
Milan 2016: designers Kram/Weisshaar have created a razor-thin table embedded with hidden circuitry so you can cook dinner and keep plates warm and drinks cold while you dine. More about Kram/Weisshaar's SmartSlab dining table has hidden tech to cook food and chill drinks
Tech giant Apple has been granted a patent for a keyboard that abandons traditional keys in favour of a "force-sensitive" sheet that could function like an oversized trackpad. More about Apple files patent for customisable keyless keyboard
This clothing concept designed by technology and design company Artefact allows gamers to have "the most immersive virtual reality experience" by using an inbuilt computer, battery and sensors (+ slideshow). More about Artefact's Shadow hoodie immerses wearers in virtual reality
London's Aram Gallery is hosting an exhibition of conceptual products that highlight visitors' dependance on digital communication, including a selfie-taking robot and a plugin that reports on internet usage patterns (+ slideshow). More about Aram Gallery's Unread Messages exhibition questions our digital addictions
New York designer Karim Rashid has unveiled a smartphone charging device that neatly stores a metre-long cable in a loop around its outside (+ slideshow). More about Karim Rashid's Bump smartphone charger "eliminates the knotty tangle of power cords"
A group of engineers and scientists has come up with a way to remotely control insects, which they believe could provide an "improved alternative to remote-controlled drones". More about Remote-controlled flying cyborg beetles could replace drones
Designer and Bartlett School of Architecture tutor Stefan Bassing has used digital modelling to create a pair of tables, made from repetitive elements to simplify the production process. More about Stefan Bassing produces furniture from combinations of identical steel rods
The team behind a virtual reality tool that allows designers to sketch in three dimensions has launched an iPad app that turns drawings into virtual and physical 3D models (+ movie). More about Gravity Sketch app aims to "lower the barriers to 3D literacy"
An artificial intelligence system takes control of a futuristic car manufacturing plant in this short movie by architectural film studio Factory Fifteen (+ movie). More about Factory Fifteen's latest movie features a futuristic car factory taken over robots
Apple has designed a smaller version of its current iPhone, which is almost identical in shape and size to its older 5s model but with the same capabilities as the newer iPhone 6s (+ slideshow). More about Apple downsizes its smartphone with launch of iPhone SE
A group of researchers has developed a conceptual traffic system that would enable driverless vehicles to whizz through intersections without colliding, eliminating the need for signals (+ movie). More about MIT researchers plan "death of the traffic light" with smart intersections
American company Under Armour has joined the list of sportswear brands incorporating 3D printing into shoes with the launch of lattice-soled trainers designed to be suitable for any sport (+ slideshow). More about Under Armour becomes latest brand to experiment with 3D-printed trainers