3D printers - 6 Minute English

Printers have come a long way since the printing press was first invented by Johannes Gutenberg in 1436 in Germany. 3D printers - printers which can build solid, three-dimensional objects out of a variety of materials - are today providing solutions to many problems. Sam and Neil look at the role 3D printers are playing in medicine, and they teach you some related vocabulary as well. This week’s question What was the oldest known text to be printed using hand-carved wooden blocks pressed into ink? Was it: a) a religious teaching? b) a cooking recipe? or, c) a love letter? Listen to the programme to find out the answer. Vocabulary mucking about with (something) (informal) spending time playing with something carelessly, not for a serious purpose prototype model of a product that can be tested, improved, and used to develop a better product Hold on a minute! phrase used to express surprise or disbelief prosthetics man-made artificial bo