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MIT develops self-transforming materials that behave 'like robots without robots'

A cross-disciplinary research lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has developed a suite of programmable materials, including carbon fiber, printed wood grain, textile composites, rubbers and plastics, that self-transform when exposed to an external stimulus. Director of the Self-Assembly Lab, Skylar Tibbits, presented a TED talk on 4D printing in 2013, where he demonstrated how a flat sheet of material could effectively build itself when exposed to water, like a robot without a robot. Following positive feedback from industries including aviation, automotive and manufacturing, his lab has been working on developing materials that change according to different activation sources, including heat, light, and air pressure, in addition to water – all of which have automotive relevance.

One Lap of the Web: Loewy, Knieval and an evil Capri

-- If you've been on Google today, you may have noticed the tribute to famed industrial designer Raymond Loewy who penned, among countless other icons, the Studebaker Avanti. Loewy was born on November 5, 1893 -- read more about his life and designs here, and about his Studebaker Avanti here. -- Courtesy of an English auto body shop, this series of photos is a must-see for anyone contemplating the purchase of an old car.

Livin' La Dolce Vita at Monterey weekend

If you tend to not like crowds, or even very many people at all, but you love Italian cars, then you'd have loved La Dolce Vita. The Italian car celebration was modeled after the long-running Concorso Italiano. When Concorso Italiano moved last year to a wide, flat, wind-swept airport it was roundly panned by critics and car lovers alike.