Sourabh Saha and Jungho Choi from the George W Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering present a breakthrough method in nanoscale metal manufacturing in their article published in Advanced Materials. They introduce a cost-effective and fast approach utilizing superluminescent light emitting diodes (SLEDs) instead of expensive femtosecond lasers. By projecting digital images onto a glass surface coated with a metal salt solution, they induce a chemical reaction that converts the solution into metal nanoparticles. This projection-based technique allows for rapid construction of nanostructures, significantly faster than traditional methods. The researchers believe their approach can democratize access to nanoscale 3D printing, benefiting various fields such as electronics and optics. They emphasize the importance of considering cost and speed in scientific advancements to facilitate the transition from lab discoveries to real-world applications.