Typical printers can only print with one material at a time, which severely limits the variety of useful items that can be produced.

BBC: How 3D printing will change travel

In part, this counters the accusation made during "Climategate" that climate scientists formed a tight clique who peer-reviewed each other's papers and made sure their own global warming narrative was the only one making it into print.

BBC: Global warming 'confirmed' by independent study

Chou found a company called Lulu.com that charges nothing upfront and will only print a book when someone buys one.

NPR: iPad Could Help Self-Publishers Kick Open Doors

One only has to look at a Hogarth print or read Alan Clark's diaries for a dim view of politics in Britain.

ECONOMIST: Washington, Babylon?

Only one publisher expressed serious interest, and it was willing to print only 3, 000 copies.

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