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Innovations that made expensive things cheap

A microscope that costs less than $1. A post-natal incubator for $25. These TED Talks highlight exciting innovations that render formerly-expensive things affordable — whether it’s to save you money, or to save lives.

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Manu Prakash

A 50-cent microscope that folds like origami

R.A. Mashelkar

Breakthrough designs for ultra-low-cost products

Krista Donaldson

The $80 prosthetic knee that's changing lives

Shai Reshef

An ultra-low-cost college degree

Jane Chen

A warm embrace that saves lives

David Lang

My underwater robot

Joshua Silver

Adjustable liquid-filled eyeglasses

Amos Winter

The cheap all-terrain wheelchair

Michael McDaniel

Cheap, effective shelter for disaster relief