science ๐ฌ Mosquitoes are powering 3D printing now
Canadian engineers won the 2026 Ig Nobel Technology Prize for using mosquitoes in high-resolution 3D printing. The team at McGill University repurposed deceased mosquitoes by using their proboscides as fluid deposition nozzles. This technology allows printing of tiny, precise structures, like a honeycomb, down to one-third the diameter of a human hair. This is much cheaper and more organic than traditional micro-nozzles costing around $80 each. The research highlights how nature offers sophisticated, pre-made solutions for advanced manufacturing.