News Tech

Mosquitos use it to suck blood. Researchers used it to 3-D print

Using parts freely found in nature could help democratize 3-D printing, researchers say

A scanning electron micrograph shows an mosquito head with a compound eye and two long, hair-covered antennae on a black background.

The proboscis of a mosquito (seen in a scanning electron microscope image of one insect’s head) is used for piercing skin. It’s also perfect for precision 3-D printing.

DENNIS KUNKEL MICROSCOPY/Science Source

By Payal Dhar

A mosquito’s proboscis — the long, thin bit that pierces the skin — makes an excellent nozzle for fine 3-D printing.