Science that makes you laugh? Canadian engineers win Ig Nobel Technology Prize for 3D ‘necroprinting’ with mosquitoes

The Conversation · 🇦🇺 public Australia · Sep 24, 2026 · 858 words · By Changhong Cao; Justin Puma

Biomimicry Scientific Innovation Ig Nobel Prizes

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What to know about Biomimicry

Researchers at McGill University won a 2026 Ig Nobel Technology Prize for developing '3D necroprinting,' a method using deceased mosquito mouthpieces as high-resolution 3D printing nozzles. The article explains the technical advantages of using organic proboscides over synthetic alternatives and discusses the value of curiosity-driven science.

Propaganda risk 10%

Claims checked 18

Techniques found 1

Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center100%

Right0%

2 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Our research at McGill University recently won the 2026 Ig Nobel Technology Prize for demonstrating how mosquitoes can be used for high-resolution 3D printing.

Why it matters

The work repurposes deceased mosquitoes by carefully extracting their mouthpieces — or, as we say in scientific terms, their “proboscides” — and mounting them to a 3D printing system.

Common ground

There they serve as fluid deposition nozzles, in a manufacturing process we have named “3D necroprinting.” We can use them to print very small and precise structures that are otherwise very difficult and expensive to produce.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Biomimicry story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that in one study of the mechanics of twisting Oreo cookies, researchers found that the cream usually remains almost entirely on one wafer because the wafer-cream interface fails before the cream itself splits?
How does this story connect Biomimicry with Scientific Innovation over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://theconversation.com/science-that-makes-you-laugh-canadian-engineers-win-…

analyticsAnalysis

10%

Propaganda Score

confidence: 95%

Low risk. This article shows minimal use of propaganda techniques.

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 1 propaganda technique in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 70% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 18 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

schedule Pending 8

check_circle Corroborated 6

verified Verified By Reference 2

help Insufficient Evidence 2

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Claim 1: “in one study of the mechanics of twisting Oreo cookies, researchers found that the cream usually remains almost entirely on one wafer because the wafer-cream interface fails before the cream itself splits.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

verified

Claim 2: “The Ig Nobel Prize is awarded to research around the globe that first makes people laugh — and then makes people think.”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

The definition of the Ig Nobel Prize as research that 'first makes people laugh, and then makes them think' is confirmed by Wikipedia and the official Improbable Research website.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — "Gay bomb" is an informal term referring to a proposed non-lethal psychochemical weapon that was speculated by the United States Air Force in the 1990s. The concept involved dispersing sex pheromones …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay_bomb

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Ig Nobel Prize (), also known as the Ig Nobels or simply the Ig's, is a satirical prize awarded annually since 1991 to promote public engagement with scientific research. Its aim is to "honor achi…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ig_Nobel_Prize

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — A parody of the Nobel Prizes, the Ig Nobel Prizes are awarded each year in mid-September, around the time the recipients of the genuine Nobel Prizes are announced, for ten achievements that "first mak…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Ig_Nobel_Prize_winners

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 3: “The mosquito proboscis is a tiny, naturally evolved microneedle about half the width of a human hair.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found in the provided search results to confirm the specific width of a mosquito proboscis relative to a human hair.

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Claim 4: “Each of these structures was roughly the size of a single grain of sand.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 5: “Our research at McGill University recently won the 2026 Ig Nobel Technology Prize for demonstrating how mosquitoes can be used for high-resolution 3D printing.”

CORROBORATED

Three independent web search results confirm that researchers at McGill University won the 2026 Ig Nobel Technology Prize for using mosquito mouthparts for high-resolution 3D printing.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The following notable deaths in the United States occurred in 2026. Names are reported under the date of death, in alphabetical order. A typical entry reports information in the following sequence: Na…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_deaths_in_the_United_Stat…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Ingrid Suzanne Johnsrude (born 1967) is a Canadian neuroscientist. She is a professor of psychology at University of Western Ontario, and former Canada Research Chair in Cognitive Neuroscience. Her r…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ingrid_Johnsrude

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+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 6: “The mosquito proboscis, however, is 100 per cent organic material.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

help

Claim 7: “Commercial micro-nozzles below 100 microns in size are expensive, at around $80 each.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found in the provided search results to confirm the specific cost of commercial micro-nozzles below 100 microns.

verified

Claim 8: “Founded by Marc Abrahams in 1991”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

Wikipedia and the official Improbable Research site confirm Marc Abrahams founded the prize in 1991.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Marc Abrahams (born 1956) is an American mathematician and scientific editor. He is the editor and co-founder of Annals of Improbable Research and the master of ceremonies at the annual Ig Nobel Prize…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marc_Abrahams

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 9: “Each year, around 9,000 projects are nominated and one prize is awarded in each of 10 categories.”

CORROBORATED

The claim regarding 9,000 nominations and 10 categories is explicitly stated in the web search results regarding the McGill win and the general nature of the prizes.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Nobel Prizes are awards administered by the Nobel Foundation and granted in accordance with the principle of "for the greatest benefit to humankind". The prizes were first awarded in 1901, marking…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nobel_Prize

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Otto Ambros (19 May 1901 – 23 July 1990) was a German chemist and Nazi war criminal. He is known for his wartime work on synthetic rubber (polybutadiene, or "Buna rubber") and nerve agents (sarin and …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otto_Ambros

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 10: “Other Ig Nobel Prize winners this year included projects to devise a more precise definition of kissing and a study of the aerodynamics of nose blowing.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 11: “The prizes are usually handed out by Nobel laureates in a gala event at either Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) or Boston University.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources confirm the tradition of Nobel laureates presenting the awards at Harvard, MIT, or other Boston-area universities.

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web search NEUTRAL — The Ig Nobel Prize, also known as the Ig Nobels or simply the Igs, is a satirical prize awarded annually since 1991 to promote public engagement with scientific research.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ig_Nobel_Prize

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web search NEUTRAL — The Ig Nobel Prizes are often presented by Nobel laureates in a ceremony held at the MIT or other universities in the Boston area.
https://cusap.org/2025/11/10/ig-nobel-the-whimsy-and-the-mag…

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web search NEUTRAL — The prizes are usually handed out by Nobel laureates in a gala event at either Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) or Boston University. This year, in a break from traditio…
https://theconversation.com/science-that-makes-you-laugh-can…

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Claim 12: “One micron is 0.001 millimetres”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 13: “This year, in a break from tradition, we received our award in Zürich, Switzerland”

CORROBORATED

Three independent sources confirm that the 2026 ceremony was held in Zurich, Switzerland, breaking the tradition of being held in Massachusetts.

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web search NEUTRAL — Ig Nobel prizes recognized unconventional work on cockroach milk, nose blowing, kissing evolution, and soil decomposition measured using buried underwear. The ceremony moved to Zurich because of trave…
https://phys.org/news/2026-09-scientists-cockroach-nose-ig-n…

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web search NEUTRAL — The 36th First Annual Ig Nobel Prize Ceremony was held today at Kongresshaus Zürich in Zurich, Switzerland. For 35 years, the ceremony has been held in Cambridge, Massachusetts (with a couple held onl…
https://www.neatorama.com/2026/09/03/Buried-Underpants-Urina…

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web search NEUTRAL — The 2026 Ig Nobel Prizes celebrated quirky scientific studies, including research on cockroach milk and a unique underwear index. The event, held in Zurich, highlighted unconventional work that blends…
https://btw.co/node/12226801/ig-nobel-2026/

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Claim 14: “We also printed some interesting sample structures: a honeycomb, a cell-embedded scaffold (where live cells are contained in the ink for tissue engineering) and, of course, a Canadian maple leaf.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 15: “It stemmed from another project in our group — called “Skinbarrix” — in which we are developing a skin barrier to prevent insect bites.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 16: “We discovered what pressure the mosquito proboscis can handle before bursting and how to properly tune the printing parameters and pressures to fabricate features as small as one-third the diameter of a human hair.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 17: “The work repurposes deceased mosquitoes by carefully extracting their mouthpieces — or, as we say in scientific terms, their “proboscides” — and mounting them to a 3D printing system.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources confirm the use of proboscides from deceased mosquitoes as nozzles for a process called 'necroprinting'.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — New ‘necroprinting’ uses mosquito feeding tubes for 3D printing below cell scale. By using mosquito anatomy, scientists have doubled the resolution of micro-scale 3D printing while reducing cost and m…
https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/mosquito-probo…

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web search NEUTRAL — By comparison, the researchers demonstrated that proboscides from deceased mosquitoes can be repurposed at a fraction of the cost, while offering superior performance.
https://vocal.media/journal/mosquitoes-bloodsucking-tubes-co…

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web search NEUTRAL — By comparison, proboscides from deceased mosquitoes can be procured and repurposed for about 80 cents. They are quite durable and have the added benefit of being fully biodegradable, according to the …
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/researchers-from-mcgill-unive…

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Claim 18: “This year, the categories were: biomechanics, economics, chemistry, medicine, biology, physics, technology, olfaction, peace and soil science.”

CORROBORATED

Two independent sources list these specific 10 categories for the 2026 prizes.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Otávio Augusto Vuolo Marques is a Brazilian zoologist and herpetologist. He is a researcher at the Instituto Butantan in São Paulo, where he studies the natural history, ecology, evolution, reproducti…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otávio_Augusto_Vuolo_Marques

+ 3 more evidence sources

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.