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.

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.

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.

A prize for funny science

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

Founded by Marc Abrahams in 1991, it’s mission is simple: to reveal that scientific research stemming from the most improbable corners of the human mind can lead to worthwhile discoveries.

Each year, around 9,000 projects are nominated and one prize is awarded in each of 10 categories. This year, the categories were: biomechanics, economics, chemistry, medicine, biology, physics, technology, olfaction, peace and soil science.

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 tradition, we........

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