ScienceSeptember 7, 2026

necroprinting

NEK-roh-prin-ting

Definition

A 3D printing process that utilizes the biological mouthparts of deceased insects as high-resolution printing nozzles.

Etymology

The word is a modern portmanteau derived from the Greek prefix 'nekro-' (meaning dead or corpse) and the modern English term 'printing', reflecting the use of biological structures from deceased organisms.

In the news

Researchers coined the term 'necroprinting' to describe their innovative use of a mosquito's proboscis to achieve high-precision printing at a micro-scale that standard nozzles cannot reach.

Cockroach milk, mosquito proboscis as a 3D printing nozzle, and buried underwear as a biological indicator

Read the full article ↗

chemeurope.com

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