The Australian National Insect Collection could be a creepy place if you’re adverse to meeting bugs. But now it’s enormously MORE creepy because they’ve used advanced technology to create GIANT 3D PRINTED BUGS!
They’ve carefully 3D scanned specimens of several species and reproduced them up to forty times life size. Yes, FORTY. And they’re made of titanium. Giant. Titanium. Bugs.
See the image above for an example. Click for larger detail – if you dare.
Aside from scaring everyone, what purpose could this serve? They’re trying to enable researchers to study the critters by direct handling and examination. Researchers can closely examine and recognize features not previously seen through microscopes.
Via CSIRO
