A 9-year-old dog has a new skull and a cancer-free life because of 3D printing. Patches, the cancer-stricken dachshund, is feeling better thanks to researchers at a Canadian university.

The skull sectioned is a drawing by Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) and, dating from 1489, one of his earliest human anatomical studies. That year, for the first time, he had acquired a human skull.

Participants listen to presenter Meredith Sellers during a workshop presented by the Mutter Museum Tuesday, July 15, 2025, at ...

The project—the largest 3-D-printing effort yet undertaken by the Smithsonian’s central exhibits team—vividly demonstrates how technology is changing museums’ approach to art and artifacts.