Bill Gates released mosquitoes during his 2009 TED talk to illustrate how malaria can spread.
During the presentation, Gates opened a jar containing mosquitoes and allowed them to fly around the audience. He then clarified that the insects were not infected, using the moment to emphasize that malaria is transmitted through mosquito bites and remains a serious global health problem.
The demonstration attracted widespread attention because it turned an abstract public-health issue into a memorable physical example. Gates’s work on malaria has included advocacy, funding, vaccine research, mosquito-control programs, and support for organizations working to reduce deaths from the disease.
The incident is sometimes misremembered as involving dangerous or infected insects. The mosquitoes released during the talk were not infected, so the demonstration was designed to create awareness rather than expose attendees to malaria.