bioinspiration

Mantis shrimp inspire tough composites and sophisticated optical sensors

By April Gocha / April 2, 2021

Artists and scientists alike find inspiration in nature. But two recent scientific studies found inspiration in the same creature: the mantis shrimp. The creature’s incredibly tough materials and complex eyes inspired innovations that could lead to fracture-resistant biocomposites and highly advanced optical sensors.

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Brittle starfish offers lessons in creating durable ceramics

By Faye Oney / December 12, 2017

Scientists have discovered that a brittle starfish has the capability to create a durable “tempered” ceramic material while underwater. Its process is similar to the creation of tempered glass, but without the heating and cooling process.

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Other materials stories that may be of interest

By April Gocha / August 9, 2017

From greenhouse gas to 3-D surface-microporous graphene, engineers produce long lasting energy density battery, and other materials stories that may be of interest for August 9, 2017.

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Other materials stories that may be of interest

By April Gocha / July 19, 2017

Graphene for space applications, conductive electrodes are key to fast-charging batteries, and other materials stories that may be of interest.

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Other materials stories that may be of interest

By April Gocha / July 12, 2017

Insights into thermal behavior of metal nitride nanowires could advance optical electronics, first battery-free cellphone makes calls by harvesting ambient power, and other materials stories that may be of interest for July 12, 2017.

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Could this structure allow 3-D printed polymers to replace ceramic materials in body armor?

By April Gocha / June 20, 2017

Researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology have taken inspiration from conch shells to develop a 3-D printing technique that can build composite materials with incredible toughness.

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Fish scales inspire ceramic-plated protective gloves that are puncture-resistant yet flexible

By April Gocha / February 21, 2017

By studying how fish scales deform, interact, and fracture, scientists at McGill University have uncovered mechanisms to translate that flexible strength into principles to engineer puncture-resistant gloves that can maintain dexterity while protecting workers with superior appendage protection.

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Sea sponges resist buckling by building optimally engineered glass toothpicks

By April Gocha / January 24, 2017

Researchers at Brown University have taken a closer look at the orange puffball sea sponge’s silica spicules and found that they, too, have evolved a precisely engineered design that provides the structures with maximal strength.

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Other materials stories that may be of interest

By April Gocha / January 18, 2017

Scientists create first 2-D electride, researchers use nature’s weaving formula to engineer advanced functional materials, and other materials stories that may be of interest for January 18, 2017.

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Diatoms serve as tiny silica scaffolds for inexpensive and scalable growth of molybdenum disulfide flakes

By April Gocha / September 26, 2016

Researchers at the University of Manchester in the U.K. have devised a strategy that gives new use to diatom shells, using the silica shells as scaffolds for building atomic sheets of molybdenum disulfide.

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