sea sponge

Sea sponges use protein filament to pattern silica deposition and build intricate glass spicules

By April Gocha / October 24, 2017

New research shows that sea sponges use an internal protein filament to catalyze silica deposition, ultimately determining the shape of their uniquely structured glass spicules.

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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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Sponges anchor glass houses with precisely engineered glass hairs

By April Gocha / April 15, 2015

New research from Brown University shows that although the glass sponge’s anchoring fibers are thin and fragile-looking, they are engineered for maximal strength.

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