 January 20, 2010 - 11:08am | I've been gone a while, busy with work and come back to see SF #13 online - yay! I saw this article and thought of you all - enjoy! “When crushed by a crab claw, the outer layer cracks but that's all part of the plan. The cracks are tiny and jagged. They dissipate the energy from the attack and prevent larger cracks from forming - those could cause the entire shell to shatter. The tough iron minerals can also grind and erode the crab's claw - it's a defense that also weakens the attacker's weapon.” http://scienceblogs.com/notrocketscience/2010/01/three-layered_shell_of_deep-sea_snail_could_inspire_next-gen.php -Andrew |
