Science & TechFact

The strongest known biological material is snail teeth.

Limpets rasp algae off rock, and their tiny teeth take it: in 2015 researchers measured tensile strengths of 3.0 to 6.5 gigapascals. Spider silk, the previous record holder, tops out at 4.5. The trick: needles of the iron mineral goethite embedded in chitin spread the load so no single flaw takes over.

Useful: Engineers copy such fibre-matrix designs for car bodies and dental fillings.

Source: en.wikipedia.org

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