Navigation Links
Armored caterpillar could inspire new body armor
Date:6/8/2012

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (www.ucr.edu) Military body armor and vehicle and aircraft frames could be transformed by incorporating the unique structure of the club-like arm of a crustacean that looks like an armored caterpillar, according to findings by a team of researchers at the University of California, Riverside's Bourns College of Engineering and elsewhere published online today, June 7, in the journal Science.

The bright orange fist-like club of the mantis shrimp, or stomatopod, a 4-inch long crustacean found in tropical waters, accelerates underwater faster than a 22-caliber bullet. Repeated blows can destroy mollusk shells and crab exoskeletons, both of which have been studied for decades for their impact-resistant qualities.

The power of the mantis shrimp is exciting, but David Kisailus, an assistant professor at the Bourns College of Engineering, and his collaborators, were interested in what enabled the club to withstand 50,000 high-velocity strikes on prey during its lifespan. Essentially, how does something withstand 50,000 bullet impacts?

They found that the club is a highly complex structure, comprised of three specialized regions that work together to create a structure tougher than many engineered ceramics.

The first region, located at the impacting surface of the club, contains a high concentration of mineral, similar to that found in human bone, which supports the impact when the mantis shrimp strikes prey. Further inside, highly organized and rotated layers of chitin (a complex sugar) fibers dispersed in mineral act as a shock absorber, absorbing energy as stress waves pass through the club. Finally, the club is encapsulated on its sides by oriented chitin fibers, which wrap around the club, keeping it intact during these high velocity impacts.

"This club is stiff, yet it's light-weight and tough, making it incredibly impact tolerant and interesting
'/>"/>

Contact: Sean Nealon
sean.nealon@ucr.edu
951-827-1287
University of California - Riverside
Source:Eurekalert

0

GOOD

Page: 1 2 3

Related biology technology :

1. Visionary With a Caterpillar
2. Nanocable could be big boon for energy storage
3. Unzipped carbon nanotubes could help energize fuel cells and batteries, Stanford scientists say
4. New research could mean faster computers and better mobile phones
5. Low testosterone levels could raise diabetes risk for men
6. Novel radiation surveillance technology could help thwart nuclear terrorism
7. Scientists develop new technique that could improve heart attack prediction
8. Quantum control protocols could lead to more accurate, larger scale quantum computations
9. Honeycombs of magnets could lead to new type of computer processing
10. Manipulating way bacteria talk could have practical applications, Texas A&M profs say
11. Research could improve laser-manufacturing technique
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
(Date:5/22/2013)... and NEW ORLEANS , May ... the field of regenerative medicine, presented new data generated ... Analysis Group (a leading health economics consultancy) demonstrating the ... ulcers (DFU) and venous leg ulcers (VLU) place upon ... of this research, which reveal annual costs of up ...
(Date:5/22/2013)...  Cleveland BioLabs, Inc. (NASDAQ: CBLI) today announced that the ... LLP Microcap Conference, May 30, in New York, ... , CPA, Chief Financial Officer of Cleveland BioLabs, will ... at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time.  A live and archived webcast ... page of the Cleveland BioLabs website at www.cbiolabs.com . ...
(Date:5/22/2013)... Mold remediation could take a toll on ... a way to cut down the process' expense. And so, ... the details of a method how to kill mold ... be prevented, My Cleaning Products said. But in case mold ... mold remediation must then be promptly implemented as it poses ...
(Date:5/22/2013)... 22, 2013 Alton Housing Authority was hit ... 2013 said that their presence has already caused the ... sufferers avoid such big spending, My Cleaning Products shared a ... It was said in the report that to clear the ... Apart from that, its employees also attended a mandatory training ...
Breaking Biology Technology:Organogenesis Presents Findings from Groundbreaking Research Highlighting the Healthcare Resource and Economic Burden of Venous Leg Ulcers and Diabetic Foot Ulcers 2Organogenesis Presents Findings from Groundbreaking Research Highlighting the Healthcare Resource and Economic Burden of Venous Leg Ulcers and Diabetic Foot Ulcers 3Organogenesis Presents Findings from Groundbreaking Research Highlighting the Healthcare Resource and Economic Burden of Venous Leg Ulcers and Diabetic Foot Ulcers 4Cleveland BioLabs to Present at Second Annual Marcum LLP Microcap Conference 2How to Kill Mold While Saving Thousands of Dollars on Mold Remediation Projects Explained by My Cleaning Products 2Bed Bugs Cost Alton Housing Authority $35,000; New Help, How to Kill Bed Bugs With Less Expense, Introduced by My Cleaning Products 2
... address the lack of an effective delivery method in ... has entered into a two-year, multimillion dollar agreement with ... models. , ,Russell Smestad, president of Mirus Bio, said ... Achilles' heel that has impeded progress in RNA interference, ...
... Dunn , who has served as executive vice president and dean ... 12 years, has announced that he will step down from the ... become a distinguished professor in the Medical College's Department of Medicine ... , president and CEO of the Medical College, said the institution ...
... Washington, D.C. - The United States House of Representatives ... passed a measure that would lift President Bush's restrictions ... the vote of 253 to 174 is not enough to override ... Act of 2007 . In advance of the renewed legislative push, ...
Cached Biology Technology:Mirus Bio, Pfizer enter multimillion-dollar research agreement 2House passes bill to lift stem cell funding restrictions 2
(Date:5/21/2013)... whale entangled in fishing gear, scientists showed for the ... and swimming behavior. The monitoring revealed how fishing gear ... energy as they drag gear for months or years, ... scientists in this entanglement response suction-cupped a cellphone-size device ... right whale called Eg 3911. The Dtag, developed at ...
(Date:5/21/2013)... RICHLAND, Wash. A new analysis shows that the ... growth of enough algae to produce up to 25 ... United States, one-twelfth of the country,s yearly needs. , ... water resources that would be needed to grow significant ... The results were published in the May 7 issue ...
(Date:5/21/2013)... class of pharmaceuticals can both prevent and treat Alzheimer,s ... "TSPO ligands," are currently used for certain types of ... ligand in young adult mice when pathology was at ... was quite severe," said lead researcher Christian Pike of ... measures of pathology and improved behavior at both ages." ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):Study reveals how fishing gear can cause slow death of whales 2Study reveals how fishing gear can cause slow death of whales 3Going green: Nation equipped to grow serious amounts of pond scum for fuel 2Going green: Nation equipped to grow serious amounts of pond scum for fuel 3Going green: Nation equipped to grow serious amounts of pond scum for fuel 4Drugs found to both prevent and treat Alzheimer's disease in mice 2
... limb, the limb regrows. What is more, a newt can ... Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research in Bad ... this impressive ability to regenerate and have discovered the remarkable ... humans, do not have this ability, the findings could contribute ...
... discovered for the first time a specific biochemical pathway ... harmful chemicals called reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the ... of prostate cancer. , They found that a drug ... tumour development in mice that were genetically engineered to ...
... Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of ... (KSHV) subverts a normal cell process in order ... the most recent issue of PLoS Pathogens, offers ... other cancers associated with viruses. , KSHV is ...
Cached Biology News:Newts which regrow their hearts 2Scientists discover way to block growth of prostate cancer cells 2Scientists discover way to block growth of prostate cancer cells 3An AIDS-related virus tricks cells to become tumors, new Penn study finds 2
... StabilCoat Plus Microsphere/Microarray Stabilizer is an aqueous ... and other non-toxic chemicals in a PBS ... 7.4. This product contains a combination ... a preservative. StabilCoat Plus Stabilizer provides ...
... The Corning CellBIND surface is produced by ... more hydrophilic surface giving more consistent, even ... CellBIND enhances cell attachment and growth uunder ... medium. • CellBIND may provide a more ...
... clone K28/86.2, PDZ Domain GenBank ... : GST fusion to residues 77-299 ... Tris pH 7.4, 0.075M NaCl containing ... evaluated by immunoblot on rat brain ...
... acquisition, analysis and experiment control software. ... with on-line and off-line analysis. powerful ... script language allowing the user to ... requirements. Applications range from basic data ...
Biology Products: