Materials From Tough-as-Nails Crustacean Could Inspire Better Body Armor 144
carmendrahl writes "The peacock mantis shrimp, a crustacean which is neither a mantis nor a shrimp, has hammer-like clubs for smashing the shells of its prey. They're so strong that regular glass aquariums can't hold them. But what's interested researchers for some time is how the clubs stand up to all that stress. Now, a team has figured out why: the mantis shrimp club's molecular structure is set up to resist fractures. That discovery could lead to stronger and lighter car frames or body armor."
Another Really Neat Thing About Mantis Shrimp... (Score:5, Interesting)
...is it's primary hitting power is not the claw itself, but the inertial cavitation shockwave. [wikipedia.org]
The creature lashes out so fast and powerful, that the impact generates a cavitation bubble on the forward surface of the claw. [wikipedia.org] So not only does the claw hammer in, but there's a nasty blast of energy as the cavitation bubble collapse at the speed of sound. Its so powerful, it even generates light! [youtu.be]