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Bioinspired Materials Can Take a Punch
 Some of the most innovative and useful inventions have been inspired by nature. Take the Shinkansen bullet train in Japan, whose aerodynamic design is modeled after the kingfisher bird. Or Velcro, which a Swiss engineer invented after observing that the burrs that stick to a dog’s fur have tiny hooks in them.
Now, scientists have turned to a small underwater predator for inspiration. The mantis shrimp is a colorful invertebrate that packs a powerful punch. It can crack clamshells with the force of a .22 caliber bullet, thanks to unique structures that make its exoskeleton surprisingly strong.
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New Laser-Based Method Could Help Scientists Discover New Puncture-Resistant Materials
July 3, 2023
Using tiny laser-launched projectiles and troves of data, scientists can more quickly bridge the gap between a material’s microscopic properties and its real-world behavior.
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