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Fact of the Day: The strongest material in the world
When you think of the strongest natural material on Earth, spider silk probably comes to mind. But there’s something even tougher—and it’s hiding in the ocean. Engineers in the UK have discovered that the teeth of the limpet, a small marine snail, are stronger than spider silk and can withstand pressures up to 5 gigapascals—that’s nearly 50,000 times the pressure of the Earth’s atmosphere.
Limpets use a tongue-like organ lined with rows of microscopic teeth to scrape algae off rocks. In the process, they often swallow tiny bits of rock. Their teeth, which never break under pressure, are made of a mineral-protein composite so strong that it rivals even some of the most advanced man-made materials.
The secret? Incredibly thin and tightly packed mineral fibres, which give the teeth both strength and durability. This discovery, published in the Royal Society’s journal Interface, could have a big impact outside the ocean. Engineers are now studying limpet teeth to design better materials for aircraft, cars, boats, and even dental fillings.
Source: YouTube
