Varied Structure for Added Strength (IMAGE)

University of Copenhagen - Faculty of Science

Varied Structure for Added Strength

Caption

A heavily enlarged 3-D print of the sea urchin shell in cross section reveals the secret to the immense strength of the calcium shell of the sea creature. Dirk Müter, Assistant Professor at the Department of Chemistry, University of Copenhagen, discovered that hundreds and thousands of tiny struts criss-cross the material making the sea urchin shell more air than calcium.

Credit

Jes Andersen/ University of Copenhagen.

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