New Elastic Gel (IMAGE)

University of Chicago

New Elastic Gel

Caption

Mussels can generate their own self-healing sticky material, which allows them to attach to rocks and to repair microtears caused by breaking waves and sand abrasion, but the elastic gel attached to this one was created in the laboratory. A patent is pending on how to make the gel, which is described online in this week's Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Early Edition.

Credit

Tara Fadenrecht, Niels Holten-Andersen

Usage Restrictions

News organizations may use this photo in connection with reports describing the research of Ka Yee Lee, Niels Holten-Andersen and their associates.

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