8. Tear-proof reptilian eggshells
While most people associate eggshells with brittle chicken eggs, many species rely on tougher materials to protect their delicate embryos. Reptiles that lay their eggs in the wild greatly depend on producing eggshells that are tough enough to prevent breaking by predators or natural elements, but still porous enough to resist drying out.
One useful protective feature in reptilian eggs is their ability to deform significantly, allowing them to absorb mechanical shocks and prevent tearing by predators. Studies by Professor Chen Po-Yu at the National Tsing Hua University in Taiwan have shown that reptile eggshells are only partially calcified; instead, they contain a significant amount of keratin-like proteins that absorb mechanical energy when stretched.
Researchers are only now attempting to replicate these eggshells, as well as similar ones from marine snails. Applications could include the encapsulation of delicate cells in tissue engineering, or perhaps, cartilage implants with improved durability.
#Biomimetics #China #Japan #Korea #Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology #Materials Science #Nanyang Technological University #National Institute of Technology and Evaluation #National Tsing Hua University #National University of Singapore #Nature #Pohang University of Science and Technology #Shanghai Jiao Tong University #Singapore #Tokyo Institute of Technology #Video
