Deep-sea snail shell to inspire next-generation body armour?
The shell that protects snails living on deep-sea vents could inspire the next generation of body armour for humans, say scientists.
“The three-layer design could improve body armour without adding excessive weight,” Christine Ortiz, who led a research team at MIT, said.
The scientists studied the snail’s shell, rich in iron-based nanoparticles, to find how it resists crab attacks. They penetrated it with a diamond-tipped probe — applying the same force a crab’s claws might use.
It turns out that the snail employs some unique tricks to protect itself. For example, the shell’s outermost layer consists of strong particles of iron sulphide created in the hydrothermal vents, each around 20nm across. When hit, this structure is designed to crack in a way that absorbs energy.
Cracks spread only by fanning out around the iron sulphide particles. This “microcracking” not only absorbs energy, it also ensures that larger cracks do not form. What’s more, the particles of iron sulphide may blunt and deform intruding claws
