Website review: U.S. scientists uncover secret behi...
KaylinQ discovered this in Marine Biology
•6 reviews since Mar 30, 2008
marine-biology, science, animals
•cbc.ca/technology/story/2008/03/27/squid-beak...
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KaylinQ discovered 4 months ago
U.S. scientists uncover secret behind squid beaks
Scientists in the United States have discovered how a squid is capable of operating its knife-sharp beak without harming its soft, gelatinous body.
Squids use their sharp beaks, one of the hardest materials found in nature, to slice through the spinal cords of their prey, fish, and defend themselves against sperm whales, their main predator other than humans.
To solve the mystery, the research team painstaking studied the
chemical composition of the sharp beak of the Humboldt squid. They
found that the components in the beak -- polysaccaride chitin, water and
protein enriched in the compound Dopa and amino acid histidine
-- slightly change in quantities between the tip and the base. Dopa is
concentrated at the tip, and gradually decreases as it moves toward the
beak, the researchers found.
When mixed with water, the beak becomes increasingly soft and
bendable as it moves toward the mouth. However, when the base dries
out, it becomes as stiff as the tip.The findings can find practical application in the field of
engineering, the researchers said. Most structures are made by joining
very different materials, such as ceramics, metals and plastics, but to
do so requires using attachments such as nails or adhesives.
- jack-black rated 12 days ago
- Squidoo
"You're so sharp you'll cut yourself" really applies to squid whose fearsome beaks - made of some of the sharpest materials in nature - are attached to soft parts of the consistency of jello. New scientific findings have potential applications in the design of synthetic fibres and materials. - Squidoo
- liquidiridium rated 4 months ago
- From the page: ""Nature takes care of the problem by changing the beak composition progressively, rather than abruptly, so that its tip can pierce prey without harming the squid in the process," Zok said. "It's a truly fascinating design!"" cool.
- electrichomebus rated 4 months ago
- Interesting.
- Slo-Tek rated 4 months ago
- Humboldt squids teach materials science, and terror.
