Researchers have developed a stronger and tougher glass, inspired by nacre in the inner layer of mollusk shells. Instead of shattering upon impact, the new material has the resiliency of plastic and ...

Some layered structures in nature—such as nacre, deer antlers, and conch shells—are super tough, but it’s not universal, warn researchers. Nacre—the iridescent part of mollusk shells—is a poster child ...

Modern industry requires multi-dimensional performance design of protective structural materials. In nature, many organisms maintain the mechanical strength required for defense and achieve camouflage ...

Natural materials have extraordinary mechanical properties, which are based on sophisticated arrangements and combinations of multiple building blocks. One key aspect of today's materials research ...

Researchers have finally figured out how nacre – also known as mother of pearl – forms its perfect structure. As one of the strongest naturally-occurring materials known to science, nacre is coveted ...

Nacre, the iridescent material that mollusks make to line their shells and coat their pearls, is exceptionally tough. Inspired by nacre’s microscopic structure, researchers have now made a composite ...

(Nanowerk Spotlight) The remarkable properties of some natural materials have motivated many researchers to synthesize biomimetic nanocomposites that attempt to reproduce Nature’s achievements and to ...

Strong, tough but light is the rare but desired combination of properties for numerous artificial materials. Now a new material is similar to natural mother-of-pearl, but twice as strong. Nacre, or ...

In 59 B.C.E. Julius Caesar, future dictator of Rome, gifted his favorite mistress Servilia a black pearl earring of such size and luster that it was chronicled by many Roman writers of the day. Caesar ...

Nacre is a technologically remarkable organic–inorganic composite biomaterial. It consists of an ordered multilayer structure of crystalline calcium carbonate platelets separated by porous organic ...

The iridescent gleam of mother-of-pearl couldn’t come from more milquetoast materials. Mollusks make the stuff, also known as nacre, from calcium carbonate and a smattering of organic matter. Despite ...