Environment
Jun 12, 2018
The wisdom of pearl farming
Why exactly do little white nuggets from the sea cost so much? And how have humans hacked the biological process that makes them?
Search results for nacre
Nanomaterials
May 7, 2018
Scientists make strong, super-tough carbon sheets at low temperature
An international research team led by scientists at Beihang University in China and The University of Texas at Dallas has developed high-strength, super-tough sheets of carbon that can be inexpensively fabricated at low temperatures.
Condensed Matter
Jan 29, 2018
Weak hydrogen bonds key to strong, tough infrastructure
The right mix of hydrogen bonds in polymer and cement composites is critical to making strong, tough and ductile infrastructure material, according to Rice University scientists who want to mimic the mechanics of mother-of-pearl ...
Nanomaterials
Jan 24, 2018
Pearly material for bendable heating elements
The iridescent shimmer of a string of pearls may one day be more than pretty adornment. Scientists now report in ACS Applied Nano Materials a hybrid material consisting of imitation pearl combined with silver nanowires that ...
Materials Science
Dec 4, 2017
Nature's toughest substances decoded
How a material breaks may be the most important property to consider when designing layered composites that mimic those found in nature. A method by Rice University engineers decodes the interactions between materials and ...
Nanophysics
Nov 15, 2017
X-rays reveal the biting truth about parrotfish teeth: Interwoven crystal structure is key to coral-crunching ability
So, you thought the fictional people-eating great white shark in the film "Jaws" had a powerful bite.
Biochemistry
Sep 5, 2017
Researchers discover biomechanism behind formation of mother-of-pearl
Nacre, also known as mother-of-pearl, is a biomineral that forms inside of molluskan shells and also makes up the outer coating of pearls. It is formed through a blend of minerals that are secreted by oysters and other mollusks ...
Economics & Business
Jun 19, 2017
Close failing banks before they cost US billions of dollars, says study
Billions of dollars could be saved if Congress revises a law to allow regulators to be more aggressive in reducing losses from insolvent banks, according to a recent study co-authored by a faculty member from Florida Atlantic ...
Polymers
Jun 7, 2017
Oyster shells inspire new method to make superstrong, flexible polymers
Researchers at Columbia Engineering have demonstrated for the first time a new technique that takes its inspiration from the nacre of oyster shells, a composite material that has extraordinary mechanical properties, including ...
Materials Science
May 26, 2017
Conch shells spill the secret to their toughness
The shells of marine organisms take a beating from impacts due to storms and tides, rocky shores, and sharp-toothed predators. But as recent research has demonstrated, one type of shell stands out above all the others in ...
