Inventing shock for aircraft thanks to ... snail teeth

Spider silk has long been considered the strongest natural material. However, the new champion was discovered, that is the sea snail and its teeth.

Living on rocks at frequent high and low tide, sea snails use their teeth to cling to rocks.

Dr. Asa Barber at the University of Portsmouth, UK, said the special structure of sea snail teeth could be used for making racing cars, boats or airplanes.

Geothite crystals.

The sea snail's teeth are a hundred times smaller than the hair but have extraordinary strength. Scientists experimenting to break this tooth need to impact between 3 and 6.5 gigapascals (Gpa), five times the tolerance of spider silk.

Sea snails by the rocky shore.

What is special is that despite their size, these teeth have the same durability.

This is quite strange because normally when the size increases, the structure error appears to reduce durability. From spider silk to sea snail teeth, we once again see the magic of nature.