What can a tiny bug teach us about space travel? Lots, if you ask Chris Broomell, a molecular biologist from the University of California Santa Barbara.
The sandworm burrows through the sand it lives in using a pair of 'jaws'. While the jaws themselves are made of protein about as strong as a human fingernail, Broomell and his team has discovered that the pincers are fortified with histidine: an amino acid that acts as a sort of superglue. The 'glue' bonds molecules together within the protein, and resulting in a thatched material three times harder and stiffer than current man-made polymers.
By using the make-up of the insect's pincers as a model, scientists and engineers hope to create polymers with organic molecules that can bind to metal ions. Even more good news is that by changing the ratios of materials, they can be made heavier or lighter, tougher or softer, all without producing toxic by products. The result may be the development of more resistant materials for building spacecraft and airplanes, without making them heavier.
For more info and a closeup of the inspirational bug itself, check out:
http://space.newscientist.com/article/dn14365-worm-pincers-may-inspire-better-spacecraft-materials.html?DCMP=ILC-hmts&nsref=news6_head_dn14365
Monday, July 21, 2008
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