clhs sciblog

LOOK AT THIS SNAIL!

Two-and-one-half miles underneath the central Indian Ocean, a gastropod mollusk or snail was first  discovered in 1999.  This “scaly-foot gastropod,” has an amazingly strong shell. The shell consists of three layers.  The inner layer, organic middle layer, and the outer layer.  Each layer is very strong and is thought to have insights for future mechanical design principles

Many scientists all around the world have been studying this little gastropod. The project leader from MIT named  Christine Ortiz, found out that the gastropod is able to vent field into its shell structure.  This is extremely important when it comes to our world. The shell of this creature can help us learn more about what materials to use in protecting automobiles and military applications.

This gastropod’s shell does an important job of protecting itself.  There are many predators for this “scaly foot gastropod”. Including the cone snail and sea faring crabs. The fact that these special gastropods can survive attacks from predators shows that each layer of the shell has adapted to surviving against enemies.

http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=116243&org=NSF&from=news

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