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Palaeontology: How ammolite gemstones get their vivid colours

Researchers used electron microscopy to investigate ammolite's structural properties, finding that the colors are caused by light reflecting off narrow gaps between aragonite plates. The findings could inform the development of non-fading colored paints.

New strategy for enhancing resistance at different impact velocities

Researchers from the University of Science and Technology of China designed a hybrid architecture to enhance resistance in a wide range of impact velocities. The study found that nacre-like structures perform well under low-speed loads but dissipate less energy than laminated structures at higher speeds.

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only)

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only) delivers reliable low-light performance and rugged build for astrophotography, lab documentation, and field expeditions.

Unbreakable glass inspired by seashells

McGill University scientists created a new glass and acrylic composite material mimicking nacre for exceptional strength and durability. The material is three times stronger and five times more fracture-resistant than regular glass, with potential applications in phone screens and other industries.

New nondestructive optical technique reveals the structure of mother-of-pearl

A new technique, hyperspectral interference tomography, has been developed to study the structure of nacre, a biomineral found in mother-of-pearl. This nondestructive method allows for the assessment of nacre layer thickness, which records temperature and can be used to analyze fossil mollusk shells and learn about past climates.

New material mimics strength, toughness of mother of pearl

Researchers have created a new material that mimics the strength and toughness of mother of pearl, with layers of aragonite stacked in an intricate herringbone pattern. The material is almost twice as strong and four times as tough as previous nacre mimics, making it suitable for sustainable medical uses.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

Cracking the mystery of nature's toughest material

A team of researchers has revealed how nacre, the rainbow-sheened material lining mussel shells, achieves its remarkable hardness and resilience. By studying the nano-engineering process, they found that combining microscopic 'bricks' of aragonite with organic mortar enables strength without losing resilience, setting it apart from hum...

Researchers create artificial mother-of-pearl using bacteria

Scientists have developed an inexpensive and environmentally friendly way to produce artificial nacre, a tough material found in mother-of-pearl, using bacteria. The novel material has the same mechanical properties as natural nacre and can be bendable, making it suitable for medical applications and construction.

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter measures wind, temperature, and humidity in real time for site assessments, aviation checks, and safety briefings.

Custom-made artificial mother-of-pearl

Researchers at ETH Zurich developed a method to produce artificial mother-of-pearl with tailored properties, similar to natural mussels. The material's structure is composed of tiny plates stacked on top of each other and interconnected with mineral bridges, which can be adjusted to achieve desired physical properties.

Pearly material for bendable heating elements (video)

Researchers develop hybrid material combining nacre mimetic with silver nanowires, exhibiting excellent heating properties and high flexibility. The composite material shows promise for wearable devices, such as bendable heaters.

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station offers research-grade local weather data for networked stations, campuses, and community observatories.

Ocean temperatures faithfully recorded in mother-of-pearl

A team of researchers led by University of Wisconsin-Madison physics Professor Pupa Gilbert has discovered that mother-of-pearl can accurately record ancient ocean temperatures. By analyzing the thickness of microscopic tablet layers in nacre, they found a reliable method for measuring past climate conditions.

Natural mother of pearl structure, synthetic replication

Researchers from University of Konstanz and China successfully replicate nacre's structural configuration using calcium carbonate, chitin, and silk fibroin gel. The synthetic process creates identical characteristics to naturally occurring biomineral with improved production speed, potentially leading to high-performance materials.

Using nature's recipe to create mother of pearl

Scientists have developed a new method to synthesize mother of pearl, mimicking nature's process using an organic matrix and mineralization. The resulting synthetic nacre has similar mechanical properties to its natural counterpart, making it a promising material for various applications.

GoPro HERO13 Black

GoPro HERO13 Black records stabilized 5.3K video for instrument deployments, field notes, and outreach, even in harsh weather and underwater conditions.

FAU researchers show how mother-of-pearl is formed from nanoparticles

Researchers at FAU have discovered that mother-of-pearl is formed through the aggregation of nanoparticles within an organic matrix, rather than crystallisation. This unique process, found in nature, has implications for developing new high-performance ceramics with improved mechanical properties.

Mother-of-pearl's genesis identified in mineral's transformation

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have discovered the earliest stages of nacre formation in a mollusk shell. The team used spectro-microscopy to observe the transformation of amorphous calcium carbonate into crystalline aragonite, revealing new insights into biomineral creation.

Seashell strength inspires stress tests

Researchers at Rice University and Indian Institute of Science model seashells' ability to withstand pressure, discovering evolutionary optimization allows fractures to appear only where they're least likely to hurt the animal inside. The team found complex shapes make shells nearly twice as good at bearing loads than nacre alone.

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

Maps predict strength of structures

Rice researchers Rouzbeh Shahsavari and Navid Sakhavand have created universal maps that predict the properties of natural and biomimetic platelet-matrix composites. The maps are dimensionless and can be applied to materials built with nanoscale blocks as well as brick walls, or bigger.

Real glass that bends but doesn't break

Researchers at McGill University have developed a technique to increase the toughness of glass by creating patterns of micro-cracks, mimicking the structure of nacre. This process increases glass's resistance to shattering and can be easily scaled up for larger glass sheets.

Wonders of nature inspire exotic man-made materials

Researchers create metamaterials with unprecedented properties by mimicking the structures of geckoes' toes and mother of pearl. These materials could lead to improved aircraft coatings and other innovative applications.

Pearly perfection

Researchers suggest that the unique texture of developing pearls creates a ratchet-like effect, causing them to turn and accumulate nacre in a spherical build-up. This process results in the formation of perfectly spherical, highly prized pearls.

Scientists create artificial mother of pearl

Researchers at the University of Cambridge have successfully synthesized a material with a similar structure, mechanical behavior, and optical appearance to natural nacre, also known as mother of pearl. The new coating has potential applications in coating applications due to its cheap ingredients and ability to be easily automated.

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.

Mother of pearl tells a tale of ocean temperature, depth

Researchers from University of Wisconsin-Madison find that nacre's microscopic structure can be used to measure water temperature and depth, providing a new tool for reconstructing ancient environments. The material's unique signature also holds information on environmental conditions.

Synthetic materials that behave like mollusk shells

Scientists at Northwestern University have developed new artificial composites inspired by nature's toughest material, nacre. The study reveals the secret to its remarkable properties and demonstrates how to replicate them in man-made materials.

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock simplifies serious desks with 18 ports for high-speed storage, monitors, and instruments across Mac and PC setups.

Scientists create tough ceramic that mimics mother of pearl

Researchers at Berkeley Lab have created ceramics that mimic mother of pearl, outperforming human-synthesized composites by 300 times in terms of toughness. The materials use a combination of alumina and polymer to dissipate strain energy and achieve remarkable strength and resistance to fracture.

Mother-of-pearl -- Classic beauty and remarkable strength

Scientists have discovered that mother-of-pearl's unique mosaic architecture, with non-aligned crystals, may contribute to its exceptional strength by preventing the formation of natural cleavage planes. Researchers aim to model and reproduce this process to develop new biomimetic materials with improved mechanical properties.

Secrets of the sea yield stronger artificial bone

Scientists at Berkeley Lab create porous scaffolding-like material that mimics nacre's structure, exhibiting four times greater strength than current materials. The composite could foster bone tissue regeneration and improve artificial joints.

Mother-of-pearl in highest resolution

Researchers at Max Planck Institute have found that the surface of lime platelets in mother-of-pearl is disordered and wavy, ruling out ordered layers on the organic matrix. This discovery challenges previous understanding of nacre's composition and mechanism, offering new insights into building materials.

U-M team makes synthetic mother of pearl

Researchers at the University of Michigan have successfully created an artificial version of mother of pearl, a naturally occurring compound that is several times stronger than nylon. By layering molecules on top of each other, scientists can engineer the mechanical properties of the material to suit specific applications.

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2)

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.

Uncovering secrets of abalone body armor

Researchers at UCSD have discovered a unique structure in abalone shells that can provide the basis for lightweight and effective body armor. The shells' layered structure, made of calcium carbonate tiles held together by protein adhesive, is theoretically the toughest arrangement possible.

Livermore scientists shape crystals with biomolecules

Researchers used atomic force microscopes to study the effects of biomolecules on crystal dynamics and shape. They found that specific interactions between growth modifiers and step edges controlled the formation of complex crystal shapes, challenging long-held theories.

The seashell's inner beauty

Scientists create a nanoscale, layered material that replicates the properties of mother-of-pearl, including its iridescence. The artificial nacre consists of alternating layers of clay and a polymer, providing strong, yet flexible, materials for various applications.

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm) tracks health metrics and safety alerts during long observing sessions, fieldwork, and remote expeditions.