November 2021    
         
         
 
     
  Taking notes from nature  
     
  Life has existed on Earth for at least 3.5 billion years. That’s a long time for organisms to evolve, leading to complex structures and abilities that are ever-increasingly suited for a species’ survival. Materials scientists, tissue engineers, and roboticists benefit from those eons of evolution, often turning to nature for inspiration.  
     
  Bite of meatloaf  
     
 
gumboot chiton
 
 
     
  The gumboot chiton, also known as the “wandering meatloaf,” scrapes algae off rocks with its ultrastrong but flexible teeth. (iStock.com/naturediver)  
     
 
     
 
  The gumboot chiton’s tough skin, effective for both camouflage and protection, reportedly feels like the skin of an elephant or a rhinoceros.  
 
       
  A coastal mollusk called the gumboot chiton, aka the “wandering meatloaf,” holds the secret to durable, bioinspired synthetic materials—in its mouth.  
     
  Using X-rays from Argonne’s Advanced Photon Source, scientists discovered a rare mineral called santabarbaraite in the meatloaf’s stylus (analogous to the root of a human tooth). The strong composite material that comprises the stylus is made of santabarbaraite in a fibrous matrix akin to human bone. The substance inspired the researchers to create a similarly tough synthetic ink for 3D printing of durable materials, such as prostheses and devices for space exploration.  
     
 
 
  Natural resources  
     
 
     
  1  
     
 
Based on bone’s ability to self-strengthen when subjected to mechanical stress, Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering scientists developed a synthetic gel that becomes 66 times stronger when exposed to vibration.
 
     
     
     
 
     
  2  
     
 
Tardigrades—extremely resilient microscopic animals often called water bears—can enter suspended animation by forming a cocoon from a substance that sparked research into a new type of glass.
 
     
     
     
 
     
  3  
     
 
Octopus arms can bend, twist, elongate, and shorten, making them extraordinarily flexible and offering a model for future soft robotic designs.
 
     
     
     
 
     
  4  
     
 
Octopus skin, which can change color and texture, has inspired engineers to develop programmable “camouflaging skin.”
 
     
     
 
         
         
    Spotlight    
         
         
 
     
  Stretch of imagination  
     
 
man stretching noodles
 
 
     
  A man stretches noodles by hand in Xi’an, China. (iStock.com/estivillml)  
     
 
     
  Biological tissues—skin, muscle, bone—are strong, malleable, and self-healing. But synthetic tissues often exhibit only two of those characteristics. UChicago chemists, hoping to create a material that promises all three, found inspiration in a takeout carton: hand-stretched Chinese noodles.  
     
     
     
  In case you missed it  
     
 
 
 
Monster matters: Nature is full of wondrous, cryptic creatures.
 
 
Alcohol use disorder: Scientists consider the role of pleasure in addiction.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     
  Support UChicago physical sciences.  
     
 
     
 
  Visit the Alumni & Friends website for stories, podcasts, and other features, curated for you on UChicago Review. Create an account for a more personalized experience.

Sign up to receive µChicago monthly.