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Chemists Crack Secrets of Mussels' Super Glue

Posted by Hemos on from the your-secrets-revealed dept.

Roland Piquepaille writes "Researchers from Purdue University working under an award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) have discovered that common blue mussels are using iron found in seawater to create their own super glue. "In addition to using the knowledge to develop safer alternatives for surgical and household glues, the researchers are looking at how to combat the glue to prevent damage to shipping vessels and the accidental transport of invasive species, such as the zebra mussel that has ravaged the midwestern United States." This overview contains more details and references about this discovery. You'll also find an image of mussel glue at a magnification of 25,000X and one of a mussel adhering to a sheet of Teflon."

14 of 197 comments (clear)

  1. Kinda answers that question... by da3dAlus · · Score: 4, Funny

    What sticks to Teflon?
    Mussels!

    Bah, there was a punchline in there somewhere, but I think I missed it.

    --

    Sometimes I doubt your commitment to Sparkle Motion.
    1. Re:Kinda answers that question... by Frymaster · · Score: 5, Funny
      What sticks to Teflon?

      er... the frying pan.

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      2 1337 4 u!

    2. Re:Kinda answers that question... by cmpalmer · · Score: 5, Funny

      So, er... frying pans... are made of... mussels?

      --
      -- stream of did I lock the front door consciousness
    3. Re:Kinda answers that question... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Hence she's a witch! Burn her!

  2. So the next time by Tebriel · · Score: 5, Funny

    So, the next time a lamp breaks or something, I'll just go fetch a mussel and fix it with that. Cheap and easy! Just don't tell PETA.

    --
    The Blaster Master Fighting for Truth, Justice, and Evil Pie since 1979
  3. Hey! by twoslice · · Score: 5, Funny
    and one of a mussel adhering to a sheet of Teflon.

    That's my dinner!

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    From excellent karma to terible karma with a single +5 funny post...
  4. mussels yummy! by tuxette · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Stick to your ribs" suddenly has a whole new meaning...

    --
    People say I'm crazy, I got diamonds on the soles of my shoes...
  5. "Super Glue" is misleading by krog · · Score: 4, Funny

    When you say "super glue", most people here think of Superglue(tm), which is cyanoacrylate adhesive, not mollusk snot. Couldn't a different phrasing have been used?

    --
    Cretin - a powerful and flexible CD reencoder
    1. Re:"Super Glue" is misleading by revscat · · Score: 4, Funny

      When you say "super glue", most people here think of Superglue(tm), which is cyanoacrylate adhesive, not mollusk snot.

      I think I might have found my new .sig.

  6. Re:Why ? by Guano_Jim · · Score: 4, Funny
    Hey buddy, what you do with mongolian veld goats on your time is your business.

    Combine some mussel superglue with some bioluminescent squid (ogg file) and you've got yourself a mean underwater flashlight, though.

    --
    3D Printing Tips and Tricks at Zheng3.com
  7. Prof Wilker - SCORE! by argStyopa · · Score: 4, Funny

    Lessee, handsome young professor, with EIGHT grad students. All coincidentally female and good looking. What are the odds of THAT? Spend a lot of time in the lab, do ya, Doc?

    http://www.nsf.gov/od/lpa/news/04/images/theteam .j pg

    I'm going to let everyone ELSE make the jokes, thanks.

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    -Styopa
    1. Re:Prof Wilker - SCORE! by Bigman · · Score: 5, Funny

      Just goes to show that chicks dig guys with mussels....

      *rim-shot*

      Oh well, I'm known for my awful puns, so I guess this just adds to my rep!

      --
      *--BigMan--- Time flies like an arrow.. but personally I prefer a nice glass of wine!
  8. A sheet of Teflon? by sharkey · · Score: 4, Funny

    Whoopdedoo. When they get a guy to stick a mussel on his hat and use it to hang from a steel girder high over the city, then I'll be impressed.

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    --
    "Outlook not so good." That magic 8-ball knows everything! I'll ask about Exchange Server next.
  9. Re:Why ? by hamsterboy · · Score: 4, Funny
    However this is known to some time now and nobody seems to care or even to use it. -- Proud owner of a Mensa membership card.
    Did you buy this card from eBay, or does Mensa not have an English section on their entrance exams?

    Hamster