Chemists Crack Secrets of Mussels' Super Glue

Posted by Hemos on Monday January 12, 2004 @03:15AM 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."

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So... by clifgriffin · 2004-01-12 03:21 · Score: 0, Redundant

Is this compound superior to our own super glue?

Will it set as fast? One of the advantages of traditional super glue is that it uses minute amounts of water on each surface to cause it to set.

Or is this academic only and no one is suggesting we work on replacing our current solution.

In short: What is the significants of this find, out side of academia?

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