Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Sea Sponges Master Nano-technology

Posted by michael on from the also-good-for-back-scrubbing dept.

Mick Ohrberg writes "It has been discovered that sea sponges utilizes a biomolecular mechanism to direct nanofabrication of silica to create microscopic glass fibers. It's a protein that acts as a catalyst for the formation of glass from the biomineral. What's it all lead to? Hopefully a way to achieve nanostructural fabrication at low temperatures, instead of in vacuum and at high temperatures as with current technologies."

2 of 43 comments (clear)

  1. Glassy needles of silica made by a marine sponge by rpiquepa · · Score: 5, Informative

    For a beautiful image of glassy needles of silica made by a marine sponge, visit this page about Daniel E. Morse biomolecular research. This is the second one from the top of the page. But don't miss this other page about his current research projects.

  2. Re:Amazing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Many sea sponges are little toxic waste factories. Since they can't move, they use chemical warfare to defend their territory and claim new territory. Nature behaves more like us than we might like to believe.