The Bizarre Biological Trick That Makes These Teeth Tougher Than Steel
At first glance, chitons look like any other mollusk: round, bashful creatures creeping across seashore rocks. Flip one over, however, and you’ll notice rows of freakishly sharp, polished teeth—indestructible, multi-purpose chompers that researchers are seeking to replicate for the next breakthrough in material science. A new study published August 7 in Science presents a detailed investigation into what makes chiton teeth so strong and durable. By analyzing chiton anatomy, the team found a rem