“每日科技报告”第9期 Unusual Snail Shell Could Be a Model for Better Armor

sea_star666

Deep within the Kairei Indian hydrothermal vent field, two-and-one-half miles below the central Indian Ocean, scientists have discovered a gastropod mollusk, whose armor could improve load-bearing and protective materials in everything from aircraft hulls to sports equipment.

A recently discovered gastropod from the Kairei Indian hydrothermalvent, called Crysomallon squamiferum, has an unusual shell structuresuperbly suited for protecting it against penetration attack.

Researchers at the National Science Foundation-supported MaterialsResearch Science and Engineering Center at the Massachusetts Instituteof Technology are studying the mollusk's physical and mechanicalproperties. A report, "Protection mechanisms of the iron-plated armorof a deep sea hydrothermal vent gastropod," appears this week in theProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The so-called "scaly-foot gastropod," has a unique tri-layered shellthat may hold insights for future mechanical design principles.Specifically, it has a highly calcified inner layer, a thick organicmiddle layer. But, it's the extraordinary outer layer fused withgranular iron sulfide that excites researchers.

The Kairei Indian vent field is a series of deep gashes in theplanet's su**ce along a volcanic mountain chain below the IndianOcean. There, researchers on an expedition discovered the never beforeseen snail in 1999.

sea_star666

帮助：
snail ：蜗牛
Armor：甲， 铠， 盔甲， 铁甲
hydrothermal vent ：深海热泉

wuhao080910

蜗牛我可以从图中看出来！！！！！！！！！！