​Innovative Materials – The ever-inspiring mantis shrimp?

Written by: Ariela Karp-Lazan

Scientists have been studying the mantis shrimp for years now. Aside from its ability to see colours we can’t even think of, science is now taking inspiration from the shrimp’s claws. Mantis shrimp are one of the strongest animals on earth for their size; their claws can strike faster than a .22-caliber bullet, and they bring down 160 pounds of force without damaging themselves. According to a recent study, this is thanks to the claws’ unique herringbone structure. The potential applications of such a material are dramatic, particularly in the worlds of aerospace, automobiles, and the military. Consider the idea of a nearly-indestructible armor, or a space shuttle that isn’t phased by incoming space debris.

A potential implication is the taking advantage of such armor to put human soldiers safely within directly in the line of fire. War is dangerous, and militaries all over the world have been putting effort into getting machines to fight their battles from afar. But machines have their own issues – while they may not need food, water, and rest, they can break down, and still need human intervention to return them to working order. Humans are still more adaptable than machines, and they’re usually cheaper, too. So instead of taking the humans out of the war to keep them out of danger, why not take the danger out of war?
The issue here is that new discoveries don’t only work for one side. For example, just as this armor can be used to protect soldiers, it can be used to increase the power of the offensive force against them. Even if this material isn’t used to make weapons, improved defense creates a challenge to find a way to tear it down. This would mean that more soldiers would be put in harm’s way, under the pretense that they are safe – right up until they aren’t.

Another implication is the effect this could have on the economy. Nearly indestructible materials are problematic in markets that rely on built-in obsolescence, which plays a large part in how and when we give up on an older model and buy a new one. But it’s harder to justify a purchase when it’s in perfect condition, and only kind of out-of-date. As seen in the 1951 film, The Man in the White Suit, manufacturing companies wouldn’t take too kindly to the idea of making less money, and it could ultimately lead to waves of unemployment in those fields, especially for blue-collar workers.

This isn’t the first time that nature has been used as inspiration for man-made materials. In the late 40’s, VELCRO was created by using the same structure that allows burrs to stick to our clothing. Mantis shrimp-inspired armor is just another example of biomimicry, or using concepts and elements found in nature to provide solutions to human problems. There’s no need to reinvent the wheel, especially if nature already has one that works.