Nacra synthesized by Cambridge University

Maybe they should concentrate on curing cancer or something of greater consequence instead of trying to find ways of destroying the romance of the pearl. I am amazed that someone spends money trying to do such a thing. Maybe next they will synthesis love.......Sorry but I sometimes have opinions ;)
 
I would love to hear your opinion of the photo included with that article Mikeyy :) :) :)
 
Mikeyy said:
Maybe they should concentrate on curing cancer or something?
Click to expand...
The Nature press release states:

The development of artificial nacre should lead to a deeper understanding of how this material forms in molluscs and how we can enhance its properties in the lab.
Click to expand...

Such understanding has clear medical application, such as eventual treatments for osteoporosis, broken bones and lost/decayed teeth.

The appeal of nacre is its strength-to-density ratio, and apparently the lab stuff is even tougher than the real thing?just as airplanes have proven tougher than birds and velcro stickier than thistle burrs (biomimetic historical examples).

Iridescence is an inherent, non-functional bonus, as it is in mollusks themselves. The furniture inlay industry places high stress on nacreous mollusk populations worldwide, and is the primary cause of imminent CITES listing for Nautilus. Could this be a ray of hope?
 
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We have followed this story before, but not for months at least. I remember the first time the article came up, they said it would have many applications, like instead of plastic for car bodies etc as it is intrinsically stronger than any other man made product like this. I remember, I wondered at the time if the iridescence was inherent. Glad to know it is and I hope I can get a little electric car with the body made out of this stuff. LOL

Not to mention the medical uses. I think trying to use it for jewelry was not even on the scientists', radar when they started working with the properties of the abalone shell, it was to get lightweight incredibly strong man made materials. But maybe now we can have round, faux abalone beads!
 
It's the Daily Fail - so I wouldn't take it as gospel until I'd read it somewhere respectable.
 
smetzler said:
The Nature press release states:



Such understanding has clear medical application, such as eventual treatments for osteoporosis, broken bones and lost/decayed teeth.

The appeal of nacre is its strength-to-density ratio, and apparently the lab stuff is even tougher than the real thing?just as airplanes have proven tougher than birds and velcro stickier than thistle burrs (biomimetic historical examples).

Iridescence is an inherent, non-functional bonus, as it is in mollusks themselves. The furniture inlay industry places high stress on nacreous mollusk populations worldwide, and is the primary cause of imminent CITES listing for Nautilus. Could this be a ray of hope?
Click to expand...

You may be right but you took all the fun out of my post:)
 
The point is 'understanding the process', inducing the human body to repair itself in ways that it currently does not. I would assume that anyone wanting to use nacre for crowns would have a control of color prior?
 
The previous article was on artificial nacre, which was ugly. This is synthetic nacre, which looks pretty good so far. I don't know if I would want a nacre tooth, but it sure would be tough! :)
 
If wooden teeth were good enough for our founding fathers.....Seriously though. Why not work on synthetic Ivory? It's endangered and oddly enough it's white.
 
Looks like they have, um... borrowed some photos from other sellers....
 
Nacre is incredible stuff. That's why they are always reseaching some aspect of it. I can't get enough to read about nacre! :)
 
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