Three natural technologies that many armies in the world are interested in.

The animal kingdom is full of dangers, so different creatures use powerful means of protection: for example, hard shells or bone plates. Others prefer more flexible uniforms. All these shields help owners withstand the attacks of any predators, especially their teeth and claws. Scientists are thoroughly eyeing these natural technologies to create protective equipment for military purposes. We bring to your attention three technologies that will soon migrate from the animal kingdom to the army of the world.

Armor protection

The Mississippi carapace is one of the largest freshwater fish: according to experts, its length can reach 3 meters and weighs more than 130 kg. The fish got its name because of the most powerful diamond-shaped scales, which in fact is a strong carapace.

Of course, such a coating is heavier than the scales of most fish species, so the carapace is not very maneuverable. Although, with such protection, he does not particularly need it. No thin needle or thick steel passes through the armor of the Mississippi carapace. And to cut the scale, you will need not a regular knife, but a hacksaw.

Shell technology can be the basis for a flexible body armor that can withstand punctures and lacerations. Scientists are trying to develop an artificial analogue of scales, but so far they are only experimenting with the shape and size of the plates. Practice shows that the most effective samples closely resemble the natural protection of a large freshwater fish.

From simple to complex

Many of the toughest remedies in nature are made from a few simple ingredients. Scientists say that the material itself does not matter, the main thing is how this material is organized. A good example is the shells of gastropods, which are one of the strongest types of armor found in nature. These animals create impact-resistant houses that are 10 times stronger than mother of pearl. But these fortresses are made of weak materials - proteins and fragile minerals.

Since mollusks cannot buy lots of steel, they have to work with what they have. And they do it! In the sinks, these “bricks” are located in a complex three-level structure that cannot be seen with the naked eye. Only the development of 3D printing allowed us to artificially recreate something similar to this structure, using polymers, ceramics or carbon fibers. Such armor is suitable not only for bulletproof vests, but also for more peaceful purposes, for example, to create heavy-duty sports helmets.

Silk road

Spiders do not differ in special armor. But their web should be strong enough to capture prey or hold the spider when it descends from a great height. A single web thread is enough to stop flying insects tens of thousands of times its own weight.

Silk threads are very tough and very elastic, so they can absorb a lot of energy, which gives them an advantage over synthetic fibers like nylon, which can stretch but not strong, or Kevlar, which is strong but not elastic.

Researchers around the world are thinking about how to artificially recreate a spider's web and weave it into bulletproof vests, the filling of which is often often limited by heavy ceramic plates today. DNA research and chemical experiments are used.