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Lobsters dominate the menu of seafood restaurants, but they are also true wonders of the ocean. They are covered with sturdy armor, which is the norm for many crustaceans, but a new research effort led by MIT scientists has focused on one of the less dazzling parts of lobster: the belly.
In a new article published in Acta Materialia, researchers have revealed that the soft belly of the American lobster protects the creature's belly from shredded ocean floors so well that a similar material could be useful to humans for the protection of the entire body.
The underside of the lobster tail has a membrane of incredible strength. Unlike the stiffer panels that cover the top of the creature, the liner on its belly is very flexible. The team compares it even to industrial rubber in terms of strength. These materials are typically used in car tires and garden hoses, according to MIT.
"Most modern body armor sacrifices limb protection to gain mobility, simply because none of the existing armor materials is sufficiently flexible and they prevent any movement arms and legs, "the researchers write. "Here, we focus on the mechanics and mesoscopic structure of the flexible lobster membrane and explore how such a flexible natural armor is designed to incorporate flexibility and tenacity."
Lobsters have apparently perfected this membrane over tens of millions of years, allowing creatures to use their tails to escape quickly while protecting their vital organs from the rocks and sharp edges it could cause by walking the along the seabed.
"We think this work could motivate the design of soft armor," said Ming Guo of MIT in a statement. "If you could make armor with this type of material, you could move your joints freely, which would make you feel more comfortable."
Source of the image: Richard Gardner / Shutterstock
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