Sunday, 17 February 2013

Musseling In

Another interesting use of a product produced in the natural world. Scientists have now found that the adhesive produced by the Edible mussel (Mytilis edulis) to form its firm connection to the rocks (the so-called byssal thread)  has properties that can be used medically (http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2013/feb/16/mussels-sticking-power-surgery?INTCMP=SRCH). The adhesive is produced by the mussel in seawater (i.e. 'the wet'), unlike virtually all the glues we currently use, and apparently can be used to repair holes in foetal membranes of surrounding the baby in the womb. This just emphasizes just how many products there remain to find (often before it's too late and the species has become extinct).
-

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

Sandwich Island Saga 39. Extreme weather events

It's not, of course,  just flash floods that will increase with global heating. Heat waves, droughts and wild fires will all become more...

  • Stepping On the Gas?
      It should hardly be called a study. A  Which comparison looked at levels of nitrogen dioxide and small particulates (PM 2.5s) in 5  Londo...
  • Gridlock in European Cities
      Europe has a city congestion problem. In 2023, London was the most gridlocked location, closely followed by Paris and Dublin. In that year...
  • Charging Electric Vehicles (For Road Use)
    It's necessary, where possible, to replace diesel and petrol-fueled vehicles by electrical equivalents. Electric vehicles (EVs) don...