Limpet teeth may be the strongest material in nature, stronger than spider silk: Study

What is the strongest material in nature? Researchers asked that question and the answer was very surprising. Limpet teeth may contain the strongest biological material ever discovered, according to a new study.

Limpets (Patella vulgata) are small aquatic snails, marked by conical shells, similar in appearance to paddy hats, commonly seen in Asia. The material in the teeth of these snails is so hard that the substance could be used to manufacture vehicles, including automobiles and airplanes, researchers report.

The substance is even harder than spider silk, which was previously believed to hold the record.

"Until now we thought that spider silk was the strongest biological material because of its super-strength and potential applications in everything from bullet-proof vests to computer electronics," Professor Asa Barber who led the study said in a statement.

"But now we have discovered that limpet teeth exhibit a strength that is potentially higher."

Limpets carry conical, almost hat-like shells, and use their tiny teeth that contain a hard mineral known as goethite to scrape their way along the surface of shoreline rocks and remove algae that they eat when the tide is in.

"Generally a big structure has lots of flaws and can break more easily than a smaller structure, which has fewer flaws and is stronger. The problem is that most structures have to be fairly big so they're weaker than we would like. Limpet teeth break this rule as their strength is the same no matter what the size."

The findings were published in the Royal Society journal Interface.