Occupy (pragmateuomai - be practical) till I come - Luke 19:13
Practical Bible
  • Home
  • Sermons
  • Books
  • News
  • Links
    • Verse Search
    • Daily Heart Burn
    • Life Work Academy
  • Home
  • Sermons
  • Books
  • News
  • Links
    • Verse Search
    • Daily Heart Burn
    • Life Work Academy

The Amazing Sea Urchin Spines

7/26/2015

 
Picture
“Recently biologists and engineers from Australian universities have analyzed the sea urchin spine’s ingenious structure under a powerful tool called micro-computed tomography (microCT). Each spine is a single crystal of calcite (CaCO3). This is normally a soft and brittle mineral, but it is highly strengthened in several ways. It is a hollow tapered cylinder, which saves weight and materials without sacrificing much strength. Some magnesium ions replace calcium ions, which produce an irregularity that impedes cracks from propagating (the same principle explains the greater strength of metal alloys). So any fractures are more like in glass, a non-crystalline solid, than a crystal. This fracturing absorbs energy and protects the main spherical shell (called a test) of the animal. There is also a small amount of organic material (glycoprotein) with the mineral crystal, which makes a huge difference to toughness. The strength is further enhanced by its very fine structure. The crystal contains finely spaced radial wedges connected by bridges. The thin edges direct stresses to the outside, and the spaces stop fractures from spreading through the whole spine. The researchers say, ‘Overall, the spine is highly porous with an intricate structural hierarchy.’ However, in a popular report, the researchers paid the obligatory fact-free homage to evolution. They called this amazing structure an ‘evolutionary feature’ that was ‘optimized’ and ‘survived hundreds of millions of years.’ Yet they also say ‘the finding could offer clues for creating new bio-inspired materials and more efficient engineering designs.’ This should have been a clue that the original was designed as well!”

Jonathan Sarfati, “Sea Urchin,” Creation Magazine, Jan. 2014


Comments are closed.

    Archives

    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013

    RSS Feed

Free FBN Radio Alexa Skill
Free Today's Creation Moment App

Ads do not imply endorsement | Policy/Terms of Service | About Us | Contact Us | © Life Work Academy, Inc.
The Fundamental Top 500