2 papers
physics.bio-ph2021
Evidence for a liquid precursor to biomineral formation
Cayla A. Stifler, Christopher E. Killian, Pupa U. P. A. Gilbert
The crystals in animal biominerals such as sea urchin spines, mollusk shells, and coral skeletons, form by attachment of amorphous particles that subsequently crystallize. Do these…
physics.bio-ph2021
Small-misorientation toughness in biominerals evolved convergently
Andrew J. Lew, Cayla A. Stifler, Connor A. Schmidt +2
The hardest materials in living organisms are biologically grown crystalline minerals, or biominerals, which are also incredibly fracture-tough. Biomineral mesostructure includes s…