Impact Mitigation Enhanced with Bouligand Nanostructures

Quick Summary

• The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS),Volume 122,Issue 20 (May 2025),highlights research on impact-resistant structures found in biological organisms.
• Examples include the dactyl club of the mantis shrimp and scales of the arapaima fish.
• These structures feature a common design called the Bouligand structure.

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Indian Opinion Analysis
The study underscores nature’s ingenuity in constructing materials capable of withstanding extreme impacts, perhaps inspiring advancements in biomimetic engineering across industries like defense, construction, and healthcare. For India, such knowledge could have tangible applications-developing stronger protective gear for security forces or innovating economical yet durable materials for infrastructure projects could be transformative given India’s focus on national security and lasting growth. exploring applications domestically may also bolster India’s ongoing push towards self-reliance in technology development while contributing to global research equities responsibly.