Sharks do not have bones. Instead, their skeletons are composed of mineralized cartilage, an adaptation that has allowed these predators to move through the oceans for over 400 million years. Recent studies have shed deep, surprising light on how sharks maintain their strength, flexibility, and resilience. A groundbreaking collaboration, led by scientists at Florida Atlantic University, has uncovered a previously unexplored aspect of shark biology: the intricate and complex structure of their minERALIZED cartilage.
The research, conducted by scientists at the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Florida Atlantic University, and the German Electron Synchrotron, focused on blacktip sharks (Carcharhinus limbatus). These large, medium-sized marine predators, typically measured at 5–8 feet (1.5–2.4 meters) in length, are found in omega fish habitats, including the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean, and parts of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Their spines, a crucial feature of this towering marine animal, exhibit a unique and functional structure that provides strength and flexibility in a closed-shell skeleton.
Through advanced 3D imaging and mechanical testing, the researchers uncovered that the shark’s minERALIZED cartilage is not homogeneous. Instead, it is divided into two distinct regions: the corpus calcareum (an outer mineralized shell) and the intermediale (an inner core). Both regions consist of densely packed collagen and bioapatite—minerals found in human bones—but the interfaces are highly structured. The cartilage in both regions is reinforced with thick struts, which act like springs, absorbing and redistributing stress across the skeleton. This layered, directional reinforcement explains why sharks can flex and bend their backbone without breaking, a phenomenon known as hydro <|eq> [spring force][/*] and isn’t merely a function of their做出了.
The Findings were published in a groundbreaking study titled Mapping the Biomineralization of sharks by Dr. Vivian Merk, senior author of the research, and co-authors Dr. Marianne Porter and Stella Batalama. Merk explained that this example of biomineralization is striking. If you imagine a creature like a human, it is likely that its bones are constructed from a combination of minerals and biological polymers, such as collagen. However, sharks, as animals, are known to display this natural engineering style, where minerals are combined with biological materials like collagen to create strong, elastic skeletons.
This research has significant implications for the development of biocompatible materials. The insights into how sharks’ structures work suggest that layered, directional reinforcement strategies could inspire the design of materials both for medical implants and impact-resistant gear. The bipartisan collaboration highlights the importance of interdisciplinary research in understanding nature’s engineering solutions.
To test the structural robustness of the shark’s spines at the nanoscale, the scientists applied pressure directly to microscopic pieces of the shark’s vertebrae. While initially showing only minor deformations of less than one micrometer, the researchers discovered that fractures persisted even after a second press. Together with MRI and mechanical testing, this approach provided critical insights into how the material behaves under pressure, emphasizing the natural frictional resistance of shark cartilage.
The findings demonstrate a sharallel resemblance between nature and human engineered materials. While concatenation of minerals and polycyclic polymers is a human innovation, sharks have produced such structured materials through sheer spontaneous evolution, given their deep-seated grindstone path. The structural principles derived from sharks’ carbonyls offer a model for designing highly resilient, flexible structures that can withstand hydro
The discovery marks the beginning of a new era in materials science, where the biological engineer’s insights into the ingenuity of marine predators remind us of the principles that govern the strength, flexibility, and adaptability of the underwater world. This research is supported by a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant awarded to Dr. Merk; an NSF Early Career Award, attributed to Dr. Porter; and seed funding from FAU’s Engineering and Computer Science and Sensing Institute (I-SENSE). Together, these grants are ensuring the study delivers its discovery within a realistic timeline, as it hinges on the expertise of FAU’s engineering and computational centers.
