Rock-munching sea urchins have self-sharpening teeth

JacksinPA said:

Rock-munching sea urchins have self-sharpening teeth | Science | AAAS

Sea urchins’ spines aren’t the only sharp part of their prickly bodies. The sea creatures’ five razorlike teeth are self-sharpening—and a new study suggests scientists may be able to harness this power to make cutting-edge tools that rarely require extra honing.

Sea urchins are well known for their ability to chomp through just about anything; they use their small, star-shaped mouths to crunch on brittle starfish, coral reefs, or even rocks. Scientists long suspected the urchins’ ceramic teeth sharpened themselves, but no one could figure out exactly how they did it.
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Sea urchins have long been known to gnaw on just about everything: coral, rock, even diamonds. Using specialized photographic equipment, scientists have seen that their continually growing teeth chip only on one side, maintaining super sharpness all around.

Evolution has again been shown to produce mechanisms that improve themselves to make themselves fitter in the struggle to survive.

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Exquisitor said:

Not a bad place to go, if you have to munch on something, try rock.

At least there's no mosquitoes, but the surf can be relentless.

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JacksinPA said:

I had a painful encounter with a sea urchin while swimming in the wrong place in Barbados. Nothing that a little lemon juice applied by the proprietor of the beach bar could not remedy.

Speaking of mosquitoes, there was a news bulletin tonight about the spread of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) in the Northeast by them as agents. Cover up or use DEET until the first hard frost.

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