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April 27, 2021

Transition from glassy sponge skeleton to welded rebar-based lattice

A composite rendering that transitions from a glassy sponge skeleton (on the left) to a welded rebar-based lattice (on the right). Researchers, highlighting the biologically inspired nature of research that's using glassy skeletons of marine sponges as inspiration for the next generation of stronger and taller buildings, longer bridges and lighter spacecraft.

[Research supported by U.S. National Science Foundation grants DMR 2011754 and DMR 1922321.]

Learn more about this research in the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences news story Marine sponges inspire the next generation of skyscrapers and bridges. (Date image: 2020; date originally posted to NSF Multimedia Gallery: April 25, 2021)

Credit: Transition from glassy sponge skeleton to welded rebar-based lattice


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