Mantis Shrimp

Mantis Shrimp:  Researchers from the US and France found that the mantis shrimp uses a unique microstructure in its dactyl club to protect itself from recoil during high-speed strikes.

• Study revealed the phenomenon of phononic shielding using ultrafast lasers and simulations, showing nature’s use of metamaterials.
• About: Mantis shrimp is a 10-cm-long crustacean predator with a colourful body.

o Dactyl club strikes prey at 23 m/s, 50-times faster than a blink. Strike generates shockwaves, but the shrimp remains unharmed.

o Microstructure in the club enables phononic shielding, blunting acoustic waves.

o Lasers revealed the club's response at billionth-of-a-second intervals.

o Club stores energy in spring-like structures and releases it via latch-like tendons.

o Punch forms low-pressure zones, creating vapour bubbles.

o Bubbles collapse to release heat and high-frequency shockwaves.

o Layers Comprises: Outer layer is hard hydroxyapatite, distributing recoil & Inner layers have biopolymer fibres for impact resistance.

o Applications: Include protective gear, earmuffs, and injury prevention.

o Researchers are exploring biomimetic structures for wave trapping and energy conversion.