What we can see here are the plates on its back, made of aragonite (a type of calcium carbonate, main component of seashells with calcite), but this fat slug also has more than 1000 tiny teeth; the ones on its "tongue" are coated in magnetite (a metal, type of iron oxide) and the others contain santabarbarite (an iron-based mineral).
Those are the first living creatures we know of whose body contains metal -Terminator doesn't count. And we thought that at least "living creatures don't naturally grow metal" was a sure bet...
Knowing this can have direct implications, a research team has made a 3D printing ink from its crushed teeth and it prints very solid things, but it can also be very useful in medicine, to maximise solidity during a bone graft.
Thanks! *slaps own head* This bad girl can fit so much useless knowledge in it!
Although I'm gonna be fully honest: I studied geology and I read about the chiton recently so...
Those are the first living creatures we know of whose body contains metal -Terminator doesn't count. And we thought that at least "living creatures don't naturally grow metal" was a sure bet...
Knowing this can have direct implications, a research team has made a 3D printing ink from its crushed teeth and it prints very solid things, but it can also be very useful in medicine, to maximise solidity during a bone graft.
Although I'm gonna be fully honest: I studied geology and I read about the chiton recently so...