In the material sciences, the Bouligand structure is a way molecules arrange themselves in a twisted shape like in spiral staircases. This formation helps create strong flexible materials that are resistant to cracking. This is because the force of the impact is distributed over the many spiral staircases, thereby helping the material preserve its overall integrity. Recently, scientists have combined derivatives of two surplus materials (wood pulp and dried-up pieces of an invasive exotic pest called the tunicate or Styela clava ) to form a new composite material that is flexible, sustainable, non-toxic and ultra-violet light-reflective. It does this by being able to exploit the strength of the Bouligand structure. The findings have been published in the journal, Advanced Functional Materials , could soon be used in food packaging, biomedical devices, building construction and the design of cars, trucks and boats. —Science Daily
