Periodic superconducting, porous self-supporting monoliths were synthesized using cuttlebone as a morphological template; this produced a lightweight, structurally stable superconductor with a greatly improved critical current density.

This study investigated the effects of seawater pH (i.e. 8.10, 7.85 and 7.60) and temperature (16 and 19°C) on (i) the abiotic conditions in the fluid surrounding the embryo (viz. the perivitelline fluid), (ii) growth, development and (iii) cuttlebone calcification of embryonic and juvenile stages of the cephalopod Sepia officinalis. Egg swelling increased in response to acidification or warmin...

The cuttlefish Sepia officinalis was selected as a model cephalopod to study PCB bioaccumulation via seawater, sediments and food. Newly hatched, juvenile cuttlefish were exposed for 17 days to environmentally realistic concentrations of (14)C-labeled 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl (PCB#153) (18 ng PCB l(-1) seawater; 30 ng PCB g(-1) dry wt sediments; Artemia salina exposed to 18 ng PCB l(-1...

The potential of chitin and its derivatives mainly chitosan extends to various existing and proposed applications in an unusually large number of fields. In the present study, the prospect for using the exoskeleton of cephalopods as a raw material for chitosan manufacture was tried out. This includes the extraction of chitin from the cuttlebone (by deproteinization and demineralization) and chi...

Cuttlebone, the sophisticated buoyancy device of cuttlefish, is made of extensive superposed chambers that have a complex internal arrangement of calcified pillars and organic membranes. It has not been clear how this structure is assembled. We find that the membranes result from a myriad of minor membranes initially filling the whole chamber, made of nanofibres evenly oriented within each memb...

Changes in seawater carbonate chemistry that accompany ongoing ocean acidification have been found to affect calcification processes in many marine invertebrates. In contrast to the response of most invertebrates, calcification rates increase in the cephalopod Sepia officinalis during long-term exposure to elevated seawater pCO2. The present trial investigated structural changes in the cuttlebo...

Chinese scientists have revealed the secret of compression resistance cuttlebone, which originates from its unique lamellar-septa-like cellular structure, separated by asymmetric, distorted S-shaped walls. They demonstrate possibility using 3D printing to engineer high-performance bioinspired materials that are beyond capabilities conventional mechanical metamaterials. Nature always provides so...