Gleaming, iridescent mother-of-pearl possesses more than beauty. The material, technically called nacre, has strength and toughness that materials scientists envy because it’s made of highly ...

New Composite Material Is Almost Better Than Mother-of-pearl. ScienceDaily . Retrieved June 4, 2025 from www.sciencedaily.com / releases / 2008 / 03 / 080307102657.htm ...

Like mother of pearl, the material has an extremely tough outer shell with a more flexible inner backing that’s capable of deforming and absorbing projectiles. The lightweight plastic, seen above, is ...

Pearls are made by marine oysters and freshwater mussels as a natural defence against an irritant such as a parasite entering their shell or damage to their fragile body. The oyster or mussel slowly ...