Next-generation structural materials are expected to be lightweight, high-strength and tough
composites with embedded functionalities to sense, adapt, self-repair, morph and restore …

Living organisms have ingeniously evolved functional gradients and heterogeneities to
create high-performance biological materials from a fairly limited choice of elements and …

Hard biological materials—for example, seashells, bone or wood—fulfil critical structural
functions and display unique and attractive combinations of stiffness, strength and …

Stronger, tougher, and lighter materials are always among the relentless pursuits of material
scientists and engineers. The hierarchical design inspired by nature has been considered …

Nature has a wide range of biological protection strategies that show resilience to impact
loading. These strategies also serve a certain amount of flexibility that contribute to body …

Eight structural elements in biological materials are identified as the most common amongst
a variety of animal taxa. These are proposed as a new paradigm in the field of biological …

Tear resistance is of vital importance in the various functions of skin, especially protection
from predatorial attack. Here, we mechanistically quantify the extreme tear resistance of skin …

Throughout billions of years, biological systems have evolved sophisticated, multiscale
hierarchical structures to adapt to changing environments. Biomaterials are synthesized …

With the continuous development of impact protection materials, lightweight, high‐impact
resistance, flexibility, and controllable toughness are required. Here, tough and impact …

Collagen is the principal biopolymer in the extracellular matrix of both vertebrates and
invertebrates. It is produced in specialized cells (fibroblasts) and extracted into the body by a …