Anyone who’s ever tried tiling a floor, a backsplash or even an arts-and-crafts project probably knows the emotional frustration of working with pieces whose shapes don’t perfectly complement each other. It turns out, though, that some creatures may actually rely on similar mismatches to create geometric frustrations that result in complex natural structures with remarkable properties, such as protective shells and sturdy yet flexible bones.
Now, researchers at the University of Michigan have developed mathematical models showing one way that nature achieves this. These models, in turn, could help design advanced materials for medical devices, sustainable construction and more.
“Frustration—using these mismatched building blocks—gives rise to wonderful complexity and that complexity can be useful in providing superior material properties,” said Xiaoming Mao, U-M professor of physics and senior author of the new study.
