Diatoms, as beautiful as strong

2003/06/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Mikrobiologia

Diatoms are a series of microscopic algae that, despite their small size, are able to withstand enormous pressure. As published by the journal Nature, they are able to withstand between 100 and 700 tons of pressure per square meter. It seems that the composition and structure of the silicon cover confer this capacity.

Through a mathematical model they have seen that the loss of structure of the roof would allow more easily break the diatoms.

The silicon cover allows diatoms to live at great depth. Not only that: the cover protects the teeth from predators. Sometimes they cross their digestive tract and manage to survive.

Researchers have analyzed three species of diatoms.