How the “unicorn of the seas” got its helix
Researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute in Villigen used tensor tomography at the Swiss Light Source to reveal that the narwhal tusk contains two counter‑rotating helices of collagen and mineral crystals, giving the tooth exceptional stability. The study, published in Nature Communications, shows how nanoscale building blocks determine the macroscopic spiral shape. The work was conducted in collaboration with synchrotron facilities in Sweden and France.
Researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute in Villigen used tensor tomography at the Swiss Light Source to reveal that the narwhal tusk contains two counter‑rotating helices of collagen and mineral crystals, giving the tooth exceptional stability. The study, published in Nature Communications, shows how nanoscale building blocks determine the macroscopic spiral shape. The work was conducted in collaboration with synchrotron facilities in Sweden and France.
The findings illustrate the capabilities of PSI’s Swiss Light Source, a Swiss research facility that can support AI‑driven analysis of complex material structures.
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