News Materials Science

Worm’s teeth conceal odd mineral material

By Jessica Gorman

- More than 2 years ago

The bite of the common bloodworm, a popular fish bait, hides more than nasty venom. The worm’s unusual teeth contain the first known example of a copper-containing mineral in a living organism, researchers report in the Oct. 11 Science.

NICE BITE. A bloodworm has mineralized copper in its jaw. College of Engineering, University of California at Santa Barbara

The worm’s version of this strong, lightweight copper chloride mineral, known as atacamite, may serve as a model for the design of new synthetic materials, says coauthor Galen D.