PLOS Biology1h ago
How does the #corneal #lens in the #fly eye get its light-focusing shape? This study shows that central cells produce large amounts of #chitin to form the thick central corneal lens; peripheral cells produce smaller amounts of chitin to form tapered lens edges @PLOSBiology https://plos.io/4lLNgeY
Show threadDouglas Edwards Mar 4
@futurebird @saltywizard For me the real shock about #chitin β€” which is basically nature's own biodegradable plastic β€” was learning that it isn't limited to insects, or even to the animal kingdom. The cell walls of fungi are largely composed of chitin.
Show threadPetra van CronenburgFeb 23

@kimlockhartga 🧡 There's a difference between science and "popular" stories about new stuff.
Most people don't know that plants contain #cellulose (yes, that stuff in wood or paper) and that in #mushroom packages are no #mushrooms!

The latter as an example: Mushrooms are fruits of a living creature (own kingdom, no plant, no animal). The creature itself is growing/rooting thanks to the #mycelium. And if you put the mycelium cells to a lab, you'll find Chitin: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chitin #Chitin is

Chitin - Wikipedia

JIPBDec 1

When there's a #fungus amungus, soybeans know what to do...
Find out how #soybean plants respond to #chitin oligosaccharides and initiate immune signaling in response to fungal pathogens in this new, #OpenAccess study by Sun et al.

https://doi.org/10.1111/jipb.70042
@wileylifesci.bsky.social
#PlantScience

PiaSep 4, 2025
No radioactive waste dump reported for 4 Sept. by TEPCO. 3 Sept. Fukushima rad waste reported dumped is 635m3 www.tepco.co.jp/press/report... Find all daily waste dump data here www.tepco.co.jp/press/report... Ionizing radiation destroys #Chitin. Krill, plankton, shrimp, crab, coral, bees, ladybugs+
PiaAug 17, 2025
17 Aug.: #TEPCO Radiation Dump report www.tepco.co.jp/press/report... 909m3 + 456m3 #PacificOcean #hbitat #Chitin #ecosystem #health #humanrights #fisheries#security #UNCLOS #law
Show threadIngvar SantryAug 15, 2025
This is the strongest known biomaterial! Its foundation is ordinary chitin, combined with iron oxide nanocrystals. Researchers recently recreated limpet teeth artificially and are scaling up production. Potential applications: bulletproof vests, durable plastic alternatives! #Biomaterials #Innovation #Chitin #Nanocrystals #FutureTech #Engineering
Recreate limpet teeth artificially: https://www.technologyreview.com/2023/10/25/1081578/limpet-teeth-natures-strongest-material-lab-biotechnology/
The quest to re-create nature’s strongest material

Material inspired by limpet teeth could perform as well as the toughest manmade materials, or better.

MIT Technology Review
PLOS BiologyAug 6, 2025
More than a billion tons of #chitin are produced on Earth each year. This study shows that the soil #bacterium #Streptomyces venezuelae thrives on chitin from #insect #exoskeletons, using a potent mix of chitinases and a dedicated chitobiose importer @PLOSBiology https://plos.io/45sg4S5
PiaAug 1, 2025
1 August TEPCO #Fukushima Radiation Dump report 711m3 & 1,202m3 www.tepco.co.jp/press/report... Radiation destroys #Chitin #PacificOcean habitat #health #wildlife #marine #whales #krill #plankton biology #science
PLOS BiologyJul 31, 2025
What is the role of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) in carbon exchange among microbial species? This study shows that #EPS, formed via #chitin degradation, drives #MicrobialDiversity by acting as a sequentially degraded #CarbonSource @PLOSBiology https://plos.io/3J9kbuu