Abalone Shell

The abalone is a marine snail, which has been prized by humans for millenia as a food source, and also for the beautiful shell. It is known by many names, but one of the more attractive nicknames for the abalone is "Venus's Ears." The innermost layer of the shell is made of highly iridescent mother-of-pearl. Their shells are exceptionally strong because of how they react when receiving a blow. The shell is made of microscopic tiles separated by layers of sticky protein, so the tiles can slide across one another to absorb the impact. This prevents the shell from shattering, and is being studied by scientists with an eye toward adapting this technology to make improved body armor.