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Japan’s Kyoto University’s biologists are using inspiration from nature to help further along developments in the construction of flat panel displays, solar cells, and bendable screens. Headed by Muhammad Iftekhar Shams, the Kyoto research team utilize the translucent chitin (main component of crustacean exoskeleton) that they have extracted through various chemical process on a dead crab shell to create a optically transparent panel.

Benefits of chitin includes but is not limited to the following:

  • Does not expand or lose stability when heat is applied
  • Ten time as resistant to heat compared to traditional materials
  • Bendable
  • High light transmittance
  • Is an abundant resource found in nature (crabs, lobsters, shrimps, insects…)

(via Arstechnica)