A remarkable deep-sea sponge has inspired researchers to create a new class of lightweight materials that are not only stronger but also more efficient at handling flowing air or water. This innovation could enhance aircraft components, underwater structures, and even medical devices.
Scientists from the University of California, Berkeley, and Harvard University based their research on the Venus’ flower basket, a glass sponge thriving more than 500 meters below the ocean surface. Despite its fragile appearance, this sponge boasts an incredibly durable yet lightweight skeleton—a feature that has intrigued researchers for nearly 200 years.
Published in Nature Communications, the team’s study introduces a computer-driven design system that enables engineers to craft materials balancing two key qualities: mechanical strength and optimal fluid flow. Achieving both simultaneously has traditionally been difficult; structures designed for high strength often cause turbulence, while designs optimized for fluid movement can compromise structural integrity. The team aimed to tackle both issues at once.
The Venus’ flower basket provided an ideal model. Its intricate silica framework withstands the immense pressure and strong currents of deep oceans for centuries. Simultaneously, its lattice-like structure smoothly guides water through and around the sponge, aiding in food collection while minimizing stress from ocean currents.
Inspired by this natural architecture, the researchers developed an automated computer framework combining mechanical engineering principles with advanced fluid dynamics simulations. Users input desired performance criteria, and the system evaluates hundreds of potential designs, iteratively refining them to find the optimal balance between strength and fluid efficiency.
The software integrates two established engineering techniques: Finite Element Analysis, which predicts how structures respond to forces, and Computational Fluid Dynamics, which simulates how fluids move around objects. By merging these methods, the framework can optimize materials in ways previously deemed difficult.
Once the optimal designs were generated digitally, the team 3D printed physical samples and tested their strength and fluid behavior. The experiments confirmed that the computer models aligned well with real-world results. The specially designed materials could withstand roughly 140% more load before buckling compared to randomly designed counterparts, without using extra material.
Additionally, introducing just about 5% open space within the structure significantly reduced vortex shedding—a phenomenon where swirling vortices form behind objects flowing in air or water—causing repetitive forces that induce vibrations and fatigue over time. Carefully shaping the internal layout allowed fluids to flow more smoothly, decreasing vibrations and further increasing durability.
The researchers believe this optimization framework can be adapted to develop advanced materials across various fields. Possible applications include underwater pipelines, offshore installations, aircraft wings, helicopter parts, and medical stents designed to improve blood and fluid flow.
This work demonstrates how millions of years of natural evolution, exemplified by the Venus’ flower basket, can inform modern engineering solutions. By studying one of the ocean’s most extraordinary creatures, scientists have shown that smarter, more resilient materials can be crafted through better design—often with less material—rather than relying solely on increased volume or strength.
The full study appears in Nature Communications, supported by findings from UC Berkeley.