OXFORD: A tweet had gone viral recently for suggesting that, up until this pandemic, many people had never seen the scientific method “unfold in real-time”, with new evidence emerging, changing methodologies – and, yes, even errors.

To the man on the street, what should be robust science in the middle of this coronavirus crisis can look like cluelessness.

That would certainly explain why some do not take well to governments constantly updating their advice on COVID-19 in response to the evolving science.

In Singapore, misperceptions about how science works might account for some of the public unhappiness at the Government’s changing policy on face masks, when it U-turned from an earlier stance that masks should only be worn by healthcare workers and those feeling ill, to making mask-wearing in public spaces compulsory for everyone in April.

Yet it is worth recognising that at the same time, the pandemic has tested governments, not just in their flexibility in policy making, but also in their communication skills. The public may accept that science changes, but they still need clarity on the rationale behind each new set of rules.

READ: Commentary: That new problem of disposable masks ending up as trash on pavements and beaches

READ: Commentary: Wear your mask properly! Uncovering the reasons behind public mask shaming

Given that this global health crisis still has some way to go, three key lessons can be learnt from these experiences that should inform public policy when it comes to COVID-19.

NO EXACT SCIENCE ON CORONAVIRUS

The first lesson is for the public to be aware that there is no single thing called “the science”.

Particularly given that countries are dealing with a new virus, and data from studies and lab tests is streaming in from different places, we should be wary of calling the latest evidence “facts” that will not change with the passage of time.

For example, at the moment one very clearly changing aspect of coronavirus science concerns the debate over aerosols.

While the prevailing assumption among scientists and health officials has been that the virus is not transmitted through the air, some notable examples of indoor transmission taking place despite social distancing are leading some to suggest otherwise.

This does not mean we disregard whatever new research makes us uncomfortable, but it requires us to develop a healthy sense of inquiry about scientific studies.

It is easy to forget that there was a time when asymptomatic spread of the virus was not well-established, and the World Health Organization (WHO) did not think that there was sufficient evidence to support wearing masks as a general practice.

Only on Apr 2 did the WHO finally report evidence of pre-symptomatic and asymptomatic transmission. Just a day later, the Singapore Government announced it would not discourage the use of face masks among those who were not unwell. Other countries have since also implemented different, and at times changing, policies on mask-wearing.

The problem is not that science changes, but that we sometimes fall prey to a certain idealised perception of science.

In the popular imagination, science is almost synonymous with a fixed set of facts and objectivity. Ordinary citizens are generally less concerned about its actual methods and the hugely varying quality of its studies.

READ: Commentary: We need to have the right conversations about COVID-19

LISTEN: Recovery, restructuring and possibly rebound? The outlook for the Singapore economy

Even governments are not immune to this.

In the early days of the UK’s response to coronavirus, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson continually insisted that his government was “following the science”. He would appear daily before the media, flanked by his top scientific advisers who, to their credit, were often first-rate communicators of scientific evidence.

Back then, the British government was still talking about the need for herd immunity, before new modelling from Imperial College London suggested a terrifying scenario of 250,000 deaths under the government’s strategy. Johnson then changed tack and imposed a nationwide lockdown.

Since then, however, many have questioned the modelling, or the exact efficacy of lockdowns. And ultimately, we may never know with exact certainty which side is right, and which studies have been the most reflective of reality.

After all, modelling disease outbreaks or studying the effectiveness of social distancing rules is not straightforward. It depends on what assumptions you have, what factors you decide to control for, and so on.

READ: Commentary: Science goes viral, thanks to COVID-19. But there are roadblocks along the way

For example, during earlier periods of the pandemic, when it was uncertain exactly what the incubation period of the virus will be, or how the capacity of testing and contact tracing was evolving in a particular country, modellers had to make assumptions about these variables. Future models may change depending on the results of studies of airborne transmission.

Likewise, counting COVID-19 deaths is not straightforward. Different countries have made different decisions, such as whether to count all suspected cases or only confirmed cases. Even calculating fatality rates of total cases depends on whether you count only deaths and recoveries, or deaths and total cases – some of whom may eventually die.

As James Forsyth, a British journalist, once put it, epidemiology is “more like economics than physics”. There is more than one answer, and evidence is often only as good as the study.

LISTEN: Recovery, restructuring and possibly rebound? The outlook for the Singapore economy

LISTEN: The COVID-19 vaccine will be the biggest product launch in history. Can we pull it off?

SCIENCE AND POLICY TRADE-OFFS

A second vital lesson of this pandemic is that science alone does not make decisions for us.

Public health policy cannot be based purely on medical advice, as there may be concerns about fairness and resource allocation, or other concurrent policy goals to consider. Every policy comes with trade-offs, and how much risk or cost is acceptable while pursuing a certain public health benefit is a question of ethics, not science.

Consider, for instance, the different factors involved in the decision regarding face shields.

Singapore’s Ministry of Health (MOH) had previously said all types of masks, including face shields, disposable masks and home-made masks, would offer adequate basic protection.

However, MOH changed this advice in June. Health Minister Gan Kim Yong acknowledged that although face shields offered less robust protection than masks, these risks were “less of a concern” during the circuit breaker period when fewer people were out and about. But once the circuit breaker lifted, masks had to become compulsory again.

One might have concerns about how well these points were communicated when the relevant policies were first announced, but the point here is that governments are never just “following the science”.

While science gives crucial information for decisions, governments still must weigh up and prioritise different policy goals, while taking into account changing circumstances.

Perhaps, then, we should not be quick to judge policy “U-turns” as a sign of dishonesty or a question of competence. When there is new scientific evidence, or when new policy concerns alter the risk-benefit analysis, a change in policy may well be a mark of responsible governance.

READ: Commentary: How ready are Singapore universities to start the new term as COVID-19 rages on?

READ: Commentary: Will COVID-19 spell the end of strata malls?

THE IMPORTANCE OF CLEAR COMMUNICATION

None of these thoughts, however, should eclipse our third lesson, which relates to clear communication. Governments should always be open to the public about the full set of considerations, so that citizens can make better sense of policy shifts and new rules, and to prevent distrust from setting in.

In the short term, this may concern explaining trade-offs.

Just because some level of risk is deemed acceptable does not mean that governments are recklessly endangering public health, but citizens have a right to understand what goals are being aimed at, such as economic recovery or allowing for social goods such as seeing family and friends again.

In the longer term, clear communication is also about managing public expectations, even if it means tempering optimism.

The temptation, perhaps, is for everyone to think that the solution to a public health crisis will essentially be a medical one. Accordingly, many have pinned their hopes on a vaccine.

But it is worth saying that there has never been a successful vaccine developed for any coronavirus, including those strains that cause the common cold. Even a successful COVID-19 vaccine may, like yearly flu jabs, not be a permanent, one-off solution.

Should a vaccine come to fruition, other policy questions will remain, such as who should be prioritised for vaccination, and how it should be funded.

The road ahead is likely to be long. And in all of this, preserving trust between governments and citizens is a two-way street.

Those in authority will need to continually account for the rationale behind their decisions, and not be afraid to discuss both scientific and more qualitative policy considerations that have influenced them. But as ordinary citizens we can also do our bit by developing both our scientific literacy and by appreciating the different facets of the crisis.

LISTEN: Why lifting lockdowns and easing restrictions may be the biggest COVID-19 test facing countries

BOOKMARK THIS: Our comprehensive coverage of the novel coronavirus and its developments

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Michael Wee is Education and Research Officer at the Anscombe Bioethics Centre, an Oxford-based research institute. In 2020 he became the first Singaporean appointed to the Holy See’s bioethics advisory body, the Pontifical Academy for Life.

There’s something about a fresh new year that makes you want to break out your exercise gear. And while we fist-bump you for wanting to work out more, it can be easy to get swept up by the enthusiasm and simply emulate the workout videos you’ve watched or you think you know what you’re doing.

Before you roll out the mat or step onto the gym floor, hit the pause button for a bit and consider: Do you know how to execute the exercises correctly? Sometimes, the exercises aren’t even complex ones but fundamental movements that you may have been executing incorrectly all this while without realising. Or it could simply be the post-“circuit breaker” inertia that’s contributing to the poor form.

What are these common mistakes and what can cause them? We spoke to the fitness experts for the answers and what to watch out for.

COMPLEX EXERCISES = BIGGER GAINS BUT …

You’re probably ready to take on more challenging workouts after spending weeks on basic exercises since the circuit breaker period. But sometimes, you may miss out the finer points for more complex movements, which can lead to injuries.

READ: Christy Chung and Aaron Kwok in their 50s: The truth about celeb diets and workouts

“You’re engaging more of your muscles and working them harder when you perform exercises that require you to understand how to stabilise yourself, find your balance, and combine your upper and lower body power,” said Thabata Da Costa Manso, a strength and conditioning expert with Evolve MMA. That is a lot of information to process but that is exactly why “the effects are great”, she said.

• ONE-ARM KETTLEBELL CLEANS

1. Keep your back flat and engage your core muscles at all times. Swing the kettlebell back between your legs to gain momentum and drive the swing forward and up.
2. As you straighten your torso with the upward momentum, keep your elbow tucked in, and squeeze your glutes.
3. Rotate your wrist to stop the kettlebell on the shoulder.

Common mistakes: The momentum used is powered at the hips, but it is a common mistake to turn the move into a bicep curl by using the arm muscles instead. Don’t forget to rotate your wrist to prevent the kettlebell from hitting it.

Consequences: Lower back and elbow aches.

• LUNGES

1. Stand with feet apart and take a step back. Ensure stability before making the next move.
2. Keep your back straight and core engaged. Lower yourself by bending both knees to 90-degrees angle. Your weight should be evenly distributed on the lunge down, with more power on your front leg as you push yourself back up.

Common mistakes: Not putting enough power on the front leg or losing stability, thereby reducing the effectiveness of the lunge. Don’t raise your front heel; you need to keep your foot flat on the ground for stability. If your knees are not forming 90-degree angles, you’re not executing the lunge correctly.

Consequences: Knee joint and ligament strain.

• ALTERNATING ONE ARM AND ONE LEG PLANKS

1. Position your hands parallel to one another, directly under the shoulders. Align your hips to your shoulders. Keep your neck and spine in a neutral position. Engage your core and pelvic muscles at all times to stabilise your body.
2. Once stable, extend and raise one arm and the opposite leg, elongating your body as far as possible.

Common mistakes: Not engaging your arms, shoulders and core to hold your body in a plank position, resulting in the rounding or collapse of your lower back. Also, don’t lift and flex the alternating arm and leg higher than the neutral position of the plank in an attempt to maintain balance. Another mistake is going too fast; take your time. The key is stabilisation while engaging your core and glutes.

Consequences: Soreness and joint tension in the neck, shoulders and lower back.

MISINFORMATION FROM YOUTUBE VIDEOS

Many people have been exercising to workout videos on YouTube and why not? Your coveted time slot at the gym could be full, the videos are free and you still get to keep active.

Fitness professional Darwin Ramirez from Virgin Active agreed that these online workouts do have a role in inspiring people to stay active. However, he highlighted that not everything you see is accurate and works for you.

READ: Time to go for a walk? You’ll burn calories, lose weight, de-stress and improve knee pain

“People consume so much online content from the wrong sources,” he said. “They basically watch random YouTube videos and apply the exercises to themselves in the gym. They get cues that are generalised but don’t realise they don’t work for everyone.”

• SQUATS

1. Stand with feet wider than hip-width apart, toes pointed slightly out. Torso-wise, keep your ribcage stacked above your pelvis. Hold the kettlebell or dumbbell at your chest.
2. Send your hips back and bend your knees to lower yourself as far as possible. Keep your lower back neutral.

Common mistakes: Passively sinking into a squat position with rounded shoulders instead of controlling your movement throughout. When coming back up, watch that you don’t tiptoe and raise your heels.

Consequences: Low back pain, joint pain in the knees/ankles and spinal misalignment.

• KETTLEBELL ROWS

1. Adopt a staggered stance with only the ball of your back foot on the floor. Keep your torso almost parallel to the floor. Rest your non-working arm on a chair in front of you.
2. Pull the kettlebell up by driving your elbow to the ceiling. Control your movement on the way down.

Common mistakes: Bringing the kettlebell up with your bicep instead of pulling from the elbow. The other mistake is rotating through your hips and upper torso.

Consequences: Low back injury.

• DIPS

1. Position two seats with a gap just wide enough to fit your hips (if you’re using chairs with backrests, place them against a wall for stability). Place your hands on the corners of each chair closest to your body, with elbows straight.
2. Step out in front with your feet and rest only the heels on the floor.
3. Lower your hips by bending your elbows slowly to an angle that feels comfortable. Push up until your elbows are almost locked out.

Common mistakes: There is the tendency to round the shoulders and rigidly lock the elbows. When coming down, watch that you don’t flare out your elbows too far to the sides, which forces the elbow angle to be lower than what feels comfortable.

Consequences: Elbow pain or tendonitis, muscle strain and shoulder injury.

EXERCISE IS A SKILL THAT CAN GET “RUSTY”

Like any skills such as riding a bicycle, your exercise skills can also get “rusty” if you stop practising, said Leon Tan, a fitness instructor with Fitness First. “If you’ve been doing basic body weight exercises at home, you probably can retain the skills. A lot of gym-goers come back a little rusty after the circuit breaker,” he said.

READ: Why do men sweat more than women? And do you burn more calories if you do?

• PUSH PRESSES

1. Hold the barbell over your shoulders while keeping your chest tall and back tight.
2. Push back your hips and bend your knees in a half squat.
3. Press the barbell straight overhead with your arms by your ears, and head slightly forward.

Common mistakes: Don’t push your knees forward; you should be doing so with your hips instead. At the top of the movement, people also tend to lean back too much instead of standing tall.

Consequences: Lower back, knee and shoulder strain.

• KETTLEBELL SWINGS

1. Bend at your waist, and engage your core at all times to maintain a tight and flat back. Keep your arms loose.
2. Power the upward swing through your hips to about shoulder height. Ensure your arms are not doing the lifting. Squeeze your glutes at the top of the movement.
3. Let the momentum bring your arms down to between your legs.

Common mistakes: You’re supposed to bend at the waist instead of squat. Also, don’t use your arms and shoulders to swing the kettlebell; you can tell if you do so when the kettlebell hangs down at the top of the movement.

Consequences: Arm and shoulder strain.

• STANDARD PUSHUPS

1. Get down on all fours, placing your hands slightly wider than your shoulders. Straighten your arms and legs.
2. Bend your elbows to lower your body until your chest nearly touches the floor. Pause, then push yourself back up.

Common mistakes: Get the start position right by not rounding your back. Keep your back tight by pulling back the shoulders. Also, don’t relax your back and flare out the elbows; instead, keep the elbows pointed at about 45 degrees.

Consequences: Shoulder joint stress.

Each time you see a flawless picture of a celebrity, it’s almost always enhanced by make-up, good lighting, Photoshop – and maybe even a bit of nip-and-tuck to keep those bulges in.

But lately, stars have been posting sweatfies on social media to humblebrag that their OMG figures are really the results of their hard work in the gym. And get this: A good number of them are in their 50s. That’s right, some of those actors you idolised in your teens are semi-centennials and a number are still head-turners.

Take Hong Kong actress Carman Lee, for instance. She’s 54 and her impressive midriff on social media meant that fans would never look at the ethereal Little Dragon Maiden of The Return Of The Condor Heroes the same way again.

And then there’s Aaron Kwok – 55, a father of two, and from the looks of it, still a Heavenly King.

Meanwhile, Canada-born actress and 90s bombshell Christy Chung is 50 and a mother of three – who recently performed on a Chinese reality show in skin-tight, see-through outfits that still raised the temperature for her male fans.

So how do these stars dodge the dreaded middle-age spread, you ask? Surely there must be an army of personal trainers, dietitians and chefs at their disposal – or they have, at the very least, inherited some very good genes? We put the questions to some experts to find out if you can also look this good when you hit the big 5-0.

IS IT A CASE OF GOOD GENES OR HARD WORK?

You’ll know you have good genes if it’s easy for you to maintain a healthy body weight as well as lose the extra kilos through exercise and diet control, said Dr Abel Soh, an endocrinologist at Mount Elizabeth Hospital’s Abel Soh Diabetes, Thyroid and Endocrine Clinic. If you experience the opposite, it’s likely that you have bad genes for body weight.

But your weight isn’t fixed at birth as genes don’t completely affect your body weight – it’s from 25 per cent to 80 per cent, said Dr Soh. And as these celebrities have proven, hard work and discipline go a long way, too, regardless of genetic dispositions.

Dr Kwan Yew Seng, a family physician and senior consultant with Pioneer Polyclinic, which is part of National University Polyclinics, agreed that genes do play certain roles, such as muscle size and your ability to grow them, both of which affect metabolism. But they don’t call all the shots.

“Muscle cells require more energy to maintain than fat cells, so people with more muscle than fat tend to have a faster metabolism,” he said. “But there is a limit as to how much lean muscle mass can be built. Expending extra calories through increased physical activity is the most sensible way to increase metabolism.”

THESE CELEBRITIES ARE INSPIRING BUT CAN I STILL TURN THINGS AROUND IN MY 40S?

The bad news: It will be an uphill task to lose weight in your 40s as they are the years when your metabolism slows down, and weight loss just gets harder and harder, said Dr Soh.

“There is no explainable reason for this age-related drop in metabolic rate thus far,” he said, although it could be accelerated by a reduced muscle mass from Netflixing too much. As if that’s not bad enough, ageing also lessens your body’s production of certain hormones such as testosterone and growth hormone, which are needed to maintain your metabolic rate, said Dr Soh.

Then why bother to exercise and eat healthier if your weight won’t budge that easily? You’ll be helping yourself to lower your risks of preventable diseases such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and several cancers, said Dr Kwan. “It also helps prevent hypertension and can improve mental health, quality of life and well-being.”

The good news: You can still turn things around, even after years of poor lifestyle choices. “One can still make the change, even if in the 40s,” said Dr Soh. “The length of time it takes will vary for different individuals, depending on the body weight, motivation, determination to change, and whether the new lifestyle changes can be maintained.”

More good news: Once you’ve shed those extra kilos, the effort to keep them off may be no different from a 20-something K-pop artiste’s, according to Dr Kwan. That means accumulating 150 to 250 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week, while not exceeding caloric intake requirements, he said.

However, “some may need to accumulate more than 250 minutes of aerobic activity per week” to keep the weight off, he clarified.

WILL CELEBRITIES’ WORKOUTS WORK FOR ME?

How realistic is it for you to expect the results you see on celebrities after following their workouts? For example, Lee used her two-week quarantine in China to develop abs, according to South China Morning Post.

The actress claimed that the abdominal definitions only came about during her quarantine when she exercised for two hours every day in the hotel, despite already regularly working out in the gym for more than 20 years. Her six-pack-building routine? Using weights to work on her abdominal muscles, buttocks, upper arms, back, chest and shoulders, and followed by sit-ups.

READ: Does walking 10,000 steps a day really help in your weight loss efforts?

You would get her abs if you follow her routine, have been exercising for as long as she has – and are already lean to begin with, said Joan Liew, a trainer and co-founder of Fitness Factory. The caveat: You have to be disciplined enough to stick to Lee’s two-hour workout daily and eat cleanly (her being in quarantine likely means no parties, no social alcohol consumption and no dining out).

Meanwhile, Kwok wakes up at 4am every morning to jog – even when he has a packed schedule. He also swims regularly. And from the looks of his Instagram post, he even hits the gym when he’s away.

To achieve the Heavenly King’s physique, Liew said he would also have included regular  weight training that focuses on his upper torso such as the chest, back, shoulders and arms. “He would also have done a fair bit of abdominal exercises,” she said.

Furthermore, the flamboyant Canto-pop star keeps a very close watch on his weight of 63kg. If he so much as gains 1kg, he’d immediately exercise more and eat less – even throwing away his chopsticks to control his food intake, which he has done at a mala hotpot.

READ: Put on weight after months of no exercise? Here’s how to get back into shape safely

Not many people can commit to a wake-up call of 4am. “The best time to exercise is the time you can commit to,” said Liew. “If you are likely to get last-minute meetings after work hours, work out in the mornings before work. If your day has a quiet period in the afternoon, schedule your exercises then. Plan a time that works for your personal schedule, so that you can commit to it on a regular basis.”

Should you be as regimental in reining in your weight, too? Liew wouldn’t lose sleep over 1kg of weight gain overnight because it is largely caused by over-eating. As for rectifying the gain, eat a low-fat and low-sugar diet with moderate meal portions (no second helpings) over the next few days, she said.

As for Chung, her workout includes push-ups, jumping jacks, heel touches, squats, ab twists and other movements. She also dances, skies and does yoga and tai chi. “Last year, I ran every day, sometimes running twice a day, the first time in the morning for 45 minutes on an empty stomach and the second time after dinner for 45 minutes,” she said on South China Morning Post.

Cardiovascular exercises such as running can definitely up your caloric burn. What about activities such as dancing, yoga and tai chi? “They are particularly good for keeping our bodies agile, getting our motor skills conditioned and keeping our bodies moving,” said Liew. If you’ve also lowered your calorie intake, they can help you to lose weight, she said.

READ: Working from home? How to stop gaining weight from all that snacking

However, Liew recommended those above 40 to also establish a weight-training routine to build and maintain muscle mass against age-related muscle loss .

But whatever exercise you do, Liew doesn’t advocate doing it on an empty stomach like Chung did, especially if you’re diabetic. “Our bodies rely on glucose, especially for weight training, and without any food, our bodies will deplete of glucose which can lead to hypoglycemia.”

“I’d suggest something light prior to working out in the morning, such as a glass of milk or a banana. After exercise, have a healthy breakfast that has good complex carbs and high-quality protein.”

ARE CELEBRITY WORKOUT DIETS WORTH FOLLOWING?

As far as celebrities’ workout diets are concerned, they can go either way: Limiting certain foods like Chung, or “I just eat whatever I want” the way Lee rolls. Since Chung’s diet has the most details in the media for a dietary assessment, we’ve decided to use it as an example (no hate here).

For starters, Chung does intermittent fasting and limits her food intake to eight hours a day to improve her digestion. The actress is also careful with her sugar intake, cutting out white sugar and preferring “low-sugar fruit like blueberries, strawberries and grapefruit to the sugar-laden ones like mangoes, watermelons, pineapples and peaches”. She eats a mostly vegetarian diet with very little starch, and makes up for the lack of meat with protein powder.

Chung appears to meet her daily requirements for fruits and vegetables, said Jaclyn Reutens, a dietitian and founder of Aptima Nutrition and Sports Consultants. It is also commendable that she has reduced her red meat intake, which lowers her risks of some cancers and high blood cholesterol levels, she said.

However, Reutens isn’t sure how practical it is to stick to eating eight hours a day for good. It is also not true that keeping your eating to that duration is better for digestion. “What’s more important is the total volume of food consumed in a day. It’s the amount and quality of calories that’s important, not the timing,” she said.

And while it’s a good move to omit white sugar from her diet, Reutens isn’t so sure about the actress’s decision to only eat “low-sugar fruit” such as blueberries, strawberries and grapefruit – and eschew mangoes, watermelons, pineapples and peaches, which are “wonderful sources of powerful antioxidants, vitamins and minerals”, said Reutens.

Moreover, all fruits contain fruit sugar known as fructose, she added. “Chung’s probably concerned about the glycemic index of fruit but as long as she keeps to one serving each time, she need not be unduly worried.”

As for the actress’s decision to replace meat with more protein powder, Reutens highlighted that plant protein from tofu, soy milks, nuts, seeds, beans and lentils are better absorbed by the body than protein powders. “The danger with protein powders is that your kidneys can only absorb a certain amount at a time. As a guide, do not ingest more than 25g protein after a workout.”

Instead of just protein powder, a smoothie made with yoghurt and fruits is more satisfying for the mostly vegetarian Chung (try an egg or chicken sandwich if you eat meat) and can also replenish protein as well as carbohydrates, potassium and sodium after a workout, she suggested.

The future of medical devices such as hip implants and prosthetic limbs, and even body armour, could literally lie in the arms of a tiny sea creature.

Researchers in Singapore have found out why the tiny mantis shrimp is able to strike its prey at the speed of a 5.56mm rifle bullet while suffering little to no damage to its club-like arms.

The team identified not only the arm’s components but also how its inner arrangement improves its ability to absorb forces without harm. This work could lead to incredibly damage-resistant products for people.

The team, led by Assistant Professor Ali Miserez and graduate student Shahrouz Amini from Nanyang Technological University (NTU), published its findings in the prestigious scientific journal Nature Communications in January. The findings put researchers globally one step closer to replicating the material. But the team – from NTU’s School of Materials Science and Engineering and School of Biological Sciences and elsewhere – said this would likely take at least three to four years.

While the components are easy to find and reproduce, said Prof Miserez, “the challenge is to reproduce the structure with the same level of organisation that you would find in the natural system”.

The mantis shrimp arm’s key element is a mineral called fluorapatite. This is also found in shark’s teeth. More importantly, it is very similar to the hydroxyapatite in human teeth and bone.

“You would need to have the proper tests and controls, but there is no reason why it wouldn’t be biocompatible with people,” said Prof Miserez. “It’s almost the exact same thing we already have in our bodies.”

Biocompatible implants would address bone loss from wear and tear, as well as toxic and immunity reactions from fine particles in metal implants.

The shrimp’s arm also contains calcium sulphate, a common chemical used in plaster of Paris, and calcium carbonate, which exists naturally as chalk and limestone and also helps form mollusc shells and stony corals.

The sulphate helps the fluorapatite become more crystalline in the arm’s outer layers, adding to its hardness. The fluorapatite in the inner layers, on the other hand, exists in a softer glassy form, which helps the arm absorb forces like a cushion.

“With these findings we can take calcium sulphate – which is easy enough to buy – and use it to try and crystallise fluorapatite to create strong and biocompatible materials,” said Prof Miserez.

The scientists plan to further study the arm’s structure, chemistry and mechanics, and how the shrimp is able to strike so quickly. They will also use computer simulations to examine exactly what happens to the arm when it hits an object.

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