Dr. Dan Killam on Nostr: How does a mussel attach itself to rocks? The secret is its byssal threads. These are ...

How does a mussel attach itself to rocks? The secret is its byssal threads. These are long spun protein structures with pads of cement at the end adhering to the substrate. The mussel spins them with its long, extensible foot! Dozens of threads anchor the mussel down. They are both strong and elastic, being able to resist around a pound of force and stretch ~40% before letting go! #clamFacts