Can You Describe The Acorn Barnacle?

The species called the acorn barnacle is highly disliked by sailors for its habit of cementing itself almost irremovably to the hulls of ships, slowing down the ships and causing fuel-consuming drag. This little creature manufactures a glue so strong that a film only 3/10,000 of an inch (.0762 millimeter) thick has a "shear strength" of 7,000 pounds per square inch (493 kilograms per square centimeter)! This glue is actually a cement that resists heat and cold, strong acids and alkalies, organic solvents or water. It will permanently bond practically any combination of substances. Since it hardens and cures in salt water, it could be valuable for medical use. Dentists would find it the ideal cement for holding fillings in teeth. It would likely be useful in plastic surgery and for mending broken bones. Such a powerful, durable cement would have a host of industrial uses. Scientists are vigorously trying to analyze and synthesize this fine adhesive substance, but without success so far.

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