Fish Scales May Hold Key to Next Generation of Military Armor

(Our happy hour fact to amaze your drinking buddies with.)

Bulletproof vests and military vehicle armor of the future may be inspired by prehistoric fish scales.

Africa's Polypterus Senegalus has been the focus of a U.S. Army-funded study, because the species has survived for 96 million years in murky, predator-filled freshwater pools using an almost impenetrable suit of scaly aquatic armor.

Researchers at MIT recently dissected the fish's exoskeleton and discovered the key to its toughness is a multilayered design of scales which, when punctured, force the cracks to run in a contained circle.

Head researcher Christine Ortiz claims the findings hold "great potential for the development of improved biologically inspired structural materials."

Of course, we see this as further proof that Aquaman is the most underrated of the Super Friends.