Mantis shrimp are colorful creatures with an incredibly powerful punch — comparable to a .22 caliber bullet. This punch is strong enough to shatter shells and even glass. Luckily, mantis shrimp remain protective from the force of their own blows,

Insights from probing the shock-absorbing layer within the crustacean’s club-like claw could inspire the design of tough new materials.

Mantis shrimp can deal incredible blows without damaging themselves, but how? The makeup of their armor is key.

They may be colorful and small, but mantis shrimp are not to be trifled with. These carnivorous crustaceans pack a powerful punch that can smash mollusk shells at speeds of up to 50 miles per hour and even break glass.