What do coral skeletons, human teeth, and bones have in common? More than you might think. A recently published frature article highlights a unique international collaboration between Prof. Tali Mass, a coral researcher from the Department of Marine Biology, the Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, and Prof. Paul Zaslansky, a dentist and materials scientist at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin.
Bringing together marine biology and dental material science, the team used advanced X‑ray imaging technologies to uncover how climate‑driven ocean acidification affects the skeletal formation of young corals.
Their findings reveal microscopic changes that influence the strength and flexibility of coral skeletons—insights that are crucial not only for understanding and protecting coral reefs, but also for advancing our knowledge of mineralized tissues across nature, from corals to bones and teeth.
This is a story of science without borders—where a chance meeting at an international conference grew into a powerful collaboration spanning disciplines, countries, and ecosystems, from the depths of the ocean to the dental clinic.
Source and further information: Haifa University