Narwhals with spiral tusks: how opposite coils keep the tooth straight

Narwhals with long spiral tusks swimming in turquoise water, aerial view; the spiral tooth structure studied by scientists

Seen from above, a pod of narwhals glides through calm turquoise water, several males displaying their long spiral tusks. This helical tooth structure is the focus of new research: scientists found that opposing coils counteract each other to keep the tusk straight. The image vividly shows the natural spiral mechanism that researchers have now decoded.

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