TED-Ed: How do oysters make pearls? | Rob Ulrich

The video explores the formation and composition of pearls, highlighting their beauty and the role of calcium carbonate. It explains how calcium carbonate is abundant in nature and used by mollusks to create diverse shell structures. The video delves into the properties of nacre, a strong and iridescent biomaterial, and describes how mollusks use it to form pearls as a defense mechanism against intruders.

What is nacre and why is it significant in mollusk shells?

Describe the process by which a mollusk forms a pearl.

How does the structure of nacre contribute to its iridescence?