ABSTRACT
Structure-property relations are crucial in material science; for example, in the design of alloys and composites notable for strength, light weight, and resistance to heat for aeronautic applications. These relationships are the basis of threedimensional structures on earth that are linked to the mechanical functions they serve. By analogy to the previous example, the shell that protects a macadamia nut is stronger than most metals yet is less than half as dense, thus contributing to the light weight the plant must sustain (Niklas, 1992).
