What do finishing, barnacles, and manufacturing waste have in common? Let me explain.rnThe Acorn barnacle is a small crustacean, roughly the size of a quarter, that attaches itself to a host (for example, a ship) for life. The adhesive properties of the cement excreted by this creature are truly amazing. The excreted compound can bond the barnacle to its host with 7,200 pounds per square inch of holding force. Living in Newport, Ore., and having a fishing boat, I can personally attest to the tenacity of these little creatures. But they are little more than a nuisance to me. To the shipping industry, barnacles represent a huge financial problem.
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