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Why A Hoosier State Scientist Is Stuck On Oysters

Jonathan Wilker holds up a group of oysters from a tank in his lab at Purdue University.
Rebecca Davis
/
NPR
Jonathan Wilker holds up a group of oysters from a tank in his lab at Purdue University.

How do oysters attach themselves to rocks? They need a glue, but a glue that can set in a watery environment. In this installment of "Joe's Big Idea," NPR's Joe Palca reports that glue could lead to medical advances.

Copyright 2026 NPR

Joe Palca is a science correspondent for NPR.