That's a little spicule of primary bone just beginning to form.

那是一小块刚刚开始形成的原始骨骼骨针。

Looking inside using X-ray nano-tomography gives us a clue into how spicules develop.

使用 X 射线纳米层析成像技术观察内部，为我们提供了骨针如何发育的线索。

Under the microscope, spicules from three different kinds of sponges all have the same crystalline hexagonal structure, like a snowflake.

在显微镜下，三种不同海绵的骨针都具有相同的结晶六方结构，就像雪花一样。

Sponges have hard structures within their bodies called spicules, crystalline forms made from amorphous silica that grow and branch to form wicked shapes.

海绵体内有称为针状体的坚硬结构，由无定形二氧化硅制成的结晶形式可以生长和分枝形成邪恶的形状。

The internal scans show that the proteins inside of spicules -- known as axial filaments -- predetermine the shape of the growing spicule.

内部扫描显示，针状体内部的蛋白质——被称为轴丝——预先决定了生长中的针状体的形状。

Even though this basic structure is the same across species, the spicules then take many different shapes, such as pointy needles, branched trees, or spiked spheres.

尽管这种基本结构在不同物种之间是相同的，但骨针会呈现出许多不同的形状， 例如尖针、分枝树或带刺的球体。

The basic unit of this skeleton is called a spicule, which can be long and sharp or short and chunky, depending on whether the sponge uses it for structure or defense.

这种骨架的基本单位称为骨针，它可以长而尖， 也可以短而粗，这取决于海绵是将其用于结构还是防御。