Dragon's scale coral

*Coral dragonscale*. A hard, metal-rich coral that originally evolved on hydrothermal vents, using the temperature gradient between its hot base and its cold-water lip to drive metabolic reactions.

1. Hard coral Dragon's scale polyps evolved in water hot enough to dissolve ordinary coral limestone. Instead, the dragon's scale polyps extend fibers to collect metal ions. These metal whiskers are an anchor for further mineral growth and the key to the coral's metabolism.

2. Whisker-based metabolism The temperature difference between the hot and cold end of the dragon's scale induces electrical current along its whiskers. This current drives the coral's metabolism. In cooler waters, the dragon's scale generates current between its sunlit and shadowed sides.

3. Cosmopolitan spread The dragon scale's evolution in high-temperature, metal-rich water allows it to thrive in oxygen-poor tropical seawater where other corals have already depleted the supply of reefbuilding minerals.

4. Troilite superconductor Deposits of troilite (an iron sulfide mineral) within the dragon scale enter an unusual quantum spin state when heated above 150C.

Assessment: possible applications to research and computation.