Short peptides self-assemble into honeycomb fibers holding water

Researchers have developed short peptides that self-assemble into honeycomb-shaped structures on a microscopic scale. These molecules, composed of only nine amino acids, form tiny fibers with a honeycomb-like interior that holds water within parallel channels.

This design mimics the familiar geometry of beehives but operates at a scale invisible to the naked eye. The resulting structures consist of many identical peptide copies organized into fibers filled with water.