Palladium BMG Crack Staircase (IMAGE) DOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Caption SEM micrograph image of a bulk metallic glass under load shows a "staircase-like" crack path whose serrations resemble interlocking gear teeth that act to limit the opening and closing of cracks. Credit Image courtesy of Robert Ritchie, Berkeley Lab Usage Restrictions None License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.