“Bone is a building,” says Purdue University professor Pablo Zavattieri. “It has these columns that carry most of the load and beams connecting the columns. We can learn from these materials to create more robust 3D-printed materials for buildings and other structures.”

The researchers discovered that the “beams” in bones provide more stiffness and strength than previously understood. Those beams, also known as trabeculae, form vertical plate-like struts and horizontal rod-like struts in bone. In a study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, they propose that it’s the horizontal struts that increase the fatigue life of bone.

They believe that 3D-printed building materials designed with similar internal structures might lead to more durable buildings. To test the theory, Zavattieri’s lab designed 3D-printed polymers with architectures similar to trabecula.

Mechanical analysis simulations found that the thicker the horizontal struts, the longer the polymer lasted under load. Because thickening the struts didn’t significantly increase the mass of the polymer, the team believes similar bone-inspired polymers could be used to create resilient, lightweight building materials, and those could be key to creating 3D-printed homes and buildings.

There’s no mention of when the series is likely to premiere, or any talent attached to the project.

Nonetheless, this is something of a coup for Netflix and illustrates the contrast between its approach and traditional outlets. Deadline noted that Warner Bros. had tried to adapt Bone as a movie starting in 2008, but never got anywhere. It wasn’t much more successful when it tapped Kung Fu Panda‘s Mark Osborne to head up a franchise. Netflix, however, has been more willing to take chances and more flexible in how and when it offers projects. It doesn’t have to fight for airtime or theaters, and it can pick whatever format best suits a story.

As it is, Bone might fit well into Netflix’s existing strategy. It’s been adapting Mark Millar’s comics through its Millarworld acquistion, but it’s also been securing other big titles like Neil Gaiman’s Sandman. This adds to its repertoire, and might reel in viewers at a time when rivals are bolstering their animated shows and kids’ programming.