Happy Science Friday, folks!
Today let's talk about the pretty insects who evolved photonic crystal-like nanostructures to manipulate light.
Let's start with the remarkable structures of the Morpho butterfly wing that produce iridescence.
Today let's talk about the pretty insects who evolved photonic crystal-like nanostructures to manipulate light.
Let's start with the remarkable structures of the Morpho butterfly wing that produce iridescence.
Comments
Though made of chitin, these structures reflect different colors and brightness, based on angle and quality of light.
1. pigmentation or
2. "structural coloration" produced by nanostructures
In the case of this jewel beetle, the iridescence is produced by thin laminated layers of different composition.
Only the male Morpho butterfly is iridescent, suggesting in plays a role in attracting females.
The photonic crystal-like effect extends to the UV, producing a strobe effect in sunny areas.
Reimagining the Blue Jay | Audubon
https://youtu.be/2oJfzzz0Res?si=v74LZsOPOTHXpgoa
Pigment absorbs, iridescence scatters light. So a brown pigmented bird looks blue, from some angles but not others.
There's a bait and switch at work. I swap "being" blue, which you see with your eyes, for having "blue pigment". Therefore, blue "scattering" isn't "really" blue, and I'm on the golf course by 2:30.