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submitted 3 weeks ago by fossilesque@mander.xyz to c/science_memes@mander.xyz

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[-] protist@mander.xyz 141 points 3 weeks ago

They have a reflective silver metallic appearance which is achieved through thin film interference within layers of chitin. These layers of the chitin coating are chirped (in layers of differing thicknesses), forming a complex multilayer as each layer decreases in depth; as the thickness changes, so too does the optical path-length. Each chirped layer is tuned to a different wavelength of light. The multilayer found on C. limbata reflects close to 97% of light across the visible wavelength range.

Nature is insane

[-] skillissuer@sh.itjust.works 13 points 3 weeks ago

it's called dielectric mirror, this type of mirror can be made to be extremely effective over narrow range of wavelengths and it's used in lasers for this reason. this is also the only way to manipulate extreme UV (13nm tin source, used in EUV semiconductor manufacturing)

similar effect is responsible for blue color of some butterflies and feathers that don't contain blue pigment

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this post was submitted on 02 Dec 2024

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