Fish-scale shininess shares the same structural origin as beetles’ bodies
DOI: 10.1063/PT.5.028363
BBC : Disordered layers of nanoscopic crystals in the iridescent wings and carapaces of various insects are known to cause the glittery shininess of those animals. Now the same phenomenon has been shown to be responsible for the silvery nature of fish scales. Nicholas Roberts of the University of Bristol in the UK and his colleagues have demonstrated that fish scales have a similar crystalline structure as other iridescent surfaces. As light enters the material, it bounces off different structural layers and reflects back with varying levels of interference and wavelength absorption, resulting in brilliant colors and luster. Adapting the structure could allow for the creation of highly reflective surfaces for use in lighting systems and other technologies.
