Photonic structures in biology

@article{Vukusic2003PhotonicSI,
  title={Photonic structures in biology},
  author={Peter Vukusic and J. Roy Sambles},
  journal={Nature},
  year={2003},
  volume={424},
  pages={852-855}
}
Millions of years before we began to manipulate the flow of light using synthetic structures, biological systems were using nanometre-scale architectures to produce striking optical effects. An astonishing variety of natural photonic structures exists: a species of Brittlestar uses photonic elements composed of calcite to collect light, Morpho butterflies use multiple layers of cuticle and air to produce their striking blue colour and some insects use arrays of elements, known as nipple arrays… Expand
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Photonic structures in biology
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Nature’s light manipulation strategies—in particular those at the origin of bright iridescent colors —have fascinated humans for centuries. In recent decades, insights into the fundamental concepts… Expand
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Structural colours arise from the interaction of visible light with nano-structured materials. The occurrence of such structures in nature has been known for over a century, but it is only in the… Expand
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