Beetle microstructures.
The interplay between mechanical and optical performance in beetle exoskeletons has been probed by researchers at Virginia Tech. They discovered that the structures providing mechanical support are also contributors to the optical properties such as colour.
Their results can be viewed in PNAS: https://www.pnas.org/content/118/25/e2101017118
#sciencenew #physics
The interplay between mechanical and optical performance in beetle exoskeletons has been probed by researchers at Virginia Tech. They discovered that the structures providing mechanical support are also contributors to the optical properties such as colour.
Their results can be viewed in PNAS: https://www.pnas.org/content/118/25/e2101017118
#sciencenew #physics
PNAS
Microstructural design for mechanical–optical multifunctionality in the exoskeleton of the flower beetle Torynorrhina flammea
In the design of multifunctional materials, harnessing structural and compositional synergies while avoiding unnecessary trade-offs is critical in achieving high performance of all required functions. Biological material systems like the cuticles of many…