Researchers analyze the structure of bird feathers to create hues without dye

Date:

June 8, 2015

Source:

University of Akron

Summary:

Work from a research team is seeking to produce synthetic particles that mimic the tiny packets of melanin found in feathers. These tiny packets of synthetic melanin produce structural color, like in a bird's feather, when they are packed into layers. Structural color occurs through the interaction of light with materials that have patterns on a tiny scale, which reflect light to make some wavelengths brighter and others darker.

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