Materials capable of absorbing upwards of 99.9 percent of light could be useful in a variety of optical and space applications.
and certain birds-of-paradise display the color in combination with more vibrant hues for eye-catching courtship rituals.
Dakota McCoy, a postdoctoral researcher in biophotonics at Stanford University, says that these biological adaptations — like how some birds-of-paradise use their light-absorbing feathers to— can serve as inspiration for new technologies. “Engineers are very smart and they've made great devices, but nature has some cool tricks,” McCoy says. “We can look to these birds and these spiders and try to get inspiration for resilient, weather-resistant materials that can absorb light really well.
Indeed, scientists have been on the hunt for their own, improved, version of an ultra-black material for over a decade — but not for courtship rituals. Materials capable of absorbing upwards of 99.9 percent of light could increase the absorption of heat in solar power technology, or find use in military applications such as thermal camouflage. They’ve also been used in space, preventing stray light from entering telescopes and improving infrared sensors focused on Earth’s radiation budget.
When snow falls on a warm sidewalk, it turns into a wet mess. But when snow finds itself on a cold sidewalk, it accumulates more easily — creating a “fluffy” structure akin to the super black feathers of birds-of-paradise. Photons rattle around the microstructures of metal blacks in much the same way, before ultimately being absorbed.Around 2004, Lehman began investigating a new replacement for metal blacks: carbon nanotubes, cylinders of carbon atoms, or graphite.
When arranged in a properly spaced “forest,” the carbon nanotubes become even blacker. Lehman and his colleagues at NIST grow low-density forests that contain about one billion nanotubes per square centimeter. That may sound like a lot, but it’s not. The tubes are very thin compared to the size of a photon — around 400 to 700 nanometers, just thin enough to trap photons rather than allowing them to immediately bounce away.
France Dernières Nouvelles, France Actualités
Similar News:Vous pouvez également lire des articles d'actualité similaires à celui-ci que nous avons collectés auprès d'autres sources d'information.
Wordle Box Meme Used For Perfect Pac-Man 99 JokeWordle memes, based on the patterns that players often post to show them getting the correct solutions, are catching the attention of bigger devs.
Lire la suite »
NREL Scientists Dive Into Data In Search Of AnswersEscape into nature. Inhale the mountain air. Glimpse a hawk kiting on the wind. These are the experiences Lindy Williams cherishes as a born-and-raised Coloradan. They are also the experiences she is working to preserve
Lire la suite »
Black Entrepreneurs Behind Cannabis Brand GasHouse Make Their Mark On The IndustryThe founders of Black-owned cannabis business GasHouse share their story and their thoughts on representation in the marijuana industry by people of color.
Lire la suite »
Black Lips Are The New Trend To Edge Up Your Makeup Looks | Fashionisers©Trends are here from all around the world. Black Color Trends have kicked off yet again. We are again ready to welcome another black color trend- Black Lips.
Lire la suite »
Students struggle as Lebanon crisis cripples university sectorPower shortages and soaring petrol prices mean many Lebanese university students can neither afford to reach their classes nor study from home, a conundrum that is ravaging a generation's future.
Lire la suite »
These 6 Color Trends Are It For Spring 2022See the biggest color trends in fashion for spring 2022, straight from the runways.
Lire la suite »