Butterfly-inspired crystals could enable durable, potentially safer glitter
The next time you need to freshen up the paint on your house or apply a bit of cosmetic glitter before heading out for the night, you might want to give a quick nod to the butterflies fluttering in a nearby garden. Taking inspiration from structures on those wings that create their vibrant colors, researchers are now devising more durable and adjustable colors that are also safer for human health…
Scientists are drawing inspiration from the wings of butterflies to develop more durable and adjustable colored crystals. By studying the structural colors produced by butterflies, particularly those in the Pieridae family, researchers aim to create safer alternatives to traditional pigment-based colors. Unlike traditional colors, structural colors do not fade over time and are composed of microscopic formations that bend, scatter, and interfere with specific wavelengths of light.
The researchers are focusing on pterins, compounds related to DNA found on butterfly wings, as they offer potential advantages. By manipulating the size and packing of pterin crystals, scientists can control the color intensity. Additionally, these natural biomolecules are already present in living organisms, making them safer for human health and the environment.
The team has developed a method to produce pterin crystals using water, salt, and acidity instead of organic solvents, which are traditionally used but can present safety concerns. While the current production yields only milligram quantities, the researchers believe the approach has commercial potential, as it could provide a natural, sustainable source of structural colors that surpasses the toxicity concerns associated with synthetic options like metal oxides used in cosmetic glitter.
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