This is (I think) a Greater Blue-Eared Starling (Lamprotornis chalybaeus) & the amazing chrome job is their super-power.
They've evolved to manipulate light in VERY specific ways, attracting mates, intimidating rivals.
Let's look at the nanostructures that bring this bling into being.
They've evolved to manipulate light in VERY specific ways, attracting mates, intimidating rivals.
Let's look at the nanostructures that bring this bling into being.
March 25, 2026 at 11:58 PM
This is (I think) a Greater Blue-Eared Starling (Lamprotornis chalybaeus) & the amazing chrome job is their super-power.
They've evolved to manipulate light in VERY specific ways, attracting mates, intimidating rivals.
Let's look at the nanostructures that bring this bling into being.
They've evolved to manipulate light in VERY specific ways, attracting mates, intimidating rivals.
Let's look at the nanostructures that bring this bling into being.
Peacock feathers create color with photonic crystal nanostructures, not pigment - an evolutionary nanotechnology inspiring modern materials
April 25, 2026 at 3:38 PM
Peacock feathers create color with photonic crystal nanostructures, not pigment - an evolutionary nanotechnology inspiring modern materials
Another structural colour bird I didn't know about! Gorgeous stuff.
(Its feathers and skin aren't pigmented purple - they just contain nanostructures that scatter light into purple wavelengths. Wild effect.)
(Its feathers and skin aren't pigmented purple - they just contain nanostructures that scatter light into purple wavelengths. Wild effect.)
August 25, 2026 at 1:04 PM
Another structural colour bird I didn't know about! Gorgeous stuff.
(Its feathers and skin aren't pigmented purple - they just contain nanostructures that scatter light into purple wavelengths. Wild effect.)
(Its feathers and skin aren't pigmented purple - they just contain nanostructures that scatter light into purple wavelengths. Wild effect.)
Just published: "Multiplexed expansion revealing for imaging multiprotein nanostructures in healthy and diseased brain", led by Jinyoung Kang and Margaret Schroeder! multiExR enables antibody staining of >20 proteins in a sample w/registration error down to 25 nm. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Multiplexed expansion revealing for imaging multiprotein nanostructures in healthy and diseased brain - Nature Communications
Mapping the nature of multiprotein nanostructures in cellular contexts remains challenging. Here, Kang and Schroeder et al. report multiplexed expansion revealing, a technique which expands proteins a...
www.nature.com
November 10, 2024 at 10:26 PM
Just published: "Multiplexed expansion revealing for imaging multiprotein nanostructures in healthy and diseased brain", led by Jinyoung Kang and Margaret Schroeder! multiExR enables antibody staining of >20 proteins in a sample w/registration error down to 25 nm. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Insane nanostructures of Blue Morpho butterfly.. [stylishpirate]
April 3, 2026 at 11:56 PM
Insane nanostructures of Blue Morpho butterfly.. [stylishpirate]
Peacock feathers create color with photonic crystal nanostructures, not pigment. This is what they look like under a microscope.
Original post
Original post
June 26, 2026 at 4:11 PM
Peacock feathers create color with photonic crystal nanostructures, not pigment. This is what they look like under a microscope.
Original post
Original post
Vegetative electron microscopy is when I'm analyzing nanostructures after 40 hours without sleep
February 20, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Vegetative electron microscopy is when I'm analyzing nanostructures after 40 hours without sleep
"Let's look at the nanostructures that bring this bling into being."
"...bring this bling into being."
Sheer scientific poetry.
Yes, let's. I've been studying interference for years. How to reproduce it in print.
"...bring this bling into being."
Sheer scientific poetry.
Yes, let's. I've been studying interference for years. How to reproduce it in print.
March 26, 2026 at 1:46 AM
"Let's look at the nanostructures that bring this bling into being."
"...bring this bling into being."
Sheer scientific poetry.
Yes, let's. I've been studying interference for years. How to reproduce it in print.
"...bring this bling into being."
Sheer scientific poetry.
Yes, let's. I've been studying interference for years. How to reproduce it in print.
Is this the most stunning bird in the world? Fascinating thread below on the science & biology behind the chromatic nanostructures that create this incredible plumage. #Birds #Nature
This is (I think) a Greater Blue-Eared Starling (Lamprotornis chalybaeus) & the amazing chrome job is their super-power.
They've evolved to manipulate light in VERY specific ways, attracting mates, intimidating rivals.
Let's look at the nanostructures that bring this bling into being.
They've evolved to manipulate light in VERY specific ways, attracting mates, intimidating rivals.
Let's look at the nanostructures that bring this bling into being.
March 26, 2026 at 1:17 AM
Yes! But with very elaborate and orderly nanostructures!
November 17, 2023 at 3:06 PM
Yes! But with very elaborate and orderly nanostructures!
Peacock feathers create color with photonic crystal nanostructures, not pigment. This is what they look like under a microscope.
Original post
Original post
August 28, 2026 at 12:36 PM
Peacock feathers create color with photonic crystal nanostructures, not pigment. This is what they look like under a microscope.
Original post
Original post
🧪⚛️ I randomly noticed that my textbook is on crazy sale today at Amazon in the US, available for only $48.75 in hardcover. It's a page turner, if you like actual books and you're interested in nanoscience and nanotechnology. www.amazon.com/Nanostructur...
Nanostructures and Nanotechnology
Buy Nanostructures and Nanotechnology on Amazon.com ✓ FREE SHIPPING on qualified orders
www.amazon.com
January 2, 2026 at 9:55 PM
🧪⚛️ I randomly noticed that my textbook is on crazy sale today at Amazon in the US, available for only $48.75 in hardcover. It's a page turner, if you like actual books and you're interested in nanoscience and nanotechnology. www.amazon.com/Nanostructur...
I did a thread on structural coloration. I love the ornate nanostructures involved.
Happy Science Friday, folks!
Today let's talk about the pretty insects who evolved photonic crystal-like nanostructures to manipulate light.
Let's start with the remarkable structures of the Morpho butterfly wing that produce iridescence.
Today let's talk about the pretty insects who evolved photonic crystal-like nanostructures to manipulate light.
Let's start with the remarkable structures of the Morpho butterfly wing that produce iridescence.
April 21, 2024 at 12:56 AM
I did a thread on structural coloration. I love the ornate nanostructures involved.
University of Wisconsin-Madison engineers designed quantum nanostructures to enable optical neural networks, potentially making AI systems like large language models significantly more energy efficient.
#QuantumComputing #OpticalNeuralNetworks #News
#QuantumComputing #OpticalNeuralNetworks #News
Quantum Nanostructures Enable Energy-Efficient Optical Neural Networks
thequantuminsider.com
September 23, 2026 at 9:11 AM
University of Wisconsin-Madison engineers designed quantum nanostructures to enable optical neural networks, potentially making AI systems like large language models significantly more energy efficient.
#QuantumComputing #OpticalNeuralNetworks #News
#QuantumComputing #OpticalNeuralNetworks #News
Happy Science Friday, folks!
Today let's talk about the pretty insects who evolved photonic crystal-like nanostructures to manipulate light.
Let's start with the remarkable structures of the Morpho butterfly wing that produce iridescence.
Today let's talk about the pretty insects who evolved photonic crystal-like nanostructures to manipulate light.
Let's start with the remarkable structures of the Morpho butterfly wing that produce iridescence.
November 17, 2023 at 1:22 PM
Happy Science Friday, folks!
Today let's talk about the pretty insects who evolved photonic crystal-like nanostructures to manipulate light.
Let's start with the remarkable structures of the Morpho butterfly wing that produce iridescence.
Today let's talk about the pretty insects who evolved photonic crystal-like nanostructures to manipulate light.
Let's start with the remarkable structures of the Morpho butterfly wing that produce iridescence.
See our recent @naturebiotech.bsky.social study SCP-Nano in flow! Mapping LNPs, AAVs, and DNA nanostructures to track targeting & unseen toxicity before clinical trials 🤩. Already >190K access, the most in recent years! 👇🏼 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
January 30, 2025 at 4:43 PM
See our recent @naturebiotech.bsky.social study SCP-Nano in flow! Mapping LNPs, AAVs, and DNA nanostructures to track targeting & unseen toxicity before clinical trials 🤩. Already >190K access, the most in recent years! 👇🏼 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
The blue color is structural, the result of keratin nanostructures in feathers, so changes with lighting & viewing angle.
It's a counter-shading strategy.
From below, the white bellies look like the sea surface. From above, the dark blue shading looks like deeper water.
(📷: Bronx Zoo)
It's a counter-shading strategy.
From below, the white bellies look like the sea surface. From above, the dark blue shading looks like deeper water.
(📷: Bronx Zoo)
January 23, 2026 at 2:13 PM
The blue color is structural, the result of keratin nanostructures in feathers, so changes with lighting & viewing angle.
It's a counter-shading strategy.
From below, the white bellies look like the sea surface. From above, the dark blue shading looks like deeper water.
(📷: Bronx Zoo)
It's a counter-shading strategy.
From below, the white bellies look like the sea surface. From above, the dark blue shading looks like deeper water.
(📷: Bronx Zoo)
@tranmai.bsky.social handed in her PhD thesis! Celebrating in style with egg coffee from Hanoi, Mai's place of birth. P.S.: Mai is looking for a PostDoc position! Check out her latest RNA nanostructures for synthetic cells @natnano.nature.com doi.org/10.1038/s415...
August 1, 2025 at 10:48 AM
@tranmai.bsky.social handed in her PhD thesis! Celebrating in style with egg coffee from Hanoi, Mai's place of birth. P.S.: Mai is looking for a PostDoc position! Check out her latest RNA nanostructures for synthetic cells @natnano.nature.com doi.org/10.1038/s415...
This hum,
flexing all the colors in the sunset.
Last year, scientists found he has crystaline nanostructures in his wee pinions that branch out, tree-like to manipulate light. 🪶
flexing all the colors in the sunset.
Last year, scientists found he has crystaline nanostructures in his wee pinions that branch out, tree-like to manipulate light. 🪶
November 30, 2023 at 4:43 AM
This hum,
flexing all the colors in the sunset.
Last year, scientists found he has crystaline nanostructures in his wee pinions that branch out, tree-like to manipulate light. 🪶
flexing all the colors in the sunset.
Last year, scientists found he has crystaline nanostructures in his wee pinions that branch out, tree-like to manipulate light. 🪶
Originalpublikation: royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
Extreme strength observed in limpet teeth | Journal of The Royal Society Interface
The teeth of limpets exploit distinctive composite nanostructures consisting of high volume fractions of reinforcing goethite nanofibres within a softer protein phase to provide mechanical integrity when rasping over rock surfaces during feeding. The ...
royalsocietypublishing.org
March 6, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Originalpublikation: royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
In the animal world there are two ways to produce color:
1. pigmentation or
2. "structural coloration" produced by nanostructures
In the case of this jewel beetle, the iridescence is produced by thin laminated layers of different composition.
1. pigmentation or
2. "structural coloration" produced by nanostructures
In the case of this jewel beetle, the iridescence is produced by thin laminated layers of different composition.
November 17, 2023 at 1:24 PM
In the animal world there are two ways to produce color:
1. pigmentation or
2. "structural coloration" produced by nanostructures
In the case of this jewel beetle, the iridescence is produced by thin laminated layers of different composition.
1. pigmentation or
2. "structural coloration" produced by nanostructures
In the case of this jewel beetle, the iridescence is produced by thin laminated layers of different composition.
Sasakia charonda formosana, the Japanese emperor, is so named because of the regal blue-purple iridescent coloration set off dramatically with black trim & white dots.
It's the national butterfly of Japan.
The coloration is structural, not pigment, the result of nanostructures in the wings, but...
It's the national butterfly of Japan.
The coloration is structural, not pigment, the result of nanostructures in the wings, but...
July 12, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Sasakia charonda formosana, the Japanese emperor, is so named because of the regal blue-purple iridescent coloration set off dramatically with black trim & white dots.
It's the national butterfly of Japan.
The coloration is structural, not pigment, the result of nanostructures in the wings, but...
It's the national butterfly of Japan.
The coloration is structural, not pigment, the result of nanostructures in the wings, but...
Red-legged Honeycreepers. Honduras. They are a type of tanager. They feed on flowers and fruits, and like hummingbirds, they have a long tongue for probing into flowers. The vivid blue color is not from pigments but is a structural color, where nanostructures in the feathers scatter blue light.
March 17, 2026 at 11:45 AM
Red-legged Honeycreepers. Honduras. They are a type of tanager. They feed on flowers and fruits, and like hummingbirds, they have a long tongue for probing into flowers. The vivid blue color is not from pigments but is a structural color, where nanostructures in the feathers scatter blue light.
Versatile DNA nanostructures 🧬 can be used as molecular lithography masks for the selective deposition or etching of materials in conventional lithographic processing. Check out our new open-access review in J Phys D: Appl Phys! doi.org/10.1088/1361... via @ioppublishing.bsky.social
Molecular lithography with DNA nanostructures: methods and applications
Molecular lithography with DNA nanostructures: methods and applications, Keller, Adrian, Linko, Veikko
doi.org
May 24, 2026 at 10:30 AM
Versatile DNA nanostructures 🧬 can be used as molecular lithography masks for the selective deposition or etching of materials in conventional lithographic processing. Check out our new open-access review in J Phys D: Appl Phys! doi.org/10.1088/1361... via @ioppublishing.bsky.social
20 away from 300, waow.
If I get to 1000 followers, I'll either post hole or my research on nanostructures within shark vertebral centra (ladies 😉) 🌸
If I get to 1000 followers, I'll either post hole or my research on nanostructures within shark vertebral centra (ladies 😉) 🌸
November 11, 2024 at 11:03 PM
20 away from 300, waow.
If I get to 1000 followers, I'll either post hole or my research on nanostructures within shark vertebral centra (ladies 😉) 🌸
If I get to 1000 followers, I'll either post hole or my research on nanostructures within shark vertebral centra (ladies 😉) 🌸