THE MYSTERY OF BUTTERFLY

In order to reduce mankind’s dependence on fossil fuel, scientists are eager to improve the light-harvesting efficiency of solar collectors. ‘The solution to this problem, ‘said a scientist’ may have been… fluttering right in front of our eyes.’
Facts: to keep themselves warm during cold weather, butterflies spread their wing in the sun. The wings of some species of swallowtail are remarkably efficient at trapping and absorbing sunlight. The insect’ secret lies not just in their dark pigment but also in the structure of microscopic, overlapping scales coating their wings. The scales, in turn, contain rows of honeycomb like holes separated in inverse v-shape ridges that funnel light into the holes. This ingenious traps incoming sunlight, making the wing to be extremely black and warming with amazing efficiency.
‘butterfly wings may rank among the most delicate structure in nature, ‘says science daily‘, but they have given researchers powerful inspiration for a new technology that doubles the production of hydrogen gas-a green fuel of the future from water and sunlight. ‘Other promising applications include optical instrument and solar cells. Also scales of the butterfly’s wing have honeycomb like holes.