Material Changes its Color, Depending on How You Look at It

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Chrysochroa vittata (left) and Hoplia coerulea (right) possess natural photonic crystal structures which inspired the design of researchers iridescent materials. Image credit: Olivier Deparis et al.
Chrysochroa vittata (left) and Hoplia coerulea (right) possess natural photonic crystal structures which inspired the design of researchers’ iridescent materials. Image credit: Olivier Deparis, et al.

Looking at the metallic woodboring beetle head-on, the insect appears red. But viewing it from the side, the beetle starts to take on a greenish hue, and then turns completely green at an 80-degree angle. This color-changing feature is called iridescence, and scientists are taking notes from the beetle to design man-made iridescent materials.


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