Scientists have found the unique nanostructures that cause the electric blue spots on the blue-spotted ribbontail ray (Taeniura lemma). This shows that chemical-free color technology could be used in new ways.

Scientists have long been interested in the bright blue spots of the blue-spotted ribbon tail ray. Pigments get their color from chemical substances, while these blue spots come from complex nanostructures.

Professor Mason, Dean of Comparative Anatomy at City University of Hong Kong (CityU), says that if blue is seen in nature, it is probably caused by tissue nanostructures rather than pigment. You must look into more than just optical science to understand these structural colors. You also need to look into the materials and how they are organized in tissues.

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