A chameleon can alter the color of its skin so it either blends into the background to hide or stands out to defend its territory and attract a mate. The chameleon makes this trick look easy, using photonic crystals in its skin. Scientists, however, have struggled to make a photonic crystal “smart skin” that changes color in response to the environment, without also changing in size.
Emory Health Sciences. “Chameleon inspires ‘smart skin’ that changes color in the sun: A new concept in the field of photonic crystals.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 11 September 2019. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/09/190911083815.htm>.