The spectacular iridescence of butterfly wings has captivated many a scientist. Over 70 years ago, the bright colour of particular species' wings was attributed to thin-film interference effects ...

One of the best-known poems by Gerard Manley Hopkins opens with a tribute to the phenomenon of iridescence. It’s represented by the colorful wings of kingfishers and dragonflies in Hopkins’ poem, but ...

To view the wings without damaging the delicate cells, the research team used speckle-correlation reflection phase microscopy. This type of microscopy works by shinning tiny points of light onto a ...

Not seen on the Delmarva peninsula in 27 years, the endangered Hessel’s Hairstreak butterfly reveals itself in a Delaware swamp. For the first time in 27 years, the rare Hessel's Hairstreak butterfly ...

Butterfly wings get their color in ways that almost feel impossible. Up close, each wing is made of countless tiny scales that either hold pigment or manipulate light. The oranges, reds, and browns ...

In a forested region of Angola where a cliff separates the landscape, a new species of butterfly was discovered. Getty Images/iStockphoto In the forests of northwestern Angola, the canopy of trees ...

The brilliant metallic blue wings of Morpho butterflies dazzle the eye. Branched nanostructures on the wings scatter light in complex ways to produce this characteristic iridescent hue. By harnessing ...

Can structures that give butterfly winds their iridescent sheen be easily harnessed to improve cancer diagnosis? New research reported in Advanced Materials suggests that they can. When a biopsy, or ...

Researchers have identified a gene that determines whether ultraviolet iridescence shows up in the wings of butterflies. The team showed that removing the gene in butterflies whose wings lack UV ...