Phaethornis guy (IMAGE)
Caption
Pictured is the iridescent tail of the green hermit (Phaethornis guy). The researchers found that thin melanin layers within the tiny branch-like filaments of feathers interact with light to amplify certain wavelengths depending on the viewing angle. This insight could help researchers understand how and when iridescence first evolved in birds, as well as inspire the development of new materials that can capture or manipulate light.
Credit
(Photo by David Ocampo, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology)
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