Shrimp eyes inspire reflective paint and coatings development

摘要

Researchers from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and the Weizmann Institute of Science,both in Israel,have discovered the unique structure of the reflector underlying a shrimp's retina.This reflector(a’tapetum')is made of tightly packed nanoparticles that allow the eye to collect more light.The secrets of the shrimp eye could inspire new,highly efficient paints and coatings that could be made ultra-thin yet highly reflective.Dr Benjamin Palmer is now trying to understand the tricks the shrimps use to make such complex particles,with the view to being able to recreate them in the laboratory.