研究小组报道了在十足动物幼虫的眼睛色素上发现了一种反射器，并展示了它是如何调节的，以使生物体在背景下不显眼。超紧凑反射器是由含结晶异黄蝶呤纳米球的光子玻璃构成的。通过调节纳米球的大小和顺序，将反射率从深蓝色调至黄色，使其能够隐藏在不同的栖息地。反射器还可以通过充当感光器之间的光学屏幕来增强微眼的敏锐度或灵敏度。这种多功能反射器为从生物相容性有机分子中构建可调人造光子材料提供了灵感。
据介绍，许多海洋猎物利用透明的身体来避免被发现。然而，视觉所必需的醒目的眼色素损害了这些生物体保持隐蔽的能力。
附：英文原文
Title: A tunable reflector enabling crustaceans to see but not be seen
Author: Keshet Shavit, Avital Wagner, Lukas Schertel, Viviana Farstey, Derya Akkaynak, Gan Zhang, Alexander Upcher, Amir Sagi, Venkata Jayasurya Yallapragada, Johannes Haataja, Benjamin A. Palmer
Issue&Volume: 2023-02-17
Abstract: Many oceanic prey animals use transparent bodies to avoid detection. However, conspicuous eye pigments, required for vision, compromise the organisms’ ability to remain unseen. We report the discovery of a reflector overlying the eye pigments in larval decapod crustaceans and show how it is tuned to render the organisms inconspicuous against the background. The ultracompact reflector is constructed from a photonic glass of crystalline isoxanthopterin nanospheres. The nanospheres’ size and ordering are modulated to tune the reflectance from deep blue to yellow, enabling concealment in different habitats. The reflector may also function to enhance the acuity or sensitivity of the minute eyes by acting as an optical screen between photoreceptors. This multifunctional reflector offers inspiration for constructing tunable artificial photonic materials from biocompatible organic molecules.
DOI: add4099
Source: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.add4099