August 25 – Indonesian Peacock Butterflies

Scientists have recently unlocked the secret of beautifully color, tropical Indonesian Peacock or Swallowtail (Papilio blumei) butterflies. On their wings are brilliant iridescent bands of bright green. These colors are not produced by pigments but by light bouncing off what looks like the inside of an egg carton (only on the microscopic level). The intensity of colors is produced because there are multiple “egg-carton-shaped” layers alternate with layers of air on a nanostructure level. Scientists have copied the butterfly’s nanostructure design – resulting in the same intense colors being produced.

Now scientists want to bring this butterfly scale technology to market. These artificial structures could be used in paper money or passports to prevent forgery. Scientists have copied what was already present; they recognized a good design when they saw it. The next time you look at your passport, take a look and see if there is a butterfly scale shimmering back at you and think of the ONE who is the real Creator of this technology.

Ecclesiastes 3:11a

KJV: He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

NIV: He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

Reference

TAMPL SUMMER 97

From Butterflies’ wings to Bank Notes– how nature’s colors can cut bank fraud

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Butterfly brilliance