Butterflies Show Us How

Butterflies collect solar energy to help them stay warm.  Tonxiang Fan, a scientist at Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China, uses electron microscopes to study the wing structure of two species of black butterflies.  Their black wings absorb the maximum amount of sunlight.

The wings have rectangular scales elongated like roof shingles. Scales have steep ridges with holes on either side that lead to a second layer.  These features direct light to the second layer helping a butterfly capture heat.

Scientists have developed a model to harness solar power similar to the way butterfly wings work. They hope that using butterfly wings as inspiration will result in better technology also for commercial products.

Butterflies photographed at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park