Researchers mimicked the nanoscale barb structure and melanin chemistry of the riflebird’s feathers to make a polydopamine‑dyed, plasma‑etched merino wool that absorbs ~99.87% of incoming light. The process avoids toxic carbon‑nanotube routes and uses scalable textile inputs, producing a practical, low‑toxicity ultrablack material.
— If industrialized, this could democratize ultrablack components for telescopes, solar absorbers, thermal control, and consumer fashion while raising questions about sustainable supply chains, standards for optical materials, and regulatory testing for new textile treatments.
Jake Currie
2026.04.15
60% relevant
Both items illustrate how detailed study of animal morphology yields design principles with engineering applications; the sunbird tongue's V‑groove suction mechanism (Current Biology study, David Cuban's high‑speed recordings and 3D‑printed flowers) is a concrete microfluidic/soft‑robotics motif that could inspire biomimetic devices much like ultrablack structures inspired materials science.
Devin Reese
2025.12.02
100% relevant
Cornell University team, Nature Communications paper, achieved 99.87% absorption using polydopamine dye + plasma etching of merino wool inspired by Ptiloris magnificus (riflebird) plumage.
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