Butterfly-inspired nanostructures can sort light

Curved patterns could find use in photonics, telecommunications

green hairstreak butterfly

GREEN SHEEN  The green hairstreak butterfly’s color is due to a nanoscale surface on its wings that reflects light. Researchers have now re-created this structure in the lab. 

ATOSF/ISTOCKPHOTO

The green hairstreak butterfly (Callophrys rubi) gets its blue-green hue from complex nanoscale structures on its wings.