Team discovered cells and structures that let squid skin change from transparent to colored, leading to a new tunable material for camouflage, displays, and thermal management. (news.uci.edu)

submitted 3 weeks ago by Pro@reddthat.com to c/science@mander.xyz

3 comments fedilink hide all child comments

UC Irvine researchers and collaborators at the Marine Biological Laboratory have uncovered cells and structures responsible for helping squid skin change from transparent to colored.

The scientists drew inspiration from squid skin to develop an advanced tunable material for use in camouflage, displays, and thermal management.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[-] Kyrgizion@lemmy.world 6 points 3 weeks ago

Chromatophores baby. I like to imagine an alien species using it as a form of communication. It's probably able to transfer information at much higher speeds than human speech.

[-] Xulai@mander.xyz 2 points 3 weeks ago

Absolutely. One has so much to work with on this form of communication, much like human speech combined with facial/body movements, that it has exceptional potential for rational/social precise communication.

It would even have the potential for an easy analog to human writing.

this post was submitted on 27 Jun 2025

40 points (97.6% liked)

Science

4935 readers

72 users here now

General discussions about "science" itself

Be sure to also check out these other Fediverse science communities:

https://lemmy.ml/c/science

https://beehaw.org/c/science

founded 3 years ago

MODERATORS

Sal@mander.xyz

fossilesque@mander.xyz