A seemingly magical material can block microwaves, infrared (IR) heat, and light and then magically shift to a transparent state that also allows IR and microwaves to pass through simply by being stretched or contracted.
Inspired by the properties of squid skin, which can shift from translucent to opaque due to the presence of iridocytes and chromatophores, the new material could help create stealth materials, safeguard electronic devices, dramatically improve energy efficiency in commercial buildings, and even protect against microwave weapons.
In the last few decades, researchers have developed a number of different seemingly magical materials. Some can shift from transparent or translucent states to more opaque states, with common applications including use in external office windows to improve energy usage or for internal windows that shift between public (transparent) and private (opaque) modes.
This ability was first noted in cephalopods like squids, which can shift the iridocytes and chromatophores embedded in their skin cells to alter their appearance, just one of the unique traits about these animals that have had some biologists asking if they are actually alien creatures. READ MORE...
