Nature itself is a mystery, a norm we would wish to explore, experience, and try to study.
A scientist trying to discover why the blackest fish in the deep sea are extremely black have solved the mystery in a study that began with poor photography
“I couldn’t get a good shot – just fish silhouettes,” said Dr. Karen Osborn from the Smithsonian Institution.
According to her study, the animal’s “ultra-back” skin traps light.
Although animals are difficult to photograph, marine scientists, say it gives the ultimate camouflage.
Dr. Osborn said there is nowhere to hide from predators in the deep waters meaning that the “ultra-blackness” provides creatures almost invisible.
The finding could provide the basis for new ultra-black materials like coatings for the interior of telescopes or cameras.
According to the research, most ultra-black species appear independently to have evolved the same trick.
“The particles of pigment in their skin are just the right size and shape to side-scatter any light they don’t absorb,” Dr. Osborn explained.
The pigment particles aligned in a densely-packed, thin layer meaning instead of bouncing the light back out, they scatter it back into the layer.
“Every picture I took was really bad – it was so frustrating,” she told BBC News. “[Then] I noticed they had really strange skin – they’re so black, they suck up all the light,” Dr. Osborn said.
- Five Stunning Resemblance Between The Luos And Nigeria’s Igbo
- Teachers Sue State To Block School Coronavirus Reopening Mandate
- This Is Why Kenyans Are Angry With Moi Owned Media House
- Goalkeeper Struck By Lightning While In Training Session (Video)
Researchers say that the light-trapping skin is the ultimate in deep-sea camouflage where little light but other creatures are living there make their bioluminescent light.
“You don’t know where that light is going to come from,” Dr. Osborn explained. “So living in the deep sea is like playing hide and seek on a football field – your best shot is to turn green and lay down as flat as you can.”
“Being so very black helps these creatures to survive,” she said.
