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Biology: World’s blackest materials found in deep-sea fish

Introversion

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https://www.inverse.com/science/ultra-black-fish-discovery

Inverse said:
One of the Earth's blackest materials is a living creature found more than 600 feet beneath the ocean's surface, new research reveals.

Deep in the ocean, sunlight is nearly nonexistent. Instead, bioluminescent organisms light up the water. Because of these under-the-sea light shows, marine animals have to find ways to camouflage.

Recently, scientists discovered that 16 species of deep-sea fish — some of them distantly related — camouflage with the help of skin that appears ultra-black, reflecting less than 0.5 percent of the light that hits it. These fish are more black than black paper, black electrical tape, and new car tires.

While the benefit of hiding from predators is an obvious benefit to the fish sporting ultra-black skin, a better understanding of the skin's properties can also inspire innovative technology. The study authors predict their findings could lead to developing better ultra-black materials — useful for building telescopes, cameras, and camouflage materials.

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Roxxsmom

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That's interesting, Introversion. Another great example of how we can discover things in nature that could have applicability in our own endeavors. This is one "pragmatic" reason why studying and preserving biodiversity is so important.
 
Helix

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On the phone atm, so can't post links, but some of the feathers of the riflebirds (a small group of Australian & New Guinean birds of paradise) are intensely black. Light gets reflected internally and very little gets reflected to the viewer.

They're really difficult to photograph!

ETA: Now that I can read the link, it already mentions the riflebirds and links to the piece in Conversation. Don't mind me. Carry on.
 
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FletcherHavarti

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Interesting article! I would have thought the world's blackest materials could be found inside the cold, dead heart of my boss at my former job. :p
 
Introversion

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FletcherHavarti said:
Interesting article! I would have thought the world's blackest materials could be found inside the cold, dead heart of my boss at my former job. :p
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:ROFL: I guess he’s second-best to creepy-looking fish?
 
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