A new interdisciplinary research project led by Dr Nicola Nadeau funded by the Leverhulme Trust is aiming to understand the fundamental processes behind the formation of intricate nanostructures found in nature. Paving the way for advancements in applied science and technology the team includes scientists from biosciences and physics.
Focusing on the iridescent scales of butterflies, the project seeks to unravel how these tiny, precisely arranged features are built at the cellular level. Many organisms, including butterflies, possess naturally occurring nano-structures – features so small they're measured in billionths of a meter.
These structures are responsible for the vibrant, iridescent colours seen on butterfly wings, which arise not from pigments, but from the way light interacts with their microscopic architecture. Despite widespread interest in replicating these natural designs for various technological applications, the precise biological mechanisms that create them remain largely unknown.
The findings from this project could inspire new methods for manufacturing sustainable and biodegradable advanced materials such as solar panels, display screens, paints and optical devices.
It’s great to have the opportunity to work with such an interdisciplinary team to try to understand how butterflies make their intricate wing scale structures. In doing so, they seem to be using their cellular machinery in a unique way that hasn’t been seen before in other cells. I think we will uncover exciting new biology at the same time as gaining new insights into how we might replicate these structures.
Dr Nicola Nadeau
This project represents a significant step forward in understanding the intricate relationship between cellular processes and macroscopic material properties, bridging the gap between fundamental biological discovery and its potential for real-world innovation.