A. So they have evolved sophisticated ways to cool themselves.
B. We can make these micro-structures into our own artificial processes.
C. It turns out that parts of butterflies' wings exploit a similar principle.
D. Such structures release warmth very efficiently, protecting the organs from overheating.
E. Along with its light weight, a butterfly-inspired cooling material might have another advantage.
F. Although far from a commercial application, such resulting material could eventually be used for purposes such as painting buildings.
Cool Butterfly Effect: Insect Equipment Could Inspire Heat-Radiating Tech
Devising better cooling materials has become a pressing issue as the climate warms, and some scientists are turning to nature for ideas. Small creatures with low body mass, such as insects, have to deal with the fact that they warm up much faster than large mammals. When butterflies land on tree branches in the sun, for example, their relatively large wings can overheat within seconds.
Researchers have now uncovered these colorful insects' built-in cooling mechanisms.
Heat is generated by the vibration of molecules. The more molecules a material can expose on its surface, the more heat it can release in a process called radiative cooling. Those made of folded layers shaped like waves, for example, cool off much faster than solid objects because they have more exposed surface area. The wings themselves are complex systems that contain both living and nonliving structures, covered by various types of scales made of chitin—a rigid substance that is also found in some fungi(真菌). The researchers found that the scales covering these structures have different shapes that radiate heat in different ways. To decipher how these complex systems work, the team studied several types of butterflies
The scientists' work is ''remarkable'', says Aaswath Raman, a professor at the University of California, Los Angeles. '' Butterfly wings are extremely light, and the microstructures involved are extremely small and thin. So this discovery can inspire ways of getting rid of heat in very lightweight systems. ''
It might work in a variety of colors. Many conventional buildings tend to be white because that it does not absorb heat. But painting too many things white does not look pleasing, says Qiaoqiang Gan, a photonics scientist. ''We still need a colorful world, '' Gan says, noting how vivid butterflies are in nature. ''Butterfly wings give us an example that colorful structures can also result in cooling. ''
