this post was submitted on 22 Jul 2026
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[–] schipelblorp@sh.itjust.works 5 points 22 hours ago* (last edited 22 hours ago)

In animals such as on the feathers of birds and the scales of butterflies, interference is created by a range of photonic mechanisms, including diffraction gratings, selective mirrors, photonic crystals, crystal fibres, matrices of nanochannels and proteins that can vary their configuration. Some cuts of meat also show structural coloration due to the exposure of the periodic arrangement of the muscular fibres. Many of these photonic mechanisms correspond to elaborate structures visible by electron microscopy. In the few plants that exploit structural coloration, brilliant colours are produced by structures within cells. The most brilliant blue coloration known in any living tissue is found in the marble berries of Pollia condensata, where a spiral structure of cellulose fibrils produces Bragg's law scattering of light. The bright gloss of buttercups is produced by thin-film reflection by the epidermis supplemented by yellow pigmentation, and strong diffuse scattering by a layer of starch cells immediately beneath.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Structural_coloration

Straight-up blue pigment is rare, but it does exist. Here's a list of those critters [cancer warning]: https://www.colorwithleo.com/what-animal-has-a-true-blue-pigment/