FOR KIDS: Blending in

Engineers take a lesson from nature?s masters of disguise

By Eric Niiler

Web edition: May 28, 2013

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Master of disguise

European cuttlefish hides in plain sight. Muscle fibers can pull pigmented structures in its skin into different shapes. This creates patterns and colors that change as needed.

Credit: Roger Hanlon

What if you could build a device that could mimic the way undersea creatures escape predators? It could be used as an artificial skin that changes its appearance to hide something (even submarines). As an electronic wallpaper, it could thwart thieves by catching them on a hidden camera. Or the new system could turn an entire wall into a TV screen. Now how cool is that?

These are among the goals of a new project funded by the U.S. Navy. The project?s scientists are taking lessons from several underwater species with an amazing ability to hide in plain sight. What the scientists learn might one day?transform everyday objects.

Many far-reaching goals of this project are still a long way off. But engineers have already begun making important strides.

?Visit the new Science News for Kids website and read the full story: Blending in.

Source: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/350673/title/FOR_KIDS_Blending_in

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