Biomimetics

Male and female Morpho butterflies. Human-made replicas of the optical structures found in iridescent blue Morpho butterfly wings (used as an antenna or anti-reflection coating for radar) are 1,000 times the size of their natural counterparts Photograph: Andrew Parker/Natural History Museum

High magnification image of the scales on a Blue Morpho butterfly's wing. Current work focuses on butterfly scales by identifying the cells in chrysalises that later develop to produce scales in adults, dissecting them and separating them in the lab. Photograph: Natural History Museum

Scanning Electron Micrograph of a diatom. These are the single-celled organisms used to make nanostructures. By using single-celled organisms such as diatoms and viruses, these newly developed special surfaces could be produced by the tonne. Photograph: Natural History Museum

Sagra beetle - an example of iridescence in insects Photograph: Andrew Parker/Natural History Museum

A work by Franziska Schenk, an artist in residence at the Natural History Museum. She uses newly developed irridescent paints to paint realistic pictures of animals and insects.
Unassigned

A gecko clinging to mussel shell. Geckos and mussels are being used to make an underwater adhesive. Geckel adhesive combines the wet adhesive properties of mussel adhesive proteins with the dry adhesive strategy of the gecko Photograph: H Lee, W Lim and AJ Kane

Flies in amber, 45 million years old, with perfectly preserved eyes. The anti-reflective quality of flies' eyes has been used to make solar panels capture more energy. Photograph: Andrew Parker/Natural History Museum

Scanning electron micrograph image of a 45 million year old fly's eye, showing 4 facets, each with the anti-reflector on the surface. Photograph: Natural History Museum

A tenebrionid beetle, a water collector beetle. Scientists studying these beetles have developed to collect water for desert irrigation systems and to help clear airport runways of fog. Photograph: Andrew Parker/Natural History Museum