Imagine a diamond worth $2 million. Now, imagine it’s so black that you can’t even see it. This is possible because of a special coating made from a nanomaterial that makes light almost disappear. Even under bright lights, the sparkle and shine that make diamonds beautiful are gone. This material is the blackest substance humans have ever created. But is it the blackest thing on Earth? Some birds might have a different opinion.
When we think of something black, we usually picture things like a black car or a black cat. But when you compare these to the blackest paint available, you see a big difference. This paint is incredibly black, but when you put it next to certain bird feathers, it makes you rethink what black really is.
For something to be truly black, it has to stop light from bouncing back to our eyes. There are different levels of blackness, and some materials can trap or absorb light in special ways, letting only one photon out of 100,000 escape.
Ultra-black materials aren’t just cool to look at; they have lots of uses. They can help telescopes see distant stars better, make solar panels more efficient, and even create camouflage that hides from radar. Scientists, engineers, and artists have been trying to make the blackest black for years, inspired by some amazing natural examples.
In the deep ocean, there are fish that are some of the blackest creatures ever found. Karen Osborne, a scientist at the Smithsonian, studies these mysterious fish. She started because she could only see their outlines, not their details. These fish, like anglerfish and dragonfish, have adapted to be invisible in the dark ocean depths.
At about 1,000 meters deep, no sunlight reaches. But there’s still some light from bioluminescent creatures. Many deep-sea animals have super-sensitive eyes that can see even a single photon. To stay hidden, these ultra-black fish absorb almost all the light that hits them.
Their skin has a thick layer of pigment granules that soak up light. While human skin also has pigment, the way it’s arranged in these fish is unique. This structure helps them absorb light efficiently, so it doesn’t bounce back.
To be called ultra-black, a material must reflect less than 0.5% of the light that hits it. When scientists first measured these fish, their reflectivity was so low it was almost zero. Understanding how these fish achieve such blackness could lead to new ways to make camouflage and other useful materials.
Humans have made materials that are even blacker than these fish. Some paints absorb about 99.4% of light, letting only 6 out of 1,000 photons escape. The blackest materials use carbon nanotubes, trapping 99.995% of light, allowing just 5 out of 100,000 photons to escape.
Interestingly, nature figured out how to make ultra-black materials long before we did. Birds of paradise from Papua New Guinea have some of the darkest feathers in the animal kingdom. Unlike deep-sea fish, these birds use their ultra-black feathers to stand out during mating rituals.
In these birds, the intense competition for mates drives the evolution of their stunning looks. Males with brighter feathers and more impressive displays show off their health and good genes to potential partners. The contrast between their blackest black and brightest colors creates a visual effect that can trick the eye.
Their feathers have a structure like velvet, scattering light to enhance their blackness, trapping about 99.95% of light. Nature has developed these amazing materials over millions of years, inspiring human innovation.
Ultra-black materials have led to advances in photography, energy collection, and camouflage technology. While achieving perfect blackness might only be possible in extreme conditions, nature gives us incredible examples of blackness. Thanks for reading, and remember to keep exploring the wonders of science and nature!
Gather materials like black construction paper, black fabric, and a flashlight. Shine the flashlight on each material and observe how much light is reflected. Compare these to a sample of ultra-black material, if available. Discuss why some materials appear blacker than others and what this means in terms of light absorption.
Using art supplies, create a camouflage pattern that could hide an object in a specific environment, like a forest or ocean. Consider how ultra-black materials might enhance your design. Present your camouflage to the class and explain how it works to absorb or scatter light.
Research different deep-sea creatures that use ultra-black adaptations. Create a poster or digital presentation highlighting one creature, explaining how its ultra-black features help it survive in its environment. Share your findings with the class.
Draw or paint a bird of paradise, focusing on the contrast between its ultra-black feathers and bright colors. Use this project to explore how these birds use color and blackness in their mating rituals. Display your artwork and discuss the role of evolution in developing these features.
Imagine you are a photon trying to escape from an ultra-black material. Create a board game where players navigate through obstacles representing pigment granules and nanotubes. The goal is to escape with the fewest photons possible. Play with classmates and discuss what makes escaping difficult.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript, removing any informal language, filler words, and maintaining a more formal tone:
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This is a $2 million diamond. The reason you cannot see it is that it is coated with a nanomaterial that makes light nearly disappear. Even under bright illumination, the facets and reflections that give diamonds their beauty vanish. The material that enables this effect is the blackest substance created by humans. However, is it the blackest thing on Earth? This bird might have a different perspective.
What does it mean for something to be black? We typically think of certain objects as being very black, but when compared to something painted with the blackest paint available, the difference becomes apparent. This paint is extremely black, yet when placed next to certain bird feathers, the perception of blackness is challenged.
For something to be considered black, it must prevent light from returning to our eyes. It turns out there are varying degrees of blackness, with different materials and structures that trap or absorb light in unique ways, allowing as few as one photon in 100,000 to escape.
Beyond their intriguing nature, ultra-black materials have numerous applications, including lining the interiors of telescopes to enhance our ability to observe distant stars, improving solar panels, and creating radar-evading camouflage. For decades, scientists, engineers, and artists have been striving to create the blackest black, drawing inspiration from fascinating sources.
These organisms represent some of the blackest fish ever discovered. The deep ocean is home to many strange life forms that remain largely mysterious. Karen Osborne, a scientist at the Smithsonian, is studying these creatures, but there are certain species she has never been able to observe directly.
She began studying these fish out of curiosity, as she could only capture their silhouettes. These ultra-black deep-sea fish, such as anglerfish, dragonfish, and fangtooths, have evolved to survive by remaining unseen in the dark depths of the ocean.
At depths of 1,000 meters (approximately 3,300 feet), no light penetrates from the surface. Despite the lack of light from above, there is still bioluminescence present in the habitat. Many deep-sea animals possess highly sensitive eyes capable of detecting a single photon in such darkness. To avoid detection, these ultra-black fish have developed a remarkable ability to absorb nearly all stray light that encounters them.
Their skin features a dense layer of pigment granules that absorb light upon contact. While human skin also contains pigment granules, the arrangement and density in these fish are unparalleled. The structure of their pigment allows light to be absorbed efficiently, preventing it from bouncing back.
To be classified as ultra-black, a material must reflect less than 0.5% of the light that strikes it. Initial attempts to measure the reflectivity of these fish yielded results so low that they were effectively indistinguishable from zero.
Understanding the mechanisms behind the extreme blackness of these deep-sea fish could inspire new methods for creating camouflage or other applications. By replicating the size and shape of melanin granules found in these fish, it may be possible to develop advanced materials for various uses.
While these fish may be among the blackest creatures in the ocean, humans have created materials that surpass them in blackness. Certain paints absorb approximately 99.4% of light, allowing only 6 out of every 1,000 photons to escape. However, the blackest materials created by humans utilize carbon nanotubes, which can trap 99.995% of light, allowing only 5 in 100,000 photons to escape.
Interestingly, evolution has already discovered ways to utilize nanotechnology to create ultra-black materials long before humans did.
The blackest birds, specifically species of birds of paradise found in Papua New Guinea, exhibit some of the darkest feathers observed in living organisms. Unlike deep-sea fish, these birds do not utilize their ultra-black feathers for camouflage; instead, they use them to attract attention during mating displays.
The intense sexual selection among these birds drives the evolution of their striking appearances. Males with brighter feathers and more impressive displays communicate their health and genetic fitness to potential mates.
The contrast between the blackest black and the brightest bright in their feathers creates a visual effect that can confuse the observer’s perception. The structure of these feathers, similar to velvet, scatters light in a way that enhances their blackness, trapping approximately 99.95% of light.
Nature has developed these remarkable materials through millions of years of evolution, inspiring human innovation. Ultra-black materials have enabled advancements in photography, energy harnessing, and camouflage technology.
While achieving absolute blackness may only be feasible at the extremes of physics, nature has provided us with extraordinary examples of blackness. Thank you for watching, and we invite you to participate in the PBS Digital Studio’s Annual Audience Survey to share your thoughts on our content.
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This version maintains the informative content while adopting a more formal tone and structure.
Black – Black is the color that absorbs all wavelengths of light and reflects none, making it appear dark. – In physics, a black surface absorbs more heat because it does not reflect light.
Light – Light is a form of energy that travels in waves and can be seen by the human eye. – In biology, plants use light to perform photosynthesis, converting it into chemical energy.
Fish – Fish are aquatic animals that have gills and fins, allowing them to live and move in water. – In biology class, we learned how fish use their gills to extract oxygen from water.
Materials – Materials are substances or components with certain physical properties used to make things. – In physics, different materials conduct heat and electricity at different rates.
Pigment – Pigment is a substance that gives color to tissues or materials by absorbing certain wavelengths of light. – In biology, chlorophyll is the green pigment in plants that absorbs light for photosynthesis.
Evolution – Evolution is the process by which different kinds of living organisms develop and diversify from earlier forms over generations. – In biology, the evolution of birds from dinosaurs is a fascinating example of how species change over time.
Photons – Photons are particles of light that carry energy and have no mass. – In physics, photons are responsible for transmitting light and energy across space.
Ocean – The ocean is a vast body of saltwater that covers most of the Earth’s surface and is home to diverse marine life. – In biology, the ocean is crucial for the water cycle and supports a wide range of ecosystems.
Birds – Birds are warm-blooded vertebrates with feathers, wings, and beaks, most of which can fly. – In biology, we studied how birds have hollow bones that make flight easier.
Camouflage – Camouflage is a method of blending with the environment to avoid detection by predators or prey. – In biology, some animals use camouflage to hide from predators by matching their surroundings.
