Bug Eyes

Researchers in the Netherlands are looking to moths for inspiration as they improve the efficiency of photovoltaic cells in solar power. The problem with existing photovoltaic technology is that the cells reflect solar energy as heat, making it expensive and relatively inefficient. The solution, inspired by the "tapered nanostructures" that keep light from reflecting out of moths' eyes, is a "metamaterial" made from nanowires that gradually increase the refractive index as light travels through them. This reduces reflection and increases the amount of electricity produced by each cell. As moths continue to fly into old-fashioned lamplight, scientists are working to get even lower reflection rates and eventually turn the material into an eco-friendly product.