Many beings on Earth have the ability to see, hear, smell, speak, etc. A world full of possible ways of communicating with each other. Among these ways of communication are also iridescent colors, a visual language that comes from light.
Light is possibly one of the widest communication channels in the universe. Among its extensive forms of expression, we find iridescence. With its origin in the Greek word iris (light), this phenomenon is a visual spectacle that can be observed in objects, the sky or living beings.
What is iridescence?
From the simplest explanation, iridescence is the result of a light phenomenon. In this process, the color presented by a surface (animal or object) varies according to the angle of observation and the direction of the light.
For colors to form there must be two or more waves that meet each other. In the world this is always happening, whether with light, sound and even with.
The key is that some waves can meet and cancel each other, or they meet and build a stronger wave. In the case of beings or objects that reflect iridescent colors, the light collides with a visible light wave, in this case a structure or body that makes a wave shine with great strength and color.
The play of nature through iridescent colors
Iridescence is found in both the artificial and natural worlds. We know of objects created by humans that give us this play of color, but in nature it is much more captivating. All types of birds, fish and mainly insects enjoy a fascinating light structure that, when reflected with other waves, produces iridescence. But what are iridescent colors for in the natural world?
According to Dr. Amanda Franklin, from the University of Melbourne’s school of biosciences, the play of iridescence is complex to study, let alone understand. The main feature of this is that the iridescent colors change frequently.
However, in a certain sense it has been revealed that color and the play of light is something widely used in nature to communicate. Animals such as spiders, hummingbirds or mandarin fish defy the light with extraordinary bodies full of color.
So far we don’t know if animals use iridescence for a particular reason. However, its fascinating colors do work in relation to its role in nature. In general, the entire universe is made up of extraordinary waves and lights. Iridescent colors are part of interference between light waves that may or may not fit together. But, thanks to the thousands of mechanisms on the planet, iridescence is another of the many possible and extraordinary phenomena of nature.