Scientists from South Korea have taken inspiration from firefly’s underbelly, and have created what they claim is an improved and cheaper LED lens. The scientists hope, that it will one day be used in smartphones, TVs and other devices.
According to our sources, on October 30, 2012 a paper was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal. The scientists have described in the paper how they were inspired by the firefly, which is a bright and efficient source of light.
Ki Hun Jeong, the lead author and associate professor at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology’s department of Bio and Brain engineering said, “We made a new LED lens (copying) the nanostructure of the firefly lantern”.
The researchers studied the three layers of the lower abdomen of the insect, and they managed to do away with an expensive component in existing LED lamps as a result. The fireflies are known for producing light from their lower abdomen, and they use their light to attract mates and prey. Jeong added that this structure is comparable to the anti-reflection coating of existing LED lights, which is very expensive.
