US EditionThis Shark Can Change Color — Thanks to Hidden Nano Mirrors in Its Skin
HONG KONG, JUL 10 – Researchers at City University of Hong Kong found blue sharks use skin nanostructures to change color for camouflage, influenced by water pressure and humidity, aiding their survival.
- On July 9, 2025, in Antwerp, researchers from a Hong Kong-based university unveiled findings that blue sharks can alter their coloration through nanostructures found in their skin.
- Their study used microscopy and simulations to show that guanine crystal layers in dermal denticles produce blue hues and that environmental factors may alter crystal spacing to change color.
- Molecular biologist Viktoriia Kamska explained that guanine crystals reflect blue light while melanin-filled vesicles absorb other wavelengths, working closely within separate cells to generate and modulate color.
- Professor Mason Dean stated that shark denticles provide hydrodynamic and antifouling benefits while also enabling color modulation, making this multifunctional design unique in marine biology.
- The researchers plan to study how this mechanism functions in wild sharks and suggest the findings could aid environmentally friendly color manufacturing and marine camouflage technology.
12 Articles
12 Articles
These Sharks Don’t Just Glow Blue – They Use Nanotech to Shift Color Underwater
Blue sharks shimmer with one of nature’s rarest colors, but their glow isn’t just for show — it’s built from microscopic crystals and pigments hidden in their skin. Scientists have discovered that the shark’s tooth-like skin scales house guanine platelets and melanin vesicles that work together to produce a vivid blue hue. What’s more, these [...]
Findings hint at shark’s unexpected ability to change colour
Blue shark dermal denticles. Credit: Dr Viktoriia Kamska The blue shark (Prionace glauca) is a striking member of one of nature’s most exclusive clubs – organisms which appear blue. New research suggests that the nanostructures responsible for producing this lovely hue may also allow the shark to change colour depending on its environment. Dr Viktoriia Kamska, a post-doctoral researcher at the City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK), says blue is…
Science Daily
World NewsThis shark can change color — thanks to hidden nano mirrors in its skin
Blue sharks possess a secret hidden in their skin: a sophisticated arrangement of microscopic crystals and pigments that create their brilliant blue appearance — and may allow them to change color. Scientists have discovered that these nanostructures, found inside tooth-like skin scales, act like nature’s version of layered mirrors and light filters. What's more, changes in the spacing of these layers — possibly triggered by environmental factor…
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