This Beetle is Inspiring Safer Pigments with White Structural Color

Explore the science of white structural color and how it is created through the scattering of light waves. While industries have long relied on harmful mineral materials to produce light-scattering enhancers, the team at Seprify (2021 Ray of Hope Prize finalists, formerly Impossible Materials) has found an ingenious way to create a bright white color without the toxic materials. Inspired by the remarkable light-scattering system of the Cyphochilus beetle, they have focused on cellulose, a material found in plants and biowaste like wood pulp and agricultural waste. Now they are creating safer and more renewable structural pigments that could be used in everything from food coloring and packaging, to automotive paint and paper, to cosmetics and toothpaste. Don't you love how this tiny, amazing beetle has inspired a revolution in the world of color!

Are are proud to have Seprify in our 2021 Ray of Hope Prize program cohort.

To learn more about Impossible Materials and their biomimicry innovation, visit:
https://asknature.org/innovation/supe...
https://biomimicry.org/solution/impos...
https://seprify.com/

Videos created by Root House Studio
Narrated by Kenita Hill
With special thanks to and support from the Ray C. Anderson Foundation