August 18, 2011 Glasswing Butterfly

CaliforniaMama · 08-18-2011, 09:37 AM

Translucent wings: Other than jellies, does any other creature come this close to being invisible?

Name: glasswing butterfly 6.jpg
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Name: glasswing butterfly 6.jpg
Views: 2762
Size: 167.8 KB

In order to achieve transparency the tissue must not absorb light. Neither can it scatter light, as this is the major obstacle to being see-through. Humans, for example, will never be able to be transparent because they have chemical and biological compounds that all have different refraction.

The wings of the glasswing must, therefore, have the same refractive index all the way through them as otherwise this transparency could not possibly occur. It is thought (a postulation at the moment rather than sure fire fact) that the surface of the wing has a covering of protrusions that are so small they can be called submicroscopic. They have a single refractive index and so do not scatter light, so making the wings transparent.

Image Credit Flickr User Sandy_R

via The Ark In Space

HungLikeJesus · 08-18-2011, 09:52 AM

And it has a giant nose ring.

That's cool!

BigV · 08-18-2011, 10:10 AM

Nose ring? Actually, that looks like a tongue ring. Or at least a ring of tongue.

Coign · 08-18-2011, 10:23 AM

Nah, it is the new hotness, a head ring.

Coign · 08-18-2011, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaliforniaMama

Other than jellies, does any other creature come this close to being invisible?

P.S. Challenge Accepted.

http://www.oddee.com/item_96585.aspx

Trilby · 08-18-2011, 12:32 PM

Mother Nature is Awesome!

thanks for these finds, calimama!

lupin..the..3rd · 08-18-2011, 05:23 PM

I'm thinking a tangy ginger sauce would be nice with this one.

jimhelm · 08-18-2011, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Humans, for example, will never be able to be transparent

pah.

CaliforniaMama · 08-18-2011, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coign

P.S. Challenge Accepted.

http://www.oddee.com/item_96585.aspx

Great find!

It is interesting that except for the frog and butterfly, all the other transparent creatures are sea creatures. I guess no land/air creatures have found invisibility to be an advantage the way deep sea creatures do.

Aliantha · 08-18-2011, 07:14 PM

That is a beautiful image cali. Thanks.

Griff · 08-19-2011, 05:18 PM

Wow nice image!

08-18-2011, 09:37 AM	#1
CaliforniaMama I wonder . . . Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: The Left Coast, a pretty good place to be. Posts: 1,278	August 18, 2011 Glasswing Butterfly Translucent wings: Other than jellies, does any other creature come this close to being invisible? In order to achieve transparency the tissue must not absorb light. Neither can it scatter light, as this is the major obstacle to being see-through. Humans, for example, will never be able to be transparent because they have chemical and biological compounds that all have different refraction. The wings of the glasswing must, therefore, have the same refractive index all the way through them as otherwise this transparency could not possibly occur. It is thought (a postulation at the moment rather than sure fire fact) that the surface of the wing has a covering of protrusions that are so small they can be called submicroscopic. They have a single refractive index and so do not scatter light, so making the wings transparent. Image Credit Flickr User Sandy_R via The Ark In Space

08-18-2011, 09:52 AM	#2
HungLikeJesus Only looks like a disaster tourist Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: above 7,000 feet Posts: 7,208	And it has a giant nose ring. That's cool! __________________ Keep Your Bodies Off My Lawn SteveDallas's Random Thread Picker.

08-18-2011, 10:10 AM	#3
BigV Goon Squad Leader Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 27,063	Nose ring? Actually, that looks like a tongue ring. Or at least a ring of tongue. __________________ Be Just and Fear Not.

08-18-2011, 10:23 AM	#4
Coign Wanted Driver Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Vail, CO Posts: 279	Nah, it is the new hotness, a head ring. __________________ Quoting yourself is the height of hubris. -Coign

08-18-2011, 12:32 PM	#6
Trilby Slattern of the Swail Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15,654	Mother Nature is Awesome! thanks for these finds, calimama! __________________ In Barrie's play and novel, the roles of fairies are brief: they are allies to the Lost Boys, the source of fairy dust and ...They are portrayed as dangerous, whimsical and extremely clever but quite hedonistic. "Shall I give you a kiss?" Peter asked and, jerking an acorn button off his coat, solemnly presented it to her. —James Barrie Wimminfolk they be tricksy. - ZenGum

08-18-2011, 05:23 PM	#7
lupin..the..3rd Belt Conveyor Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Meijersville Posts: 68	I'm thinking a tangy ginger sauce would be nice with this one. __________________ ...

08-18-2011, 07:14 PM	#10
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	That is a beautiful image cali. Thanks. __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

08-19-2011, 05:18 PM	#11
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	Wow nice image! __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

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