RP347 The Eyes Have It

 RP347 The Eyes Have It!

If you've ever tried to read or watch something on a smartphone in bright sunlight, you know it's not easy. People usually need shade to see screens clearly, especially small screens. And if the sun is right overhead, your eyes can get a nasty blast of glare. Then you won't be seeing anything for a minute or two!
That's all changing right now, however, thanks to moths. Yes, moths. Taking inspiration from these nocturnal insects, scientists in China and the United States have found a solution to midday glare.
The technology that enables people to watch TV on the street in daylight is actually based on what allows moths to see at night. Microscopic structures on moths' eyes let light in but don't reflect it back out. For the insects, this has a double benefit, enabling them to see in darkness while making them less visible to predators. But when similar tiny structures are pressed into a thin, flexible film, they trap sunlight and thereby prevent glare. This means that surfaces coated with such film can be clearly seen even under bright skies.
“Moth eye” film was originally developed for use on solar energy panels, which are more efficient when they' re non-reflective. Now, however, it's ready to take on a variety of new uses. In addition to smartphone screens, windowpanes, road signs, watches, speedometers, and fuel gauges could all be improved by this inexpensive material. Researchers claim that “moth eye” film offers 10 times better readability in clear weather and five times better even in direct sunlight. Since it's self-cleaning, dirt, dust, and fingerprints won't be problems anymore either.
Perhaps the best thing about “moth eye” film is that you won't have to buy a new scooter or phone to get it. It can be stuck onto the surfaces of old gadgets like any screen protector. In the future, however, it may become part of the manufacturing process and already be on products when you buy them.
So the next time you see a moth, be sure to thank it for giving us humans a very helpful idea!