Sneaky color-changing octopus inspires deception tech

An octopus that can change the size and color of skin patterns has inspired deception technology for use in the military, medicine, robotics, and more.

Brian Bell-UC Irvine • futurity
Jan. 4, 2024 ~7 min

Glassfrogs hide their blood to sleep in camouflage

Glassfrogs make themselves transparent while they rest by taking red blood cells from circulation and concealing them in their livers.

Michaela Kane-Duke • futurity
Jan. 4, 2023 ~9 min


Squids change colors with this ‘elegant’ trick

Cracking the mystery of how squids evolved to control their skin's color and brightness could lead to color-shifting camouflage.

Sonia Fernandez-UCSB • futurity
March 9, 2021 ~10 min

Hare camo backfires as winters get less snowy

With less snow, Scotland's mountain hares don't blend into their surroundings in winter. Researchers say it's bad news for animals in a changing climate.

Gail McCormick-Penn State • futurity
Dec. 16, 2020 ~7 min

The flamboyant cuttlefish rarely looks flashy

"It turns out in nature, flamboyant cuttlefish are camouflaged nearly all of the time." Sex and fighting get them to show their colors.

Diana Kenney-Chicago • futurity
Aug. 25, 2020 ~7 min

Stealthy, ultra-black fish skin absorbs 99.5% of light

Sixteen species of camouflaged deep-sea fish have skin so dark that almost no light bounces back to the eye.

Robin Smith-Duke • futurity
Aug. 4, 2020 ~6 min

Stealthy, ultra-black fish skin absorbs 99.5% of light

Sixteen species of camouflaged deep-sea fish have skin so dark that almost no light bounces back to the eye.

Robin Smith-Duke • futurity
Aug. 4, 2020 ~6 min

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