Latest news with #Society for Experimental Biology
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Blue sharks might actually be some of nature's most unexpected chameleons
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, BGR may receive an affiliate commission. Blue sharks have become very well known for the color of their skin, but new research indicates that these iconic sharks might be more than meets the eye. In fact, blue sharks might just be one of nature's best chameleons, as new data suggests the components responsible for the shark's coloring could allow it to change colors based on its environment. The research comes from a group of marine biologists who shared their findings at the most recent Society for Experimental Biology Annual Conference in Belgium. The researchers say they discovered these findings while more closely inspecting the small tooth-like scales that are responsible for the blue coloring of the sharks. Today's Top Deals XGIMI Prime Day deals feature the new MoGo 4 and up to 42% off smart projectors Best deals: Tech, laptops, TVs, and more sales Best Ring Video Doorbell deals These tooth-like scales are known as dermal denticles. When looking at them more closely, the researchers found that the scales feature small pulp cavities that contain guanine crystals. These crystals are responsible for the camouflage ability found in chameleons, which suggests that blue sharks may be able to use similar color-changing abilities to hide in different environments. The belief is that these color-changing crystals allow the sharks to blend in with the darker waters of the deep. For example, the researchers suggest that the cells could become more tightly packed together as the pressure increases on the shark's body, thus making the creature's skin much darker when it dives deeper. So far, the researchers have only simulated the possible chances of what might happen when the pressure is increased on the cells. From here, the researchers want to take their findings and try to translate them to the real world by investigating the blue shark's chameleon ability in greater depth. The hope is that they'll be able to prove that the sharks change their color based on their environment, even if that just means they get darker when diving deeper. There's a lot we still don't know about sharks, including why some sharks freeze when turned upside down. But, hopefully, future research like this can help us uncover more about these majestic and terrifying creatures. More Top Deals Memorial Day security camera deals: Reolink's unbeatable sale has prices from $29.98 See the
The Independent
11-07-2025
- Science
- The Independent
Scientists discover shark that changes colour like a chameleon
Unique structures on the skin of the blue shark suggest it may be able to change colour like a chameleon, according to a new study. The study, presented this week at the Society for Experimental Biology conference in Antwerp, reveals tiny nanostructures in the skin of the blue shark, Prionace glauca, that produce their colouration. The secret to the shark's colour lies in the pulp cavities of the scales that armour the skin, known as dermal denticles. 'Blue is one of the rarest colours in the animal kingdom, and animals have developed a variety of unique strategies through evolution to produce it, making these processes especially fascinating," Viktoriia Kamska, a researcher who participated in the study, said. Crystals of the molecule guanine within the pulp cavities act as blue reflectors. In addition, cell components containing the pigment melanin absorb other wavelengths to produce the shark's characteristic colour. 'These components are packed into separate cells, reminiscent of bags filled with mirrors and bags with black absorbers, but kept in close association so they work together," Dr Kamska explained. The melanin collaborates with guanine crystals of specific thickness and spacing to enhance the shark's colour saturation of the skin. "When you combine these materials together, you also create a powerful ability to produce and change colour," Mason Dean, another researcher, said. "What's fascinating is that we can observe tiny changes in the cells containing the crystals and see and model how they influence the colour of the whole organism.' The research was made possible by advanced imaging techniques to characterise the form, function and architectural arrangements of the tiny colour-producing structures. "We started looking at colour at the organismal level, on the scale of meters and centimetres, but structural colour is achieved at the nanometer scale, so we have to use a range of different approaches," Dr Dean said. Researchers then used computational simulations to confirm which structural parameters of the tiny skin structures were responsible for producing the observed appearance. They showed that this mechanism of colour change could also be driven by environmental factors that would affect the guanine crystal spacing. "In this way, very fine-scale alterations resulting from something as simple as humidity or water pressure changes could alter body colour, which then shapes how the animal camouflages,' Dr Dean said. When the shark swims deeper, for instance, more pressure acts on the skin, causing the guanine crystals to be pushed together and darken the shark's colour to better suit its surroundings. The mechanism by which these tiny structures behave may also be changing the shark's skin colour. "Such a multi-functional structural design – a marine surface combining features for high-speed hydrodynamics and camouflaging optics – as far as we know, hasn't been seen before,' Dr Dean said.
