Use bacteria to create iridescent paint like pearls

A new technique using microorganisms can provide cheaper and safer solutions in creating cosmetics or paints with iridescent colors of pearls as well as multicolored plastics.

The method developed by Andrew Parker and colleagues, at Green University, Oxford University (UK), takes advantage of the changing nature of diatoms - a kind of plant-like creature living in the ocean, fresh water and in land.

The ability of diatoms to change the light is due to the silicon shell covering its body. This crust is a collection of a network of tiny holes, allowing some colors in the spectrum of light to pass through, while reflecting some other colors.

The human eye sees the reflected colors. And when viewed at different angles, these colors seem to change and become discolored. Each type of tiny algae has a different shell structure, and reflects light in a unique way.

The team's idea is to use special diatoms to produce iridescent colors in consumer products.

Sand algae and its magical colors. (Photo: Discovery)

By feeding a few diatoms in a nutrient solution, Parker and his colleagues stimulated them to divide and flourish. Parker said his team could create a ton of these single-celled organisms every day. When enough is reached, the team raises the nutrient solution temperature, or adds a weak acid to kill the organic matter, leaving reflective structures.

These structures can then be mixed into a transparent paint to create everything, from glitter cars like pearls to multicolored cosmetics, or to create safety codes in testimony. ID.

The team's biggest obstacle is now to predict the conditions for diatoms to develop certain special structures, suitable for certain lighting purposes.

T. An