Science

The Morpho Butterfly's Blue Isn't What It Seems

The morpho butterfly flashes perhaps the most stunning blue in the animal kingdom. But its color isn't what it seems.
Butterfly Conservatory Opens For Season At American Museum Of Nat039l History
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 15: A blue Morpho butterfly rests on a branch in the Butterfly Conservatory at the American Museum of Natural History on October 15, 2013 in New York City. The exhibit, called "The Butterfly Conservatory: Tropical Butterflies Alive in Winter," features 500 tropical butterflies flying among tropical flowers and vegetation. (Photo by Kena Betancur/Getty Images)Getty Images

The morpho butterfly flashes perhaps the most stunning blue in the animal kingdom. But here's the weird bit: That's no pigment. It's actually a trick of light, thanks to some fancy nano-level structures on the butterfly's wings. Check out this week's episode of Absurd Creatures to learn more!

Find every episode of Absurd Creatures here. And I’m happy to hear from you with suggestions on what to cover next. If it’s weird and we can find footage of it, it’s fair game. You can get me at matthew_simon@wired.com or on Twitter at @mrMattSimon.