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  • Penn State Scientists Reverse-Engineer This Backyard Bug’s Natural ‘Invisibility Cloak’

    12/18/2025 5:47:18 AM PST · by Red Badger · 7 replies
    Study Finds ^ | December 18, 2025 | Tak-Sing Wong and Jinsol Choi (Pennsylvania State University)
    Close-up shot of a leafhopper. (© ddt - stock.adobe.com) =================================================================== Leafhopper-Inspired Nanoparticles Achieve 96% Glare Reduction in Lab Tests In A Nutshell * Nature’s inspiration: Leafhoppers coat themselves with microscopic soccer ball-shaped particles that cut reflective glare by 80-96%, making them harder for predators to spot * Manufacturing breakthrough: Penn State researchers created synthetic versions using microfluidics, producing 100,000+ particles per second, faster than traditional nanofabrication * Precise control: By tweaking polymer chemistry, scientists can dial in exact particle shapes and hole patterns to match five different natural designs * Future applications: Could lead to better anti-glare coatings, energy device...