SURPRISINGLY, if a fish swimming in the ocean wants to be invisible to
predators, the clever colour to be is not sea blue—it’s red. In a
mathematical model of how light travels through a tropical ocean, Sönke
Johnsen of Duke University in North Carolina has shown that red light scatters
most evenly in the ocean at depths greater than 20 metres. So although fish
nearest the surface are hard to spot from above if they’re blue, any swimming
deeper than 20 metres are less likely to be seen by predators if they’re red
(Proceedings of the Royal Society…
To continue reading, today with our introductory offers
Advertisement
More from 91av
Explore the latest news, articles and features
Life
Extinct relative of koalas discovered in Western Australia
News
Physics
The 50-year quest to create a quantum spin liquid may finally be over
Features
Technology
Backlash builds over NHS plan to hide source code from AI hacking risk
News
Health
Hantavirus: Where has the deadly cruise ship outbreak come from?
News
Popular articles
Trending 91av articles
1
Man destined to get Alzheimer’s saved by accidental heat therapy
2
Woman in cancer remission without treatment in highly unusual case
3
A lost ancient script reveals how writing as we know it really began
4
We have figured out a new way to send messages into the past
5
Honey has been used as medicine for centuries – does it really work?
6
The problem of cosmic inflation and how to solve it
7
Prebiotic chewing gum could be helpful for gum disease
8
Novel approach to clearing brain waste shows promise for Alzheimer's
9
Weird 'transdimensional' state of matter is neither 2D nor 3D
10
Why the keto diet could be a revolutionary way to treat mental illness
