The Shrimp's Eye
![](https://www.abctales.com/sites/abctales.com/files/styles/cover/public/covers/Shrimp2.jpg?itok=iofd657q)
By Rhiannonw
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Biomimetics 4)
Deep in the bottom of the ocean
(light level low)
the little shrimp can see
very well.
Phototonic crystals
nanospheres in array
unusual crystal plates
optimally sized for reflecting
the blue light where they live
– repeatedly reflecting until alights on receptors.
Researchers had struggled with orientation
in making such themselves;
and hadn’t thought of the ‘genius’ of the shrimp solution
using these spherical building blocks.
Now maybe ultra-thin reflectors can be
designed,
just as this amazingly intricate shrimp’s eye was
creatively designed!
Anyone imagining it evolving
by chance, step by small viable step
over aeons, must surely be
unreasonably blind!
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Comments
That new Attenborough series
That new Attenborough series about how animals see colour is amazing. I disagree with you on the design/evolution debate, Rhiannon, but completely agree that it's a wonderful thing to get a glimpse of how other creatures view the world.
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Rhiannon I remember
Rhiannon I remember you mentioning before that you are qualified in biochemistry. That should give you some authority in these evolution debates.I jjust don't feel it's all so terribly important really.
See you! Tom
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Hi Rhiannon
Hi Rhiannon
Beautiful images of the little shrimp, and how wonderful his creation was that it could make him see so well. Thank you for writing about it. I shall feel guilty now when I eat a shrimp.
Jean
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