Discovery and Characteristics
Scientists discovered that heart cockles use fiber optic-like structures in their shells to channel sunlight to symbiotic algae, protecting them from UV rays and enabling photosynthesis.
The shells' unique architecture, made of aragonite, features transparent "windows" that filter harmful ultraviolet light while allowing beneficial photosynthetic light to penetrate.
Implications and Applications
This natural system, which works without the need for protective coatings required in artificial fiber optics, could revolutionize optical technologies and communication systems.
Researchers aim to replicate the properties of aragonite or its structures to create new materials with superior optical performance, potentially benefiting wireless communication and advanced measurement tools.