Moths’ eyes inspire transparent film, as reported in Nature vol. 427, p800, 24 February 2004. Moths’ eyes have an anti-reflective surface that consists of millions of tiny double spherical knobs that look like microscopic snowmen. These give the outer layer of the eye a gradual change in refractive index so that light passes through the surface layer rather than bouncing off it. Materials scientist Hye Koo and colleagues have developed a method of making transparent film with the same kind of surface structure as the moth eyes, with the knobs made from polystyrene. The film only reflects about 2% of the light that hits it.
Editorial Comment: This is another of numerous examples of clever technology inspired by structures seen in the “natural” world. This new method of making anti-reflective film did not evolve naturally. It took intelligent plan and purpose. Therefore, it is foolish to claim that moth eyes evolved naturally. (Ref. moth, eye, technology)