Zoom into a Blue Morpho Butterfly

Overview
Standards
Resources
Evaluations
Comments

Overview

Description:

Zoom into the natural nanostructures that manipulate light on a Blue Morpho Butterfly! Starting with a normal digital camera, we zoom into the wing of the Blue Morpho using more powerful microscopes. We see the wing underneath an optical microscope, and finally, a scanning electron microscope. You'll see the 200 nanometer structures that produce the beautiful blue iridescent color of the Blue Morpho.

Objectives

Big Idea:

Nature, the master of nanotechnology, has created nanostructures that can manipulate light. Scientists can use this knowledge to understand how light interacts with nanometer sized objects. This knowledge can and has sparked new innovations in technology.

Learning goals:

As a result of viewing this video, viewers will appreciate that nanotechnology can be found in living things like the Blue Morpho Butterfly.

NISE Net Content Map:

Nanometer-sized things are very small, and often behave differently than larger things do.

Scientists and engineers have formed the interdisciplinary field of nanotechnology by investigating properties and manipulating matter at the nanoscale.

Nanoscience, nanotechnology, and nanoengineering lead to new knowledge and innovations that weren't possible before.

Universal design:

Repeat and reinforce main ideas and concepts.

Provide physical and sensory access to all aspects of the program. Visitors can touch, see and hear different elements of the program.

Credits

Developed for the NISE Network with funding from the National Science Foundation under Award Numbers 0532536 and 0940143. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this product are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Foundation.

Owning institution:

Lawrence Hall of Science

Checklist

Scientist reviewed? check_reviewed

Peer reviewed? check_reviewed

Visitor evaluation? check_reviewed

Nano Topics

Art and nature, Bio and medicine, Materials, tools, and applications

Audience

All ages

Permissions

Creative Commons
Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike

Standards

Life science:

K-4: Characteristics of organisms

5-8: Diversity and adaptations of organisms

5-8: Structure and function in living systems

9-12: Matter, energy, and organization in living systems

Physical science:

K-4: Properties of objects and materials

5-8: Properties and changes of properties in matter

9-12: Interactions of energy and matter

Science and Technology:

K-4: Abilities of technological design

K-4: Abilities to distinguish between natural objects and objects made by humans

5-8: Abilities of technological design

9-12: Abilities of technological design

9-12: Understanding about science and technology

Resources

Links:

See FAQ #10 to learn more about downloading NISE Net video

Zoom into a Blue Morpho Butterfly (with narration)

Zoom into a Blue Morpho Butterfly (without narration)

Video:

Evaluations

This product does not have any linked evaluations.