Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 10, 2025
13:58
Flat Mount Imaging of Mouse Skin and Its Application to the Analysis of Hair Follicle Patterning and Sensory Axon Morphology
Published on: June 25, 2014
21.8K
Infrared antenna-like structures in mammalian fur
1Leonardo UK Ltd, Southampton, Hampshire SO15 0LG, UK.
Royal Society Open Science
|December 15, 2021
Summary
Small animal fur, particularly guard hair, functions as an infrared antenna. This discovery reveals a survival advantage for nocturnal animals and offers bio-inspiration for photonics.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Materials Science
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- Small mammals possess fur with complex hair structures.
- A common feature is internal banding in hair, with spacing around 6-12 µm.
- The function of this banding has remained unexplained, though an infrared role is suspected.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the function of periodic internal banding in animal guard hair.
- To determine if guard hair can act as an infrared antenna.
- To explore the potential for bio-inspiration in photonics.
Main Methods:
- Optical analysis of guard hair from diverse species.
- Examination of hair structure for periodic patterns and antenna-like properties.
- Wavelength tuning analysis for thermal imaging.
Main Results:
- Guard hair exhibits specific shapes and internal periodic patterns suitable for infrared antenna function.
- Analysis confirmed precise tuning to optimal wavelengths for thermal imaging.
- The hair structures demonstrate properties of tuned antennae, spectral filters, and waveguides.
Conclusions:
- Guard hair in small mammals functions as an infrared antenna, aiding nocturnal survival.
- These findings offer significant potential for bio-inspiration in the field of photonics.
- Further research may elucidate the roles of other hair types and their evolutionary significance.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:16Accessory Structures of the Skin: Hair and Hair Follicles
3.1K
Hair and hair follicles are integral components of the integumentary system. Hair is a filamentous structure composed mainly of a protein called keratin. It is found on the surface of the skin throughout the body, except for areas such as the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.
Hair is a keratinous filament growing out of the epidermis. It is primarily made of dead, keratinized cells. Hair strands originate at the epidermal penetration called the hair follicle. The hair shaft is the part...
Hair is a keratinous filament growing out of the epidermis. It is primarily made of dead, keratinized cells. Hair strands originate at the epidermal penetration called the hair follicle. The hair shaft is the part...
3.1K
01:03Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure
9.8K
The process of olfaction, also known as the sense of smell, is a sophisticated chemical response system. The specialized sensory neurons that facilitate this process, known as olfactory receptor neurons, are situated in an upper segment of the nasal cavity, known as the olfactory epithelium. Olfactory sensory neurons are bipolar, with their dendrites extending from the epithelium's apex into the mucus that lines the nasal cavity. Airborne molecules, when inhaled, traverse the olfactory...
9.8K
01:22Microtubules in Signaling
1.8K
The primary cilium, made up of microtubules, acts as antennae on the cell surfaces for relaying external stimuli into the cells. These fine hair-like structures are present, generally one per cell. These are non-motile cilia in a 9+0 microtubules arrangement, where the central pair of microtubules are absent. The primary cilia arise from the basal body embedded in the cell membrane. Intraflagellar transport (IFT) carries requisite proteins from the cytoplasm to the cilium because the primary...
1.8K
01:03IR Frequency Region: Fingerprint Region
1.2K
IR spectra are divided into two main regions: the diagnostic region and the fingerprint region. The diagnostic region of the spectrum lies above 1500 cm−1. The absorptions resulting from single-bond vibrations of the N–H, C–H, and O–H stretch at higher wavenumbers and appear on the left side of the spectrum. The stretching absorptions of the C≡C and C≡N occur between 2100–2300 cm−1. In contrast, those arising from stretching absorptions of the...
1.2K
01:23Surface Appendages of Archaea
227
Archaeal surface appendages are highly specialized structures essential for environmental adaptation, encompassing roles in adhesion, biofilm formation, and motility. Among these appendages, pili and archaella stand out for their distinct morphologies and functionalities, enabling archaea to thrive in diverse and often extreme environments.Pili: Adhesion and Biofilm FormationPili are filamentous structures assembled from pilin protein subunits, primarily contributing to adhesion and biofilm...
227