What would you think if we could get glitter, paint, cosmetics and a whole range of shiny sparkly things without using microplastics or harsh chemicals?

Scientists at Northeastern University have a plan to make a new kind of glitter than doesn’t rely on pigment to create color. Instead they are turning to butterflies for inspiration.

Butterflies don’t rely on pigment for color. Instead, their wings are made up of many scale-like segments that bend and scatter light. The color in opals and peacock feathers work this way, too. That makes them very durable and resistant to fading.

So what does create the beautiful glittery colors? Molecules called pterins, which are very similar to the structure of DNA. Scientists believe they can adjust the colors by changing the size and orientation of the pterin crystals.

Wow! So how do we make ptetin crystals so they produce the colors we want? Usually it takes weeks, using some nasty solvents. The scientists working on his have come up with a way to use salt, water, and acidity to harvest small amounts of crystals in a matter of minutes. Now they are working on ways to control the size and shape of the crystals resulting in different color hues.

Of course the advantage is that these molecules already occur in our natural environment. Just because something is natural, doesn’t automatically mean it’s safe or humans. After all, snake venom is natural. So, naturally (tee-hee) an important step is proving these synthetic pterins are safe for people.

This real-life story reminds me of the next novel I’m working on. It’s a departure from my historical fiction. Instead, I’m writing a dystopian novel about things running woefully amok when scientists try to use nature to solve a problem. Stay-tuned for more in the near future.