It looks like a spherical marble with iridescent and metallic glitters, but it is actually part of the fruit of the African plantCondensed chicken, which can boast of being the brightest in the world. A study from the University of Cambridge (UK), published today in the journalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, reveals that if this fruit has managed to bethe natural element with the most intense color on the planetIt is not thanks to a pigment, but because the cells of the fruit are made of rolled cellulose strands that reflect light. The asymmetric distribution of these strands determines their iridescence. “There are no previous known examples in nature,” explains Silvia Vignolini, who assures that although there are exoskeletons of beetles, butterfly wings and even feathers like those of the peacock that show iridescence, in those cases the effect is achieved with another type of materials and other structures. What’s more,there are no other examples of similar glowing elements in the plant world.
Researchers have also found thateach individual cell generates its own color independently, which causes a pixelated or pointillist effect, similar to that achieved by certain painters in their paintings. On the other hand, depending on the thickness of the cellulose walls of each cell, some reflect bluish wavelengths, while others exhibit green or slightly reddish reflections.
The colorful fruit, though shiny in appearance,has no nutritional value, since it only contains seeds. Researchers suspect that the brightness makes it an irresistible element for birds, who, attracted by its reflections, use it to decorate their nests or impress their mates. Another “smart” strategy from nature, the researchers admit.
