Working with biologists and plant scientists, we combine optical measurements and simulations to understand how structural disorder shapes biological function:

Bacteria measured by light. Colonies of Flavobacterium IR1 shine with iridescent colours (Figure 2a) that arise from the complex three-dimensional organisation of their cells (Figure 2b–d). By analysing how these colours change with angle, we estimated the spacing and diameter of the cells with sub-10 nm precision — beyond what electron microscopy can achieve, since sample preparation distorts the cells. Linking the optical response to the degree of disorder also revealed how the colony is organised.
A fruit that advertises its nutrients. The metallic blue of Viburnum tinus fruits (Figure 2e) comes from layers of lipid droplets. Simulations show that the colour depends on both disorder and lipid content, suggesting it signals the fruit's nutritional value.
Leaves with a golden sheen. We helped show that the golden shine of Tradescantia pallida leaves, produced by disordered wax platelets, protects them from excess light.
Eyes and shells. We studied how microstructures in the eyes of mantis shrimp larvae affect their vision, and how structural colour is inherited in weevils.
Reading self-assembly from colour. Similar methods let us reconstruct how cellulose nanocrystal films assemble, just from how their colour changes with angle.
Corals printed in 3D. We helped design coral-inspired, 3D-printed hydrogels that host microalgae. Cellulose nanocrystals embedded in the hydrogel act as tunable scatterers, delivering light more evenly and markedly increasing photosynthesis. The scaffold is fully biocompatible: the microalgae grow inside it, forming dense aggregates (Figure 2g–i).

Why it matters. Light can probe biological structures without damaging them, and disorder often turns out to be a feature rather than a defect. The same principles can improve how light reaches living systems, as in our 3D-printed corals.

Read more:

Active Matter

Optical computing

Fundamental optics

Biological and bioinspired photonics