Cephalopod skin as color changing and camouflage material

Cephalopods are a class of animals that include organisms such as the squid, octopus or nautilus. Cephalopods are very skilled in quickly blending into their environment through a sudden change of color and patterns on their body. This is mainly done through multiple layers of cells with the top most layer being rich in chromatophores. They are controlled with rings of muscle containing various pigments where based on whether the size of expansion different colors can be seen (or not seen).

While observing this phenomenon, researchers from the University of Illinois  that the concept could be applied to textiles and other materials. Combining biology with mechanics and engineering, a material was developed that is capable of sensing and responding to its surroundings. Using the multilayered system of materials it can respond to stimuli like light and heat (in lesss than two seconds!). Photo receptors beneath this layers are able to interact with colors  in the local environment in order to direct color changes.

This technology has application in the military for camouflage purposes where one uniform with this material is sufficient for all types of environments. There are also future plans of using these properties to create shape changing material that can be used as coating for soft robots to send them to study nature.