A new shape-shifting material can change both its texture and color in seconds, inspired by the camouflage abilities of octopuses. By precisely controlling how a polymer swells with water, researchers ...

Perovskite crystals can dramatically and reversibly change shape when hit with light, a behavior not seen in conventional semiconductors. This effect, called photostriction, can be finely tuned ...

A new optical illusion excellently illustrates just how finicky our eyes are when it comes to perceiving colors.

Here’s what it signals—and why it makes a ton of sense.

Physicists and vision scientists are lining up behind a provocative claim: the rich color we call purple is not a property of light at all, but a story the brain tells itself. Light in the real world ...

🛍️ Amazon Big Spring Sale: 100+ editor-approved deals worth buying right now 🛍️ By Sarah Lindenfeld Hall Published May 31, 2025 8:01 AM EDT Add Popular Science (opens in a new tab) Adding us as a ...

Butterfly wings get their color in ways that almost feel impossible. Up close, each wing is made of countless tiny scales that either hold pigment or manipulate light. The oranges, reds, and browns ...