Peacock Feathers Yield First Animal Biolaser

Scientists have demonstrated that peacock tail feathers, renowned for their iridescent coloration due to nanostructures, can emit laser beams when infused with a special dye and energized with light. This discovery represents the first documented example of a biolaser cavity in the animal kingdom. The laser emission, particularly strong from the green regions of the eyespots, arises from the feathers’ periodic nanostructures acting as optical resonators. Experiments showed that dye-doped feathers can emit narrow yellow-green laser beams after multiple staining cycles. The findings highlight the potential of photonic crystals in peacock feathers for applications such as anti-counterfeiting technology and advanced coatings. Researchers believe this work could lead to the development of tunable bio-inspired optical materials.