Butterfly Wing Technology Senses Immune Activity
Butterfly wings refract light through nanostructures rather than pigments. ETH Zurich created sensors that detect cytokine levels near pacemakers with 90% sensitivity. The sensors change color when inflammation markers rise. Clinical trials start soon for real-time monitoring. This technology spots trouble before symptoms appear, similar to how butterfly wings signal danger in nature. The nanoscale structures interact with light differently depending on the presence of specific immune molecules.