“Mantis shrimp red-sensitive pigments act as reversible light switches, study finds” — what this page in the network covers. Mantis shrimp, with about 30 visual pigments compared to just three in humans, have long puzzled scientists. Now, researchers from ULiège and Humboldt University in Berlin have analyzed these pigments individually for the first time, revealing that some detect red light that very few animals can perceive. Published in Science Advances, the study shows these red-sensitive pigments function as reversible light switches, a property with potential applications in optogenetics.
By understanding how mantis shrimp process color, scientists could develop new tools for controlling neurons with light. The discovery not only deepens our understanding of one of nature's most complex eyes but also opens doors for biotechnological innovation. Nova Global News curates publicly available headlines and summaries with source attribution. For the complete material, the listing points back to the source inside the network.