How Does A Peacock Feather Shimmer? | BBC Earth Explore

Ever wondered what causes the beautiful iridescence on peacock feathers? Take a closer look as we magnify them by epic proportions.

NOTE: Our SEM images were black and white, colour added to make them more vibrant. Colours are not scientifically accurate but artistic interpretation.

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Big thanks to James Fothergill and Dr Sean Davis at the Microscopy Unit, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol.

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[KaiCalimatinus]

Its very interesting so many species evolve colour related qualities involving nano-scale structures and use interference effects in reflection to achieve colours or the ability to change them single pigments could not.

[robinmenoptere]

See today's Veritaserum's video on the same topic !

[KWolf]

Question: How then do albino peacocks work? If albinism is usually caused by lack of pigment, and peacocks' color comes from their feather structure rather than pigment, how would you get a pure white peacock? This honestly doesn't make sense to me, and I would appreciate any insight. 

[AlexisTheDarkAngel]

Can you do one about how the earth first started and how dinoraus came to life and how the first human or animal or plant formed

[zenzylok]

Quantum Electro Dynamics observed throughout the mechanisms of biological entities is fascinating.

[itsstico]

Constructive criticism: As a dyslexic person i would like education videos to be voiced. Reading is a problem for me and other people like me. If you decide to make a video with text please have someone audibly read the text for me as well. Reading in a Video seems strange to me anyway.

[tubeyhamster]

Weak, I was waiting for a big peacock tail spread in slow motion at the end to show these structures in action, and it didn't happen.

[MuhammadEgypt]

Females are attracted to the healthier males. I think it happens in all species, humans included. 

[ptrinch]

Sorry for nit picking, but saying male peacock is redundant. No such thing as a female peacock. That would be a peahen. If referring to either sex, then it would be peafowl.

Normally I'd just let it go. But for a science themed channel, it really should be correct.

[OskarIng]

Im disappointed. You should have shown the audience the peacocks feathers doing this