Archive · 3 Dec 2025
Riflebird-Inspired Ultra-Black Fabric Developed by Scientists
Scientists at Cornell University have created a very dark fabric that absorbs almost all light, inspired by a bird called the riflebird.
This fabric is so dark that it only reflects a tiny bit of light, making it almost completely black.
They made it by dyeing wool with a special substance and treating it in a special way.
This fabric could be used in clothes and technology like cameras and solar panels.
It's not as dark as the darkest material ever made, called Vantablack, but it's more comfortable to wear.
The scientists were inspired by how the riflebird's feathers absorb light to look very black.
Scientists at Cornell University developed an ultra-black fabric inspired by the riflebird, absorbing 99.87% of light.
The fabric is made by dyeing merino wool with polydopamine and treating it in a plasma chamber.
It has potential applications in fashion, cameras, solar panels, and telescopes.
The fabric maintains its color consistency across a wide angular range and is more wearable than existing ultra-black materials.
While it is one of the blackest fabrics, it does not surpass Vantablack, which absorbs 99.995% of light.
- Who
- Scientists at Cornell University, led by Larissa Shepherd
- What
- Developed an ultra-black fabric inspired by the riflebird
- When
- Not specified
- Where
- Cornell University
- Why
- To create a wearable, scalable, and easily manufacturable ultra-black material with applications in fashion and technology
- Light Absorption
- 99.87%
- Light Reflection
- 0.13%
- Inspiration
- Riflebird's velvety black plumage
- Material Used
- Polydopamine-dyed merino wool
- Applications
- Fashion, cameras, solar panels, telescopes
- Research Team
- Cornell University
- Comparative Material
- Vantablack (99.995% light absorption)