Octopus-inspired camouflage fabric can change colour to blend in

Researchers have created the material, inspired by octopuses and squid, from two layers, each of which has a different thermal expansion rate. One layer is infused with pigments of mixed colours and the other is made to be the same colour as the background.

When the material is cool, the layers have different tensions, which causes tiny wrinkles and creases to form on the surface. Light shone onto the surface warms up the layers, causing them to expand at different rates and making the two materials smooth again.

Creating and eradicating these wrinkles allows the colour of any

reflected light to be controlled. In the wrinkled state, a mixed spectrum of bright colour is reflected, but when the material smoothed out, the reflected colour matches the background, and whatever is clad in the material becomes camouflaged.

Because the system doesn’t use sensors or power, researchers believe it could create inexpensive adaptive camouflage uniforms.