Silvery
fish such as herring, sardine and sprat are "breaking" a basic law of
physics, according to new research from the University of Bristol published
today in Nature Photonics.
Reflective
surfaces polarize light, a phenomenon that fishermen or photographers overcome
by using polarizing sunglasses or polarizing filters to cut our reflective
glare. However, PhD student Tom Jordan
and his supervisors Professor Julian Partridge and Dr Nicholas Roberts in
Bristol's School of Biological Sciences found that these silvery fish have
overcome this basic law of reflection – an adaptation that may help them evade
predators.
journal
reference (abstract free): nature Photonics >>