The Glow of a Spatial Array

[Randy Eady]

The Glow of a Spatial Array: skin on sharks and rays was long viewed merely like protective dimples on a golf ball, disturbing the flow of water over the surface to reduce the drag -- now we know it does way more...                                                             by R. Eady, KR Therapeutics"Tuning Fish:  Denticles Role in Changing Skeletons & Swimming" (protective armor, drag reducer, fractal quorum emf sensor

How do animals tune, or dynamically adjust, their movements using their skin and skeletons?  This research investigates the contributions of the shark cartilaginous vertebral column, skin, and animal movements which “tune” during swimming to aid in mobility and metabolic process.  For example, shark vertebrae work as metabolic springs, which store and return energy based on the “species-specific” arrangement of minerals in the cartilage.  What’s more, sharkskin contains mineralized teeth (called denticles),  aiding in the pizo-electiric capacity of the skin cells to “quorum sense” emf twitches in their environment and detect prey movement.  Tangibly, this results in the skin attuning  (like a vast radioscope array for sensing prey) while serving as a fluid dynamic friction-aid in swimming:  the skin feels smooth when flowing with the grain and like sandpaper, when going against the skin’s mineral arrangement.

It’s been hypothesized -- studying this level of cellular organization can reveal the influences  of hard and soft tissues on overall swimming/survival  and even biosemiotic (bio-signaling) in many species.

 

In fact, findings suggest these denticles follow a (reaction-diffusion) model famed computer scientist Alan Turing used to explain organic signaling and the autonomous development of spatial patterns:  applying across the board to cactus spines*, scales, teeth, spots on a leopard and even bird eyes/feathers and spider hair and silk. 

Such patterns in the fish’s skin have allowed it to develop protective armor, reduce drag in the water, sense prey and perhaps even serve as a microbial signaling defense.

Though it's also been shown how species-specific emission patterns in other fluorescent fish species, suggests biofluorescence functions in intraspecific communication and assists camouflage (Sparks et al., 2014).

A newfound family of metabolites emits green light in response to the blue light of the deep ocean, causing certain sharks to glow & contribute to chemical defense against microbial pathogens in the marine environment.

These observations of biofluorescent targeting specific denticle types further advances our understanding of the complexity of this unique biofluorescence in the sharkskin and the possible optical functions it may play.  Small-molecule metabolites in sharks’ skin help the creatures stand out against the dark ocean floor by glowing bright green,

Swell sharks (Cephaloscyllium ventriosum) and chain catsharks (Scyliorhinus retifer) can only see light in the blue-green spectrum, the dominant colors found in their deep-sea habitat.  Both sharks sport light and dark patterns on their skin (which in the eyes of a fellow shark allow the pale patchest to gleam a fluorescent green).  This lighter skin contains a previously unknown family of small-molecule metabolites, derived from the amino acid tryptophan, which emit green light in response to blue. 

The description of an entirely new form of marine biofluorescence from sharks may unlock the shark's superpower to chemically ward off infections.  And, while fluorescent compounds appear to provide a microbial defense, harnessing the abilities marine animals have to make and signal with light, can generate molecular systems for imaging in the lab or in medicine that is "superpower" incredible. 

And, may revise the answer to REO Speedwagen’s statement:  seems you can tune a fish!

Ref:  R.L. Cooper et al. “An ancient Turing-like patterning mechanism regulates skin denticle development in sharks,” Science Advances, 4:eaau5484, 2018.

* The deep-sea lanternshark (Etmopterus spinax) has also been shown to utilize its mineralized spines for the transmission of bioluminescent signalling. ( Claes et al., 2013).

~ For more on the leopard's array:  https://www.academia.edu/34953300/Healing_Acoustics_in_Microcrystal...

[Randy Eady]

Ghost in the Machine.AI Sniffer!Odeuropa Network - Odeuropa

When algorithmic design patterns select where you look -- to sense/discern a painting' s scent.

[Randy Eady]

Hannah Herbst:  exhibiting great work w/surgical wound dressing based on the bioactive properties of shark skin. Moreover, congrats to Hannah on winning Florida Venture Forum’s Statewide Collegiate Startup Competition!

[Randy Eady]

​Allied with this work is research on alchemical markers in ultramarine blue (a highly-valued brilliant blue pigment used in masterpieces such as Johannes Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring​ °​).

Comprising the blue mineral lazurite, ultramarine blue pigment historically was obtained from the semi-precious stone lapis lazuli.  Unfortunately, unlike the earliest known synthetic pigment based on the Blue Lotus - Egyptian blue.(which is a very long-lasting tint​ related to the ​chemical components ​--​ now revealing how the coating actually emits a rare, invisible luminescence (near-infrared radiation) when exposed to a visible light frequenc​y)​  
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2017/05/explore-egyptia... ​

paint containing ultramarine blue pigment is susceptible to a degradation phenomenon known as ​"​ultramarine disease​"​.

​M​easur​ing​ how sulfur speciation within lazurite depends on the heat-treatment of lapis lazuli from which it was extracted​ confirms how​​ ​exposure of lapis lazuli to heat is mentioned in historical documents describing pigment preparation. The findings showed sulfur signatures in lazurite depend on the heat-treatment of lapis lazuli and give a unique signature for high temperatures.

The team further found heat-treatment sulfur signatures in lazurite particles from five historical paint samples originating from artworks in the Louvre Museum (Paris), the Rijksmuseum (Amsterdam) and the Mauritshuis (The Hague, NL).

 

“Understanding how the properties of ultramarine blue are affected by preparation is a first step towards determining their influence in the aging of the paint and, ultimately, the cause of ‘ultramarine disease’. Identifying a marker for such pigment preparation was very fortuitous”, explains ​Alessa ​Gambardella​, Rijksmuseum Conservation & Science researcher.​

In consideration of the unique and precious nature of this material (in cultural and natural heritage) --  efforts to obtain photonic (light markers) on an unreproducible object​ are vital for​ ​both preservation and ​scientific heritage.*

 

​° The research project The Girl in the Spotlight, a Mauritshuis initiative, is led by paintings conservator Abbie Vandivere, ​

*​ Analyses and reconstructions now presuppose the blue headscarf originally contained a wider range of different blue shades: an opaque light blue for the left zone, a slightly brighter opaque blue for the middle zone, and a deep dark blue-green glaze with alternating blue-green glazing brushstrokes for the shadow zone—now largely compromised by paint degradation. ​

Reference:

Gambardella A. A. et al, Science Advances, Science Advances  01 May 2020: Vol. 6, no. 18, eaay8782.
DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aay8782

Van Loon, A., et al, Herit Sci 8, 25 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40494-020-00364-5