Natures wonders: human lens (Introduction)

by David Turell , Wednesday, November 14, 2012, 15:07 (4390 days ago) @ David Turell
edited by unknown, Wednesday, November 14, 2012, 15:19

"The fundamental technology behind this new lens is called "GRIN" or gradient refractive index optics. In GRIN, light gets bent, or refracted, by varying degrees as it passes through a lens or other transparent material. This is in contrast to traditional lenses, like those found in optical telescopes and microscopes, which use their surface shape or single index of refraction to bend light one way or another.
 
"'The human eye is a GRIN lens,' said Michael Ponting, polymer scientist and president of PolymerPlus, an Ohio-based Case Western Reserve spinoff launched in 2010. 'As light passes from the front of the human eye lens to the back, light rays are refracted by varying degrees. It's a very efficient means of controlling the pathway of light without relying on complicated optics, and one that we attempted to mimic.'"-
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121113122046.htm-Another explanation:-http://phys.org/news/2012-11-human-eye-visionary-natural-lens.html-There are many examples of developing an application by copying nature. Think velcro, etc.