Scientists Use Wings to Improve Blood Glucose Monitoring

Inspiration can come on the wings of the wind, or cicadas. While walking through the poster sessions at a conference, researcher Dr. Paul Stoddart’s eyes were drawn to a photograph of the nano-structure of a cicada’s wings.

It contained the perfect pattern for creating an improved sensor. So Dr. Stoddart explored the neighborhoods around him and found cicadas, took off their wings, coated the wings with gold or silver, and bounced laser light off them.

The result was nothing short of amazing. By using sensors modeled on this cicada pattern, continuous, cost effective blood-glucose monitoring for diabetics could be on the horizon.