新華網8月19日電 據美國科技部落格Gizmodo報道，科學家們受到章魚皮膚變色的啟發，初步製造出了一種變色紙，能夠根據它所偵測到的溫度改變顏色。這是我們人類向章魚學習變色的一小步。

　　本週的《美國科學院院刊》(PNAS)上介紹了這種新型設備。

　　這種設備由對溫度敏感的染料製成，在較低溫度時為黑色，而在較高溫度時則為透明。《大眾機械》雜誌介紹了它的原理。根據介紹，這種新型紙張注滿了對溫度敏感的染料，在較低溫度時呈現為黑色，而當溫度上升到華氏116度（約攝氏47度）時則會變為透明。這一層染料位於一層具有反射功能的白色的銀“瓦片”上。“瓦片”下面還有極薄的一層硅電路用來控制染料的溫度，再加上一層透明的硅膠基座。不過，這一摞加起來也只有200微米厚，相當於人類頭髮平均寬度的兩倍。

　　在這一摞下面的還有一層基底，這是一層對光線敏感的光探測器。如果將上面的一摞劃分為細小的“像素點”之後，每個像素點的染料層和銀“瓦片”層的角落都開有刻槽，從而允許光線通過。光線到達光敏探測器之後最終控制顏色的變化。這種適應性的偽裝系統能在光照條件改變的情況下一兩秒內就作出反應。

　　當然，相比于章魚，只有黑白兩色的這種材料還比較原始。而且，這種紙張還需要能量供應，也只在特定溫度下有效。不過項目的領導者，美國伊利諾伊大學香檳分校的約翰·羅傑斯表示，目前的設備更多的是一種對原則的證明。要想加以改進，他們可能會將對溫度的感應更換為對電場的感應，將染料更換為更多彩的等等。

　　譯者：梁爽

　　百度新聞與新華網國際頻道合作稿件，轉載請註明出處。

　　This Color-Changing Camouflage Is Inspired by Octopus Skin

　　If you have not yet witnessed the wonder of an octopus changing color instantaneously， then you should go do that right now. We humans are only slowly playing camouflage catch up. A new color-changing sheet that adapts to the light it senses brings us a tiny step closely to octopi.

　　The device， presented this week in the journal PNAS， is made of temperature-sensitive dye that appears black at cool temperatures and transparent at higher ones. Popular Mechanics explains how it works:

　　The top layer of the new device is loaded with a temperature-sensitive dye that appears black at low temperatures and clear at temps above 116 degrees F. This dye-filled layer sits on top of a layer of white reflective silver tiles， an ultra-thin layer of silicon circuits that control the dye's temperature， and a transparent silicone rubber foundation. All together， this stack measures less than 200 microns thick. (The average human hair is 100 microns wide.)

　　Underneath this flexible sandwich is a base layer containing an array of light-sensing photodetectors. The corners of each dye-filled pixel and silver tile above this photoreceptor layer are notched， creating gaps that are like holes in a mask， allowing light to get through to the photoreceptors so they know how and when to change color. This adaptive camouflage system can respond to changing patterns of illumination within just one to two seconds.

　　Black and white is， obviously， quite primitive compared to the amazing capabilities of the octopus. The device also sucks up power and only works at certain temperatures. But John Rogers of the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign， who led the study， tells National Geographic this current device is more about proof of principle. To improve on the basic idea， they might swap in components that use electric fields instead of heat to change color and alternative dyes that appear as a variety of shades.