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Irish moss changes hue because of plate-like structures – and the finding could lead to waterproof sunblock

[UK] It is used to thicken ice cream, brew beer and is eaten fresh as a tangy salad, but only now have scientists discovered what makes the Irish moss seaweed iridesce. The red algae Chondrus crispus, which grows abundantly around the coast of Britain, Ireland, the US, Canada and Japan, can take on a blue shine when it is submerged in water. Researchers found that rather than being caused by…