In 2023, scientists in Thailand made a groundbreaking discovery of an electric blue tarantula called Chilobrachys natanicharum. The spider’s unique blue color comes from the nanostructures of its hairs, which control the light falling on them to create the blue appearance. These hairs can also turn purple depending on the available light, giving them an iridescent effect.
Only one in two million lobsters are blue due to a genetic mutation. Blue lobsters have been found in various locations worldwide, including southern England, Marblehead, Massachusetts, and France. In May 2024, a blue lobster caught in a trap was donated to a local aquarium instead of being eaten, allowing it to be studied and admired by visitors.
In another rare occurrence, cicadas with blue eyes instead of the usual red color were found in the suburbs of Chicago. This unique eye color is due to a genetic mutation that occurs in only one in a million animals. Blue-eyed cicadas have a similar lifespan to their counterparts and are being studied by experts at the Field Museum to understand the genes behind their distinctive feature.
