Many different disorders and health conditions are diagnosed by accurately detecting the presence or quantity of a compound or molecule in a blood sample. The invention of faster, cheaper, or more portable devices empowers health providers and diverse populations to make health care more accessible.

One such device now in development uses a surface made of photonic crystal, a substance that alters the flow of light in the same way as the iridescent scales on a butterfly’s wing. This simulation shows how the presence of a tiny particle on such a detecting surface influences that flow of light. The design of this piece is a reminder of the dimensionality of light’s movement and the power of visual information.