October 2020 PMID 32763166

Viburnum tinus Fruits Use Lipids to Produce Metallic Blue Structural Color.

Rox Middleton, Miranda Sinnott-Armstrong, Yu Ogawa, Gianni Jacucci, Edwige Moyroud, Paula J Rudall, Chrissie Prychid, Maria Conejero, Beverley J Glover, Michael J Donoghue, Silvia Vignolini

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Mentions

Peak: 12 in Aug 2020

across 5 sources since Aug 2020

Extended reach

172,447

potential audience

Total likes

188

Video views

8,540

Mentions per month

Aug 2020 – Apr 2025

Where it's discussed

News40 articles
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Blogs9 articles
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YouTube2 videos

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The discussions reveal enthusiasm for the scientific insights, with phrases like 'fascinating' and 'how blue fruits produce their iridescent hue,' demonstrating curiosity and appreciation for the research. Some examples reference nanotechnology and natural coloration mechanisms, which deepen engagement and show recognition of potential broader implications.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions recognize the scientific significance of the discovery in explaining how metallic blue coloration in fruits works, supporting the publication.

InterestHigh interest

Posts show high curiosity, especially with phrases like 'fascinating' and questions about the color's origin, indicating strong genuine interest.

EngagementModerate engagement

Several comments mention specific mechanisms, such as lipid structure and nanotechnology, suggesting a meaningful level of engagement with the topic.

ImpactModerate impact

While some posts highlight the potential applications, such as natural food coloring, the overall perceived impact appears moderate, mostly emphasizing scientific curiosity.

Abstract in brief

Viburnum tinus is an evergreen shrub native to the Mediterranean that produces metallic blue fruits in winter, which are valuable for small bird dispersers due to their high lipid content despite having limited flesh.
The fruit's striking metallic blue color is caused by globular lipid inclusions arranged in a disordered multilayer structure within the cell walls, embedded under a dark layer of anthocyanin pigments.
This discovery highlights a new mechanism of structural coloration in plants, where large lipid aggregates may also act as an honest indicator of the fruit's nutritional value.

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All mentions

Lipids Create Metallic Blue Color in Viburnum Tinus Fruits

Viburnum tinus produces metallic blue fruits in winter using fat in cell structures to generate color, a novel mechanism of plant structural coloration that signals nutritional value to birds.

Cambridge University · Aug 6, 2020 7,998 views

Structural Coloration in Viburnum tinus Fruits Due to Lipid Inclusions

Viburnum tinus, an evergreen shrub native to the Mediterranean, produces metallic blue winter fruits. The striking color results from lipid inclusions within cell walls, offering insights into a novel plant structural…

三島彩子 a.k.a. 植物たん · Aug 11, 2022 542 views

島田草太朗

@muimi_no_kokoro · X

Apr 13, 2025 · 3 likes · 380 followers View post →

Linda L Starlight

@LLStarlight · X

https://t.co/OeRXCLALo5 @LindaCollins11

Aug 8, 2022 · 1,862 followers View post →

Linda L Starlight

@LLStarlight · X

RT @VenetiaJane: “Metallic blue fruits use fat to produce colour and signal a treat for birds…” #nature #colour https://t.co/swWQ3HTkB1

Aug 8, 2022 · 4 shares · 1,862 followers View post →

CaseyJWolf

@CaseyJWolf · X

RT @VenetiaJane: “Metallic blue fruits use fat to produce colour and signal a treat for birds…” #nature #colour https://t.co/swWQ3HTkB1

Aug 8, 2022 · 4 shares · 421 followers View post →

ranjona banerji

@ranjona · X

RT @VenetiaJane: “Metallic blue fruits use fat to produce colour and signal a treat for birds…” #nature #colour https://t.co/swWQ3HTkB1

Aug 8, 2022 · 4 shares · 37,012 followers View post →

VenetiaJane's Garden

@VenetiaJane · X

“Metallic blue fruits use fat to produce colour and signal a treat for birds…” #nature #colour https://t.co/swWQ3HTkB1

Aug 8, 2022 · 19 likes · 4 shares · 33,646 followers View post →

مشاري العويض

@7aari30 · X

RT @Maawiah: #التنوع_الأحيائي تجتذب بعض النباتات الطيور إلى الثمار باستخدام بنية نانوية مصنوعة من الدهون في جدرانها الخلوية لتعطي ألوان جا…

Jan 12, 2022 · 2 shares · 7,334 followers View post →

Arwa Al Musaed

@Arwa_Almousaed · X

Jan 12, 2022 · 2 shares · 1,174 followers View post →

معاوية الغامدي

@Maawiah · X

Jan 12, 2022 · 3 likes · 2 shares · 3,086 followers View post →

Biocolores

@Biocolores · X

https://t.co/rOfDD6kBcD

Dec 16, 2020 · 483 followers View post →

Zong-Xin Ren

@renzongxin · X

Viburnum tinus Fruits Use Lipids to Produce Metallic Blue Structural Color https://t.co/uxRgWAk66G

Oct 21, 2020 · 1 like · 954 followers View post →

AnonRere

@AnonRere · X

Viburnum tinus Fruits Use Lipids to Produce Metallic Blue Structural Color https://t.co/t5eBgfREeL #biology #cell

Oct 8, 2020 · 2,218 followers View post →

Airedale Group

@Airedale_group · X

If you’ve ever wondered how blue fruit gets it distinctive metallic colour, watch this short video from the scientists at @Cambridge_Uni https://t.co/ijVzH4rqPv https://t.co/KN2rHvFDVU

Sep 30, 2020 · 1,810 followers View post →

oomu

@oomu · X

Viburnum tinus Fruits Use Lipids to Produce Metallic Blue Structural Color https://t.co/827cymG0e4 Dingue fa

Sep 25, 2020 · 473 followers View post →

HN Bot

@TechTweetBot · X

'Viburnum Tinus Fruits Use Lipids to Produce Metallic Blue Structural Color' by bookofjoe Read more about this story here --> https://t.co/JhjPdBc8Qi

Aug 27, 2020 · 259 followers View post →

Mark A Hubbard

@markahubbard · X

Viburnum tinus Fruits Use Lipids to Produce Metallic Blue Structural Color https://t.co/NdILWuVGh4

Aug 13, 2020 · 677 followers View post →

Tobias Wenzel

@MakerTobey · X

Fascinating. So many ways that nature "uses Nanotechnology" to create beautiful colours! https://t.co/8J9FPpOAMY Congrats to another interesting study completed @VignoliniLab https://t.co/1SCtJmW5Rr

Aug 13, 2020 · 7 likes · 1 share · 2,509 followers View post →

八百屋長兵衛

@rook0081 · X

RT @BioTodaySuppl: 欧州の庭でよく見かける低木・ローラスタイナス（laurustinus；ビブルヌム・ティヌス）が冬につける果実の光沢のある青色は青の色素によるのではなく青色光を反射するように並んだ脂肪滴が生み出す構造色と判明。構造色を担う脂肪の存在が初めて示…

Aug 9, 2020 · 1 share · 439 followers View post →

biotoday

@BioTodaySuppl · X

Aug 9, 2020 · 2 likes · 1 share · 706 followers View post →

ColSci

@colsci_papers · X

Viburnum tinus Fruits Use Lipids to Produce Metallic Blue Structural Color. https://t.co/QC9QPsPytl

Aug 9, 2020 · 1 like · 400 followers View post →

Jmbasco

@jmbasco · X

What gives this metallic blue fruit its colour? https://t.co/FrL1PLFXRP

Aug 9, 2020 · 182 followers View post →

Ordo Fraterna Fibonacci

@OrdoFibonacci · X

What gives this metallic blue fruit its colour? https://t.co/SRHQtU9g6b via @YouTube

Aug 7, 2020 · 2,567 followers View post →

GaryFoster

@Prof_GD_Foster · X

RT @BristolBioSci: Our very own @roxmiddleton has had a great paper published showing how 'healthy' blue food colouring could soon be brigh…

Aug 7, 2020 · 1 share · 14,873 followers View post →

彩恵りり

@Science_Release · X

通常は細胞表面に存在しない脂質による構造色で、滅多に存在しないメタリックブルーの実をつける…。トキワガマズミ (Viburnum tinus) の実の分析結果から、意外な結果が導き出されたんだよ！ Viburnum tinus Fruits Use Lipids to Produce Metallic Blue Structural Color https://t.co/k3KZGKvirV

Aug 7, 2020 · 1 like · 44,805 followers View post →

University of Bristol Biological Sciences

@BristolBioSci · X

Aug 7, 2020 · 4 likes · 1 share · 3,722 followers View post →

Viburnum tinus Fruits Use Lipids to Produce Metallic Blue Structural Color.

Mentions per month

Where it's discussed

What people are saying

Abstract in brief

Top posts

All mentions

Lipids Create Metallic Blue Color in Viburnum Tinus Fruits

Structural Coloration in Viburnum tinus Fruits Due to Lipid Inclusions