# @optica.worldwide on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DYaaR1JH0il
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/65531510-opticaworldwide-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/81ad793705.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-05-16T20:18:09.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Optica (@optica.worldwide) — https://gondola.cc/optica.worldwide

## Caption

This is a giant clam. 

Covered with a thin layer of light-scattering cells, called iridocytes, they convert incoming sunlight into chemical energy with near-perfect efficiency due to their symbiotic relationship with single-cell algae.

While the industrial bioproduction of single-celled algae offers one of the most promising sources of renewable fuels and chemical feedstocks, widespread commercialization has so far been hindered by low light-conversion efficiencies.

In a Yale study, researchers created a physical model of a solar-energy transformer with a clam-like geometry. In an idealized case that assumes the algae are evenly distributed around the cylinders, their model initially calculated a solar-conversion efficiency of 42%―much lower than expected from actual observations.

Celebrate #LightDay2026 with us and find out more about this research at the link in our bio!

#Nature #EnergyEfficiency

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 14
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 0

## Tags

energyefficiency, nature, lightday2026

---
Copyright (c) Gondola