Structural coloration has been understood in general terms since Robert Hooke's 1665 book Micrographia, where Hooke correctly noted that since the iridescence of a peacock's feather was lost when it was plunged into water, but reappeared when it was returned to the air, pigments could not be responsible.
A coloración estrutural compréndese en termos xerais desde a publicación do libro de Robert Hooke de 1665 Micrographia, no cal Hooke sinalou correctamente que como a iridescencia dunha pluma de pavo real se perdía ao metela na auga, pero reaparecía cando se poñía de novo no aire, os pigmentos non podían ser os responsables do efecto.