Users can completely customise their computer desktop, changing, for example, its colour and look.

ECONOMIST: Open sesame

In addition, star colour is simulated for noticeably red, blue and yellow stars, along with the changing brightness of three variable stars Algol, Mira and Delta Cephei.

ECONOMIST: The joys of indoor star-gazing

Bacteriorhodopsin has the habit of changing from blue to pale yellow in an electric field, which might be useful in colour displays.

ECONOMIST: Showing off