The sun is the enemy of traditional paints, which are made from polymers. The sun’s ultraviolet rays degrade polymers, which is why the paint on the side of a building will slowly fade over time.

More than 1,000 volunteers are gearing up to paint lifeguard stands, their railings and other sun-faded surfaces along 31 miles of Los Angeles County coastline on Sunday.

A nanotechnology paint inspired by a butterfly’s wing is so lightweight that using it on a Boeing 747 could cut the plane’s mass by half a tonne.. A paint’s colour normally comes from ...