In addition to research on the astounding adhesive properties of the carnivorous sundew plant, Zhang and his colleagues are exploring nanoparticles found in English ivy. These particles can scatter light, and may possibly be an alternative to the metal-based nanoparticles currently used in sunscreen, said Lenaghan. The researchers reported their work, supported by grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Army Research Office, in a 2010 paper in the Journal of Nanobiotechnology.