6 Fascinating Facts about Colors
One: Why Do Colors Exist?
Colors exist in the world because of the way that light interacts with matter. When light shines on an object, some wavelengths are absorbed while others are reflected. The reflected light enters our eyes and stimulates the cones in our retina, which sends signals to the brain that we interpret as color.
Colors are a perceptual experience that results from the way our brains interpret different wavelengths of light.
The truth about colors is that they do not exist as physical entities in the external world, but rather they are a creation of our brain that helps us to distinguish and categorize the world around us.
Two: Our Eyes & Brain
The process of seeing colors begins with the stimulation of specialized cells in the retina called cones. These cones respond to different wavelengths of light and send signals to the brain, where the information is processed and interpreted as color.
There are three types of cones that respond to different parts of the visible spectrum of light: red, green, and blue. When light enters the eye, it stimulates these cones in varying degrees, and the brain combines this information to create the perception of color.
The colors that we see in the world around us are a result of the specific wavelengths of light that are reflected by different objects. For example, a red apple appears red because it reflects mostly red light and absorbs other wavelengths.
Three: Black Apple
If you use a light source that doesn’t include red light then there isn’t any portion of the light that an apple can’t absorb so the apple doesn’t reflect any portion of the light and it will look black.
Four: UV Pass Filter
You probably know what is Ultraviolet, but here is a refresher:
“Ultraviolet is a form of electromagnetic radiation with wavelength shorter than that of visible light, but longer than X-rays. UV radiation is present in sunlight, and constitutes about 10% of the total electromagnetic radiation output from the Sun” — Wikipedia
A “UV Pass Filter” looks black in visible light and translucent in Ultraviolet. That is because it absorbs all the visible light and allows UV to pass through it.
Five: Human Skin
Melanin is a pigment that gives color to the skin, hair, and eyes. It is produced by specialized skin cells called Melanocytes.
One of the functions of melanin is to protect the skin from the harmful effects of UV radiation from the sun.
When UV radiation hits the skin, it can damage the DNA in skin cells and increase the risk of skin cancer. Melanocytes respond to this damage by producing more melanin, which absorbs UV radiation.
These melanin molecules are transported inside the cell to the nucleus forming a protective cap over the place where the DNA is to prevent ultraviolet light from penetrating the nucleus and causing damage to the DNA.
Melanin absorbs a lot of visible light so it looks darker in visible light which is why when you have more Melanin you look, tanner.
Six: Flowers and Insects
Many flowers have evolved to reflect UV to be visible to insects since many insects, including bees, can see in the UV range, which is invisible to the human eye.
This way flowers can attract pollinators and guide insects to the flower’s nectar and pollen, which are often located at the center of the flower.
In addition to reflecting UV light, some flowers also have patterns or markings that are only visible in the UV range, which can help guide insects to the flower’s reproductive structures.
