Color Science

Worth a Listen

Brains On! Why does green mean go? And other color conundrums – The world is full of color, but how do our eyes see it? In this episode we’ll explain how color vision works, complete with a journey to a jazz club in the back of your eye. We’ll also look at the cultural meanings of the color red, we’ll find out about a new type of blue, and we’ll find out why stoplights use green to mean go. Our Moment of Um tackles the question, “why are bees black and yellow?”

Brains On! Do we all see the same colors? – What if the color that you call blue and the color I call blue don’t look the same at all? When our brains see color, we’re really just seeing waves of light. Sure, we may be seeing the same waves when we look at the color blue, but do we know if our brains are interpreting those waves in the same way? Maybe my blue is your orange!

We talk to Dr. Robert Marc from the University of Utah about this mystery and go ringside to find out how rods and cones help us see.

But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids – Why Do Leaves Change Color in the Fall? – Why do leaves change color in the fall? Why are leaves green? Why don’t leaves turn all of the colors of the rainbow? In this episode of But Why, we’re talking about fall leaves, and how trees go from green to fiery red, orange and yellow.

Good Reads

The Science Book of Color by Neil Ardley – Fun-packed science projects and experiments introduce readers to basic science principles. Full-color photographs and easy-to-follow text guide children through creative experiments using common materials, while practical examples relate each experiment to the world around us.

Mixed: A Colorful Story by Arree Chung – The reds, the yellows, and the blues all think they’re the best in this vibrant, thought-provoking picture book from Arree Chung, with a message of acceptance and unity.

What is Color? by Arielle Eckstut and Joann Eckstut – Organized by 50 of the most essential questions about color across a variety of fields—physics, chemistry, biology, technology, and psychology—this book examines how and why we see color; how color relates to light; what the real primary colors are; how biology, language, and culture affect the colors that we see; and much more. Full of clear and elegant infographics, What Is Color? is a must-have for artists and designers, scientists, students, and decorators, and anyone else whose work or play involves color.

Causes

Kids and Art Foundation – Kids & Art Foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of pediatric cancer care by focusing on the whole child in treatment by including healing through arts in their protocol. We seek to improve well-being during treatment, as survivors, and in bereavement. Together we use art for healing, to empower, encourage, and create memorable experiences.

Colour Blind Awareness – The Colour Blind Awareness organisation has been founded to raise awareness of colour blindness (colour vision deficiency) and aims to be the first point of reference in the UK for people seeking information on colour blindness. The organisation provides support for colour blind people, especially colour blind children and their families and teachers.