Explore the wonderful, colorful world we live in. I often ask myself what it would be like without color, and the thought certainly makes me a little sad. However, it does make me appreciate colors even more, which gives me a lot of ideas for new things to write about.
Color is a language in itself. Like music, it exudes distinctive energy that can seem impossible to capture in words. So, how exactly do you go about describing colors? It helps to have a handful of fitting adjectives in your arsenal and a thorough understanding of what each word means. Here are 264 descriptors to …
264 Words That Describe Colors (List With Meanings) Read More »
Before the 1920s, the world of traffic signage was a veritable Wild West. The invention of the first electric traffic light in 1912 was a turning point that improved the speed and efficiency of traffic flow. But that faster flow of traffic highlighted the need for something else: road signs. Like traffic lights, road signs …
Why Stop Signs Are Red Today (They Used to Be Yellow) Read More »
Can you look at two objects and determine whether they’re the same color? It might sound like a ridiculous question — of course you can tell the difference between colors! Eyeballing the similarities and differences between colors might be perfectly fine in day-to-day life. But humans can only differentiate shades up to a certain point. …
Colorimetry: The Science and Technology of Measuring Color Read More »
You see (and hopefully obey!) traffic lights on a daily or near-daily basis. But have you ever wondered why red means stop, green means go, and yellow means proceed with caution if you can’t stop safely? Here’s an in-depth look at why traffic lights are colored the way they are. A Brief History of the …
Why Traffic Lights Have Red, Yellow, and Green Colors Read More »
Unless you have some type of color vision deficiency, you probably take the ability to see in color for granted. But have you ever stopped to wonder how and why humans and animals evolved to see so many colors? The truth is that it took countless genetic mutations over millions of years for humans (and …
The Evolution of Color Vision in Humans and Animals Read More »
We’re fortunate to live under a sky of many colors. During the day, it’s a shade of bright and cheerful blue. At sunrise and sunset, it glows vivid red, orange, yellow, and sometimes even pink. And at night, it’s a deep, velvety black with endless pinpoints of stars. But have you ever paused to wonder …
Why Is the Sky Black? The Science Behind Black Skies Read More »
What color is the sky? Even on gray or cloudy days, most people would still say blue. That might be the case most of the time, but the daytime sky doesn’t always look exactly the same. Sometimes, you might wander outside or look out the window only to see something surprising — a sky that …
Why Is the Sky White? The Science Behind White Skies Read More »
There’s something utterly captivating about a fiery red sunset. Red skies are far from common, but they’re certainly memorable. But have you ever stopped to wonder what exactly makes the sky turn this beautiful and unusual hue? Here’s a look at why you sometimes see a red sky above. Red Skies and Scattered Light Before …
Why Is the Sky Red? The Science Behind Red Skies Read More »
On a clear day, the sky is a bright and energetic blue. But at sunrise, sunset, and even sometimes during storms, it may look as though it’s been painted with shades of red, orange, yellow, pink, and even purple. Purple skies aren’t commonplace, but they’re certainly memorable. And when you know what causes them, they …
Why Is the Sky Purple? The Science Behind Purple Skies Read More »
We have been blessed with a sky of many colors. Often, it’s a vivid and energetic blue. As the sun rises and sets, you can see fantastic bursts of red, orange, yellow, pink, and purple. Sometimes, the sky is even green. Yes, you read that correctly! Green skies are certainly not common, and it takes …
Why Is the Sky Green? The Science Behind Green Skies Read More »
