Black is a dark, mysterious color that can either intrigue or intimidate. It’s intense, but it goes well with just about any other color. While some might see it as a sign of mourning or evil, it can also be associated with power, elegance, and sophistication.
There’s more to this hue than meets the eye, and much about it remains unknown. Here are some fascinating facts about the color black that shed light on its secrets.
1. According to Science, Black Technically Isn’t a Color at All
Black is a favorite color for many people, but from a scientific perspective, it’s not even a color. At least not in the way that other colors are. On the visible spectrum, black doesn’t appear at all. Instead, black is the absence of light. While other colors exist based on which wavelengths reflect when light shines on an object, black appears when an object absorbs all wavelengths. It can also exist when there’s no light present.
Since black is considered the absence of light, it’s technically not a color. However, it’s still okay to call it one. There are plenty of objects that appear black, and even though their process of appearing that way is a little different from other hues, they still look like any other color to us.
2. Black and White Were the First Colors Named in Most Languages
All languages label colors differently. Some have numerous color terms, while others have few to none. In some cases, the language you speak could influence how you perceive colors. But most languages have one thing in common when it comes to color names: black and white were named first.
Black and white are the most basic and fundamental color concepts, distinguishing light from dark. So, most languages started with words for black and white or light and dark when naming colors. From there, the languages branched off to add other color names, but black and white are the foundation of color names in most cases.
However, these color names didn’t emerge from thin air. Oftentimes, they came from other words. Black initially came from the Proto-Indo-European (PIE) word “bhleg,” meaning “to burn” or “to flash.” It has been labeled as a color name for thousands of years, while more vibrant colors are slightly newer to our vocabulary.
3. Black Absorbs More Heat Than Other Colors
Black absorbs more heat than any other color because, when light shines on it, it absorbs all the wavelengths rather than reflecting some. White objects do the opposite by reflecting all the wavelengths and not absorbing any. The more wavelengths an object absorbs, the warmer it will likely feel in direct sunlight, which is why darker colors are usually the warmest. When you wear black clothes, you likely feel warmer than when wearing white clothes. It’s also the reason that solar panels are usually black.
Some animals in nature can use this concept to their advantage. For example, penguins typically have black backs and white bellies, which help them regulate their body temperature. They can have their bellies face the sun when they want to cool off or turn around when they want to warm up. For example, when they’re floating in frigid water, their black backs face the sun, which can help offset the cold water temperature. When they’re standing on land in the sun, they may need to turn their white bellies toward the sun to cool down.
4. A Black Panther Isn’t a Species
Black panthers are well-known animals because of their sleek black coats. Yet, what many people don’t realize is that a black panther isn’t a species. Instead, it’s a general term used to describe any big cat with solid black fur. More specifically, it’s a black version of any species in the Panthera genus, which includes leopards and jaguars.
Both leopards and jaguars can experience an unusual black or dark brown pigment in their coats due to the agouti gene. It can cause these spotted cats to appear as solid black, making them look like an entirely different animal. Black leopards and jaguars still have spots, but they’re just much harder to see because the spots are almost identical in color to the rest of the fur. If the sun hits a black panther’s coat just right, you might be able to notice their hidden spots.
5. Black Was One of the Earliest Colors Used in Art
Today, we can use almost any color imaginable when creating art, but options were once much more limited. Black was one of the first pigments used in art due to the resources available. Prehistoric artists created black pigment from black charcoal and iron minerals, giving them a way to draw pictures onto cave walls.
Many of the oldest cave paintings featured only black images, but other colors made from earth materials, such as brown and red, were eventually incorporated. Over time, the black pigment absorbed into the walls of the caves and was preserved thanks to natural elements, allowing the cave paintings to still appear vivid today. One cave painting, a black bull discovered in 1940, has remained a deep black color even after 17,000 years.
6. Vantablack Is One of the Darkest Materials Ever Created
Black is the darkest of all colors, but like any other, it comes in a variety of shades. Some black paints are darker than others, and one black material in particular stands out as the darkest. Vantablack was developed in 2014 and is one of the blackest substances ever created. The first part of its name is an acronym, which stands for Vertically Aligned Nano Tube Array, as it’s made from carbon nanotubes.
If you coat an object in Vantablack, 99.965% of the light shining on it is absorbed, making it appear so dark that it looks like a void or a hole. Although Vantablack doesn’t absorb 100% of light, it remains one of the darkest materials ever invented. It’s a mesmerizing color to witness.
7. Volcanic Materials Create Black Sand Beaches
Even though beaches are typically known for having powdery white sand, there are many beaches with unique colors around the world. There are at least 20 black sand beaches worldwide, some of which are much darker than others. The unique sand color is caused by eroded volcanic materials, so the beaches appear in areas with volcanoes, such as Hawaii and Iceland.
Most black sand beaches are safe to walk on and swim at, but like any beach, it’s a good idea to check what the rules are. Since white sand already gets very hot in the sun, be cautious when walking on black sand, as it could burn your feet in some cases.
8. Black Credit Cards Are Reserved for the Very Wealthy
Credit cards come in a wide range of colors, which vary depending on the type of card and the financial institution. However, a credit card with a sleek black exterior isn’t something you’ll see often. It’s a very exclusive card that’s typically only acquired through invites. Loyal customers who spend around six figures a year may be invited to get one of these special credit cards.
Black is a color that symbolizes power, elegance, and sophistication, so it’s a fitting hue for this card. If you ever see someone with a black credit card, there’s a good chance that they’re wealthy.
9. Black Holes Technically Aren’t Black or Holes
A black hole looks exactly how it sounds: a very dark hole in space. Yet, these astronomical objects are much more complicated than they appear. Black holes are defined as an area with such an intense gravitational field that no matter can escape it.
Black holes are technically invisible rather than being a pitch black opening. They look black to us because they don’t emit any light, and we can’t directly see inside them. No one knows for certain what’s inside a black hole, so the exact color remains a mystery. Not only are they not black, but they’re also not technically holes. Instead, a black hole is a huge concentration of matter in a small space.
Even though black holes don’t live up to their names from a scientific standpoint, they still appear as a hole that’s pitch black. They’re fascinating to look at, and there’s still so much more to learn about them. The rest of space usually also looks black to us because it’s mostly empty and lacks an atmosphere or particles to scatter light. So, in the absence of stars or other bright objects, we see total darkness.
10. Black Cats Are Bad Luck in Some Cultures but Good Luck in Others
Black cats are famously considered bad luck, which unfortunately could be the reason some people are hesitant to adopt them. Yet, not all cultures share the same color superstitions around these felines. The idea that cats are bad luck dates back to the 13th century, when a church claimed they were linked to Satan. Some people also believed that evil witches could take on the form of black cats, causing people to avoid crossing their paths.
However, not all cultures view black cats in a negative light. For some people, it’s quite the opposite. Black cats were considered a sign of good health in ancient Egypt. And some people in England believed that black cats could ward off evil spirits and bring good weather.
If you’ve ever owned a black cat, you know they bring more joy than misfortune by a long shot. So, it’s good to know that some locations and cultures associate these lovable felines with good things rather than bad luck.
11. Black Is the Most Popular T-Shirt Color
Everyone has different preferences when it comes to what colors we wear, but there are some shirt colors that appear more frequently than others. While the most popular shirt color varies based on several factors, such as age, location, and interests, black and white are consistently the most popular. They’re simple hues that pair well with other colors while also looking great with graphics printed on them. Black appears to be favored over white in many cases because it offers a sleek, sophisticated appearance while resisting dirt more easily.
According to Printful, a company selling print-on-demand shirts, black was the most popular t-shirt color sold in 2025. Other platforms, such as Printify and Merchize, found similar results. If you’re ever struggling to decide what shirt color to wear, black is always a solid choice. Not only is it popular, but it also pairs well with just about anything without drawing too much attention.
