Stuff You Missed in History Class SYMHC Classics: John Dalton
Sep 6, 2025
Delve into the intriguing world of John Dalton, a pioneer of atomic theory and color perception. Discover how he identified his own color blindness, leading to early insights into vision anomalies. The podcast explores Dalton's revolutionary observations on color vision, including his unique experiences under different lighting conditions. It also highlights his lasting impacts on science and his contributions to meteorology. Join the journey through Dalton's life and the significance of his work in understanding visual perception.
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Curiosity Sparked Systematic Study
- John Dalton combined curiosity about perception with rigorous observation to study his own color vision.
- His self-focused investigation launched systematic study of color vision deficiency.
Geraniums Triggered the Discovery
- Dalton noticed geraniums looked sky blue in daylight but red by candlelight and asked others to confirm it.
- Most saw pink in both lights, but his brother matched Dalton's perception, hinting at familial similarity.
Prism Test Revealed Collapsed Spectrum
- When Dalton viewed prismatic sunlight he saw only two or three bands instead of the usual six or seven.
- He mapped others' red-orange-yellow-green range into his single yellow band, revealing selective color insensitivity.
