But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids Why are there so many colors?
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Oct 31, 2025 Kassia St. Clair, a writer and author of The Secret Lives of Color, dives into the fascinating world of color. She explains how colors depend on light and perception and how varying species see colors differently. Kassia discusses the origins of colors, from natural sources to modern pigments, while revealing the surprising ways culture shapes our understanding of color names. Emotions tied to colors and the historical shifts in color meanings also spark engaging conversation, making this a colorful exploration of sight and culture.
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How Color Is Created
- Color depends on which wavelengths an object reflects and which it absorbs.
- Our brains interpret the reflected wavelengths as different colors.
Eyes And Brain Team Up For Color
- Our eyes use rods and cones to detect light and color.
- The brain then processes those signals and assigns color perception.
Florist Childhood Sparked Color Interest
- Kassia St. Clair grew up in a florist's shop and watched how colors paired in bouquets.
- That childhood exposure sparked her lifelong interest in color history and meaning.
