The Quanta Podcast When Did Nature Burst Into Vivid Color?
Jul 15, 2025
Join Molly Herring, a contributing writer for Quanta Magazine who specializes in evolution and marine biology, as she dives into the colorful world of nature. They discuss the vibrant uses of color by animals, from attracting mates to signaling danger. Delving into the complexities of phylogenetic trees, Molly explains how traits can reappear across species and reveals intriguing examples like human and octopus eye evolution. Plus, discover the unique communication tactics of mantis shrimp, whose sound-making abilities rival those of elephants.
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Underwater Color Perception Anecdote
- Molly Herring described seeing a lionfish underwater appearing blue and white instead of red due to absorption of red light at depth.
- This illustrates how light changes underwater can alter the true colors perceived by divers.
Functions of Conspicuous Color
- Conspicuous color serves as biological signals for fruits, flowers, mating, and warning.
- These bright colors stand out against earth tones to convey important messages in nature.
Diversity of Color Vision in Animals
- Color vision varies widely across species, from humans with 3 cone types to mantis shrimp with 12 photoreceptors.
- Some animals see UV or infrared, revealing a spectrum far beyond human perception.
