Why do colors exist in the world? That’s what Phoebe wants to know. The answer might change how you think about the colors that you see! Neuroscientist and artist Bevil Conway bends our minds and our eyes, to show us how colors are the ultimate optical illusion. We’ll discover what color is made of, why even plants can “see” color, and what color can tell us ... Show More
Nov 2
Mailbag: How Did Mars Form?
In this mailbag episode, Marshall and Lindsay tackle two great questions from listeners about rainbows and how Mars formed. Also, you'll get to hear about Marshall's trip to the Cambridge Science Carnival in Cambridge, MA, and as always your listener reviews. Help Tumble on our q ... Show More
20m 40s
Jun 2020
Why does green mean go? And other color conundrums
The world is full of color, but how do our eyes see it? In this episode we’ll explain how color vision works, complete with a journey to a jazz club in the back of your eye. We’ll also look at the cultural meanings of the color red, we’ll find out about a new type of blue, and we ... Show More
38m 25s
Oct 2023
How many colors can we see?
It’s a colorful world out there! When light from the sun hits surfaces on Earth, those surfaces reflect different wavelengths of light. Our eyes collect those waves and send them to our brains, which interpret the waves as colors! It’s an incredible process, and it happens in…wel ... Show More
5m 49s
Nov 2023
Why are the primary colors different from the colors of light?
You may have learned that the colors red, yellow, and blue are called primary colors. It’s sometimes said you can use those three to make all the other colors. But can red, yellow, and blue really mix to make any color, or is there more to the story? We asked color scientist Step ... Show More
6m 4s
Aug 2023
How do our eyes, skin and hair get their colors?
All the different colors in our eyes, hair and skin are made by a super special substance called melanin! In this episode, we’ll meet a melanocyte, the artistic cell that makes melanin. Plus, Molly and cohost Jeremy talk with Dr. Tina Lasisi to learn why humans have so many diffe ... Show More
32m 55s