Nymphes myrmeleonoides, also known as the “beautiful blue lacewing”, is a species of lacewing with striking metallic blue eyes. These eyes are passed down through genes from one generation to another, and the difference in eye colors among the population is due to the difference in melanin content. A study at the University of Copenhagen has found that all living blue-eyed humans on Earth today have a genetic mutation.
Blue eyes are not actually blue, but rather lack the pigment that makes eyes brown. The specific genetic variations responsible for this color are still not fully understood, but it is known that blue eyes are caused by specific mutations in the genes involved in melanin production. A team at the University of Copenhagen has tracked down a genetic mutation that caused all blue eyes on Earth less than 10, 000 years ago.
Blue eyes are not actually blue, but rather lack the pigment that makes eyes brown. This question assumes a fact that is not necessarily true. Blue eyes are a mutation that arose randomly in the ancestors of Europeans. Blue-eyed people all share the exact same OCA2 mutation, making it highly likely they all share a single common ancestor who developed blue eyes. Blue eye color in humans may be caused by a perfectly associated founder mutation in a regulatory element located within the HERC2 gene.
Many insect species have darkly colored eyes, but distinct colors or patterns are frequently featured. Nymphes myrmeleonoides, a type of lacewing with striking metallic blue eyes, is likely present in the population before the blue-eyed person appears. Regular inspections and early detection are key to preventing pest infestations.
| Article | Description | Site |
|---|---|---|
| Blue-eyed humans have a single, common ancestor | Blue eye color in humans may be caused by a perfectly associated founder mutation in a regulatory element located within the HERC2 gene … | sciencedaily.com |
| 5 Facts You Might Not Know About Blue Eyes | Blue eyes aren’t even actually blue. Rather than including a blue pigment, they actually just lack the pigment that makes eyes brown. | allaboutvision.com |
| Behind Blue Eyes: A Look at the Genetic and Cultural … | This article will exam the genetic origins of blue eyes in humans, the spread of the blue–eyed gene, and the future of this genetic trait. | collegeofphysicians.org |
📹 All blue-eyed people come from a shared common ancestor
All blue-eyed people share a specific genetic trait that leads scientists to believe that all blue-eyed people share an ancestor from …
Do Blue Eyes Exist?
Blue eyes, traditionally perceived as a distinct eye color, actually lack blue pigment altogether. As explained by licensed optometrist Gary Heiting in an article for All About Vision, blue eye color results from low levels of brown melanin, which is the only pigment present in the human iris. The blue appearance is due to the light scattering through the iris, similar to how the sky or water appears blue. Current genetic research suggests that the mutation leading to blue eyes occurred between 6, 000 to 10, 000 years ago, with all blue-eyed individuals sharing a common ancestor.
While it is common for babies to be born with blue eyes, they often change color as melanin production increases during early development. Approximately 9% of the world’s population, including about 27% of Americans, possesses blue eyes, but the frequency of this trait is decreasing due to the intermarriage of different racial groups, leading to a rise in diverse eye colors.
In summary, blue eyes are characterized by a scarcity of melanin, giving them a light scattering effect that creates the illusion of color. Despite their rarity, blue eyes have a fascinating genetic background, and their evolution remains a subject of study. Notably, blue eyes do not constitute a pigment-based color but instead represent a complex interplay of genetics and light reflection.
Why Are Blue Eyes More Prone To Vision Problems?
Blue eyes are more susceptible to vision problems due to their light sensitivity, stemming from lower melanin levels, which help filter harmful UV rays and high-energy blue light. Dr. Usiwoma Abugo highlights that reduced melanin in the irises causes light to scatter, which can affect vision. While individuals with blue eyes may experience increased sensitivity to bright light during the day, they often see better at night unless faced with intense illumination.
The central macula in the retina, which is critical for vision, may deteriorate with age, leading to blurriness. Moreover, people with lighter eyes, including blue and green, may have heightened photophobia, making them sensitive to light both during the day and at night. Studies suggest that those with blue eyes are more prone to nearsightedness (myopia) compared to individuals with darker eye colors, reinforcing the idea that lower melanin levels make their eyes more vulnerable to ocular damage over time.
What Does It Mean When Your Eyes See Blue?
Cyanopsia is a rare visual phenomenon characterized by a temporary blue tint to vision, most often linked to cataract surgery and certain medications, such as sildenafil. While it can be alarming, cyanopsia is generally seen as a short-term side effect rather than an independent condition. The underlying mechanisms affect the retina, the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye, and sometimes the optic nerve, which transmits visual information. If experienced, consulting an eye specialist is recommended to determine the cause of visual disturbances, as various factors can contribute to the phenomenon.
Blue eye color arises from a genetic mutation that reduces melanin production in the iris, leading to a lack of pigment and resulting in blue light scattering, which creates the appearance of blue eyes. Notably, seeing blue floaters or spots may indicate changes in the visual processing pathway, where the light interacts with the eye and retina before reaching the visual cortex. Many people have reported unexpectedly seeing blue spots in their vision, highlighting the importance of seeking professional guidance if this occurs.
Additionally, blue sclera—where the white part of the eye appears bluish—can occur due to reasons such as iron deficiency or specific medical conditions. Blue sclera can reflect underlying health issues or reactions to medications, necessitating medical evaluation for proper diagnosis and treatment. Studies indicate that blue light can contribute to digital eye strain, intensifying discomfort during prolonged screen use.
Phosphenes, the perception of light or color while the eyes are closed, can also occur when rubbing the eyes or during actions like coughing. Although often benign, persistent symptoms might warrant further investigation.
In summary, cyanopsia and various conditions like blue floaters, blue sclera, and phosphenes all emphasize the complexity of visual perception and the importance of medical advice when unusual visual phenomena arise. The exploration of blue vision reveals a blend of physiological factors, genetics, and potential medical implications needing attention.
What Ancestry Has Blue Eyes?
Blue-eyed individuals can trace their eye color back to a single, common ancestor who lived in the Black Sea region of southeastern Europe between 6, 000 and 10, 000 years ago. This ancestor carried a genetic mutation affecting melanin production, leading to the development of blue eyes. Prior to this mutation, the blue eye color did not exist. The mutation is linked to the OCA2 gene and caused blue eyes to appear as an alternative to the naturally brown eye color, which results from higher melanin levels.
Research from the University of Copenhagen indicates that all people with blue eyes are distantly related, sharing a lineage that migrated from the Black Sea to Northern Europe shortly after the mutation occurred.
Currently, blue eyes are present in about 10 percent of the global population, with a higher prevalence in Scandinavian countries. The phenomenon can be attributed to reduced melanin in the iris, leading to the blue appearance as opposed to the more common brown. In contrast, brown-eyed individuals exhibit greater variation in melanin levels. The mutation distinctively altered the pigmentation of the iris, showing how adaptations to the environment, such as lower sunlight in Northern Europe, benefited certain traits like reduced pigmentation. Overall, the existence of blue eyes today is directly connected to this ancient ancestor and the ensuing genetic inheritance that has persisted through generations.
Why Do Children Have Blue Eyes?
Eye color is influenced by the amount of light absorbed and reflected by the iris, with blue eyes absorbing more light and reflecting less, providing natural sun protection. Brown-eyed parents can still have a blue-eyed child if they carry the recessive alleles responsible for blue eyes, a phenomenon resulting from a genetic mutation that occurred 6, 000 to 10, 000 years ago in Europe. The iris is comprised of multiple layers, and melanin concentration in the epithelium layer determines eye color; high melanin levels result in brown eyes, while low levels yield blue eyes.
Research indicates that everyone with blue eyes shares a common ancestor from this mutation. Understanding the inheritance of blue eye color involves recognizing that the trait is recessive, necessitating contributions from both parents. Traditionally, predicting a child’s eye color was thought to be straightforward based on the parents’ eye colors, yet it is actually a complex interplay of genetics involving specific alleles and mutations. The primary genes at play are OCA2 and HERC2, where mutations in either can lead to the absence of pigment.
Infants, particularly Caucasian babies, are often born with blue eyes due to the low levels of melanin present at birth, which may change as they develop further and produce more melanin in response to light. Blue eyes signify a lack of pigment; thus, for a child to inherit them, they must receive blue-eye alleles from both parents, even if those parents have darker eye colors. A mix of genes inherited influences the eye color outcome, and the melanocytes must produce sufficient melanin over time for the color to shift from blue to potentially brown as the child grows. Ultimately, blue eyes occur when a child inherits two copies of the blue-eyed gene, highlighting the fascinating complexity of genetic inheritance in eye coloration.
What Does It Mean To See Blue Eyes?
Blue eyes are often linked with calmness, depth, and a serene spirit, suggesting a connection to spiritual and mystical realms. Those with blue eyes possess a unique ability to communicate deeply and exhibit strong intuition. Interestingly, floaters in vision can appear as blue dots—this phenomenon is explained by Dr. Brian, who notes their movement within sight. Genetic research from the University of Copenhagen traces the origin of blue eyes to a harmless mutation in a baby born in Europe between 6, 000 and 10, 000 years ago, indicating that all blue-eyed individuals are distant relatives of that first person.
Globally, only 8 to 10 percent of people have blue eyes, which come with some advantages and health risks. The blue coloration is not due to a blue pigment, but rather the result of a lack of melanin in the iris. This absence allows light to scatter and reflect blue wavelengths, creating the eye color perception. The presence of less melanin leads to increased sensitivity to light and a phenomenon known as photophobia.
In summary, blue-eyed individuals are characterized by their inherited trait of low melanin levels, which contributes to their unique eye color. Blue eyes symbolize various qualities such as calmness, depth, and allure, contrasting with the traits associated with other eye colors—green (growth), brown (stability), and hazel (balance). Despite the lower prevalence of blue eyes compared to brown, they are often viewed as attractive, further enhancing their mystique.
What Does The Blue Seeing Eye Mean?
The "blue eye," also referred to as the "lucky eye" or "Nazar," is widely believed to safeguard its wearer from envy and negative energies. According to tradition, it has the ability to trap and deflect harmful energy, thus protecting the individual. The blue eye symbolizes protective qualities in various cultures, particularly in Turkey. A rare visual condition known as cyanopsia can impart a blue tint to vision, often linked to cataract surgery or medications, rather than being a standalone ailment. This phenomenon primarily impacts the retina, which is sensitive to light.
Seeing blue floaters can be concerning, as they appear as moving blue dots in a person's vision. Many individuals experience this, arising from various causes, including eye injuries that may harm the retina. Consulting an eye specialist is crucial for diagnosing such visual anomalies.
The blue light encountered in life symbolizes a connection to the spiritual realm, offering sacred wisdom and protection from negativity. The Greek evil eye, or matiasma, is characterized by a circular glass charm depicting a blue eye, serving as a protective amulet against malevolent gazes, primarily those stemming from envy.
Historically, the Nazar symbol adorned ancient Egyptian ships and is still used today on airplanes. In modern Turkey, these charms are especially significant in protecting newborns. The blue eye's meanings are diverse, with dark blue signifying common protection, light blue indicating truth, and orange representing happiness and creativity. Respected across many cultures throughout history, the blue evil eye remains a popular emblem of divine protection against harmful forces.
What Are Blue Eyes Caused By?
Blue eyes are an inherited trait resulting from low melanin levels in the iris, which makes them appear blue due to light reflection rather than having a pigment color. The genetics behind blue eyes primarily involves variations in the OCA2 gene, crucial for melanin production. A crucial breakthrough in 2008 revealed that a distinct genetic mutation in this gene allowed researchers to understand the prevalence of blue eyes in humans and its correlation with ancient human migration patterns.
Instead of directly producing blue pigment, blue eyes arise because the gene HERC2 inhibits melanin production, thus allowing blue coloration to emerge. Essentially, blue eyes can be described as colorless, as the iris lacks sufficient pigment, resulting in a unique optical effect akin to Tyndall scattering. Brown eyes, historically the predominant eye color, likely mutated into blue, which leads to interesting adaptive traits and potential health implications.
Those with blue eyes are reported to be more prone to certain vision risks. Extensive genetic studies suggest that the common mutation linked to blue eye color serves as a fascinating example of human diversity and evolutionary change. The physical appearance of blue, green, and hazel eyes can further be attributed to how light interacts with the eye's structure. This genetic phenomenon emphasizes the complex relationship between genetics, environmental factors, and the aesthetic appeal of eye colors. Thus, while blue eyes are visually striking, they also carry intriguing genetic narratives and some associated health considerations.
What Causes Bluish Eyes?
A blue sclera refers to a bluish tint in the white part of the eye and can indicate various underlying conditions. In young children, it often arises from inherited genetic disorders that affect connective tissue, such as osteogenesis imperfecta and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. In adults, iron deficiency is a common cause, but blue sclera typically does not present with pain or other symptoms.
The sclera is a robust connective tissue layer surrounding the eyeball, comprising various types of collagen and proteins that provide protection from external factors. A blue tint appears when the sclera thins, allowing the underlying uvea to show through. This thinning is primarily due to congenital defects in collagen synthesis, which result in a notable bluish hue during examination.
The genetics behind blue eyes involves a mutation that reduces melanin production, resulting in lighter eye colors like blue or green. In cases of blue sclera, the connective tissue deficiencies lead to the transparency of the scleral tissue. Other factors contributing to a blue tint may include medications or poor collagen production. Rarely, blue sclera can indicate severe iron deficiency, warranting medical evaluation.
In addition to congenital defects, certain systemic diseases can also present with blue sclera, making assessment critical for health professionals. Additionally, aging may contribute to the appearance of a blue/white/gray arc—known as arcus senilis—around the iris in individuals over 50, resulting from cholesterol deposits.
In summary, blue sclera is associated with genetic conditions affecting connective tissues, iron deficiency, or age-related changes in eye structure. While generally not symptomatic, the presence of blue sclera serves as an important indicator for potential underlying health issues, highlighting the need for further investigation and care.
Are Europeans With Blue Eyes Related?
Research indicates that most Europeans with blue eyes share a common ancestry, as evidenced by genetic analysis. Scientists have discovered that the majority of blue-eyed Europeans possess the same specific DNA mutation responsible for their eye color. This genetic similarity suggests that these individuals are closely related and trace their lineage back to a single ancestor. The mutation likely occurred between 6, 000 and 10, 000 years ago during the Neolithic expansion in Europe.
Blue eyes are predominantly found in Northern and Eastern Europe, particularly in countries with high frequencies of the R haplogroups R1a1 and R1b, including present-day Ukraine, Russia, Georgia, Turkey, Romania, and Bulgaria. This geographical concentration implies that the blue eye mutation originated in these regions and spread as populations dispersed across Europe. Consequently, most individuals with blue eyes today have European ancestry stemming from one of these six countries.
The prevalence of blue eyes in these areas may be an evolutionary adaptation to the low-sunlight environments of Northern Europe, where reduced pigmentation could be advantageous. Additionally, blue eye color is estimated to occur in about 8 to 10 percent of the global population. It's important to note that eye color can change during childhood as pigmentation develops, potentially altering blue eyes to a different shade.
Genetic studies have traced all modern blue-eyed individuals back to a single European ancestor, reinforcing the idea that blue eyes are a relatively recent development in human genetics. This singular mutation contrasts with the traditional view that eye color is controlled by multiple genes, with brown being the dominant allele over blue. Nonetheless, the evidence strongly supports the notion that all blue-eyed people today share a common genetic heritage rooted in ancient Europe.
Is There An Evolutionary Reason For Blue Eyes?
Blue eyes likely originated from a genetic mutation affecting the HERC2 gene, which started between 6, 000 to 10, 000 years ago. This mutation inhibits melanin production in the iris, resulting in blue-eyed individuals having irises devoid of pigment. Despite blue eyes existing for over 7, 000 years, scientists remain uncertain about the reasons behind their evolution and why this specific trait was passed down through generations.
Research indicates that blue-eyed individuals might share a common ancestor from near the Black Sea, as nearly all blue-eyed people possess the same mutation. The rarity and unique appearance of blue eyes have intrigued researchers.
The HERC2 gene mutation's spread could be attributed to several factors, including sexual selection and the advantages of lighter skin in some environments, though no definitive evolutionary advantage has been identified. Additionally, the Tyndall effect plays a role in how light interacts with the eye, giving the perception of blue. There are theories suggesting that the mutation may have been a byproduct of another beneficial trait, rather than a direct adaptation for survival.
In conclusion, while blue eyes are a result of a specific genetic mutation, the reasons for their prevalence and the advantages they might confer remain topics of ongoing study and debate among scientists. Ultimately, the mutation's impact has produced the blue-eyed individuals present in the current population, but its evolutionary context is still not completely understood.
📹 Why Is Blue So Rare In Nature?
Among living things, the color blue is oddly rare. Blue rocks, blue sky, blue water, sure. But blue animals? They are few and far …
This is why the sky is “blue”. The Sun’s rays hit our atmosphere at such an angle that it reflects the Blue Light, hence lighting up our skies in a beautiful blue. And sunsets are redish-orange, because as the angle changes, of the Sun “setting”, the blue is no longer the strongest colour, it is the redish-orange end of the spectrum – thus giving us our beautiful sunsets. EDIT – Read the Replies and Comments to this. It’ll restore your faith in collectively working together as one. Humanity above all else 🙂
As a scientist, I must say that the “scientists’ explanation of why natural blue pigment in animals is so rare” part starting at 6:16 is full of problems. First of all, when the wing is all blue, what ways did it add to communicating? Only one way really – it’s not like it can really change the color pattern/shade to communicate. And it really doesn’t help survival all that much except for initial hesitation for predators (after seeing the new color). It’s also hard to judge how much more difficult it is to evolve a new chemistry than evolving a new microscopic structure. I mean, humans never evolved any microscopic structure differences among the hair of different races, even though they have different colored hair and slightly different chemistry in some aspects in life. So, take what scientists offer as a theory with a grain of salt, until they offer solid proofs.
Creations that are amazingly designed as always. It also always amazes me the lenghts some scientists go to deny the existens of a creator. The theories they make up, “Maybe birds started to see blue colours but could not mutate to make pigment”, I mean, what in their DNA code made them start to see blue colour? Who is coding these living beings DNAas for various stuff? But I understand. Accepting there is a creator is scary for many people, especially scientists.
Ok here’s some hypotheses for you: 1. Only primary colors can be derived from structures 2. Using every structure we know of could be combined to construct a tubing with the highest possible light absorption that would still let a specific frequency (eg blue lasers) through. 3. The blue structure in a butterfly wing originally evolved as a way to construct a more matter-efficient functional butterfly wing and blue was just a phenotypical expression of circumstance.
Loved this! What about fish scales and tails? I’m so curious now! I have a pair of German-Blue Rams (freshwater tropical fish), and a tank of blue-gold double swordtail guppies (I didn’t invent these names lol sorry!). There are some blue fish in nature, but now I’m wondering if they’re really blue! 🤯
Fun fact: Homer did not mention the color blue once in his famous works ‘The Iliad’ and ‘The Odyssey’. Still, the color of the sea or of the sky was described multiple times. As an Ancient Greek student: Homer used Ancient Greek terms like ‘dark red’, ‘rich purple’ or ‘light green’. Blue did in Ancient Greek not classify as a color worth creating its own, specific term for.
What’s fascinating is that Green is often a combination of “structural blue” and some amount of another pigment, particularly common in animals that exhibit metachrosis (physical color changing). Green is like the halfway point between an actual pigment and a structural optical illusion one. (It’s also how humans get Green eyes!)
You kept saying blue is so rare in nature, but you only talked about insects and vertebrates. What about plants with blue hues? Fungi? Aquatic and marine invertebrates? I just want to understand why they can (apparently) make blue pigments, and why, theoretically, these can’t be absorbed by or also produced by vertebrates. You just said they can’t… but, why?
And now I wonder what a pigment is. I know the color comes from the reflected wavelength. In this article, it is demonstrated that it is the structure (microscopic architecture) of the wing which causes the reflection of a certain long wave which is interpreted as blue. In your article on eye color, it is the “pigment” density that determines the perceived color. But what is a pigment? If the reflection of the “blue” wavelength of the other butterfly is not due to the structure of the wing, what is it? To talk about pigment, we must define what a pigment is. More generally, why does not all matter reflect the same electromagnetic wavelength?
I find this very interesting from several standpoints (biology, optics, genetics, and I’m sure plenty more). I remember learning that the elusive blue rose isn’t naturally possible due to a lack of pigment. We see blue colors in other flowers and plants though. I’m curious now, what about plants, and what about minerals such as natural sapphires, turquoise, and aquamarine?
On the color spectrum, blue/violet represent the strongest UV rays. for an organism to manufacture a pigment that is strong enough to reflect the color blue would be pretty tough… since blue pigments must be strong enough to reflect blue/violet UV light, i suspect itd take more resources to construct, and in nature, there is little excess
The reason I believe many animals are not blue is because blue has high contrast to the abundant green and brown on a natural landscape, therefore by being blue they are easily detectable and that would put them at risk for predation or expose them to their prey and eventually the species would die out due to hunger or predation. Blue is a color that would be more Common in plants because plants want to be seen by their pollinators, berries are easily detectable by birds and the example continues.
While Blue was extremely prized in ancient times (Lapis Lazuli, Turquoise, Azurite, Copper-Oxide, etc), the same went for Purple, which was reserved for royalty, since the dyes (primarily Tyrian Purple and Indigo Blue) were extremely difficult to acquire, as they originated from the secretions of a certain species of sea snail.
Rare blue??? I have a blue house With a blue window Blue is the colour of all that I wear Blue are the streets And all the trees are too I have a girlfriend and she is so blue Blue are the people here That walk around Blue like my corvette its in and outside Blue are the words I say And what I think Blue are the feelings That live inside me
I read a fascinating article once that basically said that blue as a colour didn’t exist to us before we could make it as a dye. If you look back at ancient literature they didn’t use the work blue as a descriptor. in Homer’s iliad for instance the sea is never described as blue, but as ‘wine coloured’ so blue even to the human eye has only existed since relatively recently.
blue isn’t only rare in nature, almost no ancient language had a word for blue! but really, why would they have a word for it – almost nothing has the color of blue (at least not in ancient times)! if they wanted to describe the color of a blue flower for example, they’d simply say “it’s sky-colored” or something similar. In the Iliad and the Odyssey, Homer describes the ocean as “wine-dark”, not blue. pretty interesting 🙂 if you want to read more about it, there’s an article on national geographic called “Vanished! The Surprising Things Missing From Ancient Art” 🙂
Blue is one of the rarest of colors in nature. Even the few animals and plants that appear blue don’t actually contain the color. These vibrant blue organisms have developed some unique features that use the physics of light. For a flower to appear blue, “it needs to be able to produce a molecule that can absorb very small amounts of energy,” in order to absorb the red part of the spectrum, Kupferschmidt said
Fun fact: Nearly all ancient cultures like the old Greeks and all primitive people did not have any word for blue. When showing a pallet of different greens and one blue dot next to it the natives could not spot the blue colour. They instead saw big differences between the green dots that civilized people could not see. The ability to perceive blue has evolved cultural and has to be trained.
Oh my god! That’s the same way titanium anodizes! If you’ve ever seen the way anodized titanium looks in person, it has the same shimmering/iridescent effect. This is because some light bounces off the titanium oxide layer, and some bounces off the underlying pure titanium beneath it. The higher voltage you apply to your titanium, the thicker the oxide layer will be, which changes the color, ranging from vibrant blues and purples to bronzes, greens, and fuchsias, but frustratingly, red is impossible. Bet it has something to do with its low frequency, as even the orange/bronze colors can be hard to consistently get vibrant.
Very interesting! Having Gemmological studies, I’d like to say, that for example in stones & rocks a chromofore element to produce blues is i.e. cobalt, not so widely spread as other chromofore elements. Most blues in nature do come due to light interacting with the ‘material’s’ structure rather than a chromofore element (pigment) in their makeup. Strange but true 🙂
Can you show the difference between how pigment works compared to optical blue in more detail?- I’ve known about optical blue for years but I’m still not clear what the difference is. At the beginning you say pigments absorb all but the wavelength they reflect. Isn’t that what blue is doing? What is the technical difference?
Would have appreciated more discussion on the rarity of Blue in nature. For example, Lapis Lazuli is incredibly valuable because of its intense blue colour. Blue and purple have been associated with royalty for thousands of years precisely because the colour is so rare; we even have the term “blue blood” to denote those of royal heritage, because blue is rare and valuable. In fact, blue was the world’s first artificially created pigment, in Egypt thousands of years ago, exactly because it was so rare in nature.
It would be more interesting to understand why there was “no space” for the blue gene in the dna. Does the blue gene exist in some organisms or all of them are blue because of reflection of light? Why it’s blue and not an other colour? Could be possible that all the organisms with blue pigments gene got extinct because it was cause of infertility or something similar? Are there any geneticists that could try to answer pls? Thank you
Yo, listen up here’s a story About a little guy That lives in a blue world And all day and all night And everything he sees is just blue Like him inside and outside Blue his house With a blue little window And a blue corvette And everything is blue for him And himself and everybody around Cause he ain’t got nobody to listen to I’m blue Da ba dee da ba di Da ba dee da ba di Da ba dee da ba di Da ba dee da ba di Da ba dee da ba di Da ba dee da ba di Da ba dee da ba di I’m blue Da ba dee da ba di Da ba dee da ba di Da ba dee da ba di Da ba dee da ba di Da ba dee da ba di Da ba dee da ba di Da ba dee da ba di I have a blue house With a blue window Blue is the colour of all that I wear Blue are the streets And all the trees are too I have a girlfriend and she is so blue Blue are the people here That walk around Blue like my corvette its in and outside Blue are the words I say And what I think Blue are the feelings That live inside me I’m blue Da ba dee da ba di Da ba dee da ba di Da ba dee da ba di Da ba dee da ba di Da ba dee da ba di Da ba dee da ba di Da ba dee da ba di I’m blue Da ba dee da ba di Da ba dee da ba di Da ba dee da ba di Da ba dee da ba di Da ba dee da ba di Da ba dee da ba di Da ba dee da ba di I have a blue house With a blue window Blue is the colour of all that I wear Blue are the streets And all the trees are too I have a girlfriend and she is so blue Blue are the people here That walk around Blue like my corvette, its in and outside Blue are the words I say And what I think Blue are the feelings That live inside me I’m blue Da ba dee da ba di Da ba dee da ba di Da ba dee da ba di Da ba dee da ba di Da ba dee da ba di Da ba dee da ba di Da ba dee da ba di I’m blue Da ba dee da ba di Da ba dee da ba di Da ba dee da ba di Da ba dee da ba di Da ba dee da ba di Da ba dee da ba di Da ba dee da ba di
Actually green eyes are rarest than blue eyes. Less people in the world have that eye color. And the sky is blue, the 50% of Mother Earth, plus the sky paint the water blue with that magnificent color. You know that the ocean water is clear right? The blue you see is the reflection of the sky. And Earth is 70% water, should be named Water instead of Earth.
This doesn’t answer the question of why it’s only blue that evolution needed to cheat chemistry for and use engineering of body structure. Why are all other colours more commonly made by pigments and why ONLY blue from structures? The explanation at the end explains why blue is made by structures not pigments but doesn’t clarify why it’s the only colour that needs to do this
Read it, it’s long bit worth it. Don’t forget that some insects have ultraviolet markings, as in butterflies and scorpions, something they may have as well as the fact they can see naturally using their compound eyes, eyes that can see the different levels, wavelengths of the light spectrum, I’m not sure, but I don’t think their sight goes as far down or as long as inferred, both something we need a special light or and camera to see. Flower also have runway like ultraviolet lines on their petals to attract and lead in to the centre to the Stamen and the pollen producing Anther to take away as a package to the next flower for pollination. It’s a shame we only see the whole of White light, and not it’s building blocks of colour from UV to IR, imagine being able to see body heat, a persons’ a thermal signature, that’d be awesome. Insects are awesome, billions of years of evolution 🧬. Hydrophobic wings because of tiny microscopic feather like structures, doing the same job as microscopic hairs, we make a synthetic materials that act hydrophobic. Blue fish, cuttlefish using chromatophores, creating blue pigments or using two pigments to make blue. The skin of cuttlefish changes color rapidly using elastic pigment sacs called chromatophores, in order to evade predators.
Regardless of how the animal is a certain color (although it is interesting in this case) isn’t color just whatever wavelength of light is reflected and not absorbed? When they say “it’s not blue”, what they’re really saying is they’re blue because of the micro shape of their scales and not because of the chemicals in their body. They ARE blue, just physically blue and not chemically blue.
Guy goes to the doctor and says, “Doc, I think I’m becoming a moth.” Doctor says, “Jim, I’ve known you for 20 years and you know I wouldn’t put you off but this time I think you need to see the psychiatrist down the hall.” The guy says, “I know Doc. Believe it or not, that’s where I was headed…but I noticed your light was on…”
I am always fascinated by how these articles make evolution sound like a conscious decision (hey, I will now develop an ability to chemically create blue in my pigment.. No wait, it would take too long, I will now concentrate my will and create microscopic superstructures in my wings instead!) 🙂 sounds mystifying.
1. Blue Morpho Butterfly 2. Blue Tang Fish 3. Blue Poison Dart Frog 4. Blue-Ringed Octopus 5. Peacock (Indian Peafowl) 6. Blue Lobster 7. Bluebird 8. Blue Whale (appears blue underwater) 9. Blue Jay 10. Blue Tang Fish 11. Blue Tang Surgeonfish 12. Blue-faced Angelfish 13. Blue-headed Pionus (parrot) 14. Blue Gourami (fish) 15. Blue-footed Booby 16. Blue Catfish 17. Blue Emperor Butterfly 18. Bluefin Tuna 19. Blue-eyed Cockatoo 20. Blue Iguana
they basically invented a holographic paper mechanism that can use the color blue instead of the color pigment itself. the problem with pigments is that each chemical structure produces a specific color and you cant produce a whole spectrum of different colors by varying a simple variable. this makes them hard to come by and very specific to a certain color and more optimum for camouflage and blending in with a certain fixed environment. but not suitable for using a wide array of colors for communication purposes. Inorder to communicate effectively you should emit the colorful light but that consumes energy and puts you in danger of predators. so the best method to communicate (a fixed message that doesnot change rapidly) using light, colors and vision is the use of holograms to make use of the sunlight reflections to communicate. you can output all the colors of all the light spectrum by varying the widths of these holographic structures as needed. its hard to come by in the start but can be reused to output all sorts of different colors by simply varying the widths of the structures as needed and a dark pigment at the base to absorb the rest of non-reflecting colors to give holographic colors high contrast. the animal can use this to project its ID card to all members of its species. This just tells that the color blue is not needed much in the wild for camouflage purposes. the blue color is used more as a communication protocol. this is because most animals live on trees near green pigment of chlorophyl or on land with dark, black colors of soil (sometimes yellow or reddish but rarely blue soil).
We see purple as an individual color – but it is absent from the entire spectrum of light, so it is very different from most other colors. It is just red and blue blended, but we see it as an entirely different color due to how our eyes are made. We see indigo as somehow similar to purple, yet indigo and purple are entirely different things – the only similarity is due to how our eyes process indigo and the mix of red and blue. Brown is another color that is entirely due to the way our eyes process colors, though in a different way than purple. Few people would guess that brown is highly saturated orange ie dark orange, because the perception is quite different.