Scientists discovered a new shade of blue and it’s totally gorgeous
Scientists discovered a new shade of blue and it’s totally gorgeous
Sometimes, the best things happen by pure accident. Such is the case with a brand new gorgeous shade of blue, which Oregon State University (OSU) scientists discovered serendipitously. @e think we’ve found our new favorite color, TBH.
OSU chemist Mas Subramanian and his team accidentally discovered “YInMn blue,” named after the elements that make it up, back in 2009. They had been conducting experiments, one of which resulted in the color after black manganese oxide was mixed with other chemicals and heated to 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit, according to Artnet News. One of the samples turned a bright, vivid blue.
Thanks to @OSU_Chemistry, YInMn blue is part of our Forbes #Pigment Collection! Via @artnet: https://t.co/CMHT6C0iAr pic.twitter.com/RbzIROvHJ1
— Harvard Art Museums (@harvartmuseums) June 27, 2016
Now, the pigment has been perfected, and it will be sold as commercial coatings, plastics, and paint. Seriously, we want to paint our ENTIRE HOUSE with it. According to an OSU press release, the new color is very special indeed:
“The new pigment is formed by a unique crystal structure that allows the manganese ions to absorb red and green wavelengths of light, while only reflecting blue. The vibrant blue is so durable, and its compounds are so stable – even in oil and water – that the color does not fade.”
Even better? The pigment is totally nontoxic. “This new blue pigment is a sign that there are new pigments to be discovered in the inorganic pigments family,” said Geoffrey T. Peake, research and development manager for The Shepherd Color Company.
As if that’s not amazing enough, our new fave color could actually be great for the planet. “The more we discover about the pigment, the more interesting it gets,” Subramanian said in the press release. “We already knew it had advantages of being more durable, safe and fairly easy to produce. Now it also appears to be a new candidate for energy efficiency.”
YInMn blue is gorgeous + it's less likely to fade w/ time. Very cool. (images via @OregonState) #paint #colourmatch pic.twitter.com/23MD0p28iL
— Plex Gallery (@plexgallery) June 28, 2016
The only downside? Telling people your favorite color is “YInMn blue” may not be the easiest feat.
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