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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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.
Color Vision Varies Between People
- Not everyone's eyes or brains are identical, so color perception varies.
- Color vision deficiencies are common and more frequent in males.
Animals See Colors Differently
- Different animals have different numbers of cone types, changing color ranges they see.
- Mantis shrimp can see far more wavelengths than humans, including polarized light.
