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This article accompanies our short-form video on the same topic.
Watch on YouTube →Every second, approximately one trillion photons hit your eyes, yet they all look like a seamless world of color to us. These photons are particles of light that bombard everything around us. But, how do they translate into the colors we perceive? Our eyes hold the answer.
Inside our eyes are millions of specialized cells called cones. We have three types of cones, each attuned to different wavelengths of light: one for red, one for green, and one for blue. Like artists with only primary colors, our cones mix and match signals to create all the hues and shades we see around us.
When light hits these cones, they send electrical signals to the brain. This is where the magic happens. Our brain interprets these signals, blending them into the vast spectrum of colors we see. Every sight is a complex symphony of light and biology working together to paint the world we know.
Next time you see a rainbow, consider this: is the color in the light itself, or is it created within your mind?
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