Learn how this wax works, why blueberries are not the only blue fruit, and what it means for color science. Blueberries have a thin layer of wax with tiny structures that scatter blue and uv light, creating a blue appearance This is one of the rare tricks that nature uses to make blue colors without blue pigments. Roses are red and blueberries look blue But the berry’s color is not really true The fruit’s waxy coat just masquerades as blue
This wax contains a host of tiny structures, each less than a thousandth the thickness of a piece of paper Such nanostructures scatter blue and ultraviolet. Other fruits like certain grapes and plums also use structural coloration, displaying similar reflective properties Interestingly, this color effect is a natural marvel Blue is one of the rarest colors found in organic pigments, making the structural coloration seen in blueberries a fascinating exception in the plant world. Scientists have uncovered why blueberries appear to be blue to the human eye.
The blue color of blueberries comes from tiny structures in their wax coating, not from pigments in the fruit skin, according to a university of bristol study This discovery opens up possibilities for sustainable and biocompatible colorants and coatings inspired by nature
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