Science is extraordinary. It enables us to discover something new day after day. One unlikely thing that we wouldn't expect to discover though, is a new pigment, which has been described as near-perfect blue. Take a look: |
The accidental discovery was happened upon in a laboratory at Oregon State University. Consequently, it solved a quest that has been sought after for thousands of years by the ancient Egyptians, the Han dynasty in China, the Mayan cultures and many more. In fact, much of recorded human history shows that people around the world have sought inorganic compounds that could be used to paint things blue. However, they seem to have had little success as most had environmental or durability issues. For instance, the cobalt blue color that was developed in France in the early 1800s can be carcinogenic, while Prussian blue can release cyanide. In addition, other blue pigments are not stable when exposed to heat or acidic conditions. But at the OSU, they discovered new compounds based on manganese that should address all these health and environmental concerns. A former blue pigment that doesn't quite match up: Cobalt blue Therefore, not only are they safer to produce, they are more durable and should lead to more environmentally benign blue pigments than any that have been used in the past. They can also survive at extraordinarily high temperatures and don't fade after a week in an acid bath. "Basically, this was an accidental discovery," said Mas Subramanian, the Milton Harris Professor of Materials Science in the OSU Department of Chemistry. " We were exploring manganese oxides for some interesting electronic properties they have. Our work had nothing to do with looking for a pigment. Then one day a graduate student who was working on the project was taking samples out of a very hot furnace while I was walking by, and it was blue, a very beautiful blue,” he said. “I realized immediately that something amazing had happened.” According to the researchers, what had happened was that at about 1,200°C (about 2000°F) the manganese oxide turned into a vivid blue compound that can be used to make a pigment that is able to resist both heat and acid, as well as be environmentally benign and cheap to produce from a readily available mineral. It has even been hailed as the newest and best blue pigment in world history. Another previous pigment: Cerulean blue But, what's next for this stunning shade of blue? The pigment will likely find uses in everything from inkjet printers to automobiles, fine art and also house paint. To conclude, Subramanian said that “a lot of the most interesting discoveries are not really planned. There is luck involved, but I also teach my students that you have to stay alert to recognize something when it happens, even if it isn’t what you were looking for. Luck favors the alert mind.” |
It's Incredible to Think How Far Science Has Come...
Here are 10 recent scientific advancements that will blow your mind. What's more is that they provide highly exciting prospects for the future.
QUIZ: Do You Know About the Great Science Discoveries?
Take our quiz and see if you can recall the great inventions that made our lives better.
Color Therapy: How To Make Your Home a More Joyful Place
The research in color psychology and therapy shows that you can alter your mood by adding color to your home. Here's how it works...
Incredible! This Is What Love Does to Your Body
Science has discovered what the effects of love does to your body.
Astonishing: Can You See This Monochrome Image in Color?
This must be one of the most impressive brain tricks you will ever try!
How to Make Cleansing Hydrogen Water from an Old Battery
Let's embark on this scientific journey to unlock the potential of water and discover the practical uses of hydrogen and oxygen in everyday life.
Travel From the Sun to Pluto With Our Interactive Guide!
The solar system is a fascinating place, and we wanted to bring you an interactive journey that you can use to travel through it. Enjoy the journey!
Future Technology: Inventions That Will Change Our World
Check out a few amazing futuristic inventions that are about to become mainstream.
What Does Medicine ACTUALLY Do In the Body? Fascinating.
What really happens in our bodies when we take medicine, have you ever wondered? This video will answer your question.
This South African Plant May be the New Cannabis
Is this plant the new cannabis? What will the woolly umbrella plant do for medicine?
10 Incredible Animal-Inspired Robots
Let's meet some incredibly realistic robotic animals.
Satisfy Your Curiosity About the Universe with These Q&As
Discover more about the universe by reading through these facts.
Why Do We LAUGH? 7 Studies on the Origins of Humor
As pervasive as it is in our lives, the origin of laughter remains an intriguing enigma. This article investigates the origins of laughter and humor.
Toilets: The Greatest Medical Advancement in Human History
While toilets make some people laugh, they are actually a deadly serious medical advancement. This video explains what toilets mean to civilization.
9 Women Inventors Who Have Been Overlooked by History
History has overlooked many great women inventors. Here’s your chance to get to know a few of them.
8 Biggest Mysteries Still Surrounding the Human Body
Although modern science has revealed much about the human body, there are some things that still remain unknown. Here are the 8 biggest mysteries about it.
This Man Built an Automatic Train System for Trash Cans!
Wouldn’t it be cool if a robot picked up and moved our garbage out for pickup with the push of a button?
14 of the Most Fascinating Specialized Tools You'll See
We bet you haven’t seen these unique tools before!
10 Classic Paradoxes fom Philosophy, Math, and Physics
in every sphere of human knowledge, we’re bound to run into inconsistencies. That’s how fascinating paradoxes like these are born.
What Would You Do if You Had an Extra Thumb?
This revolutionary invention has the potential to revolutionize the field of prosthetics.
The Facts You Didn't Know About the Human Body...
Discover 120 fascinating and surprising facts about your body you may not have known. Going over most of the body parts, you will learn so much you never knew about the body we all use.
10 Fascinating Facts About the Subconscious Mind
10 facts about the way the subconscious mind works
3 Surefire Ways to Always Identify Pseudoscience
Find out how you can identify pseudoscience, and learn how it differs from actual science.
I Bet You Didn't Have a Clue About These Human Body Facts!
The human body is the most complex machine known to mankind, but I bet you don't know these 10 amazing facts about it...
This Mind-Blowing Talk Explores the Nature of Reality
In this video, cognitive scientist, Donald Hoffman, attempts to answer this mind-blowing question in this incredible TED talk.
7 Weird Facts About the Human Voice That Will Surprise You
We bet you didn’t know these peculiar facts about the human voice.
10 Real-Life Technologies That Science Fiction Foretold
Sometimes even the wildest science-fiction predictions about the future come true.
8 Inventions of 2023 That Will Change The Way We Live
This year was a prominent one for ground-breaking innovations that will change the way we live.
24 Smart Storage Inventions You Didn't Know You Needed
These super useful inventions are designed to make you help space!
2023 in Science: Biggest Discoveries You Missed!
Let’s take a look at the most amazing scientific discoveries that made news this year.
6 Shocking Truths About Coffee You Never Knew
Have you been believing these common coffee myths too?
Thought Nature is Wild? See It Under a Microscope
You won't believe the things you could discover by looking at everyday items under a microscope.
6 Remarkable Yet Overlooked Minds That Shaped Our World
These underappreciated geniuses deserve more recognition.
20 Useful Facts About the Science of Cooking
The science behind cooking is not often thought of, but it plays a crucial role in a dish turning out right. Here are 20 facts on the science of cooking.
These Fire Tricks Will Wow You, But Don't Try Them!
These fire tricks are incredible to look at, but please don't try this at home...
GUIDE: How Alcohol Affects Us, Drink by Drink...
In this article, we're going to discuss the exact amounts of alcohol in our blood and what they look like, including how each level affects us and our ability to function.
Visual Illusions: What Color Are These Strawberries?
Tricking our brain into believing that something is one color or shape than another thing is surprisingly easy, but can we explain why?
The Oldest Medicines That Have Stood the Test of Time
Learn about some fascinating old medicine and general healing practices that have survived for thousands of years.
Ancient Skull Found In China Unlike Any Human Ever Seen
A newly-discovered skull in China had baffled scientists. This could mean we might have discovered an entirely new species of humans.
WATCH: What Is the Fingerprint of God's Creation?
The golden pattern, describes the mathematical code of the universe. Is this the scientific evidence of God's will and plan?
These Expensive Megaprojects Proved to be a Waste of Time
Not all megaprojects are useful. Here are some worthless ones.
Wow! Who Knew That Jupiter Was So Mesmerizing?
Take a look at Jupiter like you've never seen it before!
There are Some Great Secrets Found in Mathematics...
Numbers hold some great secrets - they even tell us about life!
Ever Wonder What Life Is Like if We Zoom In All the Way?
A selection of some of the winning photographs from Nikon's yearly macro photography contest.
Scientists Finally Know Why We Love Cute Things
We find some things to be irresistibly cute. But why? Let’s find out.
8 Lies We've Been Told About Electricity
These incorrect facts about electricity have been perpetuated long enough. It's time to disprove them.
7 Little-Known Body Parts We Never Knew About
Here's a look at some of the weird and little-known body parts that you didn’t know you had.