Ask a Scientist

The colours we see are the result of the way our eyes sendi information about light to our brain. Each colour we see corresponds to a different wavelength of light that our eyes detect. 

Inventing new colours isn't possible because human eyes and brains can only work together to detect a certain range of wavelengths. Any new color would need to fit within that range which is why we can't just invent a new colour.  

We are learning new things all the time so maybe our understanding of colour will change in the future. Using technology, we may be able to manipulate light in lots of different ways to create visual effects that might appear as "new" colours, even though they really just using the light wavelengeths of colors we already know. However, to really change the way humans can see colour and creating completely new colors is a challenge that involves all areas of science from biology to physics. At the moment it's beyond our capabilities.

Yes. When I decided to be a scientist, the way that I used to see nature, plants, animals and their relationships changed. I started to see the beauty, I started to have fun exploring the connections and, more importantly, I decided to dedicate my life to exploring, understanding and contributing to its protection.

Virginia S. U., aquatic animal scientist

I study the body clocks of plants - I bet you didn't know that plants could tell the time! Like us, plants have what is known as a circadian rhythm - an internal body clock with a rhythm of 24 hours that controls almost everything the plant does. My favourite experiment is the first demonstration that these were internal body clocks, not responses to light-dark cycles. If you take a plant that has been growing in 24-hour light-dark cycles and then put it in either constant darkness or constant light for several days, it will continue to have 24-hour rhythms. You can measure these by measuring the amount of photosynthesis, quantifying which genes are switched on or off, or even just looking at the position of the leaves. All of these will continue with a 24-hour rhythm even in constant conditions, proving the clock is inside the plant. Pretty cool.

Katharine H., plant scientist and biology education specialist

The tallest plant on Earth is the redwood tree - specifically, the coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) holds the record for being the tallest tree species which are mostly found along the coast of California in the United States..

These massive trees are known to grow to incredible heights, often reaching over 300 feet tall or even more.  That's the same size as the Statue of Liberty in New York City. 

They can grow so tall becuse they have special adaptations that help them to to gather more energy from the sunlight and and more nutrients from the surrounding environment.

Advance the frontiers of human knowledge using scientific methods.

Scientists don't actually make potions like the ones you might see in movies or fairy tales. However, they do create mixtures, solutions, and compounds in laboratories for various purposes. These mixtures can be used for experiments. 

Scientists might mix substances together in controlled ways. This could involve dissolving solids in liquids, combining different liquids, or even causing chemical reactions that produce new substances. Scientists use equipment like beakers, graduated cylinders, and pipettes to measure precise amounts of substances. Accurate measurements are crucial. Safety is a top priority in laboratories. Scientists wear protective equipment like lab coats, gloves, and goggles to avoid accidents and exposure to harmful chemicals.

Remember, the word "potion" often brings to mind magical or supernatural ideas, but what scientists do is based on careful observation, research, and the principles of chemistry and physics. 

To differentiate their appearance for animals. Some colours signal danger.