New Blue!

Millions of people around the world say blue is their favorite color. If you’re one of them, here’s some good news: There’s a new brilliant blue to love. Scientists in Oregon recently discovered a blue pigment, or colored substance, completely by accident!

Mas Subramanian is a materials scientist at Oregon State University. His team develops materials to use in electronics. To do that, they mix and heat chemicals. One day, Subramanian saw a student pulling a mixture out of the furnace. “I saw this vivid, intense blue,” he says. “I was shocked. I’d never seen anything like it.”

Billions of people say blue is their favorite color. Here’s some good news if you’re one of them. There’s a new brilliant blue to love. Scientists in Oregon recently found a blue pigment, or colored substance. And they discovered it completely by accident!

Mas Subramanian is a materials scientist. He works at Oregon State University. His team creates materials to use in electronics. They mix and heat chemicals to do that. Subramanian saw a student pulling a mixture out of the furnace one day. “I saw this vivid, intense blue,” he says. “I was shocked. I’d never seen anything like it.” 

Pigments give color to paints, fabrics, and even foods. But blue pigments are hard to come by. Many fade or change color over time. One common blue pigment, cobalt blue, was discovered in the 1800s. Making it requires workers to handle toxic materials.

Subramanian’s team named their new pigment YInMn (pronounced YIN-min) blue after the elements that make up the substance. Tests showed that it lasts longer than cobalt blue. Even better, its ingredients are completely nontoxic.

YInMn blue will soon appear in paints and other products. Crayola is even making a crayon in the dazzling hue! If your favorite color isn’t blue, don’t worry. Subramanian says that more pigments, including greens, yellows, and purples, are on the way.

Pigments give color to paints, fabrics, and even foods. But blue pigments are hard to come by. Many fade. Others change color over time. One common blue pigment is cobalt blue. It was first seen in the 1800s. Works must handle toxic materials to make it.

Subramanian’s team called their new pigment YInMn (pronounced YIN-min) blue. It’s named after the elements that make up the substance. Tests showed that it lasts longer than cobalt blue. Also, its ingredients are nontoxic. 

YInMn blue will soon appear in paints and other products. Crayola is even making a crayon in the dazzling hue! If your favorite color isn’t blue, don’t worry. Subramanian says more pigments are on the way. They will include greens, yellows, and purples.