Eaten Color Lately?

- Have you ever wondered about that perfectly orange orange, or that perky pink frosting, or that cool refreshing blue-green beverage? Well, it's all generally washed over in food coloring. People have come to expect certain foods to be that certain "natural" color. Food can be identified by their signature color(s). Sometimes the color of a food can even signify the state of the food; such as it's freshness, whether it was cooked to long or not enough, or even whether its edible.

- There are two types of food coloring. They are known as dyes and lakes, which are both color additives. Color additives are basically anything that can apply color to things. Dyes dissolve in water and aren't soluble in oil. Lakes are also not soluble in oil, but are dispersive with oil. Lakes contain dye and insoluble substance.

- So why is food dyed exactly, again? If people want foods to have its natural color, the legitimacy of the food's color contradicts our fondness of "natural" color...

Reasons for dying can include: reducing color loss, reducing variation in color, enhancement of natural color and giving food a signature look. The consumer tends to associate flavors with color as well. In conclusion, the color of foods can determine its appeal, identity and its company's success. Ideals play a huge role in the use of food coloring.

http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~lrd/colorfac.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_coloring

http://www.atlantaparent.com/07-04-Apr2007/apr07-art3-easter.html
http://www.oregonchocolatefountains.com/images/lemon-chocolate.jpg
http://www.dairy.com.au/consumers/images/dairyaustralia/ddf-adp-butter-home-1.jpg

Of All Colors... Blue?

- Why is the sky blue? Before discussing the sky being blue, let’s see what the sky really is. The sky is the part of the atmosphere that is seen from the surface of astronomical objects. What is air? If you’re thinking oxygen, you aren't completely right. Air is actually a mix of gases or the atmosphere. In Earth's case the air is mainly a mix of the gases of nitrogen and oxygen.
- So why is a part of the atmosphere blue? The molecules of the air molecules scatter the short wave-length (blue light) from the sun more than they scatter the other wavelengths in the light.
- At sunset or sunrise, the color changes to warmer colors because the blue light has been scattered away from the line of sight of the sun's direction leaving a gradient of red light. Clouds appear white, because their particles are thicker than the wave-lengths of light and scatter all colors evenly.



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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sky
http://math.ucr.edu/home/baez/physics/General/BlueSky/blue_sky.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diffuse_sky_radiation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air

Northern Lights- Colors of the Sky

- The natural light show known as Aurora Borealis (in the northern latitudes) is an amazing phenomenon. The colored lights gracefully dance through the atmosphere in the form of a curtain or diffused glow. The Aurora Borealis, as its nickname intends, can only be seen in the northern hemisphere sky.
- First of all, what are the northern lights? Well it's the form of polar lights (auroras) which is unique to certain places. They are most notable the North (Aurora Borealis) and the South (Aurora Australis.) It is the result of charged particles that have collided from both the magnetosphere and the Earth's upper atmosphere. Many of the particles arrive from a solar wind from the sun. When the collision happens the energy becomes "excited" and gradually dissipates. For example the color of the aurora depends on the molecules participating. The greens and reds in the aurora could be dealt from atomic oxygen, while blue/violet and a weak red emission could come from nitrogen ions and molecules.
- Another notable fact could be how the auroras aren't unique to Earth, they happen on other planets as well; such as planets with stronger magnetic fields, Jupiter and Saturn. Though, they aren't always seen they always exist on some plane of the planet. Most of the time they are extremely faint and many obstructions (such as other lights and clouds) make it impossible to see. A clear, night sky is the best environment for seeing any aurora. Aurora opportunities can be very rare in some places, but common in others.

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http://odin.gi.alaska.edu/FAQ/#what
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurora_%28astronomy%29