Colors

When a rope is heated – either by friction or by fire – it may lose its structural integrity, subsequently breaking when put under load. A new surface coating, however, could cause ropes to change color if they've been overheated, providing a warning to users.

It can sometimes be challenging for ophthalmologists, making definitive on-the-spot diagnoses of eye problems. A new "smart" contact lens is designed to help, however, by changing color in response to two common disorders.

A group of Polish entrepreneurs claim to have developed a pen that writes in almost any color, in the form of the Artera.

MIT scientists have developed a new system that allows coated objects to take on intricate multi-colored patterns when exposed to ultraviolet light.

​Even though road signs already tend to be highly reflective, some night-time drivers still don't notice the things. New technology could help, as it causes signs to reflect in an attention-getting rainbow of changing colors.

​It was just last year that we heard about Vollebak's Black Light Jacket, which incorporates a series of black spots that reflect white in bright light. The company's new Black Squid Jacket takes things several steps further, as the whole thing reflects in a rainbow of colors.

​While there are already electronic devices that detect toxic gases, they can be expensive, and require training to properly use. Soon, though, there could be a cheap and simple alternative – threads woven into washable clothing, that change color when nasty gases are present.

​Although it's already possible to create colored images on metal surfaces using lasers, different TYPES of lasers have to be used for different effects. Now, however, Russian scientists have developed a method of producing multiple effects using one commercially-available laser.

​In use since at least the 4th century AD, dichroic glass displays different colors depending on how it's being viewed. Now, Dutch scientists have produced the effect in a material that can be used to create 3D-printed objects – and it's not just a novelty, as it could have practical applications.

In its second year the Chromatic Awards focus on the best color photography across twenty categories. The incredible array of winners recently announced showcase a spectacular collection of striking images from stunning cityscapes to surreal natural wonders.

Scientists have uncovered what they’re calling the oldest colors on Earth. Dating back more than a billion years, the bright pink pigments are the remains of some of the earliest microscopic organisms that once inhabited an ancient ocean, and their discovery helps fill a gap in the fossil record.

​Chameleons change color via a layer of skin cells which contain nanocrystals. As the lizards stretch or relax their skin, the spacing between those crystals changes, altering the manner in which they reflect light. Now, scientists have designed a color-changing nanolaser that works the same way.