Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution: Making a new blue in the lab

Colours are fundamental to our lives, both in the natural world and in the materials around us, and this talk asks whether there is still more to discover about how they work. It explores the science behind colour through the lens of optical physics, showing how nature produces blue in surprising ways and how those ideas can inspire new discoveries in the laboratory.

Dr Rox Middleton of the University of Bath discusses ongoing work to create a new kind of blue by studying the structures and processes found in plants and animals. The talk also looks at how blueberries and butterflies can help scientists understand the physics of light and matter, and how nature can be used as a source of new engineering materials and techniques.

It is a science event for anyone interested in colour, materials and the way research turns natural ideas into practical innovation.