www.bbc.com Open in urlscan Pro
151.101.192.81  Public Scan

URL: https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p0f00wp9/magenta-the-colour-that-doesn-t-exist
Submission: On February 03 via api from ZA — Scanned from DE

Form analysis 0 forms found in the DOM

Text Content

WE'VE UPDATED OUR PRIVACY AND COOKIES POLICY

We've made some important changes to our Privacy and Cookies Policy and we want
you to know what this means for you and your data.

 * OK
 * Find out what's changed


LET US KNOW YOU AGREE TO COOKIES LET US KNOW YOU AGREE TO COOKIES

We use cookies to give you the best online experience.

We use cookies to give you the best online experience.

Please let us know if you agree to all of these cookies.

Please let us know if you agree to all of these cookies.

 * Yes, I agree Yes, I agree
 * No, take me to settings No, take me to settings







Homepage


ACCESSIBILITY LINKS

 * Skip to content
 * Accessibility Help

Sign in
Notifications
 * Home
 * News
 * Sport
 * Weather
 * iPlayer
 * Sounds
 * Bitesize
 * CBeebies
 * CBBC
 * Food

 * Home
 * News
 * Sport
 * Reel
 * Worklife
 * Travel
 * Future
 * Culture
 * TV
 * Weather
 * Sounds

More menu
Search BBC Search BBC

 * Home
 * News
 * Sport
 * Weather
 * iPlayer
 * Sounds
 * Bitesize
 * CBeebies
 * CBBC
 * Food

 * Home
 * News
 * Sport
 * Reel
 * Worklife
 * Travel
 * Future
 * Culture
 * TV
 * Weather
 * Sounds

Close menu
You need to enable JavaScript to run this app.
Close

Follow us on


 * Home
 * Found in Translation
 * History
 * Science
 * World
 * LongShots
 * Playlists

Menu


MORE VIDEOS

Science


WHY MAGGOTS ARE A MEDICAL MARVEL


Watch now
Science


WHO DISCOVERED THE EQUATOR?


Watch now
Science


HOW THE 'PERFECT' EXPERIMENT WENT WRONG


Watch now


MAGENTA: THE COLOUR THAT DOESN'T EXIST

31 January 2023|Science

When we look at a rainbow, we see a full spectrum of light. Every colour we
could imagine. Except one – magenta.

Where is it? Well, officially magenta doesn't exist. There is no wavelength of
light for magenta, meaning the human brain literally makes it up, but how?

Video by Archie Crofton
Narrated by Lotte Rice
Commissioned by Paul Ivan Harris

Follow BBC Reel on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube


Share on Facebook

Share on TwitterShare using Email

Share on Reddit



BBC Reel
PLAYLIST
26 videos
130:44


BEING HUMAN

Big ideas that reflect our evolution, from influential thinkers and scientists
looking at what makes us intrinsically human.

 * NOW WATCHINGScience
   
   
   THE COLOUR THAT DOESN'T EXIST
   
   
   Now Playing
 * NEXT UPHumanity
   
   
   THE POWER OF DANCE
   
   
   Watch now
 * Archaeology
   
   
   WHAT WAS PREHISTORIC MOTHERHOOD LIKE?
   
   
   Watch now
 * Humans
   
   
   DID NEANDERTHALS CREATE MUSIC?
   
   
   Watch now
 * Humanity
   
   
   THE EXTRAORDINARY POWER OF KINDNESS
   
   
   Watch now
 * Science
   
   
   IS THIS THE FUTURE OF HUMAN BIRTH?
   
   
   Watch now
 * Science
   
   
   REASONS TO LOVE BEING SWEATY
   
   
   Watch now
 * Humanity
   
   
   HOW MODERN LIFE IS MAKING US INFERTILE
   
   
   Watch now
 * Science
   
   
   IS VIOLENCE PROGRAMMED INTO YOUR GENES?
   
   
   Watch now
 * Humans
   
   
   WHY ARE THE DUTCH SO TALL?
   
   
   Watch now
 * Humanity
   
   
   WHY DO HUMANS LAUGH?
   
   
   Watch now
 * Humans
   
   
   HAVE WE MISUNDERSTOOD DARWIN?
   
   
   Watch now
 * Neuroscience
   
   
   THE QUEST TO UNDERSTAND CONSCIOUSNESS
   
   
   Watch now
 * Humans
   
   
   WHAT'S THE POINT OF NOSES?
   
   
   Watch now
 * Science
   
   
   WHAT DO OUR EYES SAY ABOUT US?
   
   
   Watch now
 * Humanity
   
   
   WAS THE NEOLITHIC A BIG MISTAKE?
   
   
   Watch now
 * Humans
   
   
   SURREAL LANDSCAPES OF HUMAN ACTIVITY
   
   
   Watch now


 * JAPAN’S RISING ‘SUPER SOLO’ CULTURE
   
   
   Watch now
 * Culture
   
   
   A BRIEF HISTORY OF SCANDAL
   
   
   Watch now
 * Humans
   
   
   WERE WE COOKING A MILLION YEARS AGO?
   
   
   Watch now
 * Death
   
   
   JAPAN’S TELEPHONE TO THE DEAD
   
   
   Watch now
 * Humans
   
   
   THE WORLD’S FIRST MODERN COUPLE?
   
   
   Watch now
 * Animals
   
   
   HOW CHIMPANZEES REVEAL OUR ORIGINS
   
   
   Watch now
 * Animals
   
   
   THE CHIMPS THAT PLAY WITH DOLLS
   
   
   Watch now
 * Humans
   
   
   HOW NEANDERTHAL ARE YOU?
   
   
   Watch now
 * Humans
   
   
   WHY HUMANS KILL
   
   
   Watch now



 * 
 * 
 * 
 * 
 * 
 * 
 * 
 * 
 * 
 * 
 * 
 * 
 * 


MORE VIDEOS


 * Science
   
   
   THE COLOUR THAT DOESN'T EXIST
   
   
   Watch now
 * Science
   
   
   WHY MAGGOTS ARE A MEDICAL MARVEL
   
   
   Watch now
 * Science
   
   
   WHO DISCOVERED THE EQUATOR?
   
   
   Watch now
 * Science
   
   
   HOW THE 'PERFECT' EXPERIMENT WENT WRONG
   
   
   Watch now
 * Science
   
   
   WHAT HAPPENS WHEN TWINS ARE SEPARATED?
   
   
   Watch now
 * Science
   
   
   THE TWINS WHO WERE SPLIT AT BIRTH
   
   
   Watch now
 * Science
   
   
   THE GENIUS INVENTOR WHO LOST EVERYTHING
   
   
   Watch now
 * Science
   
   
   MEET THE MITES LIVING ON YOUR FACE
   
   
   Watch now
 * Science
   
   
   HOW YOUR GENES SHAPE WHO YOU ARE
   
   
   Watch now
 * Science
   
   
   IS THIS THE FUTURE OF HUMAN BIRTH?
   
   
   Watch now


EXPLORE THE BBC

 * Home
 * News
 * Sport
 * Weather
 * iPlayer
 * Sounds
 * Bitesize
 * CBeebies
 * CBBC
 * Food

 * Home
 * News
 * Sport
 * Reel
 * Worklife
 * Travel
 * Future
 * Culture
 * TV
 * Weather
 * Sounds

 * Terms of Use
 * About the BBC
 * Privacy Policy
 * Cookies
 * Accessibility Help
 * Parental Guidance
 * Contact the BBC
 * Make an editorial complaint
 * BBC emails for you
 * Advertise with us
 * AdChoices / Do Not Sell My Info

Copyright © 2023 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external
sites. Read about our approach to external linking.