How To Accidentally Invent A Color

Take the PBS Digital Studios Audience Survey: to.pbs.org/pbssurvey2023x
One of the most colorful accidents in history, malaria, and...genetically engineered bacteria?! These are all part of the story behind the color purple. Maren Hunsberger travels through time in London to follow the thread of purple's story from ancient plants to the industrial revolution, and all the way to a lab growing microbes that could just save the world's water.
Fascinating Fails tells the stories of accidents in history that have resulted in some of our biggest discoveries, inventions, and breakthroughs. Following those often jaw-dropping (and sometimes hilarious) fails through time to today, host Maren Hunsberger asks: "What's next?". By talking to today's innovative young scientists, engineers, artists, and other big thinkers, we see how the mistakes of the past are leading us into the science of tomorrow...and toward a better future.
Original Production Funding Provided by National Science Foundation - Grant No. 2120006 Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
*****
PBS Member Stations rely on viewers like you. To support your local station, go to: to.pbs.org/DonateTerra
*****
Subscribe to PBS Terra so you never miss an episode! bit.ly/3mOfd77
And keep up with Fascinating Fails and PBS Terra on:
Facebook: / pbsdigitalstudios / pbsdigitalstudios
Twitter: / pbsds / pbsds
Instagram: / pbsterra / pbsterra

[@pbsterra]

Hey Terrans! Well, it wouldn’t be ‘Fascinating Fails’ without a fail in the first episode! We want to clarify that when the name of the chemical 'aniline' appears onscreen at 4:48 (and repeats at 11:56), we’ve accidentally misspelled it as ‘analine’ in the text onscreen. The more you know!

[@dasstigma]

"Mammals can't do blue or purple." What's with the blue irises of multiple mammals?

[@gunjanshah4844]

​@@dasstigmathe same reason as why the sky is blue.

[@dasstigma]

@@gunjanshah4844 Mammals are creating the sky? Oo

[@musewinter9369]

​@dasstigma my eyes are blue because they are colorless and I have microstructures in my iris and thats why I have blue eyes

[@HotelPapa100]

@@dasstigma And the mandril's nose. I can see structural color in an iris, but skin?

[@snowballeffect7812]

This series is very important. So many kids are taught to be afraid to be wrong and make mistakes. The problem isn't making mistakes, it's not learning from the mistakes!

[@scaper8]

I know that it wasn't the focus of the episode, but when you were talking about light and mentioned that light has "violet" and not "purple," I wish you'd given a quick overview of just what the difference is for those who don't know. For those people, "violet" is the color with a higher frequency and a shorter wavelength than blue ("ultraviolet" then is "above" (has more energy and a higher still frequency) than even "violet"). "Purple," on the other hand, isn't even a real color. It's just what our brains come up with to explain what we're seeing when both the red and blue cone cells in our eyes are stimulated at the same time.

[@katherineweber8955]

Oh! That's interesting.

[@jimurrata6785]

"wavelength" ... Waves have both frequency and amplitude. Violet has a higher *_frequency_* (ripples closer together) therefore a _shorter_ wave _length_ And for a given energy those waves are going to have *less **_amplitude_* (height) I realize this sounds pedantic, but this is supposed to be a science channel, and 'technically' correct is the best kind of correct.. 🤪 We live in a four dimensional universe. Long/short, high/low, far/close and time

[@scaper8]

@@jimurrata6785 Damn, thanks. For some reason, I always seem to transpose frequency and wavelength. LOL

[@AutoReport1]

Murex dye is processed with urine and sunlight. It starts as yellow and eventually changes to indigo after exposure to sunlight. The color range is bright red, purple, indigo. Since the snail itself is purpura, any of these colors were described as purple dye.

[@yawninggap2328]

That is right. So the story here is interesting but the invention is about chemistry not ‘being the first purple dye’.

[@prapanthebachelorette6803]

Thanks for sharing this not so often told story! This might be my favorite science accident I have ever come across in a long time 😊

[@mcv2178]

I read a whole book on this story, called Mauve. Nice to see it pop up here!

[@Pigment_dye_colour_]

Great video! Loved the humour and styling- making it accessible to all ages. Will be showing my students this! looking forward to the next one in their series.

[@merrillsunderland8662]

I have always loved science but used to be put off by how rigid and formal a lot of science media could be. Bill Nye, the Mythbusters, Hank Green and many other science communicators use humor to make science approachable. Maren is so knowledgeable while being quirky and silly too. Plus I love the Behind the Scenes content too

[@zekiah2]

I hated these types until I discovered 5x speed Now they finally get to the point instead of meandering

[@Blackbird_Singing_in_the-Night]

If the presenter is pedantic and dull I would not remain engaged and my mind would wander. I think this team has the right balance. The presenter is knowledgeable and interesting, a great choice!

[@barb800]

Every kid should see this video. Maren works in so many different scientific principles, and some history to boot, while she explains the mistake that led to purple dye. I think it could get students excited about lots of different aspects of science, and makes an important link between science and creativity. Looking forward to the next one. Totally brilliant.

[@JeffreyFlory]

PBS - Be Smart has a great episode that goes indepth about how the blue optical illusion animals use works. You could link that episode "Why Blue is so Rare in Nature" for anyone that is interested in diving deeper on that topic. Awesome job on this video!!

[@DawnDavidson]

Yes! I thought of that video too. An excellent one. 😊

[@ImBalance]

This channel consistently makes really engaging videos on topics I hadn't realized I wanted to learn about. Thank you PBS Terra!

[@RevShifty]

Right? Most everything I wear is black or gray, so this isn't something I would've watched if it were anyone else. But it was them, so I not only watched it, but was entertained and educated the entire time.

[@Fooshable]

Truly enjoyed this! We watched it as a family, and all 3 of us commented "Wow, had no idea!" Really enjoyed the informality of it. When the one scientist walked through and asked if she'd messed up the shot. Nope! Very approachable! Even the exuberant Ping-Pong game in the background! 😃

[@MattHeron]

This was so great!! Loved it! Maren is very engaging! Can’t wait to see what else is in store!! ❤

[@Its_another_bird]

This was incredible across the board! Loved every bit of it, and I really hope you all make more episodes!

[@ttopero]

I love purple and only knew a tiny bit of its rarity. Keep up the great work to reframe what it means to “fail”!

[@coffeetablesex]

Failure is the road that leads to success.

[@ttopero]

@@coffeetablesex what does success lead to?

[@IanGrams]

This was excellent and its great to see Maren again. I had never heard the story of William Henry Perkin before. Big fan of talking about failures for the reasons mentioned at the end. Can't wait for the next episode 😊

[@santoast24]

WOW this is amazing, this show hits all the right marks, absolutly love it

[@megansfo]

I'm an artist, not a chemist. There are many shades of purple. The one invented back in the 19th century was mauve, which became a sensation at the time. There are indeed purple or purplish flowers in nature. Cochineal is still ised as a food dye today. Interesting video, though.

[@relwalretep]

Using bacteria to manufacture dyes is a fascinating approach, really hope it works out commercially at scale.

[@Trask899]

I loved the freestyle type shoots with the backstage and creative ways to introduce the mega talented team on this. I loved the flow, the creative energy and how informative it was. Maren is an amazing host/director and she clearly has a fantastic team matching her energy which can’t be easy to do

[@kyokoyumi]

So for some colour theory, most of the colours she's pointed out are actually shades of violet which aren't purple because light things :D 5:40 Yes. Thank you. Purple is dark magenta. Which was going to be my point up above but I hadn't reached this point just yet >> And yes, violet (and indigo) is my favourite colour(s) which is why I'm so pedantic about it (violet) >> 10:00 This is what people should be calling purple. This is definitely 80% purple. Okay colour theory time! (in hex codes) Indigo - 0f00ff to 5f00ff generally represented by 5f00ff Violet - 6f00ff to 9f00ff generally represented by 7f00ff Magenta/purple - bf00ff to ff00bf generally represented by ff00ff Red-violet/Rose/Hot Pink - ff00bf to ff009f generally represented by ff007f In terms of the visible spectrum of light put into hex codes Violet - any range of desaturated blue (red and green values are equal while blue is full: 4040ff for example) Pink - any range of desaturated red (green and blue values are equal while red is full: ff4040 for example)

[@marybenson9418]

This is so fun and informative. I love the pace, format and presenter! Very cool!!!!

[@SethinaWatson]

Great show! Loved it. Maren, you are fabulous. Can't wait to see more episodes

[@D4NC3Rable]

I loved every part of this mini documentary video!! Twice I started watching it (first time I got interrupted) and immediately was absolutely CAPTIVATED, something about the style and the writing & the topic combined is just so compelling. First time I've seen this channel but I can already tell ya'll are making something really special here, it feels very companionable and casual, easy to understand while being scientific and accurate, a rare & really cool combination. I didn't know about the difference between pigment and dyes, and every time I am reminded of how color works I am astonished all over again. I want to add an interesting note on the topic of cochineal that I learned from another documentary here on youtube: Cochineal dye is an ancient traditional dye that is safe for us and for the environment; the rise of extreme vegan ideologies (excluding honey and bugs etc from the vegan consumer list) almost obliterated the centuries-long trade, something that was done with good intentions but was not very wise or discerning and had devastating results. Now cochineal production is rising in demand once more, which is wonderful, because it is safe and renewable source of red, orange & purple dyes (that you can also eat!), an alternative to the here-mentioned coal-byproducts which can cause cancer, AND it helps indigenous people from South America where the bug is from thrive on a traditional livelihood while keeping the cochineal bugs & the cactus they eat from going extinct.

[@user-do8ul2zi4v]

A quote that I read in a book that exemplifies "happy accidents" - Most scientific progress is not moments of "Eureka" (as in 'that is what I wanted') but rather "That's funny. It wasn't supposed to do that"

[@STEMedia]

Awesome video - love the show's concept too!

[@alicewyan]

Yay, Maren is back! :D

[@lalah9481]

Great show! I hope y’all follow up on where fails get to and any issues that are discovered.

[@hacked2123]

Such a pleasant suprise to see a new video with Maren in it!!!

[@zerokenshi]

Love it, for some reason I'm getting Mark Rober vibes.

[@bunnybunnydumpling]

Taking a point from beginning right through to the future and potential developments, what a succinct way to give an overview of quite a lot of information!

[@morgan0]

part of the benefit of modifying microbes into lil chemical factories is that enzymes are basically extremely specific catalysts for reactions. instead of needing a ton of other chemicals for just the right catalyst, some protecting groups, bonding one thing to a very specific ion so it leaves correctly, etc, which could require the use of more harmful substances as nothing else works or works well, an enzyme or set of enzymes can accomplish the same task without a ton of extra chemicals by being very selective catalysts for the reaction you want. and making microbes build it uses the machinery of life for what it’s good at: making proteins.

[@lindean2013]

This was so cool! Awesome! I don’t mind the format and this is definitely a show I’ll keep an eye out for new episodes!

[@perrydowd9285]

Purple or (violet if you like), was around long before diazo dyes sister. He nearly discovered antibiotics that same night, but it took years to figure out how useful Grignard reagents can be.

[@PhoebeFayRuthLouise]

Excellent video! I love the color purple and this was fascinating to learn!

[@sweepingtime]

I love that the memorial to Sir Perkins is purple.

[@amykefauver5512]

Wow -- the energy and enthusiasm are compelling! The facts are so interesting, and the approach of investigating science mistakes is refreshing. I would think that the possibility of making more discoveries from initial errors would be encouraging to budding scientists! I'm looking forward to the other episodes!

[@mwhomesteads]

That jumper is the best thing I've seen on YT all year!

[@thebrightest1230]

THIS IS THE BEST. IS this entire program like this? I love this. Oh my heart 💜

[@lunakat__]

some types of hair dyes are pigments (thats why the industry refers to it as "hair color", not "dye). the way that some hair color works (mostly permanent hair color) is by using a bleach and/or developer (which contains hydrogen peroxide) to lift the shaft of your hair and deposit (with color) or remove (with bleach) pigment under the shaft. the more you lift the shaft of the hair, the more damaged your hair is, and the harder it is for the hair shaft to lay back down. this leads to loss of integrity of the hair and can cause breakage. however some hair color us actual dye and does stain the hair shaft without lifting it. this is generally your semi- and demi- permanent hair color. it can last generally up to a couple months. temporary hair color is simply pigment that sits in top of the hair shaft and will rinse out within a couple washes. additionally, red pigments in hair color tend to be the largest, so they can be the the hardest to maintain, while also literally staining the hair. sometimes they fade into really pretty shades.

[@anandkalra]

Appreciate the depth here! Thank you

[@cob571]

this semi behind-the-scenes format is pleasantly surprising! not sure about doing it for every episode, but right here, right now, i love it!

[@spoonters]

Really Great! Cant wait for the next episode.

[@suzannebenson7238]

Love this. So clear and concise. Fascinating!

[@67comet]

Hay! I haven't seen you in a video for ages! Fun episode, and it is nice to see you on PBS again..

[@chonglers1513]

Rest in peace Bacteria. You may be gone but your pigments will never be forgotten😔

[@arielhunsberger771]

Such a great telling of this story! Also love that it was filmed in so many cool locations!

[@sheriherrick4420]

I'm LOVING this Fascinating Fails! Can't wait for more!

[@piperdude82]

Be smart sent me! Also, I'm so excited to see Maren in a new series! She's one of my favorite science communicators.

[@dianebassett1930]

This is fascinating! ❤

[@OvertheRiverandThroughtheWoods]

Love the history angle! Keep up the great work.

[@hankvandenakker4271]

VERY WELL DONE. THANX

[@Robert_Herring]

Very informative video. It's great to see Maren as host for this series, and so appropriate that the first video had bacteria at the end.

[@emilyrogers6694]

Got some new go to fun facts! Can’t wait for more episodes 🤓

[@DominikJaniec]

o hey! Maren of Seeker's fame 😅 I'm glad, that you are still doing science communication :) very interesting video y'all made here.

[@MegTheeStallyFan]

Super interesting! Thanks for this video.

[@danielmoura2255]

Relly nice video, loved the historical context, it gives insight on scientific method and the "how things are made" questions Awesome production by the way, keep it up!

[@ericaenrighttwomey1576]

So very fun and informative. Love learning about how mishaps have created so much of the world around us.

[@mindybee96]

I love this! We got 2 important lessons: 1) Failing is an essential part of learning and discovery. 2) Dying processes are often quite harmful to the environment, which is important to recognize in the era of fast fashion

[@swiftycortex]

SpaceTime shared this show, so here I am. What a great show. Thank you

[@PaulsPubAndBrew]

She is a great host! Energetic, entertaining, interesting, and even took the time to grab some violet earrings and even eye shadow.

[@TheCronesEye]

Purple has been my favorite color since I was 12. I’m now 70, & still wear & love the color. 💜☮️😉

[@tiffanymarie9750]

This is wonderful, I hope we get more episodes in the future 😁

[@shawnholbrook7278]

Brilliant, art and science. Failures should be shared. thanks PBS!!

[@MatthewCaban]

Such an interesting topic. Thanks for sharing

[@polychoron]

Cool, I remember doing the survey pretty recently, glad it had an impact! I love this episode, but I want to learn how to sustainably harvest Violet without killing anyone.

[@IanMacMoore]

I didn’t know about this dye story, thanks! The Cradle to Cradle authors started out in textile factory process remediation, so it makes sense.

[@realzachfluke1]

This was outstanding, and brilliantly done in every way. Whoever those people were, asking for videos about science mistakes, y'all just keep up the good work lol.

[@flaviocatarino4328]

Purple is my favorite color and learning it's history only made it feel more magical

[@AlbertMark-nb9zo]

Dye actually became the basis of a type of antibiotic eventually. Sulfa drugs were widely used before penicillin. It's initial use, was delayed due to the fact that the chemical was released publicly earlier, and couldn't be patented.

[@tangojuli209]

Fascinating! Purple is my fav color. A lot of 'didn't knows' here. In gemstones there are lots of natural purples. Charoite, amethyst, sugilite, some tanzanite, phosphosiderite and more.,

[@user-no2se7lt6i]

So fascinating!!!

[@MissMagic]

Eyeshadow is not made of only pigments, it also contains a heck of a lot of filler (most often talc or corn starch), binders and other ingredients that help the product stick to the skin or improve the feel.

[@FutureGazer]

Wonderful! Going to be great for the Biotechnology unit of my Biology class!

[@TheMaskedGamer]

This is awesome. I'm really looking forward to more!

[@tomholroyd7519]

I would be really nice if people put more papers on the arXiv describing the things that don't work. So we don't have to waste time replicating failure.

[@zivauri]

Yes, Brilliant! That would make a big contribution! There should be a book, because people would make connections in their minds and invent new things ! And new ways to protect from pollution and danger of old technologies.

[@failing_gracefully]

What a well scripted, thought out and executed piece!

[@slippers4eve4]

Amazing video! This tickles both my scientific and artistic interests

[@lesleywu883]

This is so cool!! Can't wait for the next one!

[@JoePolaris]

Interesting report, PBS Space Timer shared this Channel.

[@jakebyday]

Really love the editing and personality

[@RaDeus87]

Cochineal, aka E120, is the color of in my favorite candy (Malaco Zoo). Such a weird thing you learned as a kid, you either got disgusted or shrugged and ate some more. I think the coating was schellack (E904) as well, so the candy had two flavours if bugs in it 😅

[@jaymacpherson8167]

Thank you for sharing the origin of synthetic and bioengineered purple, as purple became my favorite color half-way through my scientific career.

[@WorldofKlown]

The most recent pigment from 2009 YInMn Blue, or "MasBlue" as it is commonly referred to at Oregon State University, is a serendipitous discovery of a bright blue pigment by scientists led by Mas Subramanian at OSU while researching materials for electronics applications. The pigment contains the elements Yttrium, Indium, Manganese, and Oxygen.

[@xdoctorblindx]

They are heavily channeling Sabrina and Answer in Progress here, which is a great source of inspiration!

[@ChrissiX]

Great start.

[@StarLightNow]

Loved this! More please :)

[@JoachimHeck]

Hunsberger's back! 🎉 MSC GOAT, it's that simple.

[@k82mey]

Love it! More like this. ❤❤❤

[@brainwater]

Now i wish I'd kept track of that sample of purple mold i found in my sink.

[@Tippex114]

Excellent entrance by Lucy there. Look forward to more mistakes from history!

[@KurtQuad]

Excellent video!

[@compactgirl]

Violet is my second favorite color, because purple is my first and red my third.

[@user-go2ro4ci5h]

So, the explanation of color in this video isn't quite right! Our eyes can also see purple when a chemical absorbs yellow light (the contrary color on the color wheel); one molecule like this is anthocyanin, found in purple cabbage. Our eyes can also see purple if a material reflects red and blue light, or if it absorbs a bit of green and orange (the contrary colors on the color wheel). Color is cool!!

[@Wizardboz]

Interesting filming techniques. I like it:)

[@a.dsadventure6710]

This was so awesome 💜

[@arnabahmed7733]

1) Australia didn't have malaria 2) don't conflate the perception of colour with the wavelength of light. The purple percept low wavelength light

[@katherineweber8955]

This was fascinating. Thank you. So glad you mentioned those poor snails. Glad we don't use them any more.

[@LofiLoops13]

Great Job Maren!!!! You’re famous now!!! -Jayce

[@disnecessaurorex4908]

Very cool video! 💜 PBS Spacetime sent me here

[@tgeliot]

An incredible number of important chemicals were created from efforts to make use of coal tar. For example, Prontosil, the first synthetic antimicrobial medication.