Are you one of those people who stares into crystal blue eyes with admiration? You've probably heard that blue eyes are the most beautiful, but here comes a surprising discovery - blue eyes aren't blue at all! This shade that fascinates us so much does not exist in reality. If you're wondering how this is possible, read on.
First of all, let's ask ourselves: Why do we think that blue eyes are blue in the first place? Eyes, whether brown, green or blue, owe their color to melanin - the pigment that determines the color of skin, hair and of course eyes. People with brown eyes have a lot of melanin, which means their eyes absorb more light and are therefore dark. With blue eyes, however, the story is a bit different.
What is hidden behind the "blueness"?
Blue eyes indeed do not contain blue pigment. Surprising, isn't it? The color of blue eyes comes from an optical phenomenon called The Tyndall effect. It's the way light scatters when it hits the clear layer of the iris, which contains very little melanin. Light is refracted and scattered in such a way that only blue shades are visible, similar to what happens with the color of the sky. This means that the blue color of the eyes is not due to pigment, but to the way light passes through the iris.
Then why do we say they are blue?
Just as the blue sky is created by the scattering of sunlight, blue eyes are also "created" by the way light passes through the transparent layers of the eye. Basically, the irises of people with blue eyes are transparent, but due to a physical phenomenon, they appear blue. So it's no wonder that some people's eye color can change slightly depending on the light - the eyes can sometimes appear grayer or lighter, all depending on the lighting conditions. Especially in children, it often happens that blue eyes change over time to a slightly darker shade or even brown.
Who has the best chance for blue eyes?
Blue eyes are an evolutionary mystery. Most people with blue eyes originate from Europe, especially from the northern and eastern parts of the continent. In fact, scientists have found that they are all people with blue eyes are descendants of a single ancestor, who had mutation in the OCA2 gene. This mutation is believed to have occurred around 6,000 to 10,000 years ago, which means that blue-eyed people are actually more related to each other than you might think.
However, blue eyes are no longer as rare as they once were. With globalization and gene mixing, there are more and more people around the world who have blue eyes, regardless of their geographic or ethnic origin.
Myths and legends about blue eyes
Blue eyes have always been the subject of admiration and myth throughout history. In ancient Greece, people with blue eyes were believed to have the ability to see into the future. In the Middle Ages, blue eyes were considered a symbol of purity and innocence, but today they are often associated with beauty and attractiveness.
But does having blue eyes really say anything about our personality? It is known that people with blue eyes are often said to be cold, aloof or even untrustworthy. On the other hand, blue eyes are common in movie heroes, models and celebrities, which gives the impression that the wearers of this eye color are more desirable.
Famous people with blue eyes
Of course, we can't talk about blue eyes without mentioning some celebrities who have become famous for their piercing blue eyes. One of them is undoubtedly the legendary Paul Newman, who became famous for his charm and intense blue eyes. Even today, his view is often referred to as "killer". Current stars include actor Daniel Craig and singer Taylor Swift, both of whom exude that cool yet magnetic look blue eyes are known for.
The evolutionary significance of blue eyes
Why do we have different eye colors anyway? Evolution often has very practical reasons for this. People with brown eyes have more melanin, which means better protection from harmful UV rays, which is beneficial in sunnier environments. Blue eyes developed in more northern parts of the world where there wasn't as much sunlight and less need for UV protection. This is one of the theories why the proportion of people with blue eyes is higher in Northern Europe.
All this leads us to an interesting conclusion: although blue eyes may seem like something special, they are nothing more than an illusion of light and nature. They are simply an optical play of light that gives us the impression of color where there really isn't any. Perhaps this adds to their mystery and charm.
If you have blue eyes or admire them in others, know that you are wearing or looking at a natural optical phenomenon. Which is even more fascinating than if the color blue were actually there. So, the next time someone asks you why your eyes are so blue, you can confidently say, “My eyes are transparent!”
