From enchanting glowing animals to radiant yellow butterflies, the Denver Museum of Nature & Science’s latest exhibition “Wild Color” promises wonder and astonishment. Each exhibition room is dedicated to a hue from the rainbow, inviting you to appreciate our rich, colorful kaleidoscope of life and meditate on the profound roles that colors play in nature.
1Eating seeds and berries turns cardinals’ feathers red.
You are what you eat! Cardinals’ red feathers come straight from the foods that they eat. The fruits and berries in their diets contain carotenoids that make their feathers red. If cardinals stop eating enough of these foods, their feathers can become brown and less fun to look at.
2Chromium and vanadium give emeralds their green hue.
Emeralds are a testament to the mesmerizing colors hidden beneath the Earth’s surface. The emerald gemstones owe their captivating green color to trace elements chromium and vanadium.
3Robin eggs’ blue tint blocks UV radiation.
Blue robin eggs are not only cool to look at, but they also serve a protective purpose, shielding the developing embryo from the harmful ultraviolet radiation emitted by the sun.
