The Visible Spectrum Visible light is the light that we can see, and thus is the only light detectable by the human eye. White light is visible light, and it contains all the colors of the rainbow, from red to violet. The range of visible wavelengths is 400 to 700 nanometers.

Gamma rays

Red-green and yellow-blue are the so-called “forbidden colors.” Composed of pairs of hues whose light frequencies automatically cancel each other out in the human eye, they’re supposed to be impossible to see simultaneously. The limitation results from the way we perceive color in the first place.

Blue is the hardest color to see as more light energy is required for a full response from blue-violet cones, compared to green or red. At a certain light level, a blue-violet color appears darker than green or red, notes the UCLA Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences.

How many colours can we see? A healthy human eye has three types of cone cells, each of which can register about 100 different colour shades, therefore most researchers ballpark the number of colours we can distinguish at around a million.

The human eye and brain together translate light into color. Light receptors within the eye transmit messages to the brain, which produces the familiar sensations of color. Rather, the surface of an object reflects some colors and absorbs all the others. We perceive only the reflected colors.

There are three kinds of cones typically found in the human eye: red, blue, and green. It’s these three kinds of cones that work together and allow you to see millions of colors.

Tetrachromacy is thought to be rare among human beings. Research shows that it’s more common in women than in men. A 2010 study suggests that nearly 12 percent of women may have this fourth color perception channel. Men aren’t as likely to be tetrachromats.

“You see between 33 and 39 colors: you are a tetrachromat, like bees, and have 4 types of cones (in the purple/blue, green, red plus yellow area). You are irritated by yellow, so this color will be nowhere to be found in your wardrobe. Tetrachromacy exists. Yes.

Trichromats make up half the population. But if you see between 33 and 39 colors, you are a tetrochromat with four cones, which means you see purple, blue, green, red and yellow areas well. Tetrochromats make up the remaining quarter of the population.

Living among us are people with four cones, who might experience a range of colors invisible to the rest. It’s possible these so-called tetrachromats see a hundred million colors, with each familiar hue fracturing into a hundred more subtle shades for which there are no names, no paint swatches.

Derval says the number of colors you see depends on the number and distribution of cones, or color receptors, in your eyes. Only 25% of the population has a fourth cone to see more accurate colors.

Tetrachromats can see colors that most people cannot — up to 100 million, estimates suggest, which is 100 times that of the average human. Most people have three cells, or receptors, in their retinas, but tetrachomats have a fourth receptor, which may be what allows for their heightened color perception.

Although you may be tempted to write off this difference as a consequence of cultural conditioning, the true root is physiological. Women have larger color vocabularies than men, but scientists say that women are actually seeing more color gradations than men.

Research, however, has found that women of all ages have better hearing at frequencies above 2,000 Hz, but, as they age, women are less able to hear low frequencies (1,000 – 2,000 Hz) than men. Women do have opportunities to help their risk of hearing loss.

Find out which colors are the world’s favorite and the least liked. The most popular color in the world is blue. The second favorite colors are red and green, followed by orange, brown and purple. Yellow is the least favorite color, preferred by only five percent of people.

Women not only have greater color vision, but they also have a wider peripheral vision than men. Many women’s peripheral vision is effective up to almost 180 degrees.

Summary: From an anatomical point of view, a normal, non-pathological eye is known as an emmetropic eye, and has been studied very little until now in comparison with myopic and hypermetropic eyes. The results show that healthy emmetropic women have a wider pupil diameter than men.