The insect that painted Europe red
Truly vibrant red was elusive for many years: until a mysterious dye was discovered in Mexico. Devon Van Houten Maldonado reveals how a crushed bug became a sign of wealth and status. Although scarlet is the colour of sin in…
The toxic color that comes from volcanoes
For centuries, the orange pigment was sourced from a toxic mineral. Kelly Grovier looks at a hue that alchemists believed was crucial to creating the Philosopher’s Stone – and which allows art to swivel between different states of being. Expunge…
The shady past of the color pink
A hue now associated with innocence once had a murkier meaning: Kelly Grovier looks at the ways in which pink has represented violence and seduction. Pink is a double-edged sword. While red is raucous and racy, and white is prim…
Why do bats hang upside down to sleep?
Bats often hang upside down when they sleep instead of sitting right side up or lying down — why? When bats aren’t flying, they often dangle from cave ceilings or the undersides of bridges. But why do bats sleep upside…
Giant panda
Physical Description The giant panda, a black-and-white bear, has a body typical of bears. It has black fur on its ears, eye patches, muzzle, legs, and shoulders. The rest of the animal’s coat is white. Although scientists do not know…
What is Lunar New Year and how is it celebrated?
On Jan. 29, Asian American communities around the U.S. will ring in the Year of the Snake with community carnivals, family gatherings, parades, traditional food, fireworks and other festivities. In many Asian countries, it is a festival that is celebrated…
36 Hours in Quebec City: Things to Do and See
With its fortified walls, Quebec City, one of North America’s oldest European settlements, in many ways feels frozen in time — a major draw for visitors who relish its quaint public squares and cobblestone streets, absent of skyscrapers. But while…