Most of the colours we think of as fluorescent are actually just very high-intensity hues. True fluorescents are so bright not only because the colours are very saturated but also because the chemical structure of the dye or material absorbs the very short-wave light in the ultraviolet portion of the spectrum, which humans can't see, and re-emits

Pre-revolutionary France was awash with evocative colour nomenclature. Apple green and white stripes, for example, were called 'the lively shepherdess'. Other favoured individual shades included 'indiscreet complaints', 'great reputation', 'stifled sigh', and 'the vapours'.

In The Birth of Venus (c. 1484-6), Botticelli wove it [gold paint] through Venus's hair.

From root to summit, Cerro Rico [de Potosì] is riddled with silver mines. According to tradition, its secret was discovered by a poor local man. While out searching for a lost llama in January 1545, Diego Huallpa built a fire to keep the chill of the alpine night at bay. As the fire burned, the ground beneath it began to ooze liquid silver, like