In February 2015, a photo of a dress ignited a global debate about color perception. Posted on Tumblr by Scottish musician Caitlin McNeill, the image asked: “What color is this dress?” Some saw black and blue, while others were convinced it was white and gold. The viral debate puzzled millions, even dividing households and friendships.
The phenomenon stemmed from “color constancy,” where the brain interprets colors based on surrounding light. The dress’s ambiguous lighting tricked some brains into adjusting for shadow, leading to the white-and-gold perception, while others saw it as black and blue under normal lighting.
Roman Originals, the dress’s retailer, confirmed it was black and blue. Despite this, the debate sparked widespread interest in how humans perceive color and inspired scientific studies. “The Dress” remains a fascinating example of how differently people can see the same world.
In February 2015, a photo of a dress ignited a global debate about color perception. Posted on Tumblr by Scottish musician Caitlin McNeill, the image asked: “What color is this dress?” Some saw black and blue, while others were convinced it was white and gold. The viral debate… pic.twitter.com/QE0UiEx37P
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