"The Surprising Science Behind Blueberries' Blue Hue and Potential Health Benefits"

Blueberries are not actually blue in the true sense of the word; their color comes from a unique structural mechanism involving nanostructures in their waxy coating that scatter blue and ultraviolet light while absorbing other wavelengths. This "structural color" is also responsible for the blue and indigo hues in other fruits and natural elements. The discovery could lead to new types of blue paints and dyes in the future. The scarcity of true blue pigments in nature is due to the high-energy nature of the color, which plants typically absorb rather than reflect. Fruits and flowers that appear blue use various mechanisms, such as mixing non-blue pigments or relying on special colorants in their coatings.