"The Surprising Science Behind Blueberries' Blue Appearance"

Despite their name, blueberries do not actually contain blue pigment. The observed blue color of blueberries is due to the way light interacts with the randomly arranged crystal structures of the thin wax layer that coats the fruit, rather than from pigmentation within the fruit. A study from the University of Bristol revealed that the wax coating contains miniature structures that scatter blue and UV light, creating the appearance of blue. This previously unknown coloration mechanism in blue fruit could lead to the development of new artificial materials with similar functionality.