Blue

Name: Bleu
Brand: Éditions Quae
SKU: 9782759242399
Price: 25.0 EUR
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 978-2-7592-4239-9

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Blue

When Nature creates the exception

by Bernard Valeur (writer)

Collection: Beaux livres

october 2026

Hardback book

215 x 245 format 136 pages In stock

25,00 €

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Summary

The ubiquity of blue in the sky and the oceans stands in striking contrast to its scarcity in the living world, where blue pigments are few and far between. Why is nature so sparing with this color?

In terrestrial animals, blue most often arises from the way light interacts with specific microscopic structures, hence the term structural coloration. The metallic blue of the morpho butterfly and the matte blue of the blue jay are two beautiful examples. In the oceans, three-quarters of all animals produce light, a phenomenon known as bioluminescence, which is almost invariably blue. How—and why—do certain microscopic algae at the surface and lanternfish in the deep sea produce it? Blue hues are also uncommon in plants, including flowers, and play only a limited role in our diet. The mineral world, meanwhile, offers a wealth of beautiful blue fine gemstones, but only a few rare blue sapphires and blue diamonds. Nature also provides us with remarkable blue dyes and pigments, such as indigo, used for dyeing, and ultramarine, a pigment revered by so many great painters.

This book sets out in search of blue—abundant or rare, familiar or extraordinary, pigmentary or structural… A fascinating color of exception!

Acknowledgements

Blue: A Colour Like No Other

In Search of Blue

THE BLUE OF THE SKY

SEAS AND OCEANS: A PALETTE OF BLUES

FASCINATING BLUE STONES

HOW DOES NATURE PRODUCE BLUE?

WHAT IS BLUE FOR IN THE LIVING WORLD?

UNUSUAL SHADES OF BLUE

CREATURES THAT GLOW BLUE

BLUE AND HUMANKIND

BLUE FOODS: A RARITY?

DYEING AND PAINTING WITH NATURAL BLUE

An Endless Quest

Bibliography

Key References

Index

Press

Presse Agence - Le 29 septembre 2026
"Conçu comme un beau-livre de 136 pages richement illustré, « Bleu » se veut à la fois instructif et esthétique."
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Blue

Blue

Summary

Table of contents

Acknowledgements

Blue: A Colour Like No Other

In Search of Blue

THE BLUE OF THE SKY

SEAS AND OCEANS: A PALETTE OF BLUES

FASCINATING BLUE STONES

HOW DOES NATURE PRODUCE BLUE?

WHAT IS BLUE FOR IN THE LIVING WORLD?

UNUSUAL SHADES OF BLUE

CREATURES THAT GLOW BLUE

BLUE AND HUMANKIND

BLUE FOODS: A RARITY?

DYEING AND PAINTING WITH NATURAL BLUE

An Endless Quest

Bibliography

Key References

Index

Press

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