42: The Answer to Almost Everything

Episode Synopsis

We already see in everyday life how much colors control us: we're often warmer in a red down jacket than in the same down jacket in blue, reports fashion designer Jean-Gabriel Causse, a specialist in the effects of color. The fact that the color of a garment alone can improve our concentration, creativity, or even our health is another indication of the power of color. Colors control our attention, they affect our senses, and thus shape—consciously or unconsciously—our perception of the world. For neurobiologist Annette Werner, it's clear: colors play a crucial role in the development of life. Thanks to the green pigment chlorophyll, bacteria and plants were able to capture sunlight and convert it into energy and oxygen—the source upon which all life depends. In general, nature has used dyes as a means of communication for millions of years.