Scientists Invented a New Shade of Blue. Do You Know Its Name?

Mas Subramanian, a chemist and professor at Oregon State University, made headlines in 2009 when he discovered a completely new shade of blue pigment, named YInMn Blue, in his laboratory. It was an unexpected scientific discovery that enriched the world of art after a full 200 years.

Few people know, however, that this unexpected discovery was just a stroke of luck. In 2009, a student combined yttrium, indium, and manganese oxides (chemical compounds containing oxygen) in a test tube during heat treatment in the laboratory. When the team of young scientists took the mixture out, it had a striking, bright blue color.

Before this discovery, French chemist Louis Jacques Thenard was the last person to invent a new blue pigment, cobalt blue, in 1802.

What’s next?

“Customers can’t buy pigments in the YInMn Blue shade just yet, but they should be available on the market by the end of 2017,” says Crayola. The company has also launched a contest to find the best name for the stunning new shade, since the scientific name is quite difficult to pronounce, remember, or write. Artists from the US and Canada can take part in the vote, but feel free to let us know what name you’d choose for this shade!

“YInMn Blue, the first blue pigment discovered in 200 years,” says Mas Subramanian. Would you like to try it, too?

"We strive to keep our color palette innovative and on trend, so we’re pleased to have introduced a new blue shade inspired by the YInMn pigment,” said Smith Holland, CEO and president of Crayola, in a press release. It’s likely that other leading art-supply manufacturers will soon add this color to their portfolios as well.

Because it is produced at a high temperature, YInMn Blue is a very stable compound (i.e., it does not react when heated, cooled, or mixed with water or acid). When Subramanian’s lab discovered it, he immediately applied for a patent. This new shade could have a significant impact on the future of fine art.

"At first it was an unpleasant mistake, but right afterward it became a happy accident because we weren’t looking for it. Most scientific discoveries happen under unexpected circumstances," says the happy inventor.

You can find more fascinating shades here, too.