[ot-caption title=”This dress appeared on Tumblr recently and sparked a debate on what color the dress is (via Tumblr user swiked)” url=”https://pcpawprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Screen-Shot-2015-03-03-at-9.31.51-AM.png”]

Recently, social media has blown up about an unusual thing: a picture of a dress. This uproar began when a Tumblr user posted a seemingly innocent post of a dress asking the question: Is the dress blue and black or white and gold? The post quickly went viral as people saw the dress in different ways. Soon, the dress was on every different social media platform, from Twitter to Instagram. On Twitter, #TheDress quickly rose to the top of trending lists globally within hours. The dress even made appearances in classrooms as teachers displayed the photo for their students to decide. Celebrities tweeted their opinions on the dress color. Everyone seems to have an opinion, but very few people know why the different colors are being seen.

After realizing that it is really possible to see the dress in two different ways, meaning that those “white and gold” people are not in fact lying, people wanted answers. One Twitter post claimed that the dress is seen differently based on one’s mood declaring that when one is happy, he or she sees white and gold while when one pessimistic, he or she would see blue and black. The sad “blue and black” supporters and the happy “white and gold” supporters knew this could not be right. Scientists quickly began to look into the dress and find answers.

The answer to the debate is quite complicated and deals with the different interpretations of light in an individual’s eyes. Robert Shapiro, a professor at American University said, “Individual wavelengths don’t have color, it’s how our brains interpret the wavelengths that create color.” The dress, which is sold online on at www.romanoriginals.co.uk, is actually blue and black. The original picture, scientists say, is seen differently because it is poorly exposed. The light coming off the computer screen also contributes to the different colors seen.

Students at Pine Crest have been voicing their own opinions on the dress. Junior Jordyn Elliot said, “I couldn’t even begin to understand how anyone saw blue and black.” Like many others, Elliot thought it was really interesting how the dress caught the attention of so many so quickly. Sophomore Gabi Meli explained, “I thought it was just a scam and there were a lot of different dresses circulating because I didn’t understand how light sensitivity could affect people that much.”

Ms. Sarasua, a new chemistry and biology teacher, stated, “The explanation is rather simple. The rods and cones in people’s eyes interpret light differently. Each person sees every color a little differently. Combine these different cones and rods with a poorly exposed photo and, although rare, different colors will be seen.” She also explained that the first glance each person has of the photo may influence what colors are seen. When someone first sees white and gold or blue and black, his or her brain may possibly be “convinced” that only one color scheme is possible.

The debate seems to have simmered down, but the dress dilemma is a rare one and may not be going away anytime soon.

Sources: USA Today