White is defined by the color of the sun. Since we evolved within its light we of course see the distribution of wavelengths that make it down to Earth's surface as white. Even if the sun was always orange, we would see that as white instead.
Why do we see it as yellow, then?
Because our atmosphere causes "scattering" of hues in the highest frequencies. This is the same reason the sky appears blue.
Blue light gets scattered more by the atmosphere. So less blue light is received directly in a straight line from the sun and more is reflected from other parts of the sky. That's also why the sky looks blue in the day and why the evening sky looks red (if the sun is very low during the evening, the blue light can't reach you because it scattered so much due to the very long shallow way through the atmosphere)
During the day it's white, but it's also overhead and blindingly bright so we don't spend much time looking at it. As it gets closer to the horizon Rayleigh scattering begins filtering out the bluer light and the sun becomes yellow, then orange, then red. It also gets closer to our eyeline and becomes mildly safer to look at so we look at it a lot more. This in turn leads us to believe it's always yellow
It's yellow or orange due to the filter from our ozone/atmosphere and camera. It's also much more interesting to depict it as yellow or orange and not a white spot in the sky. When you stare at the sun on the equator and at 12pm, it's white, and then it will turn black because you'll be blinded by it.
Better to have seen the sun for what it truly is, even for a moment, and be blind forever. Never seeing the birth of your child. Or your bride/groom on your wedding day. Or your peers' celebration of your accomplishments. Because you are blind. After staring at the sun for a few seconds. All worth it. *gets up **immediately walks into door frame. Corrects himself. Walks out door like a hero.
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If the sun isn't yellow, then how does Superman get his powers? Checkmate.
I have been fooled by the scientists, again. Thank you for opening my eyes.
Of course it is. If it wasn't, everything outside would be tinted.
Well, you would be surprised how many people think it is yellow.
Are they Coldplay?
Mind sorta blown - such a great explanation.
Well, someday science is going to make new discoveries and prove this is all wrong. It's like the coffee thing. Is it good for you or is it bad for you or...it's just dirty water and we can all go about our lives. Personally, my magic cloud god tells me they put it there to give us light and warmth. And turns it off to save electricity. Which is a good habit if you ask me. Follow my imaginary Hebraic friend and save on your bills.
relevant video that came out today if you have half an hour and want to be confused
Here is an alternative Piped link(s):
relevant video that came out today
Piped is a privacy-respecting open-source alternative frontend to YouTube.
I'm open-source; check me out at GitHub.
How about this, white isn't a real color.
White is a color. It’s all the colors.
“Light is perceived by the human visual system as white when the incoming light to the eye stimulates all three types of color sensitive cone cells in the eye in roughly equal amounts.”
Which makes it a combination of color and not a distinct wavelength of light.
I mean.. how do we know anything is real?
We learn something new every day. This is a community dedicated to informing each other and helping to spread knowledge.
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