The amazing variety of color found in nature is not only appealing to see, but it also communicates a great deal of information to the surrounding world.  The hues of plants and animals can warn predators, attract mates, or indicate their preferred diet while the brilliance and sparkle of color in gems and minerals can give clues to how they were formed. On October 22, a new exhibit at the Field Museum will transport visitors into an immersive, colorful world that organizers describe as a walk through the rainbow. Wild Color will highlight the science behind nature’s colors in this highly interactive exhibit featuring unique specimens from the museum’s collection. Wild Color will include a variety of photo-worthy moments and experiences for museum-goers of all ages. Throughout the 7,000-square foot exhibition, visitors will discover brilliant gems and iridescent minerals, explore the startling hues of animals that glow under ultraviolet light, and learn about a “super black” bird of paradise. The show will include vibrant visuals, large-scale media projections and soundscapes to create multisensory atmospheres, as well as examples of nature’s colors, like shimmering, radiant hummingbirds.

Rendering of the Wild Color yellow gallery, © Field Museum