Last week, one of the biggest trending topics online brought Oregon State University back into the spotlight. This time, however, our orange and black flag wasn’t making its rounds. Rather, a deep shade of blue has spread across various social media networks. This isn’t the first time Oregon State has gone viral. Actually, it's the third time in the last year. Yet, you might be asking yourself, "What’s so different about this new shade of blue?"

At a first glance, this powdery blue substance that has emerged all over the Internet doesn’t seem like a breakthrough discovery at all. The world is used to seeing so many different colors that our eyes have adjusted to the many shades that were previously patented. You could call this color Royal Blue, Cobalt, Indigo, Dark Blue, Deep Sea Blue, or any other funky name because blue isn’t something new to us. Yet, chemist Mas Subramanian of Oregon State University has developed a new, super blue.

YInMn Blue is the name of this new blue, and its origins come from the elemental combination of Yttrium, Indium, and Manganese. This “happy, accidental discovery” doesn’t appear to be a completely new pigment, but its properties have presented a spectacular change in our use of color. Most blue pigments are either extremely toxic or difficult to produce, but YInMn is completely non-toxic, easy to produce, and does not fade. Contributing such a durable pigment for commercial use allows people to create sustainable and safe products. Including this color in paint and plastic products will push forward the importance of energy efficiency and reducing toxic waste.

Although this discovery occurred in 2009, the continuation of tests has now allowed YInMn to be sold and used commercially. It’s properties, which absorb red and green wavelengths of light, reflect a deep blue color that can keep its environment cool. Creating paint and roofing materials can eventually help cool buildings and reduce the use of various cooling systems.

The durability of this pigment will not only produce materials that will last longer without harming the environment, but will also open the door for other environmentally friendly pigments to be discovered. Art restoration, painting, building, and dyeing textiles can become safe, efficient, and easier to reproduce.

How might this affect our community? Think of Oregon State University, for example. Lush, green trees pave the way into our beautiful, red brick campus that is full of history and many old buildings. When Spring Term rolls around, classrooms start to feel pretty stuffy. Incorporating some YInMn blue paint into these buildings might cool down classrooms and produce a more cost effective and energy efficient cooling system. So, are we ready to welcome a little bit of blue into our community?