To understand why the sky isn’t always blue, we first need to understand why it appears blue in the first place. Sunlight might look white to our eyes, but it actually contains all the colors of the rainbow. These colors travel in different wavelengths, with blue and violet at the shorter end and red and orange at the longer end.

As sunlight enters Earth’s atmosphere, it hits millions of tiny molecules and particles. Shorter wavelengths, like blue and violet, scatter more easily in all directions. This is called Rayleigh scattering. Our eyes are more sensitive to blue than violet, so we mostly see a soft blue canopy above.

So, if the sky is usually blue, why does it sometimes look orange, pink, purple, or even red?

As the sun begins to rise or set, its light has to pass through more of the Earth’s atmosphere. This thicker slice of air scatters the shorter wavelengths, blue and green, out of our line of sight, allowing the longer wavelengths, orange, red, pink, to dominate the sky. That’s why sunsets and sunrises are often filled with warm, glowing hues.

Things like dust, pollution, humidity, and altitude can also affect this color shift. A sky heavy with particles may create a dramatic red orange sunset, while a clearer atmosphere gives us softer pastel tones.

Now here’s where it gets fun.

The same light scattering and color mixing principles that turn the sky red at sunset are what make CMY Cubes so enchanting. Each cube is made from transparent surfaces tinted cyan, magenta, and yellow. These are the primary colors of subtractive color mixing.

When light passes through or reflects off these surfaces, it bends, filters, and splits in surprising ways. Rotate the cube or hold it under different lighting, and you will see colors change and merge before your eyes.

Just like the sky, the appearance of a CMY Cube depends on the angle of the light, your viewing perspective, and the layering of colors inside the cube.

Where the sky uses air molecules and sunlight, CMY Cubes use tinted layers and clean geometry to teach the same lesson. Light and color are not fixed. They are playful, interactive, and always in motion.

Understanding color scattering doesn’t just explain the color of the skies. It lays the foundation for bigger STEAM concepts like optics and visual perception, wavelengths and energy, color theory and design, and scientific observation and experimentation.

Whether you’re an educator, a curious parent, or someone who just loves science, these topics can feel overwhelming when taught in abstract terms. That’s where CMY Cubes shine. By holding one in your hand, you get a mini light laboratory where you can explore how colors combine, see how light behaves at different angles, and engage with science in a hands-on sensory way.

This is especially impactful for visual learners, children with sensory processing needs, or anyone who learns best through touch and movement.

The sky is more than a backdrop. It is a canvas painted by physics, light, and color. And while you can’t bottle a sunset, you can explore the same visual magic through a CMY Cube.

Each twist of the cube mimics the natural play of light and teaches big ideas in small, joyful ways. It is not just a toy. It is a tool for wonder. A way to turn “Why is the sky blue” into “What else can light do”

Bring the beauty of the sky into your hands. CMY Cubes turn light into a learning experience, perfect for curious minds of all ages. and vision. With practice, patience, and a willingness to explore and experiment, you can take your art to the next level and achieve success in your artistic endeavours. So go forth and mix colours like a pro, and let your creativity soar!