1001 Space Earth Nature History Human World Science and Technology Chemistry Materials Force and Energy Heat and Light Electricity and Magnetism Industry Machines Electronics and Computers Cars and Trucks Railways Ships Aircraft Fishing and Agriculture Undersea Exploration

Where do dyes come from? Originally, dyes were made from animals and plants. A sea snail named murex yields a rare expensive dye called tyrian purple. The blue dye that ancient Britons used to paint their bodies comes from the woad plant. The yellow dye, saffron, comes from the autumn crocus. And the madder plant yields an orange-red dye called madder. Today, most dyes are made by chemists in the laboratory. A murex shell   Previous: Back Book: 1001 Section: Science and Technology Chapter: Chemistry