The Bright Idea That Saves Lives: The Science Behind Why School Buses Are Yellow

School buses have become a familiar sight on roads around the world, and it's hard not to notice their bright yellow color. But have you ever wondered why school buses are yellow? The answer lies in safety. In the 1930s, a man named Frank Cyr was tasked with developing a standard color for school buses in the United States. At the time, school buses came in a variety of colors, making them difficult to spot on the road and posing a safety risk for children. Cyr worked with several paint companies to develop a bright, eye-catching color that would be easily visible from a distance. The result was the iconic shade of yellow that we associate with school buses today. The specific shade of yellow used on school buses is known as National School Bus Glossy Yellow, and it's not just for aesthetics. Studies have shown that the color yellow is the most visible color from a distance and in low light conditions. This makes school buses easier to spot on the road, reducing the risk of accidents and helping to keep children safe. In addition to their color, school buses are also designed with safety in mind. They are built with reinforced steel frames and are required to meet strict safety standards, including features like high-backed seats and emergency exits. School bus drivers are also required to undergo extensive training to ensure that they can operate the vehicles safely.

Assam Tea Gets A New Colour

Assam’s Raakhi Saikia has successfully developed one of the rarest variety of tea- yellow tea. It is one of the rarest brews in China’s list of tea variety and is also called royal tea. Yellow tea is highly prized due to the tremendous skill involved in its production. The production of yellow tea which takes place in China's mountainous Hunan, Zhejiang and Sichuan provinces is gradually dwindling due to the time - consuming process and skill required to make it. Now, Raakhi Saikia, a woman entrepreneur from Assam has created this rare variety of yellow tea. Rakhi went through different Chinese literature on the tea recipe and started experimenting to make yellow tea. She tasted success when she made some changes in technique to suit the local condition in the state. She was assisted in her endeavour by Pradip Baruah, senior scientist of Tocklai Tea Research Institute in Jorhat who provided her with technical guidance. Rakhi said that her experiment met with success when it yielded the light yellow colour, fruity flavor with an aroma of night jasmine and tinge of the sweet taste of yellow tea. These are the essential characteristics of yellow tea. She added that though she met with some problems initially, she overcame them through constant monitoring and meticulous handling of all parameters needed to make yellow tea.