Activity: The origin of colour

This activity is part of the Royal Society's Summer Science Exhibition 2026.

Our world is full of colour, which arises from the interaction of molecules with light in the presence of an observer.

In fact, we can use this interaction, also known as spectroscopy, to study the structure of molecules and their energy levels. This is important as a molecule’s structure determines its chemistry, and ultimately its function. This method is how astronomers are able to determine the chemical makeup of distant celestial bodies – particularly useful in the search for potentially habitable planets.

In this interactive activity you’ll meet the team from Durham University’s Chemistry Department and get hands-on with their Lego spectrometer and find out how materials get their colour and how this links to their molecular structures.

Attending the event

This event will be held in City of London 1 at the Royal Society on Saturday 4 July 2026, 10am – 6pm.

• Free to attend as part of Summer Science Exhibition
• Suitable for all ages
• Travel and accessibility information and details on planning your visit - contact us directly to arrange any specific accessibility requirements
• Food and drink will be available for purchase at our onsite café

For all enquiries, please email us.