Turns out, purple isn't quite as "real" as we think—it's more of a brain trick than a true color of the rainbow. Unlike other colors that map neatly to specific wavelengths of light, purple is a perceptual mashup our brains create when they see both red and blue at once. Scientists say it's a "non-spectral" color, meaning you won't find it in a pure beam of light.

Editor’s Note: This isn't just a fun fact for art class—it messes with how we understand perception itself. If something as basic as "purple" is a mental construct, it makes you wonder what else our brains might be editing or inventing without us realizing. Kind of trippy when you think about it.