Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Maybe you’ve noticed it. Maybe you haven’t. But when you stare into pure darkness you don’t actually see black... but a slightly brighter colour known as Eigengrau - coming from the German words ‘Intrinsic Grey’. The perception of Eigengrau is caused by the spontaneous excitement of light detecting cells in your eye caused from your body heat, even in the total absence of light. As a result, Eigengrau also represnts the darkest possible shade the human eye can see.
Produced and Presented by Zac Zinn (@scribblemouth)
Animations by Zac Zinn
#Science #ScribbleMouth #ZacZinn #Eigengrau #STEM
3D Credits licensed under Creative Commons Attribution:
"Eye Diagram" by d4vidpayn3
"Cardboard Box" by Andrew.Mischenko
"Van Gogh , Bedroom in Arles , night" by ruslans3d
"Wooden Floor" by Blaine Frazier
“Brain” by maheshshinde777
"Nerd Scared Pose" by Homeless_Models
“H“man brain, Cerebrum & Brainstem" by Frank Johansson
"hand" by kevinruiz
"Mannequin" by Lluc Guardiolaa
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Subscribe: ab.co/2YFO4Go
Like: facebook.com/ABCScience
Follow: instagram.com/ABCHealth
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This is an official Australian Broadcasting Corporation YouTube channel.
Please see the ABC Online Terms of Use for the reasons why we may remove content from this page, or ban people: http://about.abc.net.au/terms-of-use/
Maybe you’ve noticed it. Maybe you haven’t. But when you stare into pure darkness you don’t actually see black... but a slightly brighter colour known as Eigengrau - coming from the German words ‘Intrinsic Grey’. The perception of Eigengrau is caused by the spontaneous excitement of light detecting cells in your eye caused from your body heat, even in the total absence of light. As a result, Eigengrau also represnts the darkest possible shade the human eye can see.
Produced and Presented by Zac Zinn (@scribblemouth)
Animations by Zac Zinn
#Science #ScribbleMouth #ZacZinn #Eigengrau #STEM
3D Credits licensed under Creative Commons Attribution:
"Eye Diagram" by d4vidpayn3
"Cardboard Box" by Andrew.Mischenko
"Van Gogh , Bedroom in Arles , night" by ruslans3d
"Wooden Floor" by Blaine Frazier
“Brain” by maheshshinde777
"Nerd Scared Pose" by Homeless_Models
“H“man brain, Cerebrum & Brainstem" by Frank Johansson
"hand" by kevinruiz
"Mannequin" by Lluc Guardiolaa
---------------------------------------------------------------
Subscribe: ab.co/2YFO4Go
Like: facebook.com/ABCScience
Follow: instagram.com/ABCHealth
---------------------------------------------------------------
This is an official Australian Broadcasting Corporation YouTube channel.
Please see the ABC Online Terms of Use for the reasons why we may remove content from this page, or ban people: http://about.abc.net.au/terms-of-use/
