The surprising science behind the colour of your eyes - and what it reveals about your personality

A viral TikTok video has revealed the remarkable science and deep symbolism behind eye colour - suggesting your eye shade might say more about you than you think.
The clip, posted by user @snappybits2, explores how brown, blue and green eyes are shaped not only by biology but by history and light itself.
According to the video, brown eyes are caused by a high concentration of melanin - the pigment responsible for colouring the skin, hair and eyes.
In the iris, melanin acts as a shield that absorbs light rather than scattering it.
'Brown eyes pull light inward,' the narrator of the video explains. 'This is why brown eyes seem deeper, darker and more grounded.'
The earliest humans had brown eyes, having evolved near the equator where the sun was most intense.
'Melanin wasn't just pigment. It was protection. Brown eyes were nature's built-in sunglasses, filtering out UV rays and reducing glare long before Ray Bans existed.'
Today, over 70 per cent of the global population has brown eyes - a striking reminder of their evolutionary significance. The video describes the colour as 'not just a colour, but a legacy'.
Culturally, brown eyes are often associated with warmth and reliability, but they've also been viewed as 'mysterious, serious, even intimidating.'
This, it claims, is because 'brown eyes are hard to read. They don't change with the light.
'They don't flash with emotion the way lighter eyes sometimes do. They absorb rather than reveal.'
But under certain lighting - low sun, candlelight, late afternoon haze - something remarkable can happen.
'Brown eyes start to glow… amber, honey, liquid gold,' the narrator continues. 'It's the melanin, again, scattering light just enough to reveal what's been hiding underneath
'In those moments, they feel ancient, like they're not just seeing you, they're remembering you.
Unlike brown, blue eyes contain almost no melanin at all.
Instead, what we perceive as blue is actually an optical illusion created by light scattering through layers of transparent iris tissue, a phenomenon known as Rayleigh scattering.
'There's no blue pigment inside the iris,' the narrator explains. 'What you're seeing is the light scattering through layers of tissue.
'It's the same reason the sky looks blue and sunsets bleed orange.'
Every blue-eyed person on Earth, around 8 per cent of the population, shares a common ancestor.
'They trace their eye colour back to a single genetic mutation that occurred 6,000 to 10,000 years ago, somewhere near the Black Sea, in one human.'
The mutation, found in the OCA2 gene, limited melanin production in the iris.
'Suddenly the eye didn't absorb light anymore, it scattered,' the video says.
'That one mutation spread from person to person, generation to generation, until millions now carry the glitch.'
The result is eyes that aren't truly blue, but instead 'the colour of light's confusion.'
Green eyes are the rarest of all, seen in just 2 per cent of the global population, making them less common than red hair or even being born with 12 fingers.
They're described as a 'chemical contradiction, a perfect storm between biology and light'.
To achieve green eyes, the body must produce just the right balance of melanin and a yellowish pigment called lipochrome, along with the scattering effect of light.
'Most people have too much melanin and their eyes come out brown. Some people have almost none, and their eyes appear blue,' the narrator explains.
'But green eyes need just enough melanin to darken the iris and just enough lipochrome to tint the light that bounces off it.'
The video calls green eyes 'a rendered illusion so delicate that the smallest tweak in pigment breaks the effect entirely.'
And they don't stay the same. 'Green eyes don't sit still. They shift in different lights - gold, jade, moss, steel.
'They look calm in the shade, then snap with energy and sunlight, like they've got a secret loaded behind the iris waiting to be triggered.'
Green eyes, it says, are 'unstable beauty, an optical accident.'
Whether a product of melanin's shielding power, a 10,000-year-old genetic glitch, or a collision of pigment and light, your eye colour might be revealing more about you than you ever realised.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Scottish Sun

2 hours ago

• Scottish Sun

Bargain hunters are raving about ‘best' £2 Primark buy that's ‘essential' for festivals & it'll be great for Glastonbury

Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) DESPITE temperatures continuing to rise, all of us in the UK will know that you should never underestimate when rain could be lurking right around the corner. And with festival season fast approaching, we've found a must-have buy that you'll want to take in your bag. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Bargain hunters are going wild for a bargain buy from Primark that's perfect for festivals Credit: Getty 4 It comes in two different styles and is "essential" for Glastonbury Credit: tiktok/@_georgiewillis 4 The Water Resistant Raincoat will cost you just £2 Credit: tiktok/@_georgiewillis 4 While temperatures are rising, you never know when rain could be round the corner Credit: AFP So if you're going to Glastonbury next week and want to be prepared for all types of weather, you've come to the right place. It comes as bargain hunters are raving about an affordable buy from Primark that's perfect for outdoor events. Not only is it cheap, but it'll keep you dry in unexpected downpours, without you needing to carry around a heavy coat or huge umbrella. Impressed with the high-street buy, Georgie Willis took to social media to share her find with others, leaving many totally stunned. Posting online, Georgie gave her followers a close-up look at the new-in £2 buy - a Water Resistant Raincoat. The raincoat is available in two styles - clear and pink - and at just £2, we think it's a real steal. Thrilled with the bargain buy, the content creator beamed: 'A solid Primark find!' Thanks to this raincoat, you're sure to stay dry during showers, whenever and wherever you are. It folds down nicely and comes in a compact plastic case, which is great for keeping in your pocket or shoving in a bag. It even has a hook so it can be attached to the outside of your rucksack for easy access. 'In our cowboy era,' fashion fans race to Primark to get their hands on 'summer concert essential' that's loved by Beyonce But you'll need to move quickly if you want to nab it in time for Glastonbury, as like all Primark finds, it is sure to sell out fast. And it's clear that the TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @_georgiewillis, has left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly racked up 955,300 views. Festival Essentials FESTIVAL season is upon us - and if you're a camping first-timer, here's the five items you mustn't forget. Tent Sleeping bag Roll mat or air bed Camping chair Torch It's also amassed 38,000 likes, 248 comments and 17,500 shares. Social media users were impressed with the raincoat and eagerly raced to the comments to express this. Best thing I bought. Super handy and stayed dry!! TikTok user One person said: 'Need to go Primark.' Another added: 'Handy. I'll have to look for these.' Glastonbury 2025 - confirmed acts so far TICKETS to the 2025 festival sold out in just minutes before some of the acts were even confirmed. Here is who has been confirmed so far. Confirmed headliners: The 1975 will take to the Pyramid Stage on Friday. Neil Young will headline the festival for the second time after his last set in 2009 on Saturday after RAYE makes her return. Charli xcx will headline the Other Stage on Saturday night. On Sunday, Olivia Rodrigo is due to belt out her hits for her first appearance while Rod Stewart will perform in the legends slot. More acts to appear on the Other Stage include Loyle Carner and The Prodigy. Doechii will make her Glastonbury debut on the West Holts Stage on Saturday night. Other names confirmed include Noah Kahan, Alanis Morissette, Gracie Abrams, Busta Rhymes, Lola Young, Brandi Carlile, Myles Smith, En Vogue, Amaarae, Cymande, Shaboozey, Osees and Gary Numan. A third commented: 'UK summer essentials.' Meanwhile, one happy shopper beamed: 'Best thing I bought. Super handy and stayed dry!! Was able to fit back into the bag with no problems.' At the same time, someone else wrote: 'My grandma used to carry these in her handbag. Glad to see them making a comeback!' Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club

Daily Mail​

4 hours ago

• Daily Mail​

Warning to Tube passengers as woman reveals fear mysterious female attacked her with 'Devil's Breath' drug on London's Elizabeth line

Commuters have been warned of terrifying 'Devil Breath' drug attacks in London. The warning came from a woman who claims that she was a victim of a mysterious woman whilst she travelled on the Elizabeth Line. Also known as scopolamine or burundanga, the drug is derived from the Borrachero tree and was once used by the CIA as a truth serum. It is now being weaponised in honey trap scams via dating apps like Tinder and Grindr. Victims are said to be rendered into a zombie-like state with as little as 10mg, making them easy to manipulate, hallucinate, and follow commands, sometimes with fatal consequences. Now a Londoner has come out, warning people that she was almost a victim of this attack whilst she travelled in the train. Speaking on a TikTok video, she said: 'Today I am on the train, this is the first train, so the train is empty, the previous one had just left a few seconds earlier so I was one of the first people who got on the train. 'So I sat down and had the whole carriage to myself. 'A few minutes later I noticed someone walking very slowly and I looked up and I am thinking "this woman is walking very slowly, what is going on" and when I looked up I realised that she was staring in my direction.' She goes on to describe that at first she thought this person was a tourist about to ask her for directions, but things start taking an unusual twist. She went on: 'She walks and stands in front of me, so at this point I'm like "how can I help you because this train is empty" and she is looking at me, and I am like "how can I help?"' She explains that this mysterious woman is holding a newspaper and is 'waving it around' in a 'really strange' manner. 'She makes her way very slowly, still maintaining eye contact, and she sits down next to me,' the woman explains. She then tells that as the train moves, all of a sudden she starts feeling dizzy and very high, and she describes 'the room getting very dark and it's spinning'. She started to worry that it may be low blood sugar and that she may be about to faint. She then remembered that she had previously watched a video about the drug which causes similar symptoms. She said: 'In the groggy state, I start thinking "Oh my Gosh, is this what I think it is?" 'I pick up my phone and I leave a very groggy voice note to my sister in Italian. The woman is still staring at me and I start [describing the woman's appearance].' To make things even creepier, she then claims the woman, while still looking at her, starts to walk away to another carriage. 'Then I remembered, in those videos [about the drug], they normally leave and somebody else will swoop in and basically lead you to cash machine and lead you to transfer your money to them.' She claims she stood up in the train and moved to the next carriage and spotted a man and a woman who were sat one seat apart from each other in an otherwise empty carriage. 'I thought, what if these are the people that are watching me, because where they are sat they could clearly see where I was sat earlier.' She said she felt 'dread' and thought 'you need to get out now'. She claims she waited for the doors to almost close to leave the carriage. 'I waited until I heard the doors bee,p and as soon as the doors beep I stood up and when I stood up the two South Asian people in front of me immediately looked at me and then looked at each other, and that was all I needed to see. 'I stumbled out of the train, and the doors closed behind me. When the fresh air hits me, the dizziness feeling subsides.' She finished the video by saying: 'I don't know what that was. I don't know if it was black magic, a spell, or hypnotherapy, whatever it is, it was scary, but it was very real. 'I am just here to warn you to be careful and be wary.' She added: 'I am thankful God that I left before they could do anything because I am planning a wedding so my account would have fed them for a few years, you know. So I am just thankful that did't happen to me. But please be wary, they are in London.'

Daily Mirror

4 hours ago

• Daily Mirror

Dr Amir Khan shares five symptoms you've probably Googled but should tell GP

Dr Amir Khan has shared five commonly Googled and 'weird' symptoms that may seem harmless but could actually be a sign of something more serious - and you should tell your GP about them Dr Amir Khan has highlighted five common symptoms that many people may have Googled but it may be wiser - and necessary - to consult a GP for a proper assessment instead. While these symptoms are usually "harmless" they could indicate something more serious if they persist or are accompanied by other signs. As a familiar face on television, particularly as ITV's Good Morning Britain and Lorraine's resident doctor, Dr Khan often imparts his medical wisdom to the masses. In a recent TikTok post, he outlined several health issues that might seem minor but could warrant a visit to your GP. ‌ He was keen to stress that, in most cases, the five ailments could be "harmless" but it was well worth making a doctor's appointment to get a proper check up. ‌ Talking directly to the camera, Dr Khan began: "Here are five weird symptoms you've probably Googled but never told your doctor about". Muscle twitches He first went into detail about "those random muscle twitches - even when you're resting". Dr Khan said: "These are called benign fasciculations. Tiny, involuntary contractions of muscle fibres often triggered by things like stress, fatigue, caffeine or even an electrolyte imbalance. "They're common in healthy people and usually settle on their own but if they're frequent, spreading or paired with muscle weakness, cramping or weight loss, they could be a rare but early sign of a neuromuscular disorder like motor neurone disease." He emphasised that this is very "rare" but still recommended getting symptoms checked "if they persist". ‌ Sudden hiccups Dr Khan noted that hiccups occur due to a spasm in the diaphragm which is "followed by sudden closure of the vocal cords". According to the pro, typical triggers include "overeating, fizzy drinks, spicy food or sudden excitement". The doctor suggested if hiccups persist for more than 48 hours or "won't go away", they may be indicative of "irritation of the phrenic or vagus nerve". ‌ While common "with acid reflux", he warned there are instances where persistent hiccups can point to something more serious like a "tumour, stroke or even side effects of certain medications like steroids". Clicking or popping joints The doctor mentioned that hearing your joints click or pop without pain is typically a case of "cavitation", meaning "bubbles of nitrogen gas forming and collapsing in the joint fluid as you move". This lack of pain generally suggests it's "totally normal and harmless" but when accompanied by "pain, swelling or instability", it could signify the early stages of "osteoarthritis, a soft tissue injury or something else". ‌ The doctor warned that it's not the noise of the joint that should concern people, but "how the joint feels". A lump in your throat Feeling a lump in your throat when you're anxious is known as "globus sensation", or globus pharyngeus. This sensation of a lump or tightening in your throat, even though there's no physical blockage, is common. It's usually not serious. ‌ While it's often associated with "anxiety or stress", Dr Khan explained it could also indicate "acid reflux because acid can irritate the throat muscles". This can result in a "persistent blocked feeling" which should be investigated if it's new, painful, or causes difficulty swallowing. It might indicate a thyroid problem or other health issues. ‌ A sudden 'jerk' when falling asleep Dr Khan admitted he "suffers from this one" and said it's called a "hypnic jerk", which is a "brief, involuntary muscle contraction that happens during the transition from wakefulness to sleep". The doctor revealed the exact cause is unknown but it "may be linked to a misfire in parts of the brain" because your brain "misinterprets muscle relaxation as falling and sends a quick jolt to protect you." It's more common in people who are overtired, anxious, have consumed a lot of caffeine, or "used stimulants late in the day". He mentioned these sudden twitches are "totally harmless" unless they're "really, really affecting your sleep or happening really frequently", and in such cases, a doctor's visit is recommended. If you're worried about any symptoms you're having, it's always better to speak to a GP.