Science Questions

Why does red that makes bulls so angry?

What is it about the colour red that makes bulls so angry? Is there anything biological about it? Jeremiah, Ontario

Bulls eyes are dichromatic - they have two colour pigments in their retina.  They can see red, as well as being able to see other colours, but they would see things in a similar way to a colour blind person.  There's nothing special about red, its more likely to be that the bull is excited by someone wearing silly clothes, dancing about and flapping something in the bull's direction.  The bull is generally hot, bothered and fed up, but there's no evidence that there's anything special about the colour red.

September 2007