Black

In the RGB color model, which is used for digital screens, true black is represented by the numerical value (0, 0, 0). This indicates a complete absence of red, green, and blue light. It is the darkest color possible on a display and serves as the default background for many applications to conserve OLED battery life.

Black is technically the absence of visible light, meaning it is not actually a color in the visible spectrum, but rather the visual impression experienced when no light reaches the eye. Objects appear black when they absorb all wavelengths of light rather than reflecting them back to the viewer. It represents the darkest shade possible.

The tradition of wearing black clothing for mourning dates back to the Roman Empire but became widespread in Europe during the Middle Ages and the Victorian era. Queen Victoria of England famously wore black for 40 years following the death of her husband, Prince Albert, in 1861. This standardized black as the definitive color of grief and solemnity in Western fashion.

Vantablack is a synthetic material made from carbon nanotubes that absorbs 99.965% of visible light, making it the darkest artificial substance known. Unlike standard black paint, which still reflects a small percentage of light, Vantablack makes three-dimensional objects appear completely flat to the human eye. It was originally developed by Surrey NanoSystems for astronomical telescopes and military applications.