Green of leaves, red of poppies, pink of flamingos: nature is full of colors and patterns with multiple functions. In "The colors of life" (CNRS editions), Jean-Michel Gibert, biologist and researcher at CNRS, explores the essential roles of these natural hues: camouflage, seduction, thermoregulation. The work reveals how genetics, the chemistry of pigments and the laws of physics shape this infinite palette, while offering illustrated examples accessible to an informed audience.
Alongside Jean-Michel Gibert, Alexandre Roulin, ornithologist and professor at the University of Lausanne, shares his expertise on barn owls in his book My life as an owl (La Salamandre editions). He notably deciphers the importance of their plumage patterns, linked to melanin, in their adaptation and survival. Two enriching perspectives on a subject as scientific as it is poetic.