People attach different meanings to colours. The psychological basis for understanding colour and its influence on emotions isn't understood well. There is no simple explanation for the interaction of colour and emotional response. Some evidence suggests that the light of different colours enters the eye and indirectly affects the hypothalamus, which affects the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland controls the hormone levels and perhaps our moods. Some experiments have suggested that colour may influence our emotions. One experiment showed that in a room coloured in red light, time was overestimated while in green or blue light, time was underestimated.

Emotions are commonly associated with various colours, but these associations vary among individuals and cultures. Associations may relate to how we view our environment and may stimulate our other senses. Colour suggests warmth and coolness. In one study, people in a blue-green room felt cold when it was 59 degrees F. but in the red-orange room, the temperature had to fall from 52 to 42 degrees F. before people reported being cold. In another study conducted, people tended to set the thermostat four degrees higher for comfort in a blue room than in a red room.

In the world of gemstones, no colour seems rare enough but sometimes stones are so stunning they still surprise us! Smoky Quartz is the national gem of Scotland and is called Morion there after its dark brown to black colour. Another lighter variety of this stone is called Cairngorm. A variety of Quartz, it is a silicon dioxide mineral found in shades of pale, smoky gray to deep brown, black, and yellowish-brown. Though Smoky Quartz can be nearly opaque, it is almost always transparent to translucent. It is mostly used in jewellery, or as a healing stone.

Chalcedony is a form of silica and is composed of quartz and moganite. It has a waxy look to it and is either semitransparent or translucent. The name is derived from the Latin word Chalcedonius. It is alleged that the word may be taken from the town Chalcedon in Asia Minor. The stone is most commonly found in colours of white, grey, orange, grayish blue, or shades of brown. Agate, Aventurine, Carnelian, Heliotrope and many other gemstones are types of Chalcedony. It was used in seals, weapons, breastplates etc. in olden times.

Lotus berthelotii or Parrot's beak is known for its lobster-claw like flowers that resemble a parrot's beak.  It looks attractive with silver-grey leaves and contrasting shades of vibrant orange, red and yellow flowers. Native to the Canary and Cape Verde, the plant is vulnerable and protected by law. The flowering phase of the plant is quite short and is dependent on the temperature. It blooms well in cool temperatures and during spring. It completely dislikes hot temperatures and doesn't bloom in the summers. It is often confused with Nelumbo or water lily, a commonly known lotus. It is an exotic ornamental plant.

The Weedy sea dragon or common sea dragon, Phyllopteryx taeniolatus, is a marine fish that is related to the seahorse. It is found around the south coast of Australia, from Port Stephens, New South Wales to Geraldton, Western Australia and also around Tasmania. It has got its name from the weed-like growth on its body that work as a camouflage as it moves among the seaweed beds. It is long, slender and reddish-brown with bony plates of yellow and purple accents. It is also the aquatic emblem for the state of Victoria.