am I blue?

Chemists at Oregon State University accidently created a new, durable and blue pigment. Evidently the creation of blue pigments is problematic; ultramarine blue is expensive as it utilizes ground up lapis lazuli, cobalt blue is a possible carcinogen and Prussian blue can leach cyanide.

The chemists were actually trying to create compounds with unique electronic properties when they stumbled upon their new pigment. Sadly, it is not cheap, since it incorporates an expensive material, indium. They are now trying to replace the indium oxide with cheaper oxides.

I am enthralled by the idea that experimentation with compounds accidently resulted in blue. Rock on, blue! Who knows what other accidental discoveries await us in our experimentation?