Why do we see colors?

Human color vision depends on three types of cone cells in the retina, each most sensitive to a different range of wavelengths. The brain compares signals from these cones to create the perception of color. Visible light is only a small slice of the electromagnetic spectrum, roughly 380 to 750 nanometers. Objects look colored because they absorb some wavelengths and reflect others into our eyes. Color perception is not just about physics; the brain actively interprets and balances the incoming signals, which is why colors can appear different under different lighting.