Color of the Year for 2010

Pantone announced PANTONE 15-5519 Turquoise as the Color of the Year for 2010.

Turquoise texture by jujubalee on flickr

"Whether envisioned as a tranquil ocean surrounding a tropical island or a protective stone warding off evil spirits, Turquoise is a color that most people respond to positively. It is universally flattering, has appeal for men and women, and translates easily to fashion and interiors. With both warm and cool undertones, Turquoise pairs nicely with any other color in the spectrum. Turquoise adds a splash of excitement to neutrals and browns, complements reds and pinks, creates a classic maritime look with deep blues, livens up all other greens, and is especially trend-setting with yellow-greens."

Turquoise is a slightly greenish tone of cyan (from Greek: κύανoς (transliterated: kýanos), meaning "blue") . The color is based on the gem turquoise. The term comes from the French for Turkish.

The turquoise gemstone is the namesake for the color. In many cultures of the Old and New Worlds, this gemstone has been esteemed for thousands of years as a holy stone, a bringer of good fortune or a talisman. The oldest evidence for this claim was found in Ancient Egypt, where grave furnishings with turquoise inlay were discovered, dating from approximately 3000 BC. In the ancient Persian Empire, the sky-blue gemstones were earlier worn round the neck or wrist as protection against unnatural death. If they changed color, the wearer was thought to have reason to fear the approach of doom. Meanwhile, it has been discovered that turquoise certainly can change color, but that this is not necessarily a sign of impending danger. The change can be caused by light, or by a chemical reaction brought about by cosmetics, dust or the acidity of the skin.

The color turquoise purportedly has a calming effect on patients, and is particularly used to treat patients prone to panic attacks or mania. 
Mainstream psychiatric hospitals use turquoise and other light tones of blue and green to calm patients by painting the walls in these colors.
Nurses often wear turquoise or aquamarine colored clothing because of the calming nature of these colors.
Via pantone, wiki

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