Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, have identified a previously unseen color, dubbed “olo,” using a novel laser technique that targets the eye’s photoreceptors.
The discovery, published in the journal Science Advances, offers new insights into human color perception and possible applications in vision science.
The research team, led by professors Ren Ng and Austin Roorda, developed Oz, a system that uses low-powered lasers to stimulate individual M-cone cells in the retina. By activating only these medium-wavelength cones, the scientists produced a highly saturated blue-green hue, unlike any naturally occurring color.
Olo cannot be replicated on standard RGB displays and requires specialized equipment to be visible.
So far, only five people have experienced the color, describing it as a vivid, intense teal. The finding challenges the current understanding of color vision and could lead to advances in diagnosing and treating color vision deficiencies.
Future research will explore how this technique might expand the human visual experience and help scientists better understand how the brain processes color.