Scientists Discover a New Color Invisible to the Naked Eye

Berkley, California – A team of scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, has announced the discovery of a new color, named “olo,” that cannot be seen by the naked eye. The researchers published their findings in the journal Science Advances on April 18.

The breakthrough came from a unique technique called Oz, which involves firing laser pulses directly into the eyes of test subjects. While olo appears to those who can see it as a shade similar to teal, it is described by the five individuals who witnessed it as a color of unparalleled saturation.

Professors Ren Ng and Austin Roorda explained that this technology can activate only the M cones, the photoreceptors in the retina that perceive medium wavelengths of light. Using this technique, researchers can trick the eye into seeing olo, which exists beyond the current spectrum of human vision.

“It was like a profoundly saturated teal . . . the most saturated natural color was just pale by comparison,” Roorda said, reflecting on the unique nature of this color experience.

For the experiment, five participants were recruited, three of whom played a key role in the research. The team used a laser that is capable of targeting and stimulating individual photoreceptors in the retina. While the color itself has always existed, it remained unseen until now, as it naturally falls outside the range of colors visible to humans.

James Carl Fong, a doctoral student involved in the study, stated, “The method we present in the current study demonstrates that a lot of the key principles are possible in practice.”

The researchers also hope that the Oz technology could help inform new treatments for color blindness, as well as facilitate a better understanding of various retinal diseases.

Despite these advancements, some experts remain skeptical about classifying olo as a new color. Dr. John Barbur, a vision scientist, noted that it seems to be a more saturated green instead of a completely distinct color.

Research on this innovative technology is ongoing, and the team emphasizes that while olo may not appear on consumer screens or paint samples anytime soon, the implications for vision science could be significant in the years ahead.