In a groundbreaking development, scientists from the University of California have revealed the discovery of a completely new color, one that has never been seen by humans before. This unprecedented hue, dubbed Olo, was uncovered through a revolutionary experiment that utilized advanced laser technology to stimulate the retina in ways that push the boundaries of human color perception. The discovery, published in Science Advances on April 18, 2025, has left researchers and the public astounded by its sheer intensity and beauty.
What is Olo?
The newly discovered color, which can only be perceived through specific retinal stimulation, has been described by the scientists as a highly saturated bluegreen, with some likening it to a peacock blue or teal. However, despite these comparisons, the true nature of Olo cannot be fully captured through traditional imaging methods like screens or photographs. Researchers themselves have noted that the color seen by human eyes during the experiment is far more intense than any representation that can be conveyed on a monitor or in print.
Olo is more saturated than any color youve ever seen, explained Ren Ng, an electrical engineer involved in the project. Its like seeing a color so intense it makes everything else look dull by comparison. The phenomenon was a result of an experimental technique known as the Oz Vision System, where precise laser pulses were targeted directly at specific photoreceptor cells in the retina, bypassing natural constraints of color perception.
The Experiment: A Step Beyond Normal Vision
The Oz Vision System works by sending microdoses of light to retinal cones, which are responsible for color detection. The retina has three types of cones sensitive to different wavelengths of lightlong L, medium M, and short S. While traditional human vision involves a mixture of these cones, the new system specifically targeted the M cones, stimulating them alone to produce a signal that had never been experienced before in natural vision.
The experiment was carried out with five participants, who were the first to ever witness Olo. By carefully manipulating the lasers, researchers were able to elicit this color by altering the usual balance of light perception in the eye. When we jittered the lasers by just a few microns, the brain was forced to interpret a color it had never seen before, and the result was jawdropping, said Professor Austin Roorda, a vision scientist on the project. The intensity of Olo was so profound that the participants struggled to find words to adequately describe it, with some noting that it resembled an unreal, otherworldly shade of bluegreen.
A Step Towards Colorblind Solutions
One of the most exciting aspects of this discovery is its potential application for the millions of people around the world who experience color blindness. By using this advanced system, researchers hope that the Oz Vision System can be adapted to simulate a fuller range of colors for those whose vision is limited by the inability to fully perceive certain hues. While this technology is still in its early stages, it could one day provide a breakthrough for aiding colorblind individuals, helping them to see the world in a more vivid and nuanced way.
Additionally, scientists are hopeful that the Oz system could have applications beyond just color enhancement. By manipulating individual photoreceptors in such precise ways, the technology could offer new insights into brain function and neurological diseases. Researchers speculate that it could even be used to model brain activity with unprecedented accuracy, providing a deeper understanding of how the human visual system processes complex stimuli.
Limitations and Future Prospects
While Olo represents a stunning achievement in the field of vision science, its important to note that this new color cannot be seen in everyday life. The laser technology used in the experiment is far beyond what current consumer devices, like smartphones or VR headsets, can produce. In fact, researchers made it clear that Olo is not something we will be able to see casually on a screen or in natureits perception is limited to controlled experimental conditions.
The current focus is on refining the Oz Vision System to explore even more possibilities for human vision. Scientists hope to expand the colorspace further, pushing the boundaries of what is perceptible by the human eye. However, for now, Olo remains an exclusive experience, known only to the five participants involved in the experiment.
Conclusion
The discovery of Olo marks a significant milestone in the field of vision science, offering new possibilities for both enhancing human color perception and understanding the brains processing of visual information. Though this color cannot be seen by the general public just yet, the implications of this discovery extend far beyond mere novelty. As researchers continue to explore the potential of the Oz Vision System, we may one day see a world full of colors that were once beyond the limits of human vision.