Scientists Discover New Color ‘Olo’ Unseen by Human Eye

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Researchers suggest a newly discovered hue, following their investigation into activating particular cells within the eye’s retina.

Consider experiencing a hue you’ve never known by name. Grasping such a concept might seem almost unattainable for human understanding. Yet, it seems that this challenge was met by five individuals participating in a research project presenting a novel approach to color representation.

A recently published research article in Science Advances (on April 18, 2025) outlines an innovative technique for activating certain cells within the eye’s retina using lasers, resulting in visual sensations that ordinary light cannot achieve on its own.

Consequently, these observers reported seeing a remarkably intense shade of blue-green.

Scientists claim there’s a new color based on an experiment

Researchers have dubbed this freshly discovered hue “olo,” offering a visual representation of its likeness, which can be found in the image beneath.

The study focuses on an experiment designed to investigate the cone cells within the eye, these specialized cells respond to varying lengths of light spectrum, including long, medium, and short wavelengths.

Here, the laser stimulates solely the medium-wave sensitivity regions – a phenomenon that typically doesn’t happen spontaneously by itself.

Since it requires particular stimulation to perceive, the color olo is not visible to the unaided human eye.

In this research, each participant, known for having regular color perception, peered into an intricate tool that included mirrors, lasers, and a system of optical instruments referred to as “Oz.

This gear facilitated the showing of colors that extend beyond the standard, limited range of colors visible to the human eye.

In conversation with the BBC, Professor Ng, a collaborator and participant in the study, characterized “olo” as being “more vibrant or intense than any color visible in our everyday environment.

He gave an example: Imagine living your entire life surrounded by shades of soft pink, from baby pink to pastel pink. Then, one day at work, someone wears a shirt that is the most vibrant shade of baby pink you’ve ever encountered. They claim this color doesn’t have a name yet, and we decide to call it red.

According to the conclusions of the study, an expert has offered their perspective on the matter. As reported by The Guardian, John Barbur, a researcher in visual science at City, University of London, expressed his viewpoint that it’s actually not a new color.

He remarked that the shade of green is richer and unique, appearing under typical color perception systems sensitive to red and green, where light is exclusively sensed by M cones. However, he added that the study’s significance was rather limited.

Regarding the question of whether other people will be able to perceive this color in the near future, Ng stated that this is a matter of fundamental science, and it’s unlikely to appear on smartphone screens or TVs anytime soon. Moreover, this is way beyond the capabilities of VR headset technology at present.

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2025-04-21 07:48