For centuries, humans believed they had unlocked every color the natural world could offer.
But that belief has just been challenged. Scientists have discovered a new invisible color, Olo, a mesmerizing blue-green shade unseen by human eyes until now.
Led by researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Washington School of Medicine, the study was recently unveiled in Science Advances, sending waves of excitement across scientific and curious communities alike.
Oz Device and Birth of a New Color
The human eye is a sophisticated instrument, equipped with three types of cone cells that pick up short wavelengths (blue), medium wavelengths (green), and long wavelengths (red) of light. But under normal conditions, the M cones, which are sensitive to green light, never get activated alone. There is always overlap with the neighboring cones.
That’s where the breakthrough happened. Using a device called Oz (inspired by the magical illusions from The Wizard of Oz), researchers were able to directly stimulate only the M cones, creating a visual experience that simply does not exist in natural vision.
Five individuals with normal color vision took part in the experiment. With laser pulses precisely targeting their M cones, they witnessed a color that was vividly different, a “profoundly saturated teal,” far more intense than anything seen before.
Oz Device Unlocks a Vivid New World of Color Perception
The Oz device acts like a high-precision microscope for the eye, using microdoses of laser light to selectively excite individual photoreceptors. Stabilization was crucial; even the smallest movements could affect the experiment.
Participants described Olo as a blue-green shade, but even that comparison falls short. As Professor Ren Ng explained, the experience was like seeing an entirely new version of green, as if all greens before had been mere echoes of this intense, vivid color.
Dr. Austin Roorda, a vision scientist who helped pioneer Oz, likened the experience to walking into an impossibly green city straight out of a dream, much like how the Emerald City dazzled visitors in the original Wizard of Oz story.
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Future Possibilities and Limitations
While Olo itself cannot be displayed on screens or seen without specialized equipment, its discovery could open new doors for vision science.
Researchers are hopeful that techniques like Oz could one day aid people with color blindness. By selectively stimulating cone cells, it might become possible to help individuals perceive colors they otherwise couldn’t distinguish. However, the technology today is still bulky and experimental, a future where such enhancements are wearable or widely available remains a distant goal.
Why Different Eyes See Different Worlds of Color
The existence of Olo reminds us that color is not just a physical property but a biological and even social phenomenon. While the wavelengths are real, how our brains interpret them and how society names them defines what we “see.”
Different species experience the world in vastly different palettes. Mantis shrimp, for instance, can detect twelve channels of color, far beyond our human range. Even among people, perception can vary based on lighting, biology, and individual differences, something the viral debate over “the dress” in 2015 vividly illustrated.
Is Olo a New Discovery or a Deeper Shade of Green?
Not everyone agrees that Olo qualifies as a truly “new” color. Some experts argue that it’s a more saturated version of green created by a rare stimulation of M cones. But even skeptics acknowledge the technological leap required to isolate and trigger a single type of cone without activating others.
Regardless of the debate, the experience of Olo, described as richer, deeper, and more vibrant than anything found in nature, adds a fresh layer to our understanding of how human vision works and how much more there might still be left to explore.
FAQs
What is ‘Olo’?
Olo is a newly discovered, vivid blue-green color that humans cannot see naturally. It can only be experienced through specialized laser technology that targets specific cells in the retina.
How did scientists discover Olo?
Using a device called Oz, scientists fired tiny laser pulses to selectively activate M cone cells, revealing a color unseen in natural human vision.
Why can’t humans see Olo with the naked eye?
M cones are normally activated alongside other cones, preventing natural perception of Olo. It can only be seen through precise technological stimulation.
What does Olo look like?
Olo appears as an intensely vivid teal or blue-green, far more saturated than any color found in nature.
Can Olo be displayed on a phone, TV, or computer screen?
No, Olo cannot be replicated on screens or prints. It can only be experienced through specialized laser stimulation of the eye’s photoreceptors.
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