Scientists may have identified a new color named ‘olo.’

A team of researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Washington School of Medicine has unveiled an intriguing discovery: a new color termed “olo” that is imperceptible to the naked eye. Utilizing advanced technology, the scientists were able to experience this color by employing a device intriguingly named after the iconic “Wizard of Oz,” which manifests laser pulses directed into the viewer’s eyes.

The study, published on April 18 in the journal Science Advances, describes how the researchers employed a technique they developed called Oz. This method effectively “tricks” human perception, enabling individuals to visualize olo, a hue that extends beyond the visible spectrum for humans. Participants who reported seeing olo described it as akin to a richly saturated teal.

The mechanism of color perception in humans operates through three types of photoreceptor cells known as cone cells, present in the retina. These cells are categorized into S cones, responsible for detecting shorter blue wavelengths; M cones, which respond to medium green wavelengths; and L cones, sensitive to longer red wavelengths. The intricate processing of signals emitted from these cones occurs in the retina before being relayed to the visual cortex in the brain, facilitating our color perception.

Olo represents a color that has always existed but lies beyond the capabilities of human vision without technological aid. As noted by researchers, while the color itself has not emerged newly into existence, its conceptualization and naming through advanced technology open creative discussions around color perception and language.

Currently, only five individuals, all possessing normal color vision, have witnessed olo, which includes several of the study’s co-authors. They described the experience as visually striking, akin to a profoundly vibrant shade of teal that eclipses any previously known color.

Looking forward, researchers are also exploring the potential implications of this innovative technology for helping those with color blindness. The Oz technology could theoretically assist individuals suffering from conditions such as deuteranomaly, the most prevalent form of color blindness. However, significant advances would be required to adapt this technology for practical use in visual correction.

This fascinating research not only enhances our understanding of color perception but also challenges the limits of human sight through technological intervention. It beckons a future where the unseen could inspire new dimensions of human experience.

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