Scientists Discover New Colour ‘Olo’ Unseen by Human Eyes Until Now

In an extraordinary leap forward for visual science, scientists new colour discovery is taking the internet by storm. Nicknamed “Olo,” this vibrant blue-green hue is unlike anything humans have ever perceived—and may mark the beginning of a new chapter in how we understand light and vision. Researchers from UC Berkeley and the University of Washington published their findings in the Science Advances journal, revealing a carefully controlled experiment that successfully isolated a colour that cannot naturally be seen by the human eye.

Scientists New Colour Discovery: The Origin of ‘Olo’

The newly observed colour, Olo, was revealed through an experiment involving laser pulses that were fired into the eyes of five volunteers. The laser was designed to stimulate just one type of cone cell in the retina—the M-cones responsible for green detection. In natural vision, these cones always interact with other cone types (S for blue and L for red) to produce the colours we see. But by isolating M-cones alone, the researchers triggered a signal the brain had never processed before, giving birth to a hue entirely outside the natural colour wheel.

Professor Ren Ng, co-author of the study and researcher at UC Berkeley, explained on BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme that Olo is “more saturated than any colour that you can see in the real world.” He likened the experience to seeing an ultra-intensified version of a familiar colour. It’s as if someone who’s only ever seen pastel pink suddenly encountered bright red—with no prior reference for what that intensity means. That’s the level of visual shock Olo represents.

How the Human Eye Sees Colour—and Why Olo Is Different

To understand why this scientists new colour discovery is such a breakthrough, it’s important to grasp how colour perception works. Human vision relies on three types of cone cells: S-cones (blue), M-cones (green), and L-cones (red). Normally, these cones overlap in function and combine data to interpret colours. For example, yellow appears when both red and green cones are stimulated simultaneously.

But in the Olo experiment, researchers used a device called “Oz”—a sophisticated system involving lasers, mirrors, and optical equipment—to activate only the M-cones. This isolation created a single-source stimulus, generating a colour signal that never occurs in natural conditions. The result? A vivid, blue-green shade that exists outside our evolutionary spectrum. Participants described the colour as highly unique, and each one used a dial interface to match and agree upon the new tone, confirming its novelty.

The Scientific and Philosophical Implications of Olo

The discovery of Olo is not just a visual milestone—it could revolutionize our understanding of neural processing, colour theory, and even the philosophy of perception. If scientists can manufacture and replicate unseen colours, this opens new doors in everything from art and design to augmented reality and visual therapy.

The fact that our brain can interpret signals it has never before encountered suggests a plasticity in visual processing that may be deeper than previously understood. It challenges the idea that human perception is fixed and opens up exciting possibilities for customized visual experiences, especially for those with vision impairments or color blindness.

Still, not everyone is ready to label Olo as a completely “new” colour. Critics argue that while the experience is novel, it’s still grounded in existing cone stimulation and may simply be a new way to trick the brain, not an entirely new wavelength.

What’s Next for Colour Science After Olo?

With the discovery of Olo, colour science might be entering a new era. Researchers hope to explore how similar techniques could stimulate other cones and produce further unseen shades. They’re also interested in studying the effects of these colours on emotions, memory, and even learning.

Furthermore, tech innovators are already speculating on applications in display technologies. Imagine virtual reality systems offering users a spectrum of colours no human has ever seen—or artists creating paintings that engage the brain in completely new ways.

As research progresses, it may soon be possible for Olo and other future hues to become part of our visual vocabulary, fundamentally changing how we define and interact with colour.

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The scientists new colour breakthrough challenges the boundaries of human perception, proving that even in a world saturated with imagery, the eye can still be astonished.

FAQs

What is the new colour discovered by scientists?

The new colour, called Olo, is a blue-green hue perceived by isolating M-cone cells in the retina during a laser experiment.

Who discovered the new colour?

The research was conducted by scientists from UC Berkeley and the University of Washington, and the findings were published in Science Advances.

How was the new colour created?

It was created by firing laser pulses into volunteers’ eyes, targeting only the M-cones, which led to a colour signal the brain doesn’t usually receive.

Can everyone see Olo?

Currently, Olo can only be seen under specific lab conditions using specialized optical equipment—it is not visible in natural environments.

What could this discovery mean for the future?

It could lead to new visual technologies, therapies for vision disorders, and deeper insights into how the brain processes sensory information.