Researchers from the University of California, Berkeley have developed a method that allows humans to see a new color called “olo.” According to Live Science, the experiment involved five participants who saw an unusual blue-green shade with “unprecedented richness.” The technique, dubbed “Oz,” utilizes lasers for pinpoint stimulation of retinal cells.
The human eye perceives colors through three types of cones in the retina, responding to red (L), green (M), and blue (S) light. Typically, light activates multiple types of cones simultaneously, but scientists managed to isolate and stimulate only the M-cones responsible for green. To achieve this, they scanned the participants’ retinas, identified the positions of M-cones, and directed micro-doses of laser light onto them. As a result, participants saw “olo”—a color not present in the natural spectrum visible to humans.
The experiment was conducted in a dark room where participants fixed their gaze while lasers created a square of light the size of a fingernail. The color appeared for a few seconds, disappearing when blinking occurred. Scientists hope the technology can aid in studying vision, simulating color blindness, or even temporarily restoring color perception. However, “olo” remains inaccessible outside the laboratory as it requires sophisticated equipment.
