#olocolor

Source: abirpothi.com

In a groundbreaking study, a team of American scientists has reported the discovery of a brand-new color olo—one that has never been seen by the human eye before. The discovery, which emerged from an experimental procedure involving laser pulses directed into the eyes of participants, has introduced what researchers are calling “olo,” a color described as more saturated than any hue found in nature.

The experiment focused on stimulating specific photoreceptor cells—known as M cones—in the retina, bypassing the normal pathways the human brain uses to perceive color. As a result, the five participants involved in the trial described seeing a new green-blue tone unlike anything previously experienced.

Professor Ren Ng of the University of California, co-author of the study, offered an analogy: “Let’s say you’ve spent your entire life seeing only shades of pastel pink. Then one day, you encounter the most intense version of pink imaginable, and someone tells you it’s a completely different color—we call it red.” This, he said, captures the magnitude of the perceptual leap associated with new color Olo.

Color Beyond Description

The researchers emphasize that olo cannot be replicated or displayed using traditional means such as digital screens or printed images. Its uniqueness lies in the way it is directly constructed in the brain, not through mixing pigments or light, but through stimulating isolated retinal cells.

Austin Roorda, a vision scientist and part of the research team, explained the phenomenon: “There is no way to convey that color in an article or on a monitor. The color we see on screens is merely a diluted version of what was experienced. The actual perception of olo goes far beyond that—it is, quite literally, a new sensation.”

The discovery is considered a major leap forward in the study of human vision and perception. Researchers believe olo may help unravel new insights into how the brain interprets visual stimuli and constructs the rich tapestry of color we perceive daily. This could have broader implications for fields such as neuroscience, digital imaging, and even art.

Healthy Skepticism in the Scientific Community

Despite the enthusiasm surrounding olo, not all experts are convinced. Some vision scientists are questioning whether the discovery truly constitutes a “new” color or simply a more intense variation of existing shades.

Professor John Barbur from City St George’s, University of London, acknowledged the experiment as a remarkable technical achievement but argued the interpretation of an entirely new color olo remains “open to debate.” He stated, “It’s a more saturated green that arises under specific visual conditions—particularly when the only input comes from M cones in individuals with normal red-green color processing.”

Only the five participants of the study have experienced the color so far, making it difficult to verify or share broadly. Nevertheless, the discovery of olo continues to ignite fascination and debate within the scientific community, signaling a new chapter in our understanding of color perception and visual neuroscience.

Source: tasnimnews.com

A Breakthrough in Color Perception

In a bold and controversial leap in vision science, researchers in the United States claim to have uncovered a new color olo never before experienced by the human eye. The color, dubbed “olo,” is described as a highly saturated blue-green hue that emerged during a unique experiment involving laser pulses aimed at individual cone cells in the retina. Published in Science Advances on April 18, the study explores how such targeted stimulation may extend the boundaries of human color perception.

The research team used laser technology to isolate and stimulate specific M-cones, the retinal cells responsible for detecting green wavelengths. By avoiding overlap with other cone types — a condition rarely possible with natural light — researchers generated a visual response unlike any participants had encountered before. “We predicted from the beginning that it would look like an unprecedented colour signal,” said Ren Ng, an electrical engineer at the University of California, Berkeley. “It was jaw-dropping. It’s incredibly saturated.”

Participants in the study, five in total, struggled to describe the color using traditional vocabulary. Although they referred to it as “blue-green,” they agreed the term fell short of capturing its unique appearance. Their descriptions were supplemented with dial-based color adjustments to visually approximate what they saw during the laser stimulation.

The Science Behind ‘Olo’

The retina’s ability to perceive color depends on three types of cone cells: S-cones for blue, M-cones for green, and L-cones for red. Typically, natural light activates a blend of these cones, making isolated stimulation — and by extension, completely new color experiences — nearly impossible. But the laser-based method developed by the research team defied this limitation by isolating only the M-cones, delivering a pure signal to the brain without interference from the others.

This highly controlled environment allowed the brain to process a visual cue outside of its normal operating parameters. Scientists believe this novel approach has led to the experience of a color not found on the typical spectrum. According to the study, this new color olo was consistent among all participants, though it defied precise categorization. The result challenges the long-held belief that human perception is bound by the traditional color triangle formed by red, green, and blue.

To record the experience of “olo,” each participant was asked to adjust a digital dial to reflect the color as accurately as possible. The data collected provides the first formal attempt to represent this elusive visual phenomenon.

A Divided Scientific Community

Despite the excitement surrounding the discovery, some scientists remain unconvinced. John Barbur, a vision expert at City, St George’s, University of London, has criticized the claim that new color olo. “It is not a new colour,” he argued. “It’s a more saturated green that can only be produced in a subject with a normal red-green chromatic mechanism when the only input comes from M cones.”

Barbur and others suggest that while the experience may be intense or unusual, it doesn’t break the boundaries of human color perception, but rather exploits a rare but explainable condition within it.

Nevertheless, the research has sparked a vibrant discussion on the malleability of human vision and the potential for undiscovered experiences still hidden within our sensory systems. Whether “olo” stands the test of scientific scrutiny or fades into the realm of perceptual illusion, its introduction has undeniably challenged conventional understanding of what the human eye can see.