Scientists Have Discovered a New Color

A group of researchers recently claimed to have discovered a new color that has rarely been seen by human eyes. This color, known as “olo,” is described as a shade of blue-green, a hue that is distinct from any other color currently known. The researchers conducted an experiment using laser pulses to stimulate particular cells in the retina of the eye, resulting in some participants reporting that they were able to perceive a color that they had not seen before.

While the discovery of olo has garnered attention, some experts remain skeptical about the existence of this new color. The study in question was limited in scope, involving only five participants, one of whom was Professor Ren Ng, a co-author of the study published in Science Advances. The participants, who all had normal color vision, reported varying responses to the experiment, with some describing the color as more vibrant and saturated than any color found in nature.

The retina of the eye contains cones that are sensitive to different wavelengths of light, including M, L, and S cones, which overlap in their responses. By targeting the M cones specifically with laser pulses, the researchers were able to trigger a unique neural response that led to the perception of the novel color, olo. While some observers have praised the technological achievement of isolating a specific cone in the retina, others have questioned whether the resulting color truly constitutes a new addition to the color spectrum.

Professor John Barbur, a vision scientist not involved in the study, has expressed doubts about whether the stimulation of a single cone can generate a genuinely new color. While acknowledging the technical prowess involved in the experiment, Barbur suggested that the perception of a deeper or more intense color may not necessarily equate to the creation of a color that is fundamentally different from existing hues. Despite these reservations, the researchers behind the study and other scientists believe that their findings could have implications for individuals with red-green color blindness.

In conclusion, the purported discovery of the color olo has sparked debate within the scientific community, with some questioning the validity of the new hue. While the experiment conducted by the researchers has shed light on the mechanisms of color perception and neural processing in the eye, further research may be necessary to determine the true nature of this novel color phenomenon.