Scientists discover 'olo' - a hyper-saturated color beyond normal human vision, created through laser stimulation of eye receptors using the Oz Vision System
What is ‘Olo’ and Why is It Making Headlines?
Olo isn’t just a fancy shade of green or blue. Scientists claim it’s something completely new—a hyper-saturated hue beyond the colors naturally perceivable by the human eye. This color is said to exist outside the known color gamut, meaning it can’t be reproduced on a screen or printed page. The only way to experience it? Lasers zapping directly into your retinas.
How Did Scientists Discover Olo?
Researchers at UC Berkeley, using a specialized system known as Oz Vision, developed a way to stimulate only the M cones in the human retina. This is something that never happens naturally because light usually activates multiple types of cones at once. By targeting M cones precisely with lasers, they unlocked a new perception, leading to the experience of olo.
What Exactly is the Oz Vision System?
The Oz Vision System is as sci-fi as it sounds. Inspired by the green-tinted glasses worn in the Emerald City in The Wizard of Oz, it’s a complex setup involving mirrors, lasers, and custom optics. Participants in the study had to look directly into the Oz device, which beamed light straight into their eyes in a way that tricked their visual system into creating this new color experience.
Why is It Called ‘Olo’?
The name isn’t random. It’s actually a nod to binary code. Since only the M cones were activated—while the L and S cones remained inactive—the researchers named it ‘olo’, representing the binary 010. That binary logic mirrors which cones were “on” or “off” during the experiment.
What Did the Participants Actually See?
The five participants, including three researchers, all described the color as being unlike anything they'd ever seen. The closest real-world approximation? A vibrant blue-green. But even that doesn’t do it justice. Professor Ren Ng compared it to someone who has only ever seen pastel pinks suddenly encountering a deep, intense red for the first time. It’s not just a different shade—it’s an entirely different category of experience.
How is This Color Different from Existing Ones?
What makes olo so special is its position outside the standard range of colors humans can see, known as the gamut. Normally, colors are created by blending the three primary types of cones. But by isolating the M cones with laser precision, researchers made the brain interpret a signal it has never encountered in natural vision. That’s why olo is so saturated and intense—it’s essentially alien to our visual system.
Can We See Olo Without Lasers?
Not a chance—at least not yet. Olo can’t be captured in a photo, printed in a book, or seen on a TV. The only way to perceive it is through the specialized laser setup developed by the research team. Until that tech becomes mainstream (don’t hold your breath), only those lucky few in the lab have had a peek.
Could Olo Help the Color-Blind?
This isn’t just a cool trick for vision geeks. The researchers believe their method could one day help people with color blindness. By targeting specific cone cells, they might be able to simulate colors that color-blind individuals have never seen. The Oz system could potentially offer a new way to explore and restore vision.
Are Experts Convinced About the Discovery?
Not all of them. Some vision scientists are skeptical, arguing that olo isn’t truly a new color. John Barbur, a vision researcher from City St George’s in London, says it’s just an extremely saturated green. He claims the technique, while clever, doesn’t create a genuinely novel color, just a rare visual experience from a selective input.
Why Is There Controversy Over What Counts as a ‘New Color’?
Color perception is deeply tied to how our brains interpret light. Since olo doesn’t correspond to any light wavelength we can normally see, some argue it’s more of a brain trick than a new entry on the color wheel. Still, others say if it’s perceived as unique, then it qualifies as a distinct visual phenomenon.
Can Olo Be Reproduced on Screens or Paintings?
Nope. That’s what makes it so wild. You can’t see olo on your laptop, no matter how high-res your display is. The color lives entirely in the brain’s response to precise cone stimulation, not in physical pigments or digital pixels. It’s kind of like trying to explain the color red to someone who’s been blind from birth—words and images fall short.
Is the Experience of Olo the Same for Everyone?
Interestingly, no. Each participant had to adjust a color dial to match their experience of olo. While all described it as extremely saturated and vibrant, their exact matches varied slightly. This suggests that olo, like many color experiences, may be subjective—though still rooted in consistent biological responses.
What Could This Mean for Visual Technology?
If scientists can find a way to simulate olo and similar out-of-gamut colors in practical applications, it could revolutionize visual technology. Imagine screens or VR environments that let us perceive colors we’ve never seen before. That said, the current system involves high-precision lasers, so don’t expect olo to show up in your Netflix feed anytime soon.
How Big Was the ‘Olo’ Spot in the Eye?
The color patch perceived by the participants was described as being about twice the size of a full moon in the sky. It appeared right in the center of their vision and stood out sharply from the gray background used in the experiment. This added to the vividness and uniqueness of the experience.
Could Olo Influence Art or Design?
In theory, yes—but only once a method is developed to simulate it for more people. Artists are always pushing the boundaries of color and form, and a new color could inspire entirely new art movements. Imagine painting with a pigment that doesn’t exist on Earth. Until then, it’s an intriguing but inaccessible idea.
What’s Next for This Line of Research?
The team behind Oz and olo is already working on ways to refine the technology and expand the palette of unusual colors they can generate. They’re especially interested in how these methods could aid in the treatment of eye diseases and visual impairments. It’s early days, but this could be the tip of the iceberg in terms of expanding human vision.
Conclusion
The discovery of olo opens up a colorful can of worms. Is it really a new color, or just a highly manipulated form of an existing one? Either way, the sheer fact that our visual system can be hacked to experience something beyond nature is mind-blowing. Whether you're a skeptic or a believer, one thing is certain: the color world just got a little more mysterious—and a lot more exciting.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What is the color 'olo' exactly?
Olo is a highly saturated blue-green hue that lies beyond the natural color gamut. It can only be perceived through a laser-based technique called the Oz Vision System.
Q2: Can I see olo with the naked eye?
No, you need special laser stimulation to see olo. It’s not visible in natural light or on screens.
Q3: Is olo useful for treating color blindness?
Potentially. Researchers believe the Oz technique could eventually help simulate colors for color-blind individuals, though it’s still early in development.
Q4: Why don’t all scientists agree that olo is a new color?
Some experts believe olo is just an exaggerated version of existing colors, not a truly novel hue. The debate centers around perception versus physical light wavelengths.
Q5: Will we ever be able to see olo in everyday life?
Not anytime soon. The tech required is complex and expensive, making it unlikely for everyday use in the near future.
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