Scientists claim they've seen a 'jaw-dropping' new color, but you can only experience it by shooting lasers directly into your eyes

Novel Color Perception Achieved Through Laser Eye Stimulation

Scientists have reportedly discovered a method to induce the perception of a new color, termed “olo,” by precisely directing lasers into the human eye. This innovative research, conducted at the University of California, Berkeley, has allowed a small group of individuals to experience a hue unlike any previously known. Participants describing “olo” characterize it as a blue-green shade, yet possessing a saturation level exceeding any naturally occurring or artificially created blue-green color.

Laser Technique Unlocks Unprecedented Visual Spectrum

A recent publication in a peer-reviewed journal details how researchers at UC Berkeley utilized lasers to selectively stimulate individual cells within the retina. This groundbreaking technique bypasses the limitations of natural light, enabling the creation of visual stimuli that fall outside the conventional spectrum of human color perception. The study focused on cone cells, the photoreceptors in the eye responsible for color vision, which are typically activated by long, medium, and short wavelengths of light.

In this experiment, the laser targeted only the medium wavelength cones, achieving an isolated stimulation not possible under normal visual conditions. This precise targeting resulted in the perception of “olo,” a color sensation beyond the ordinary range of human vision.

“Olo”: A Color Beyond Natural Vision

Ren Ng, an electrical engineer at UC Berkeley, described the sensation of “olo” as “jaw-dropping” and intensely saturated. This new color experience is not simply a variation of existing hues but represents a genuinely novel visual perception. While one vision expert, consulted independently, suggested “olo” might be interpreted as a more saturated green, the research team emphasizes that the method unlocks a spectrum of visual experience previously inaccessible.

Paving the Way for Advanced Vision Research

The creators of “Oz,” the laser-based vision tool, acknowledge that this research represents an initial step toward understanding and manipulating visual perception at a cellular level. Their primary objective is to utilize Oz to delve deeper into fundamental scientific inquiries concerning how the brain processes visual information.

“This is foundational research,” engineer Ng clarified. “The appearance of ‘olo’ on consumer displays or televisions is not imminent, and its application in virtual reality technology remains distant.” Despite the current limitations, the potential applications of this technology for vision research and potentially treating visual impairments are significant.

Ethical Considerations and Future Implications

Addressing potential concerns, the study received ethical approval from review boards at both UC Berkeley and the University of Washington, ensuring participant safety and well-being. All participants provided informed consent prior to their involvement in the laser-based visual experiments. While the current study is focused on basic science, the ability to precisely manipulate visual perception raises intriguing possibilities for future technological advancements, while also prompting careful consideration of the ethical implications of altering human sensory experience.