Prepare to be amazed! Scientists have just unveiled a brand-new color that has never graced the human eye—welcome to the world of 'olo'!

This groundbreaking discovery was made by a team of researchers who employed a radical technique: they fired laser pulses directly into their participants' eyes. This experimental setup tricked the retina, allowing it to perceive a color that humanity has yet to identify.

Although the researchers struggled to fully articulate the properties of this enigmatic hue, initial descriptions likened it to a "blue-green" shade. However, those experiencing 'olo' insist that these words fall woefully short of capturing its true essence.

Ren Ng, an electrical engineer from UC Berkeley, exclaimed, “From the outset, we had a hunch it would produce an unprecedented color signal, but we were astonished by the brain’s reaction. It was jaw-dropping and incredibly saturated!”

To give us a tangible reference, the team revealed a turquoise square, but they stressed that this representation barely scratches the surface of what 'olo' is like. Vision scientist Austin Roorda stated, “There's no way to truly convey this color in print or on a screen; it's not what we usually perceive. What we see pales in comparison to the experience of 'olo'.”

How Was This Groundbreaking Experiment Conducted?

The human eye perceives color thanks to special cells in the retina known as cones, which respond to different wavelengths of light. There are three types: long (L), medium (M), and short (S), each sensitive to specific light frequencies.

This innovative team at Berkeley was determined to push boundaries. They began by meticulously mapping a person’s retina to locate the precise positions of their M cones. Utilizing a laser, they then scanned the retina, activating each M cone with precisely-timed pulses of light, compensating for any movement.

What makes 'olo' so extraordinary is that it exists outside the natural visual spectrum. It arises from the unique stimulation of the M cones—something ordinary light simply cannot replicate. The name 'olo' cleverly reflects this finding, originating from the binary code 010, indicating that only the M cones were activated.

Could 'olo' change the future of color perception? The implications are tremendous as we delve deeper into the realm of human vision and its limitations.