Scientists Discover ‘Ollo’: In a groundbreaking study that’s challenging our very understanding of visual perception, a team of scientists has claimed to discover a new color—something no human has ever seen before. Published in the Science Advances journal, the study introduces the world to “Ollo,” a unique hue that can only be perceived under highly controlled conditions by stimulating specific retinal cells with laser light.
According to the researchers, the color Ollo doesn’t exist on any visible spectrum we’ve been exposed to—paint, screens, or natural light. It is said to be more saturated than any color encountered in the natural world.
A New Frontier in Color Perception
The experiment involved a team of five participants—four men and one woman—all with normal color vision. Among them was Professor Ren Ng, who also co-authored the study. Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Prof. Ng described Ollo as being dramatically different from existing colors.
“Imagine that all your life, you’ve only ever seen shades of pink—baby pink, pastel pink—and then one day you see someone in the office wearing the darkest, richest shade of pink you can imagine. They tell you, ‘This is red.’ That’s how different Ollo feels,” said Prof. Ng.
How Ollo Was Discovered
The researchers used precisely timed laser pulses directed into the pupils of participants’ eyes. The laser was designed to target specific types of cells in the retina, stimulating them in a way that tricks the brain into perceiving a color that doesn’t naturally occur in our visible environment.
The phenomenon relies on the complex interplay of cones—the photoreceptor cells responsible for color vision. By bypassing the typical light interactions and directly stimulating the cones, the team was able to generate the experience of a completely novel color.
Why Ollo Matters
While the discovery of a new color may sound like science fiction, its implications are very real—particularly for people suffering from color blindness. The research team believes that this understanding of how the brain processes color could help scientists design new visual aids, therapies, or even technologies to enhance color perception in individuals with color vision deficiency.
“We are just scratching the surface,” Prof. Ng explained. “Though technically challenging, this research opens up the possibility of custom color perception, especially for those who have never experienced the full spectrum.”
Technical Hurdles Remain
Despite its potential, Ollo is not something you’ll be seeing on a clothing rack or your phone screen anytime soon. The color can only be seen in tightly controlled lab environments through precise retinal stimulation. Creating a reproducible version of Ollo outside of the lab is currently impossible because standard light-emitting methods cannot replicate the effect.
Moreover, Prof. Ng admitted that perceiving Ollo requires a specific physiological and experimental setup, making it inaccessible to the general public—for now.
The Road Ahead
Still, this research is a milestone in neuroscience and visual psychology. Understanding how humans perceive color at such a granular level could eventually revolutionize industries ranging from optics and design to healthcare and augmented reality.
As Prof. Ng puts it, “The discovery of Ollo isn’t just about a new color—it’s about understanding the limits of human perception, and potentially pushing beyond them.”
With further studies underway, the scientific community is watching closely. Will this open the doors to an entirely new realm of visual experiences? Only time—and science—will tell.
