A team of scientists from the University of California, Berkeley in the United States claims to have discovered a new colour called “olo”.
The researchers directed laser pulses into their own eyes to stimulate the retinal cells, and it was through this experiment that “olo“, a colour described by the scientists as close to blue-green, was discovered.
“It was shocking. It was an incredible experience,” stated Ren Enji, an electrical engineer at the University of California, Berkeley.
However, the scientists believe that this description is limited, as the new colour is so unique that it cannot be reproduced on screens or in images, and can only be appreciated by stimulating the retina with laser pulses.
John Barbour, an ophthalmology researcher at City St George’s, University of London, has publicly criticised the usefulness of the study, arguing that “olo” is not a new colour and describing the experiment as being of “limited value“.
“It’s simply a more saturated green which cannot be produced in natural light,” he said.