Berkeley Scientists Discover New Color 'Olo' Visible Only via Laser Retina Stimulation

At the University of California, Berkeley, a team of researchers discovered a novel hue referred to as 'olo,' characterized as a 'blue-green of unprecedented saturation.' This color can only be perceived when a laser activates specific cone cells in the retina. The findings, published in Science Advances in April 2025, introduced a laser device called Oz, designed to target M cones exclusively. Co-authors Ren Ng and Austin Roorda were part of the research team. Five individuals with normal color vision described the color as a vibrant shade resembling teal. To verify its uniqueness, they incorporated white light to match it with a comparison hue. The Oz technology holds promise for advancing vision research, particularly in understanding color blindness and retinal disorders, with potential implications for health and technology.