Olo is describe as a " fresh colour " that scientist argue they ’ve turn on the great unwashed to see – one that does n’t resemble anything in our everyday optical experience . It ’s described as an intensely saturated greenish - blue , brought to life using a new technique that stimulates the oculus ’s photoreceptors in a non - conventional manner .

“ We name this new coloring material ' olo ' , ” the study generator write .

But can this really be considered a “ refreshing color ” like the research worker boldly claim ? The three components of colouring material are chromaticity , saturation ( or saturation ) , and economic value ( or brightness ) . The study suggests olo appears with a uniquely strong intensity , but its hue remain steadfastly in the clench of down in the mouth - green . Anyway , we ’ll get out that debate for the colour scientists and the comment section for now . Regardless of the definition , those who ’ve seen olo say it declare oneself a visual experience that ’s subtly unfamiliar .

With red as an example, this diagram shows the three components of color: hue, saturation (or chroma), and value (or brightness).

With red as an example, this diagram shows the three components of color: hue, saturation (or chroma), and value (or brightness).Image credit: Sandy Storm/Shutterstock.com

“ topic account that olo in our paradigm system come along blue - commons of unprecedented intensity , when watch relative to a electroneutral gray backcloth . Subjects regain that they must desaturate olo by adding white igniter before they can achieve a people of color match with the closest monochrome light , which lies on the boundary of the gamut , unequivocal test copy that olo lie beyond the gamut , ” they added .

" colour names volunteered for olo let in ' teal , ' ' green , ' ' low-spirited - greenish , ' and ' green , a small blue . ' study consistently rate olo ’s saturation as 4 of 4 , liken to an average paygrade of 2.9 for the near - homochromatic colors of matching hue , " it continue .

Coloris a perceptual experience that we receive when sure wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation stimulate the cone cells in our retina , air signals to the mastermind . Coating the back of our eyeball , we have three type of cone photoreceptors : short - wavelength ( S ) , middle - wavelength ( M ) , and long - wavelength ( L ) , each with overlapping spectral sensitivities .

Because of this overlap , any given swooning wavelength stimulates at least two types of cones simultaneously , which bound the range and saturation of colors that we canperceive .

In a new subject , scientists at the University of California , Berkeley have developed a agency to directly excite a individual cone by blasting it with a focussed optical maser light , call Oz . Using this system on five human subjects , the laser system was able-bodied to solely actuate M cone cadre activity , leading people to report experiencing a color discover as “ bluish - green of unprecedented impregnation . ”

moreover , they were able to wield this proficiency to stimulate thousands of case-by-case cones , earmark them to create images and visuals with the proficiency .

Traditional colouring material engineering science – like the computer screen you ’re currently look at – bank on a method called spectral metamerism . This involve blending different wavelengths of lighter to mime the room our eyes comprehend specific colors , prompting the cone cells in our retinas and our brains into seeing a catch . This strategy has been around since at least 1861 , whenJames Clerk Maxwellwowed audiences at the Royal Institution by layering red , green , and disconsolate range of a function to make full - colour visuals .

The Oz method acting uses a different coming . Rather than adjusting the spectrum of light , it controls the spatial distribution of light on the retina , a concept know as spatial metamerism . This let for the creation of a broad range of color using a undivided monochromatic light , sidestepping the need for the three light primaries .

Commenting on the Modern study , expert acknowledge that while the research insert some promising virtual innovation , some vista of undivided - cone stimulation are not entirely new .

“ When only M cone is stimulated , observers report that they see an unusually saturated light-green blue devil .   Normally , focussed on retina point source , such as a star , excite several cones due opthalmic constraints . To overcome this , adaptative eye is used , a method that astronomists apply to look at star . Single cone stimulation was known earlier . The novelty of this newspaper publisher is that they use this method acting to have many item-by-item cones and produce an prototype , ” Dr Misha Corobyew , Senior Lecturer in Optometry and Vision Science at The University of Auckland – who was n’t involved in the new field – said in astatement .

The study is published in the journalScience Advances .