Research

Study: Scientists Create New Color Using Laser Eye Stimulation

Published APR 19 2025

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Image credit: Unsplash

The Facts

Scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, developed a laser-based system called "Oz" that selectively stimulates specific cone cells in the human retina. This enabled five participants to perceive a previously unseen color named "olo," described as an intensely saturated blue-green hue.
Nature
Live Science
In a paper published on Friday in Science Advances, the researchers said that participants had to desaturate the new color by adding white light to match it with existing visible colors.
Stuff
Nature
Study co-author Ren Ng, who participated in the experiment, said that olo was "more saturated than any color that you can see in the real world."
BBC News
Scientific American
The technique maps individual retinal cells and uses precise laser pulses to activate only medium-wavelength (M) cone cells. This is impossible to achieve through natural light exposure, as M cones typically overlap with other cone cell responses.
Popular Science
IFLScience
The Oz system requires subjects to remain completely still, using a bite bar for stability. It can only create color in a small visual field approximately twice the size of the moon's appearance in the sky.
guardian
Popular Science
The researchers stated that the technology could potentially advance research into color blindness treatment. However, current limitations prevent immediate practical applications in consumer devices.
IFLScience
Live Science

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The Spin

Narrative A

The breakthrough represents a fundamental advancement in human color perception, enabling people to experience colors beyond natural vision limitations. The technology demonstrates unparalleled control over individual retinal cells and opens new possibilities for treating color blindness and studying visual processing in unprecedented ways.

New Scientist

Narrative B

The claimed discovery of a new color is scientifically questionable, as the observed effect is simply an artificially induced saturation of existing color perception rather than an entirely new hue. While technically impressive, the research has limited practical value and does not truly expand the human color spectrum.

Daily Mail