It is impossible to view under normal viewing conditions, due to the overlap between the wavelengths of light which stimulate M cone cells, and those that stimulate S and L cone cells. In other words, there is no monochromatic stimulus (the purest type of stimulus that humans can perceive) that activates only the M cones. This means that olo is outside the visible gamut. To get around this, researchers mapped a portion of the retina and individually identified each cone cell as either an S, M, or L cone. They then used lasers to deliver tiny doses of light, ideally, exclusively to the M cone cells.[1][2]
The researchers claim that the color corresponding in sRGB to the hexadecimal code#00FFCC is the closest color to olo inside the sRGB gamut.[2]
Only the five subjects of the Berkeley experiment have officially seen olo.[1][5] Professor Ren Ng, a co-author of the study, described olo as "more saturated than any color that you can see in the real world".[5] Ng and his team are exploring whether the technology used to generate olo could be adapted to enhance color perception in individuals with color blindness to manage the symptoms of color blindness. He further suggested that this approach could even lead to a form of enhanced vision known as tetrachromacy, where individuals may perceive a broader range of colors.[6]
Experts in the field have described the technique used to create olo as a significant technical achievement. The Berkeley team generated the color by precisely stimulating individual cone cells in the retina using lasers, creating a color beyond the human visible gamut.[7]
However, some scientists, including Professor John Barbur from City St George's, University of London, have questioned whether olo truly represents a "new" color, noting that its existence is "open to argument".[5] Skepticism within the scientific community regarding the classification of olo as a genuinely novel color has been noted.[3][8]
The concept of olo has drawn attention beyond the scientific community, with artists expressing interest in creating paints inspired by the color. The Berkeley research team has also received global interest, with requests from reporters seeking to experience the phenomenon firsthand.[9]
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