Scientists Discover a New Colour!!! The Untapped Potential of the Human Eye
Colours are all around us, from the blue sky to the green grass. The human eye is capable of seeing around 10 million colours; however, that is a fraction of the colours that exist in the universe. Recently, scientists have discovered a new colour, one that only appears under special conditions.
Today, we will explore what this new colour is and how researchers have made it visible to us by looking into the paper “Novel colour via stimulation of individual photoreceptors at population scale” [1].
In this study, scientists have discovered a brand-new colour, one that lies outside the normal human colour spectrum to the point where it can’t be seen on a screen [1]. This colour is only visible under specific and controlled conditions [1].
But how can we see this new colour?
The researchers were able to reveal this colour by using a high-tech method known as Oz, which lets them directly stimulate tiny cells in the eye responsible for colour vision (photoreceptor cells) [1].
Here’s how it works:
1. They first map the types and locations of cone cells in a person’s eye [1].
2. Then, they track eye movements in real-time to know exactly where the eye is looking [1]. They achieved this by using adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (AOSLO) [1]. This imaging system tracks eye movements at up to 105 times per second using infrared light while delivering visible laser pulses to targeted cones [1].
3. Using this info, a laser delivers ultra-precise light pulses (flashes) to individual cones, controlling exactly how each cone is activated [1].
By targeting only the green-sensitive cones (called M-cones), they were able to produce a colour sensation that people had never seen before [1]. It wasn’t green, blue, or anything in between; it was something entirely new: ola, a vivid blue-green that doesn’t exist in our usual range of colours [1].
Can We See More New Colours?
Right now, the Oz method can only show a new colour in a small area of an individual's vision, and it only works when your eye stays very still, which is extremely hard to achieve as our eyes make tiny, involuntary movements all the time [1]. However, the researchers are hoping that with further developments, this technology may become more adaptable and allow for more new colours to be seen [1].
Future Benefits
This discovery doesn’t just reveal a new colour; it opens the door to exploring how human vision works. It could one day help]
· Understand how many cones are needed for us to see a stable colour [1].
· Simulate extra colour types for people with rare vision (like tetrachromacy) [1],
· Or even help people with colour blindness by creating new colour signals directly in the eye [1].
An Eye-Opening Discovery
So, while we might think we’ve seen every colour there is, science is proving otherwise. There are still hidden colours waiting to be discovered, and we’re only just beginning to unlock them.
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References
Reference paper “Novel color via stimulation of individual photoreceptors at population scale”