‘Olo’ a new colour- “but I’ve got that colour glass in my studio”

The New Scientific Colour ‘Olo’- Scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, have discovered a new colour experience called “Olo.” This intensely saturated teal or blue-green cannot be seen naturally by the human eye and requires a special experimental setup to perceive.

Discovery:Researchers used a technique called “Oz” involving precise laser pulses they create a new perceptual experience.

What It Looks Like:Olo has been described as a profoundly vivid teal—more intense than any color seen in nature. It can’t be replicated on screens or using traditional pigments due to its unique method of perception.

Applications:This finding could help scientists better understand colour vision, especially in people with color blindness, and may contribute to new visual technologies.

Artistic Response by the Northern Glass Lass:

Here you can see Olo in three separate glass pieces and in three different shapes within the pieces. Can you see Olo in the pieces below?

Conclusion:Olo challenges our understanding of human vision and offers a glimpse into how our brains interpret colour. It’s currently only viewable in lab conditions (but the NGL has found it in glass) but opens new avenues in science and art.

Sources: UC Berkeley, Scientific American, The Guardian

If you are interested in owning a unique heirloom of the future featuring the newly found colour ‘Olo’, these are available from 4 May 2025, with pick up from my UK studio, Bolton BL1 8BL.

A5 size, £130 each or £350 set of 3.