Did you know scientists have discovered a brand-new colour? It’s called olo, and it might just change how we understand colour forever!
If your child loves science, colours, and mind-blowing facts, they’ll love learning about this exciting discovery. In this blog post, we’ll explain what the new colour olo is, how it was discovered, and why it matters – all in a fun, easy-to-understand way.
What Is the New Colour Olo?
Most of us grow up thinking we’ve seen all the colours there are, red, blue, green, yellow... But scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, have found a way to help humans see a colour that doesn’t exist in the natural world.
They’ve named it olo - a bright, vivid colour that mixes properties of green and blue in a way our eyes have never experienced before.
How Did Scientists Discover the Colour Olo?
Using a new technique called “Oz”, scientists gently stimulated the eye’s colour receptors using laser light. They activated only the green-sensitive cones in the eye in a very specific way, one that never normally happens in real life.
This clever method tricked the brain into inventing a new colour experience. And just like that, olo was born!
Only a handful of people have ever seen this new colour olo, and it can’t be shown on a screen or printed on paper. It has to be experienced through the eyes in a very specific lab setting.
What Does the Colour Olo Look Like?
People describe olo as a kind of electric blue-green, brighter, bolder, and more vivid than anything they’ve ever seen. But because olo is a totally new sensory experience, it's not something you can see on a tablet, book, or even in a rainbow.
Isn’t that fascinating? Your eyes and brain can create colours that don’t exist in the real world!
Why Is the Discovery of Olo Important?
Understanding how our eyes and brains process colour helps scientists learn more about how we see the world. This discovery might one day lead to new tools to help people with vision problems, like colour blindness.
It also shows how much we still have to discover about the human body, and why science is such an exciting subject to explore!
At OKIDO, we believe in sparking curiosity in kids through fun, hands-on learning - just like this.
Colour Mixing Activity for Kids: Walking Colours
Let's do some colour science at home! Try this fun and easy science experiment that shows colours walking and mixing all on their own!
What You’ll Need:
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5 clear cups or jars
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Red, yellow, and blue food colouring
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Water
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Paper towels
Instructions:
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Fill the first, third, and fifth cups halfway with red, yellow, and blue coloured water.
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Leave the second and fourth cups empty.
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Roll up strips of paper towel and place them so one end sits in a coloured cup and the other in an empty cup.
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Watch as the colours walk through the paper towels and mix in the empty cups - red + yellow = orange, yellow + blue = green!
What’s Happening?
Water moves up the paper towel through a process called capillary action. As it travels, it brings the food colouring with it, creating new colours where two meet. It’s a colourful way to learn about mixing and movement!
Keep Exploring with OKIDO
Discoveries like the new colour olo remind us that science is full of surprises. Whether it’s colours, space, nature, or the human body, there’s always something amazing to learn.
OKIDO magazine is designed to keep kids aged 3–7 curious, creative, and excited about science, just like the scientists who discovered olo!
👉 Want more fun science facts for kids? Explore our science magazine here.
