Scientists' Proposed Color Challenged by Artist, Who Allegedly Produced Paint of Surmised Hue
In a groundbreaking claim, scientists at the University of California, Berkeley assert they've enabled humans to perceive a "new color" beyond the human visual spectrum. By zapping volunteers' eyes with laser pulses, they tricked their sight to witness this never-before-seen hue.
But here's the twist: a British artist, Stuart Semple, has allegedly reproduced this newfound color and is selling it on his website. He's dubbed it "YOLO."
Semple recently trumpeted on Instagram, "Scientists discover new color, and I've already liberated it. The most expensive paint on the planet is super affordable for artists... if you want some, grab it from culturehustle.com."
However, scientists at Berkeley question Semple's claims. Austin Roorda, a researcher involved in the experiment, shared with The Guardian, "It's impossible to recreate a colour that matches olo. The way human vision is induced to see olo—basically via an optical trick—means that the color can never really exist in the real world."
Semple contends he's worked diligently to create a unique paint product that approximates the experience induced by the Berkeley experiment. He added fluorescent optical brighteners that absorb ultraviolet light and re-emit it as visible blue light, making materials appear whiter or brighter.
Despite scientists’ skepticism, Semple stands by his creation, stating, "I've always thought that color should be available to everyone... I think they've triggered an experience in people that they're approximating to a color. What I've done is tried to make an actual color of that experience."
Interestingly, Semple has released similar artistic color approximations in the past. In 2016, he created an extraordinarily matte black paint that rivaled Vantablack, a coating so dark it absorbs light. After it was exclusively licensed for artistic use to Anish Kapoor, Semple responded by creating an accessible black paint for everyone but Kapoor. He's also concocted at least four versions of his black paint, aiming to create the paint version of Vantablack.
YOLO is now available for purchase for £10,000, or £29.99 if the buyer declares they're an artist, continuing Semple's crusade to democratize color availability.
- The new color discovered by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, named 'YOLO', is up for sale on British artist Stuart Semple's website, culturehustle.com.
- Stuart Semple, the artist who claims to have reproduced the new color, asserts that his paint product is super affordable for artists, unlike the £10,000 price tag for non-artists.
- The Berkeley scientists, headed by researcher Austin Roorda, dispute Semple's claims, stating that it's impossible to recreate a color that matches 'YOLO' due to the optical trick involved in its perception.
- Semple's 'YOLO' paint contains fluorescent optical brighteners that absorb ultraviolet light and re-emit it as visible blue light, aiming to approximate the experience induced by the Berkeley experiment.
- Despite the skepticism, Semple maintains his belief in making color available to everyone, stating that he's approximating the color experience rather than recreating it.
- In 2016, Semple created an extraordinarily matte black paint, challenging the exclusive licensing of Vantablack for artistic use to Anish Kapoor.
- Semple then responded by creating an accessible black paint for everyone but Kapoor, continuing his crusade to democratize color availability.
- Semple's artistic endeavors extend beyond color, as he's also concocted several versions of his black paint, aiming to create the paint version of Vantablack.
- The technology of artificial intelligence, along with Semple's artistic creations, is covered in Gizmodo, a popular tech and pop-culture website.
- Aside from covering tech and pop-culture, Gizmodo also offers content on health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, lifestyle, fashion-and-beauty, food-and-drink, books, and social media entertainment.
