Opinion In a black-and-white world, colour me olo
In 1856, an 18-year-old was trying to find the cure for malaria. Instead, he found a way to create the colour purple. William Henry Perkin, a student at London's Royal College of Chemistry, dipped a piece of cloth into his mixture of coal aniline and chromic acid. The cure for malaria was still about a century away, but what Perkin did discover was a way to create the first colour in synthetic form. Researchers from UC Berkeley and the University of Washington this week made a similar discovery. They had laser pulses fired into their eyes and claimed to have found 'olo', an 'incredibly saturated' blue-green, a colour 'never seen before by the human eye'.
The discovery was made using a device called the Oz Vision System, named after Emerald City in L Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The colour cannot be seen by the naked eye without laser stimulation. The scientists used the Oz to stimulate only the M (medium) cone cells in the eye, allowing them to view the colour. It was named 'olo' to denote the binary 010, indicating that of the three cone cells in the eye — L (long), M and S (short) — only one, the M, is stimulated.
Scientists have argued that the discovery will be helpful in better understanding colour blindness and how the human brain visualises colour. But it has also been contested because of its limited value. After all, what is a new colour when only a few people can see it? If not material or scientific value, olo certainly seems to add philosophical value to the understanding of the world. In a world given to viewing the Other in strict binaries of black and white, olo, with its blue-green timbre and contested existence, shows that there is always room for ambiguity. It also comes with a simple lesson: There is value in looking at things through someone else's eyes. You may just discover something new.
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Time of India
29-05-2025
- Time of India
Study reveals six foods that are proven to reverse ageing
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Now, a study published in the Aging journal by researchers from the University of Washington and other institutions has suggested that a diet rich in plant-based foods containing natural substances called methyl adaptogens can potentially slow biological ageing. What foods aid reverse ageing? Image credits: Getty Images The team wanted to investigate how dietary choices influenced DNA methylation, a process that regulates gene activity without affecting the DNA sequence itself. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo The more the DNA methylation in specific sites in the genome, the higher a person's biological age is. In the study, the authors followed 43, healthy middle-aged men from Portland, Oregon who had finished an 8-week program that focused on a plant-based nutrient-rich diet along with exercise, sleep and stress reduction. The results showcased that those who consumed food with more polyphenols which have antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties helped decrease the biological age by interfering with enzymes involved in DNA methylation. The authors recommended the daily consumption of dark leafy greens, cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, colourful vegetables, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, beets, lean meats, low-glycemic fruits like apples, grapefruit and cherries and a serving or more from the methyl adaptogen group. They also suggested avoiding dairy, grains, legumes and alcohol. 6 foods that reverse age The study mentioned six foods that the participants consumed that had powerful impacts on declining their biological age. These include: Berries Image credits: Getty Images A half a cup of berries consumed daily can go a long way in reversing your biological age. According to a study published in the National Library of Medicine, berries contain polyphenolic compounds that lower oxidative stress and inflammation and alter the signalling involved in neuronal communication. This helps prevent age-related deficits in cognitive and motor function. Rosemary Image credits: Getty Images The effects of rosemary on hair health and growth have come to major limelight in recent times with doctors and influencers recommending using the herb in oils and waters to treat damaged hair. Now, researchers recommend consuming half a teaspoon of rosemary every day to aid in reversing biological ageing. In a study published in the National Library of Medicine, it was stated that rosemary extracts increased lifespan extension, and AMPK activation and improved cognitive function. Turmeric Image credits: Getty Images Turmeric is called the golden spice for a reason. The condiment has healing properties which have been known for years. 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Time of India
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- Time of India
#47: Microplastics- The unwanted passenger in our bodies—and what to do about it
Dr. Nickhil Jakatdar has been working at the cutting edge of preventive health and longevity over the last 10 years with the 3 D's – data, doctors, and dietitians – to go from being diagnosed with heart disease at the age of 41, to now having all his blood markers and body measurements in the green and his epigenetic biological age at 41 while his chronological age is 51. With a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from UC Berkeley and more than 60 patents to his name, Dr. Jakatdar has always believed in a scientific, data driven and practical approach to solving problems. He has founded or run 5 startups in the areas of semiconductors, consumer mobile video and molecular diagnostics and serves on the Advisory Boards of the South Asian Heart Center in California, the Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society (CITRIS), has been a TEDx speaker and has been the youngest recipient of the esteemed UC Berkeley Distinguished Alumni Award. LESS ... 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If you can make even a few of the changes above that are practical and easy for you to put into action, you will reduce your risks that much more. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
Hindustan Times
09-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
This new tool measures how fast you're ageing and predicts future health risks: Research
Researchers have created a new "body clock" tool that estimates a person's biological age and may predict the risk of disability or death. Developed by the University of Washington (UW) School of Medicine, the tool analyses eight key metrics from a patient's physical exam and bloodwork. The method called the Health Octo Tool, is explained in a May 5 study published in the journal Nature Communications. (Also read: Doctor reveals '1 thing that's proven to slow ageing' and reduces your biological age ) Researchers say the Health Octo Tool offers a more complete view of wellness than standard health checks, which often focus on single diseases. Using data from large longevity studies, the tool predicts disability, geriatric conditions, physical decline, and mortality. According to Dr. Shabnam Salimi, researchers have developed a method that offers a more comprehensive approach to health than traditional assessments, which focus on individual diseases. The Health Octo Tool predicts disability, geriatric syndrome, physical function, and mortality with 90% accuracy or higher. The tool measures "health entropy," or the molecular and cellular damage accumulated over time, impacting organ function and overall ageing. It assigns a "body organ disease number" based on whether any organs, like the heart or lungs, have been affected by disease. The study showed that organ systems age at different rates, leading to the creation of a Bodily System-Specific Age metric and the Bodily-Specific Clock to reflect each organ's biological age. The researchers introduced the concept of the Body Clock, a comprehensive measure of overall intrinsic age and body age, reflecting the rate at which the body ages. The tool includes components like Speed-Body Clock and Speed-Body Age, which track how biological age impacts walking speed, and Disability-Body Clock and Disability-Body Age, which monitor the effects of ageing on cognitive function and physical disability. Dr. Salimi pointed out that seemingly minor conditions, such as untreated hypertension early in life, could significantly affect ageing later. Treating these conditions early could slow biological ageing. The researchers are working on developing a digital app to help individuals track their biological age, monitor ageing progress, and assess the effects of lifestyle changes like diet, exercise, or longevity-targeting medications. "This app will allow people to visualise how their body and each organ system responds to changes," said Salimi.
