No, it's highly improbable that humans will discover a fundamentally new color in the sense of a completely novel category beyond our current color perception system. While there might be combinations of wavelengths of light we haven't perceived before, these are far more likely to be novel shades within existing color categories (e.g., a new shade of red) rather than entirely new colors.
Understanding Color Perception
Color, as we experience it, is a product of our visual system's interpretation of light wavelengths. We possess cone cells in our eyes that detect different ranges of wavelengths, and our brain processes these signals to create the perception of color. The vast majority of light wavelengths are invisible to us.
The idea of discovering a "new" color implies a significant shift in our perception, requiring either:
- Evolutionary changes: A mutation could potentially lead to the development of new cone cells sensitive to a previously unseen range of wavelengths. This is highly unlikely to occur quickly. (Source: Quora)
- Technological intervention: Technology might one day enable us to perceive wavelengths outside the visible spectrum, but these would still fall within the broader electromagnetic spectrum, not represent a new fundamental color category. (Source: Reddit r/askscience)
New Shades vs. New Colors
It's crucial to distinguish between discovering new shades within existing color categories and discovering entirely new color categories. We can create countless new shades by subtly altering the proportions of wavelengths in existing light sources. This is how scientists and artists "invent" new colors. (Source: The Conversation) However, this doesn't create a fundamentally new color category like "red" or "blue." (Source: Reddit r/askscience)
In summary, while we might encounter previously unseen combinations of wavelengths resulting in novel shades, the likelihood of discovering a truly new color category is extremely low. Our perception, dictated by our physiology, strongly limits this possibility.
