Grade 10

‘Evil Genius’: Mind-Bending Illusion Built Into Skyline Confuses Internet

Source: Newsweek

Don’t let this optical illusion fool you. You won’t need to press play when you see this skyline illusion.

Memory contaminates perception

Source: The Guardian

An interesting new study that shows how visual working memory can influence our perception of events.

The Most Amazing Optical Illusions (and How They Work)

Source: Live Science

Thanks to modern neuroscience, we can understand the brain processes that take place we encounter some visual illusions. Explore this collection of popular illusions and find out how they work.

The Best Illusions of the Year Will Leave Your Brain Hurting More Than 2021 Did

Source: Gizmodo

Look at the top illusions of the past year.

Who Decided to Put 60 Seconds in a Minute?

Source: Smithsonian

Watch this video to learn how an ancient civilization still influences how we view something as fundamental as time.

Is Hypnosis Real?

Source: Medium

In this short column, a doctor dispels myths about hypnosis to finally answer that age old question: Is hypnosis real?

The Silent “Sixth” Sense

Source: Vox

Proprioception is the way the human body remains aware of itself, even in darkness. Learn more about this mysterious and fascinating function of the brain in this article.

Forget Everything You Think You Know About Time

Source: Pocket

A theoretical physicist challenges the widely-accepted linear representation of time.

How Computer-Assisted Telepathy Helps Humans Communicate

Source: NPR

Can computers allow people to telepathically communicate? Read this short article and view the accompanying video to learn more about research into computer-assisted human telepathic communication. 

Why People Misperceive Crime Trends (Chicago Is Not the Murder Capital)

Source: The New York Times

Is the crime rate decreasing, or skyrocketing off the charts? In which cities is crime the worst? Click this link to learn about trends in Americans’ perceptions and misperceptions related to crime.

The Evolution of the Human Eye

Source: TED Ed

How did a structure as complex as the human eye come to be?

‘Zoom Dysmorphia’: How Video Conferencing Can Wreck Our Self-Image

Source: GBH

How does frequent video conferencing affect the way we see ourselves?

10 Surprising Ways Senses Shape Perception

Source: Mental Floss

Read this article to learn about some of the ways our senses can distort our perception.

Your Brain Perceives Reality By Hallucinating

Source: The Atlantic

Are our minds playing tricks on us all the time? Click this link to watch an animated video that explains what perception and hallucination have in common.

Eight Ways Your Perception of Reality Is Skewed

Source: Greater Good Magazine

Researchers have found that people wearing heavy backpacks perceive the hills they are climbing as steeper than people who aren’t wearing backpacks do. Read this article to find out more about how our perceptions can become distorted.

Why time feels so weird in 2020

Source: Reuters

Check out this link to try out some cool interactive perception tests that demonstrate how our sense of time can be distorted.

Can Language Influence Our Perception of Reality?

Source: Slate

Learn about research into how and why people from different linguistic backgrounds might remember the same event in different ways.

“Reality” is constructed by your brain. Here’s what that means, and why it matters.

Source: Vox

How do we know what is real? This article includes some striking visual illusions and explains how they serve as a good reminder that our perception of reality is not always accurate.

Emily Dickinson is the unlikely hero of our time

Source: The Conversation

Emily Dickinson confined herself to her home for much of her lifetime. She also experienced a series of deaths of people who were important to her. The author of this piece suggests that Dickinson’s ways of dealing with solitude and grief make her particularly relevant in the era of coronavirus.

How the news changes the way we think and behave

Source: BBC

This article presents the findings of recent research that suggests the news can make us see the world in a negative light, which has a harmful impact on our mental and physical health.

* HMH is not responsible for the content of third–party websites.