Have you ever been in a car on a hot day and seen water on the road far away, only to find that there’s nothing there? If so, you’ve seen a trick of the light called a mirage. This article explains what causes mirages and the different types you might see.
Artist Stephen Wiltshire is know around the world for his detailed panoramas of cities drawn from memory. Read this article to find out how his autism may help him focus his brain to produce such extraordinarily detailed works. Then click on the link to view a slideshow of his drawings.
Optical illusions are fun to look at, but did you know there’s an annual competition for creating new illusions? Check out a recent winner.
Watch the video to see a real-life invisibility cloak! Thanks to innovative technology, humans are one step closer to achieving invisibility, which can have practical and military applications.
Have you ever seen an optical illusion? Read this article to explore some amazing optical illusions, and find out what they can reveal about how our brains work.
The artist Julian Beever uses perspective to create amazing sidewalk art that looks three-dimensional—as long as you look at it from the right angle.
Dr. Gary Greenberg uses high-quality microscopes to magnify and photograph grains of sand from beaches all over the world. Read this brief article to learn more. Make sure to click the link to view his spectacular images.
This video explains how a human characteristic called ‘persistence of vision’ is the key to motion in animation.
What would you do if music made you see colors or numbers had a taste? Synesthesia occurs when two senses are combined. Watch a video about this amazing neurological trait.
Self-esteem can greatly impact aspects of our lives, for better or worse. A positive self-esteem is critical to avoiding setbacks and building ourselves up. Gain insight into why this occurs and learn how to make a positive change.
Tongues can smell, sight can make us hear what isn’t there, and color can influence taste?! Read the article to learn more about how our five senses can be influenced by outside sources.
In 1894, Percival Lowell looked through his telescope and believed he saw canals on Mars. He thought they were proof of intelligent life on that planet. But were they really canals? Read about what Lowell actually saw and the effect of his theory on people’s imaginations.
The “power of the imagination” often seems an exaggerated term. However, according to a recent study in the field of neuroscience, the mind is capable of sending sensory signals that can seem quite real. Read on to find out more about this twist of perception.
Has someone ever asked if you had a trick up your sleeve? The answer can literally be yes if you learn any of the 15 tricks detailed in this article.
Enslaved people transformed the horrors of slavery into a myth of hope and freedom. Read more about the inspiration for the flying slave myth.
Watch this video to see how our brains interpret what our eyes see, and explore why this human trait may have been a necessary adaptation.
Watch the video to see how augmented reality can be used to help kids with cancer.
With the help of augmented reality and an app, important women in history can now appear on any dollar bill. Read the article to learn more.
In her experiment, psychologist Jessica Witt uses a visual trick to make golfers more successful. What else might we be able to improve by using these visual tricks?
The social and physical boundaries of Earth fade away in space. Watch this video to gain a different perspective on conflict.
