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Category Archives: Perception and Reality
Five tricks of the senses
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.
The ‘Canali’ and the First Martians
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.
Imagination Can Change What We Hear and See
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.
15 Magic Tricks You Didn’t Know You Could Do
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.
Ebos Landing
Enslaved people transformed the horrors of slavery into a myth of hope and freedom. Read more about the inspiration for the flying slave myth.
You Can’t See This (Mind Tricks)
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.
AR app lets kids with cancer escape into an imaginary world
Watch the video to see how augmented reality can be used to help kids with cancer.
See what U.S. bills would look like with all women on them
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.
Can You Think Your Way To That Hole-In-One?
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?
Event Horizon: How Space Changes Your Perspective On Life
The social and physical boundaries of Earth fade away in space. Watch this video to gain a different perspective on conflict.
How your supermarket could manipulate you for your own good
You may think you are in control while grocery shopping, but watch the video to learn how supermarket design can impact the decisions you make.
What Is Sonic Seasoning? Listening To Music Can Actually Change How Your Coffee Tastes
Different sounds can impact your perception of different taste. See how “sonic seasoning” works by reading the article and trying it yourself.
Why Your Brain Sometimes Hears Sounds That Don’t Exist
Your brain can trick you into hearing things that aren’t there in a phenomenon called “aural illusions.” Watch the video to test your brain and ears.
A street magician’s tricks make everyday technology magical and mysterious
Watch this video to see how Doug McKenzie combines street magic with familiar technological items like cellphones.
But Did You See the Gorilla? The Problem With Inattentional Blindness
Is it possible to look directly at something—and not see it? Yes! Inattentional blindness can occur when you are focusing intently on something in particular and fail to notice other things in your frame of view. Check out this article to learn more.
Japanese tour firm offers virtual reality holidays – with a first-class seat
Thanks to virtual reality, First Airlines passengers sightsee destinations around the world without ever leaving the ground.
How your eyes trick your mind
Scroll through this article from the start through “Early Illusions” to better understand what illusions reveal about your brain. Then, watch the “New Illusions” video for an updated version of an early illusion.
Truth vs. Perception vs. Reality
Watch this video to learn about the ladder rungs our brains climb so they can gather information and make use of it to determine what’s going on around us.
What is a Mental Map?
What is a mental map? Well, it’s a process both humans and animals use daily to find their way around. But, a mental map is more than spatial awareness. This article touches on the bigger effect of mental maps and how they can be influenced.