The Wall Street Journal
Inside the Work of Urs Fischer
Artist Urs Fischer talks about how he uses his sculptures to explore ideas about memory, scale and optical illusion.
Curated Video
Exploring Optical Illusions: Tricks of Perception and Perspective
In this video, we explore three fascinating optical illusions that challenge our perception of size, color, and perspective. Test yourself on some these illusions and learn what is really going on.
Curated Video
The Moon Illusion
The size of the moon is constant, so why does it sometimes seem bigger and sometimes seem smaller? This is called the Moon Illusion. Learn what causes this optical illusion and how to overcome it.
Curated Video
The Power of Lateral Inhibition Lateral Inhibition
In this video, we explore the concept of lateral inhibition, which is the process by which neighboring neurons in our brain pathway inhibit each other. This phenomenon enhances our visual system's ability to respond to edges of a...
Curated Video
Aviation Illusions: The Peculiar Sensory Phenomenon Pilots Face
Flying a plane comes with its own set of unique sensory illusions. Learn about the cause and effect of some of these illusions, from the Graveyard Spiral to the Black Hole Effect. Illusions part 7/11
Curated Video
Understanding the Waterfall Illusion
In this video, we explore the fascinating world of visual illusions and how they trick our brains into perceiving movement where there is none. The waterfall illusion, demonstrated through counter rotating spirals, shows how our visual...
Curated Video
Stereoscopy: Making Flat Visuals Appear in 3D
Stereoscopy is an optical illusion that enhances the appearance of depth and allows us to see objects as three-dimensional in movies and virtual reality. Learn why it works! Illusions part 5/11
Curated Video
Perspective and Perception: How Our Minds Shape Our Reality
In this video, we explore how our perception of size and shape can be altered based on comparison and perspective. Through various examples and illusions, we learn that our brain often assumes changes in objects when they remain the same.
Curated Video
Saccadic Masking: How Your Brain Tricks Your Eyes
In this video, the concept of saccadic masking is explained, which is an optical illusion related to our eye movements. It demonstrates how our brain masks the blurred images we see during quick eye movements, creating the perception of...
Curated Video
Exploring Size Constancy
This video explores the concept of size constancy and challenges viewers to spot the differences between two photos. It explains how our brain processes visual information and engages different parts of the brain for tasks like analyzing...
Curated Video
Ghost Illusions: The Science Behind Afterimages
In this video, the concept of ghost illusions is explored, which are images that continue to appear in one's vision even after the original image has been removed. The video discusses the two types of ghost images - positive after images...
Curated Video
Pepper's Ghost: Creating Transparent Ghostly Images
Pepper's Ghost is a popular special effect used to generate a ghost-like image. It's been used in plays, haunted houses, and more since the 1800s. Learn how the optical illusion works and test it out yourself!
Curated Video
The Moon Illusion: Why the Moon Appears to Change Size
Why does the moon sometimes look really big at night and other times appear very small? This phenomenon is called the Moon Illusion. Learn why it happens and a couple ways to override it. Illusions part 4/11
Curated Video
Understanding the Butcher's Tongue Illusion
This video explores two fascinating experiments that challenge our understanding of perception. The Butcher's Tongue illusion demonstrates how our brain can be tricked into perceiving sensations on a fake tongue as if it were our own....
Curated Video
Exploring Ghost Images and Visual Tricks
In this video, we explore the concept of ghost images and how our visual system can sometimes deceive us. Through optical illusions and tricks, we learn that what we see may not always be what it appears to be. It's a fascinating...
Curated Video
Exploring the Spinning Dancer and Other Ambiguous Perceptions
In this video, viewers are introduced to the spinning dancer illusion, also known as the silhouette illusion. Through examples of other ambiguous figures such as the Necker cube, Schroader stairs, and Ruben bars, the video explains the...
Curated Video
Understanding Retinal Fatigue
Staring at an image or screen for a long time tires our eyes out and can result in some strange visual affects. Explore the science behind this phenomenon and test your eyes on a few examples.
Next Animation Studio
More brain-power for sight needed than previously thought
The visual world humans perceive is produced by parts of the brain lying outside of the visual cortex.
Curated Video
Merian C Cooper and Ishiro Honda: Masters of Optical Illusions and Kaiju Films
Let’s take a look at the works of Merian C. Cooper and Ishirō Honda. Both are known for their work on giant monster movies, especially the Kaiju genre.
Curated Video
The Autokinetic Effect: When Your Eyes Play Tricks on You
The autokinetic effect causes us to see objects in the distance as moving when they're actually stationary. The more tired we are, the more likely this is to happen. Learn more about autokinesis! Illusions part 3/11
Curated Video
What Technique and Materials Did da Vinci Use to Create the Mona Lisa?
Why do Mona Lisa's eyes seem to be looking at us, no matter where we stand? The answer has to do with a set of meticulous artistic choices that da Vinci used for this portrait. Learn how Leonardo da Vinci used the verdaccio, chiaroscuro,...
Curated Video
Understanding Gestalt Organization
Gestalt is a German word that means "form" or "shape". Learn how grouping images of a similar form or shape can alter how we perceive them.
Curated Video
Exploring French Optical Illusions
This video explores the fascinating world of French optical illusions, also known as Tromp L'oleil. From Renaissance paintings to stage theater set designs and even cartoons, these illusions create the appearance of three-dimensional...
Curated Video
Perspectives: Optical Illusions and Forced Perspective
In this video, we explore different perspectives and optical illusions that challenge our visual perception. From the clever architectural techniques used in the Parthenon to the mind-bending effects of forced perspective and...