Ambiguous Illusions

Size-Weight Illusion

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Size Weight Illusion

The “Size-Weight Illusion” is a perceptual phenomenon in which people perceive an object to be heavier when it is larger in size, even when the objects actually have the same weight.

This illusion occurs because our perceptions of size and weight are closely linked in our brain, and our expectations about the weight of an object are influenced by its size.

The Size-Weight Illusion, sometimes called the Charpentier illusion or the De Moor’s illusion, is thought to arise from the way our brain integrates sensory information from our hands, eyes, and other sources to form a coherent perception of the weight of an object. This information is then used to guide our actions and movements, such as lifting and carrying objects.

The “Size-Weight Illusion” has been extensively studied in the field of psychology and has been shown to be a robust phenomenon, occurring across a wide range of ages, cultures, and populations. It has practical implications in areas such as product design and ergonomics, where it is important to take into account the perception of size and weight when designing objects for human use.


Size Weight Illusion
Size-Weight Illusion


Table of Contents


How does the Size-Weight Illusion work?

The “Size-Weight Illusion” works by exploiting the close relationship between our perceptions of size and weight in the brain. The human brain integrates information from various sources, including touch and vision, to form a coherent perception of the weight of an object. When an object is larger in size, our brain unconsciously expects it to be heavier, and this expectation influences our perception of its weight.

The exact neural mechanisms underlying the “Size-Weight Illusion” are not completely understood, but some theories suggest that it may involve the activity of specialized brain regions that are responsible for processing information about object size, weight, and texture. These regions of the brain are thought to work together to generate a coherent perception of the weight of an object, and they may be influenced by factors such as past experience, expectations, and attention.

In summary, the “Size-Weight Illusion” works by exploiting the close relationship between our perceptions of size and weight in the brain, and by influencing our expectations about the weight of an object based on its size. This illusion demonstrates the complex and interrelated nature of our sensory experiences, and highlights the importance of the brain’s ability to integrate and process information from multiple sources to form a coherent perception of the world.


Versions of the Size-Weight Illusion

The following is an alternative Size-Weight Illusion example:



Size Weight Illusion



Illusions like the Size-Weight Illusion

The “Size-Weight Illusion” is a type of perceptual illusion. Perceptual illusions are instances in which our perceptions of the world around us are in conflict with the physical reality of the stimuli. In the case of the “Size-Weight Illusion,” our perception of the weight of an object is not in line with its actual weight, but is influenced by its size.

Perceptual illusions provide important insights into the workings of the human brain and how it processes sensory information to form our perceptions of the world. They demonstrate the complexity and interrelated nature of our sensory experiences and highlight the importance of the brain’s ability to integrate and process information from multiple sources to form a coherent perception of the world.

Overall, the “Size-Weight Illusion” is a type of perceptual illusion that demonstrates the close relationship between our perceptions of size and weight and highlights the importance of the brain’s ability to integrate and process information from multiple sources to form a coherent perception of the world.

Some related illusions include the following:

The missing square puzzle is a visual illusion that involves a square with a smaller square removed from one of its corners.

The puzzle is presented in such a way that the surrounding rectangles appear to be the same size, but when the lines of the squares are measured, it becomes clear that they are not.

The missing square puzzle is used to demonstrate the importance of context in visual perception and how our brain can be easily fooled into perceiving something that is not actually true.


Missing Square Puzzle
Missing Square Puzzle


Illusory contours are created by the brain’s interpretation of visual information, such as the arrangement and contrast of lines and shapes in the visual field.

Kanizsa Triangle Illusion
The Kanizsa Triangle

The Muller-Lyer illusion: an illusion in which two lines of the same length appear to be of different lengths due to the presence of arrowheads at the ends of the lines.


müller-lyer illusion



The Poggendorff illusion: an illusion in which two lines that are parallel in reality appear to be skewed or converging due to the presence of a third shape in the foreground.


Poggendorff illusion transparent gray bar



The Café Wall illusion: an illusion in which the lines that form a tiled wall appear to be skewed or distorted due to the presence of contrasting colored tiles.

Cafe Wall Illusion



The Zöllner illusion: an illusion in which parallel lines appear to be skewed or converging due to the presence of intersecting lines at an angle.

Zöllner illusion

The Ebbinghaus illusion: This illusion involves circles of different sizes, but with the same-sized circles placed close to each other. The brain perceives the smaller circles as being larger when they are placed next to larger circles.

Ebbinghaus Illusion


The T illusion: This illusion involves a T-shaped figure with a horizontal bar and a vertical bar. The brain perceives the vertical bar as being longer than the horizontal bar, even though they are the same length.


T Illusion


Moon illusion: This illusion involves the perception of the Moon appearing larger when it is near the horizon compared to when it is high in the sky.


Moon Illusion



Ponzo illusion: This illusion involves the perception of an object appearing larger or smaller depending on the size of the surrounding context.

Ponzo Illusion


All these illusions work by exploiting the way the brain processes visual information and the way it interprets the relationship between different elements in an image. Illusory contours are thought to be created by the activity of neurons that respond selectively to edges and contours in the visual field, which can be influenced by different visual cues.


Discovery of the Size-Weight Illusion

The “Size-Weight Illusion” was first documented by a psychologist named Ernst Heinrich Weber in the late 18th century. Weber was one of the earliest researchers to systematically study the relationship between size, weight, and perceived weight, and his work laid the foundation for the modern field of psychophysics.

In his experiments, Weber asked participants to judge the weight of objects of different sizes and found that larger objects were consistently rated as being heavier than smaller objects of the same weight. This observation led him to conclude that there was a close relationship between size and perceived weight and that this relationship was influenced by expectations and previous experiences.

Since Weber’s original observations, the “Size-Weight Illusion” has been extensively studied and replicated by researchers in the fields of psychology and neuroscience. Today, it is considered a well-established phenomenon and is widely recognized as a classic example of a perceptual illusion.

The illusion is sometimes called the Charpentier illusion, after the French physician Augustin Charpentier because he was the first to demonstrate the illusion experimentally. It is also called De Moor’s illusion, after Belgian physician Jean Demoor.

References and Resources

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Anamorphic Street Art

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Anamorphic street art

Anamorphic street art is a form of street art that uses optical illusion to create a three-dimensional image when viewed from a specific angle.

Anamorphic street art is often created by distorting the image, so that when it is viewed from a specific viewpoint, the image appears to be three-dimensional and in full perspective.

It is often seen as a way of transforming urban spaces into playful, interactive environments.

Anamorphic street art
Anamorphic Street Art



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How does Anamorphic Street Art?

Anamorphic street art works by manipulating the way our eyes perceive the image.

The artist distorts the image in such a way that it appears to be in the correct perspective when viewed from a specific viewpoint, typically at a specific angle or from a certain distance.

The use of perspective and forced-perspective techniques tricks the viewer’s eye into perceiving a three-dimensional image where there is actually only a flat surface.

The result is an optical illusion that creates the illusion of depth and volume, making the image appear to pop out of the wall or floor.

To create an anamorphic street art piece, the artist needs to carefully plan the placement of the artwork and the viewpoint from which it will be viewed to ensure the illusion is successful.

Versions of Anamorphic Street Art

The following are other examples of Anamorphic Street Art



Phantograms



Phantograms




Phantograms



Illusions like Anamorphic Street Art

Anamorphic Street Art are a form of stereograms, which are images that use the difference between the left and right eye views to create the illusion of depth and 3D objects.

Anamorphic street art is a type of perspective illusion that creates the illusion of a three-dimensional image on a two-dimensional surface by manipulating the way our eyes perceive the image.

The image is distorted in such a way that when viewed from a specific angle or distance, it appears to be in correct perspective and the illusion of depth and volume is created.

The illusion is achieved by using techniques such as forced perspective and manipulation of perspective, which trick the viewer’s eye into perceiving the image as three-dimensional.

Some related illusions include the following:

An autostereogram is a type of image that appears to be a flat 2D image when viewed normally, but when viewed with a special technique, it appears to be a 3D image with depth and perspective.

Autostereograms are created by repeating a pattern of repeating elements, such as random dots, in such a way that the repeating elements at different depths in the image align with each other when viewed with the special technique. This creates the illusion of a 3D image.

The image below appears as a 2 dimensional flat image, but when viewed using one of the techniques mentioned below, a 3 dimensional shape appears.


Phantograms are 3D images that appear to float in space and can be viewed without special glasses or other aids. The term “Phantogram” is derived from the Greek words “phaneros,” meaning “visible,” and “gramma,” meaning “something written or drawn.”

Phantograms are created by taking two photos of an object from slightly different angles and then printing the images on a flat surface, such as a piece of paper or card. The two images are then viewed together, and the slight differences in perspective create the illusion of depth and the appearance of a floating 3D object.


Persistence of vision is the phenomenon by which the brain continues to perceive an image even after the image is no longer present.

This occurs because the cells in the retina, called rods and cones, take a brief period of time to “reset” after being stimulated.



A color constancy illusion is a type of visual illusion in which a color appears to be different when viewed in different contexts.

For example, the same patch of color may appear lighter or darker when viewed against different backgrounds, or may appear to change color when viewed under different lighting conditions.


Color constancy
Color Constancy


The afterimage illusion is a type of visual illusion in which an image continues to appear in the observer’s visual field after the original stimulus has been removed.

This can occur due to the persistence of neural activity in the visual system, and can take the form of a positive afterimage (an image that is the same color as the original stimulus) or a negative afterimage (an image that is the opposite color of the original stimulus).



The Checker Shadow Illusion is created by a checkerboard pattern composed of squares with different luminance values, the squares that are not directly illuminated by the light source appear darker than the illuminated squares, creating the illusion of shadows.


Edelson-Checker_shadow_illusion
Checker Shadow Illusion


The simultaneous contrast illusion is a visual effect that occurs when the perception of a color is affected by the colors of the surrounding area.

The illusion creates the appearance of a change in the color of an object, even though the actual color of the object remains constant.


Simultaneous Contrast Effect
The center green dot is the same on both sides, but the surrounding color changes the perception


The Neon Color Spreading illusion refers to the visual phenomenon where an area of color appears to spread or “bleed” beyond its intended boundaries.

Neon Color Spreading
From Wikimedia Commons


The Bezold Effect: This illusion is created by placing two or more colors next to each other, and the way they appear to change when they are close to one another.  


Bezold_Effect
from Wikimedia Commons


The Cornsweet illusion is a classic example of a brightness illusion, which is an illusion in which two areas that are physically the same brightness appear to be different in brightness.

Cornsweet illusion
Cornsweet illusion


The Chubb illusion is based on the perception of brightness and can be observed when a small bright patch is surrounded by a larger dark area, the small bright patch will appear brighter than the same patch surrounded by a bright area.


Chubb Illusion


White’s illusion is a visual phenomenon in which two identical gray bars are placed on a background of alternating black and white stripes.

The gray bars appear to be different shades of gray, with the one on the white stripes appearing lighter than the one on the black stripes.

In the image below, both gray bars have the exact same color.


White's Illusion
White’s Illusion

The Watercolor Illusion: This illusion is created by the way the brain perceives edges of an object. When an object is surrounded by a colored halo, the object appears to have a different color than it actually does.

Watercolor Illusion



The Café Wall Illusion is a visual illusion that is created by a grid of alternating light and dark horizontal and vertical lines. The lines appear to be bent or tilted, even though they are actually straight.


Cafe Wall Illusion


Discovery of Anamorphic Street Art

The origin of anamorphic street art is not well documented, and it’s unclear who created the first piece of anamorphic street art.

However, the use of anamorphosis in art dates back to the Renaissance, where artists such as Leonardo da Vinci and Albrecht Dürer used the technique to create illusions of depth in their drawings and paintings.

In the modern era, street artists around the world have been inspired by these earlier techniques and have started incorporating anamorphic illusions into their street art, turning urban spaces into interactive, playful environments.

Some well-known street artists who have used anamorphic techniques in their work include Eduardo Sanson, Eduardo Relero, and Felipe Pantone, among others.

References and Resources

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Crater Illusion

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Crater Illusion

The crater illusion is a visual illusion that make it seem that craters appear to be raised, when if fact, they are indented.

Crater Illusion
The Crater Illusion

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How does the Crater Illusion work?

The illusion is created by the brain’s interpretation of depth and perspective. The circles appear to be raised or indented because the brain interprets the circles that are farther away as smaller and those that are closer as larger. This creates the illusion of depth and the appearance of a series of shallow or deep depressions.

The illusion is a variation of the well-known “Ebbinghaus illusion” which is based on the same principle of relative size perception, but it’s composed by circles instead of circles and circles and it’s called the “crater illusion” because the circles resemble the shape of craters.

It is important to note that the illusion is purely visual, the circles themselves are actually the same size, and there is no actual depth or depression.

Versions of the Crater Illusion

The following is another example of the Crater Illusion:


Crater Illusion

Illusions like the Crater Illusion

The crater illusion is a type of visual illusion known as a size-distance illusion. Size-distance illusions involve the perception of objects that appear to be different sizes based on their distance from the viewer. The crater illusion specifically is a variation of the well-known “Ebbinghaus illusion” which is a size-distance illusion that occurs when two circles of the same size are surrounded by circles of different sizes.

Size-distance illusions are caused by the way our brains perceive and interpret visual information. Our brains use various cues, such as relative size, texture, and lighting to judge the distance of objects in our environment. In the case of the crater illusion, the brain interprets the circles that are farther away as smaller and those that are closer as larger, which creates the illusion of depth and the appearance of a series of shallow or deep depressions.

It’s important to note that the illusion is purely visual, the circles themselves are actually the same size, and there is no actual depth or depression.

The Ebbinghaus illusion (also known as Titchener circles) is a perceptual illusion in which the perceived size of a central circle is affected by the size of the surrounding circles. The central circle appears smaller when surrounded by larger circles, and larger when surrounded by smaller circles.

Ebbinghaus Illusion


The Delboeuf illusion is similar to the Ebbinghaus illusion, but instead of circles, it uses two concentric circles or rings. The central ring appears larger or smaller depending on the size of the surrounding ring.

Delboeuf Illusion
delboeuf illusion with food.

The Poggendorff illusion is another size-contrast illusion in which a straight line appears to be bent or angled, due to the presence of intersecting lines or shapes in the background.

Poppendorff Illusion Lines

The Zöllner illusion is another size-contrast illusion in which a group of diagonal lines appear to be distorted or bent due to the presence of intersecting lines.

Zöllner illusion


The Müller-Lyer illusion is a classic example of size-contrast illusion, in which two lines of equal length appear to be different due to the presence of arrowheads or fins at the end of the lines.

müller-lyer illusion

All of these illusions rely on the way the visual system processes relative size information, and they all highlight the complexity and malleability of visual perception.


Discovery of the Crater Illusion

The origins of the crater illusion are not well-documented, but it is considered a variation of the well-known “Ebbinghaus illusion” which was first described by the German psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus in his 1885 book “Über das Gedächtnis” (On Memory).

He observed that when two circles of the same size are surrounded by circles of different sizes, the central circles appear to be different sizes. This illusion is an example of the size-distance illusion, which occurs when the perception of the size of an object is affected by its distance from the viewer.

It’s important to note that the crater illusion, as a specific variation of the Ebbinghaus illusion, is a well-established phenomenon in the field of psychology and it’s widely studied by researchers in the field of visual perception.

The Ebbinghaus illusion is named after German psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus, who first described it in the late 19th century. The illusion is thought to be caused by the way the brain processes relative size information in visual scenes.

Hermann Ebbinghaus (1850-1909) was a German psychologist who is best known for his pioneering research on memory and forgetting. He was one of the first researchers to systematically study memory as a psychological process and his work laid the foundation for the field of experimental psychology. Ebbinghaus conducted a series of experiments in which he memorized lists of nonsense syllables and then tested his own memory at various intervals to measure the rate of forgetting.

He also developed the first standardized memory test, called the “memory drum”, which consisted of a rotating drum with lists of words or syllables that could be presented to participants at different intervals. He used these tests to study the effects of different factors, such as repetition and interference, on memory retention.

Ebbinghaus also made significant contributions to the understanding of memory processes, such as the spacing effect, which states that spaced practice is more effective than massed practice in enhancing memory retention.

Ebbinghaus’s work was groundbreaking in the field of psychology and is still widely cited today. The Ebbinghaus illusion, the size-contrast illusion that bears his name, was discovered by him in 1885 but is not as well-known as his memory research.

References and Resources

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Ambigram

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Ambigram

An ambigram is a typographical design that can be read as one or more words, not just in its normal orientation but also when it is rotated, flipped or viewed from a different angle. The word “ambigram” comes from the Latin “ambi-” (meaning “both”) and “gram” (meaning “letter” or “word”).

An ambigram is not considered an illusion in the traditional sense of the word, but it is a form of visual play that can be seen as a type of perceptual puzzle.

Ambigram
Ambigram of Ambigram

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How do Ambigrams work?

An ambigram is created by designing a word or phrase such that different letters or letterforms are used in different orientations, such that the word or phrase can be read in multiple ways. There are several types of ambigrams, such as rotational ambigrams, which can be read in different orientations, and reflective ambigrams, which can be read when reflected in a mirror.

Ambigrams have been used in various forms of art, typography, graphic design, tattoos, and even on book covers, logos, and other forms of branding. They have also been used in cryptography and secret messages, where the sender and the receiver must know the technique to read the message.

Ambigrams can be created by hand, or by using various computer programs such as Illustrator, and there are also online tools that can help you create your own ambigrams. There are also communities and websites dedicated to ambigrams and their designs, where artists and designers can share their work, and get inspiration from others.

Versions of Ambigrams

The following are a few Ambigrams

Ambigram


Ambigram


Illusions like Ambigrams

An ambigram is not considered an illusion in the traditional sense of the word, but it is a form of visual play that can be seen as a type of perceptual puzzle. An illusion is something that tricks the mind into seeing something that is not actually there, while an ambigram is a design that can be read in multiple ways, but it is not deceiving the viewer into seeing something that is not real.

Ambigrams are therefore most similar to Ambiguous illusions.

Ambiguous illusions are visual stimuli that can be interpreted in more than one way. These illusions typically consist of a single image that can be perceived in multiple ways. Ambiguous illusions can be used to study the neural mechanisms of perception and how the brain resolves ambiguity.

Some related illusions include the following:

The Rubin vase, also known as the Rubin face or the figure-ground vase, is a famous optical illusion in which the image of a vase can also be perceived as two faces in profile looking at each other.

Rubin Vase Classic Black and White


The duck-rabbit illusion is an optical illusion that is an image that can be perceived as either a duck or a rabbit depending on how the viewer looks at it.

Duck Rabbit Illusion

The Necker cube is an optical illusion that features a simple wireframe drawing of a cube. The cube appears to switch back and forth between two different orientations.

Necker Cube

The My Wife and My Mother-in-Law illusion is an optical illusion with an image of a young woman’s face that can also be perceived as an older woman’s face.

Wife and Mother In Law

The Schröder Staircase is an optical illusion that features a drawing of a staircase. The staircase appears to be either ascending or descending, depending on how the brain interprets the angles of the lines.

Schroeders_stairs
From Wikimedia Commons

The impossible cube is an optical illusion that depicts a three-dimensional object that is physically impossible to construct.

Impossible Cube Illusion


The Penrose triangle, also known as the Penrose tribar, is an optical illusion that depicts a three-dimensional object that is physically impossible to construct.

Penrose Triangle


The impossible trident is a three-pronged impossible shape resembling a trident. It is usually depicted as a three-pronged fork with each prong appearing to be a continuation of the next, creating an impossible shape.

Impossible Trident
From Wikimedia Commons

The spinning dancer illusion is a visual illusion that depicts a silhouette of a dancer spinning clockwise or counterclockwise. The direction of the dancer’s spin can appear to change depending on the viewer’s perception

Spinning Dancer Gif
From Wikimedia Commons

The Monroe-Einstein illusion works by playing with the viewer’s expectations about the relationships between the features of the faces and the viewer’s sense of facial proportions.

Monroe-Einstein

Discovery of Ambigrams

The origins of ambigrams are not entirely clear, but the concept has been around for centuries in various forms. The earliest known examples of ambigrams can be found in ancient art and architecture, where words or phrases were designed to be read in multiple ways. For example, many ancient cultures used palindromes, words or phrases that can be read forward and backward, in their art and writing.

In modern times, the term “ambigram” was first coined by artist and graphic designer John Langdon in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Langdon was one of the first to explore the concept of creating typographical designs that could be read in multiple ways and he is considered as one of the pioneers of modern ambigram design. He has created many ambigrams and also wrote several books on the subject.

It’s also worth mentioning that, before Langdon, the term “ambigram” was used in a mathematical context, refer to a geometric pattern or design that can be seen as the same when rotated by a specific angle, but the concept of Ambigram as a typographical design is credited to Langdon.

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Ambiguous Cylinder Illusion

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ambiguous-cylinder-illusion

The Ambiguous Cylinder illusion is a visual illusion that involves the perception of depth and shape in a two-dimensional image.

The illusion is created by an image of a cylinder that is viewed from an angle, which can appear to be either a cylinder or two faces in front of a cylinder.

The image is said to be “ambiguous” because it can be perceived in two different ways.

ambiguous-cylinder-illusion
Ambiguous Cylinder

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How does the Ambiguous Cylinder Illusion work?

The illusion is created by the way the brain interprets the shape and shading of the image. The brain uses cues such as the relative size and position of the different parts of the image, as well as the way light falls on the object, to perceive depth and shape.

In the case of the Ambiguous Cylinder illusion, the brain is presented with conflicting cues, which leads to the perception of two different interpretations of the same image.

The Ambiguous Cylinder illusion is a type of ambiguous illusion, which is a type of visual illusion in which an image can be perceived in multiple ways.

Ambiguous illusions are often created by using geometric shapes and shading to create conflicting cues about the depth and shape of an object.

In the case of the Ambiguous Cylinder illusion, the image of a cylinder viewed from an angle can be perceived as either a cylinder or two faces in front of a cylinder.

The image is said to be “ambiguous” because it can be perceived in two different ways.

It is also a kind of optical illusion, which are visual effects that are caused by the way the eye and brain process visual information. These illusions can occur because of the way the visual system interprets light, color, and motion, and can be categorized as static or kinetic illusions. The Ambiguous Cylinder illusion is a static illusion, which means that it does not involve the perception of motion.

Version of the Ambiguous Cylinder Illusion

To better understand the Ambiguous Cylinder Illusion, you should really watch this brief video:

Illusions like the Ambiguous Cylinder Illusion

The Ambiguous Cylinder illusion is an example of a “depth-ambiguous” image which can be perceived in different ways.

This illusion is interesting because it shows that our perception of depth and shape is not always based on a single, objective interpretation of the visual information.

The way the brain processes the visual information is influenced by the context and the prior knowledge.

Some related illusions include the following:

The Necker cube is an optical illusion that features a simple wireframe drawing of a cube. The cube appears to switch back and forth between two different orientations.

Necker Cube

The Schröder Staircase is an optical illusion that features a drawing of a staircase. The staircase appears to be either ascending or descending, depending on how the brain interprets the angles of the lines.

Schroeders_stairs
From Wikimedia Commons

The impossible cube is an optical illusion that depicts a three-dimensional object that is physically impossible to construct.

Impossible Cube Illusion


The Penrose triangle, also known as the Penrose tribar, is an optical illusion that depicts a three-dimensional object that is physically impossible to construct.

Penrose Triangle


The impossible trident is a three-pronged impossible shape resembling a trident. It is usually depicted as a three-pronged fork with each prong appearing to be a continuation of the next, creating an impossible shape.

Impossible Trident

The spinning dancer illusion is a visual illusion that depicts a silhouette of a dancer spinning clockwise or counterclockwise. The direction of the dancer’s spin can appear to change depending on the viewer’s perception

Spinning Dancer Gif
From Wikimedia Commons

Discovery of the Ambiguous Cylinder Illusion

A popular version of the Ambiguous Object Illusion or the Ambiguous Cylinder Illusion was designed by Kokichi Sugihara of Meiji University in Japan.

Kokichi Sugihara is a professor at Meiji University in Japan and a renowned researcher in the field of visual perception and geometric illusions. He is known for his work on the perception of three-dimensional shapes and the creation of impossible objects and other optical illusions.

Sugihara is particularly known for his work on impossible objects, which are three-dimensional shapes that appear to be impossible to construct in the real world. He has created a wide range of impossible objects and geometric illusions, many of which have been featured in exhibitions and popular science publications.

He has published many papers, articles, and books about his research on visual perception and geometric illusions. He has received several awards for his work, including the Best Illusion of the Year contest in 2010, and the The Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Prize in 2016.

Sugihara is also known for his work on the application of geometric illusions to design and engineering, he has created a wide range of impossible objects and geometric illusions, many of which have been featured in exhibitions and popular science publications.

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Binocular Rivalry

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Binocular rivalry

Binocular rivalry is a phenomenon that occurs when slightly different images are presented to each eye simultaneously.

The brain is unable to fuse the two images into a single, coherent image, and instead alternates between perceiving one image and then the other.

This can cause the perceived image to flicker or change back and forth between the two images.

Binocular rivalry
Binocular Rivalry


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How does Binocular Rivalry work?

Binocular rivalry occurs when slightly different images are presented to each eye simultaneously. The brain receives input from each eye, but is unable to fuse the two images into a single, coherent image. Instead, it alternates between perceiving one image and then the other.

The exact mechanism by which the brain alternates between the two images is not fully understood, but it is thought to involve neural competition between the two eyes’ input at the level of the primary visual cortex. This competition is thought to be mediated by inhibitory interactions between neurons that are sensitive to the different images.

It’s also been proposed that the alternation between the two images is not purely random, but rather depends on the features of the images, such as their contrast, spatial frequency, and semantic meaning.

Binocular rivalry can be used to study the neural mechanisms of visual perception, depth perception and binocularity. It has been used to investigate the role of attention, top-down processing and adaptation in the perception of rivaling stimuli.

It’s important to note that binocular rivalry is different from binocular summation, which is the phenomenon that occurs when the visual information from the two eyes is combined to produce a single, more robust image.

Difference Between Monocular Rivalry and Binocular Rivalry

Monocular rivalry and binocular rivalry are similar in that they both involve the perception of conflicting images, but they differ in the way the images are presented to the eyes.

Monocular rivalry occurs when different images are presented to each eye simultaneously. In this case, the brain receives input from each eye, but is unable to process both images at the same time, so it alternates between perceiving one image and then the other.

Binocular rivalry, on the other hand, occurs when the same image is presented to both eyes, but the images are slightly different in some way, such as a small shift in position or a slight change in contrast. In this case, the brain is unable to fuse the two images into a single, coherent image, and instead alternates between perceiving one image and then the other.

The neural mechanisms that underlie monocular and binocular rivalry are thought to be similar, but the specific processes that lead to the perception of the rivaling images may differ. Monocular rivalry is often used to study visual perception and the brain, while binocular rivalry is used to study the neural mechanisms of depth perception, stereopsis and binocularity.

Versions of the Binocular Rivalry

The following are an alternate versions of the Binocular Rivalry:



Binocular rivalry






Binocular rivalry
An image demonstrating binocular rivalry. If you view the image with red-cyan 3D glasses, the text will alternate between Red and Blue
From Wikimedia Commons



Binocular rivalry
Binocular rivalry. If you view the image with red-cyan 3D glasses, the angled Warp and weft will alternate between the Red and the Blue lines.
From Wikimedia Commons



Illusions like Bionocular Rivalry

Binocular rivalry is a type of perceptual illusion. Perceptual illusions are those that involve the brain’s interpretation of sensory input and can include visual, auditory, and other types of illusions.

In the case of monocular rivalry, the brain is interpreting the input from each eye differently, leading to the perception of an image that is different from the physical image presented to the eye.

Some related illusions include the following:

Monocular rivalry is a phenomenon that occurs when different images are presented to each eye simultaneously. The brain is unable to process both images at the same time, so it alternates between perceiving one image and then the other.

The Checker Shadow Illusion is created by a checkerboard pattern composed of squares with different luminance values, the squares that are not directly illuminated by the light source appear darker than the illuminated squares, creating the illusion of shadows.

Edelson-Checker_shadow_illusion
Checker Shadow Illusion

The simultaneous contrast illusion is a visual effect that occurs when the perception of a color is affected by the colors of the surrounding area.

The illusion creates the appearance of a change in the color of an object, even though the actual color of the object remains constant.

Simultaneous Contrast Effect
The center green dot is the same on both sides, but the surrounding color changes the perception

The Neon Color Spreading illusion refers to the visual phenomenon where an area of color appears to spread or “bleed” beyond its intended boundaries.

Neon Color Spreading
From Wikimedia Commons

The Bezold Effect: This illusion is created by placing two or more colors next to each other, and the way they appear to change when they are close to one another.  

Bezold_Effect
from Wikimedia Commons

The Chubb illusion is based on the perception of brightness and can be observed when a small bright patch is surrounded by a larger dark area, the small bright patch will appear brighter than the same patch surrounded by a bright area.

Chubb Illusion


The Chevreul Illusion: This illusion is created by the way the brain perceives edges of an object. When the edges of an object are surrounded by a contrasting color, the edges appear to be a different color than they actually are. Chevreul’s illusion is similar to Mach bands, but they work in different ways. Chevreul’s illusion is an effect on the perception of hue, while Mach bands is an effect on the perception of brightness.

chevreul

White’s illusion is a visual phenomenon in which two identical gray bars are placed on a background of alternating black and white stripes.

The gray bars appear to be different shades of gray, with the one on the white stripes appearing lighter than the one on the black stripes.

In the image below, both gray bars have the exact same color.

White's Illusion
White’s Illusion

The Cornsweet illusion is a classic example of a brightness illusion, which is an illusion in which two areas that are physically the same brightness appear to be different in brightness.

Cornsweet illusion
Cornsweet illusion

The Watercolor Illusion: This illusion is created by the way the brain perceives edges of an object. When an object is surrounded by a colored halo, the object appears to have a different color than it actually does.

Watercolor Illusion


The Café Wall Illusion is a visual illusion that is created by a grid of alternating light and dark horizontal and vertical lines. The lines appear to be bent or tilted, even though they are actually straight.

Cafe Wall Illusion


Discovery of Binocular Rivalry

The phenomenon of binocular rivalry has been known for centuries, and has been observed and described by many scientists and philosophers. However, it wasn’t until the late 19th and early 20th centuries that the phenomenon began to be studied systematically.

One of the first scientists to study binocular rivalry in a systematic way was the psychologist Joseph Jastrow. He published several articles in the late 19th century describing the phenomenon of binocular rivalry and the different ways it can manifest.

In the early 20th century, the psychologist Edgar Rubin made significant contributions to the study of binocular rivalry and is often credited with introducing the term “binocular rivalry” to describe the phenomenon. He published several articles describing his findings on binocular rivalry, and his work on the topic is still widely cited today.

Other scientists like the physiologist and psychologist Ludimar Hermann, who in 1870 proposed that the perception of one eye’s image is suppressed by the other eye’s image, also contributed to the understanding of binocular rivalry.

Overall, many scientists have contributed to the discovery and understanding of binocular rivalry and it’s still an active area of research.

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Monocular Rivalry

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Monocular Rivalry

Monocular rivalry is a phenomenon that occurs when different images are presented to each eye simultaneously.

The brain is unable to process both images at the same time, so it alternates between perceiving one image and then the other.

This can cause the perceived image to flicker or change back and forth between the two images.

Monocular Rivalry
Monocular Rivalry


Table of Contents


How does Monocular Rivalry work?

Monocular rivalry occurs when different images are presented to each eye simultaneously.

The brain receives input from each eye, but is unable to process both images at the same time, so it alternates between perceiving one image and then the other.

The exact mechanism by which the brain alternates between the two images is not fully understood.

It is thought to involve inhibitory processes in the visual cortex, which suppress the perception of one image while allowing the perception of the other.

This inhibition can occur at different levels of the visual system, from the retina to the higher-level visual areas of the brain.

It’s also been proposed that the alternation between the two images is not purely random, but rather depends on the features of the images, such as their contrast, spatial frequency, and semantic meaning.

Monocular rivalry can be used to study the neural mechanisms of visual perception and how the brain interprets and constructs visual information.

Difference Between Monocular Rivalry and Binocular Rivalry

Monocular rivalry and binocular rivalry are similar in that they both involve the perception of conflicting images, but they differ in the way the images are presented to the eyes.

Monocular rivalry occurs when different images are presented to each eye simultaneously. In this case, the brain receives input from each eye, but is unable to process both images at the same time, so it alternates between perceiving one image and then the other.

Binocular rivalry, on the other hand, occurs when the same image is presented to both eyes, but the images are slightly different in some way, such as a small shift in position or a slight change in contrast. In this case, the brain is unable to fuse the two images into a single, coherent image, and instead alternates between perceiving one image and then the other.

The neural mechanisms that underlie monocular and binocular rivalry are thought to be similar, but the specific processes that lead to the perception of the rivaling images may differ. Monocular rivalry is often used to study visual perception and the brain, while binocular rivalry is used to study the neural mechanisms of depth perception, stereopsis and binocularity.

Versions of the Monocular Rivalry

The following are an alternate versions of the Monocular Rivalry:



Monocular Rivalry


Monocular Rivalry



Illusions like the Monocular Rivalry

Monocular rivalry is a type of perceptual illusion. Perceptual illusions are those that involve the brain’s interpretation of sensory input and can include visual, auditory, and other types of illusions.

In the case of monocular rivalry, the brain is interpreting the input from each eye differently, leading to the perception of an image that is different from the physical image presented to the eye.

Some related illusions include the following:

The Checker Shadow Illusion is created by a checkerboard pattern composed of squares with different luminance values, the squares that are not directly illuminated by the light source appear darker than the illuminated squares, creating the illusion of shadows.

Edelson-Checker_shadow_illusion
Checker Shadow Illusion

The simultaneous contrast illusion is a visual effect that occurs when the perception of a color is affected by the colors of the surrounding area.

The illusion creates the appearance of a change in the color of an object, even though the actual color of the object remains constant.

Simultaneous Contrast Effect
The center green dot is the same on both sides, but the surrounding color changes the perception

The Neon Color Spreading illusion refers to the visual phenomenon where an area of color appears to spread or “bleed” beyond its intended boundaries.

Neon Color Spreading
From Wikimedia Commons

The Bezold Effect: This illusion is created by placing two or more colors next to each other, and the way they appear to change when they are close to one another.  

Bezold_Effect
from Wikimedia Commons

The Mach Band Illusion: This illusion is created by the way the brain perceives edges of an object. When an object has a gradient of color, the edges of the object appear to be darker or lighter than they actually are.

Mach Bands Animation
From Wikimedia Commons

The Chubb illusion is based on the perception of brightness and can be observed when a small bright patch is surrounded by a larger dark area, the small bright patch will appear brighter than the same patch surrounded by a bright area.

Chubb Illusion


The Chevreul Illusion: This illusion is created by the way the brain perceives edges of an object. When the edges of an object are surrounded by a contrasting color, the edges appear to be a different color than they actually are. Chevreul’s illusion is similar to Mach bands, but they work in different ways. Chevreul’s illusion is an effect on the perception of hue, while Mach bands is an effect on the perception of brightness.

chevreul

White’s illusion is a visual phenomenon in which two identical gray bars are placed on a background of alternating black and white stripes.

The gray bars appear to be different shades of gray, with the one on the white stripes appearing lighter than the one on the black stripes.

In the image below, both gray bars have the exact same color.

White's Illusion
White’s Illusion

The Cornsweet illusion is a classic example of a brightness illusion, which is an illusion in which two areas that are physically the same brightness appear to be different in brightness.

Cornsweet illusion
Cornsweet illusion

The Watercolor Illusion: This illusion is created by the way the brain perceives edges of an object. When an object is surrounded by a colored halo, the object appears to have a different color than it actually does.

Watercolor Illusion


The Café Wall Illusion is a visual illusion that is created by a grid of alternating light and dark horizontal and vertical lines. The lines appear to be bent or tilted, even though they are actually straight.

Cafe Wall Illusion


Discovery of Monocular Rivalry

The phenomenon of monocular rivalry has been known for centuries, and has been observed and described by many scientists and philosophers. However, it wasn’t until the late 19th and early 20th centuries that the phenomenon began to be studied systematically.

One of the first scientists to study monocular rivalry in a systematic way was the physiologist and psychologist Franz Christian Boll who in 1833 described the phenomenon of rivaling perceptions in his book “On the physiological causes of the illusion of colors”.

Later, in the late 19th century, the psychologist Joseph Jastrow made detailed observations of monocular rivalry, and published several articles describing his findings.

In the early 20th century, the psychologist Edgar Rubin made significant contributions to the study of monocular rivalry, and is often credited with introducing the term “monocular rivalry” to describe the phenomenon. He published several articles describing his findings on monocular rivalry, and his work on the topic is still widely cited today.

Overall, many scientists have contributed to the discovery and understanding of monocular rivalry and it’s still a active area of research.

References and Resources

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Impossible Cylinder

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Impossible Cylinder

The impossible cylinder is an impossible shape resembling a cylinder similar to the Penrose triangle, impossible cube, and the impossible trident.

Impossible Cylinder
Impossible Cylinder

Table of Contents

How does the Impossible Cylinder Illusion work?

Impossible shapes, also known as impossible figures or impossible objects, are visual illusions that depict objects or scenes that cannot exist in the real world. These shapes often appear to have impossible or contradictory properties, such as impossible angles or impossible connections between parts of the object.

Impossible shapes rely on the way the human brain perceives and interprets visual information. Our brains are wired to recognize patterns and make sense of the world around us, but when presented with an impossible shape, our brains are unable to fully understand the image and interpret it in a logical way. This creates a visual illusion that can appear to be both believable and impossible at the same time.

For example, the Penrose triangle is an impossible shape that appears to be a triangle with impossibly sharp edges and corners. The brain is able to recognize the image as a triangle, but it is unable to fully reconcile the impossible angles and edges, which creates a sense of visual confusion and illusion. The Necker cube is an impossible shape that appears to be a cube with impossibly connected faces. The brain is able to recognize the image as a cube, but it is unable to fully reconcile the impossible connections, which creates a sense of visual confusion and illusion.

In summary, impossible shapes work by taking advantage of the way the brain perceives and interprets visual information, creating a visual illusion that is both believable and impossible at the same time.


Illusions like the Impossible Cylinder Illusion

Paradox illusions are a type of optical illusion that involve images that appear to be self-contradictory or impossible. They typically involve the manipulation of visual cues such as size, shape, movement, and depth perception to create an image that appears to be impossible or defies our understanding of the physical world.

In general, these illusions work by exploiting the way the visual system processes information. The brain relies on certain cues, such as perspective, shading, and texture, to infer the 3D structure of an object. When these cues are manipulated in a certain way, the brain can be fooled into perceiving an impossible or self-contradictory image.

Some related illusions include the following:

The Necker cube is an optical illusion that features a simple wireframe drawing of a cube. The cube appears to switch back and forth between two different orientations.

Necker Cube

The Schröder Staircase is an optical illusion that features a drawing of a staircase. The staircase appears to be either ascending or descending, depending on how the brain interprets the angles of the lines.

Schroeders_stairs
From Wikimedia Commons

The impossible cube is an optical illusion that depicts a three-dimensional object that is physically impossible to construct.

Impossible Cube Illusion


The Penrose triangle, also known as the Penrose tribar, is an optical illusion that depicts a three-dimensional object that is physically impossible to construct.

Penrose Triangle


The impossible trident is a three-pronged impossible shape resembling a trident. It is usually depicted as a three-pronged fork with each prong appearing to be a continuation of the next, creating an impossible shape.

Impossible Trident

The spinning dancer illusion is a visual illusion that depicts a silhouette of a dancer spinning clockwise or counterclockwise. The direction of the dancer’s spin can appear to change depending on the viewer’s perception

Spinning Dancer Gif
From Wikimedia Commons

Discovery of the Impossible Cylinder Illusion

The impossible cylinder it is a common variation of the impossible figures and impossible objects, which were popularized by the artist and mathematician Roger Penrose in the 1950s and 60s. He created a famous impossible object called the Penrose triangle, which is a 2D representation of an impossible object.

Impossible figures and impossible objects have been used in art and graphic design for decades, and it is likely that the impossible trident was created by an artist or designer who was inspired by Penrose’s work and created a variation of it.

References and Resources

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Three Hares

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Three Hares

The Three Hares is a symbol consisting of three hares or rabbits chasing each other in a circular pattern. It is found in various cultures dating back to ancient China and in medieval churches in Europe.

It is thought to have symbolic meaning related to the Triple Goddess in pagan beliefs, or the Holy Trinity in Christianity. The symbol is also known as “The Tinners’ Rabbits” or “The Trinity Hares.”

Table of Contents

How does the Three Hares Illusion work?

The Three Hares design typically consists of three hares or rabbits arranged in a circular pattern, with each hare’s ears forming a part of the next hare’s ears.

The hares are depicted as if they are chasing each other in a never-ending cycle, with their ears forming a continuous loop.

The design is created by interlocking the ears of the hares in a specific way, so that the ears of each hare are visible on the next hare, forming a continuous loop.

The symbol is thought to have symbolic meaning related to the Triple Goddess in pagan beliefs, or the Holy Trinity in Christianity. It has also been suggested that it could be a symbol of rebirth, continuity, and the cycle of life.

Versions of the Three Hares Illusion

The following are some alternate versions of the Three Hares Illusion:

Three Hares


Three Hares


Illusions like the Three Hares Illusion

Ambiguous illusions are visual stimuli that can be interpreted in more than one way. These illusions typically consist of a single image that can be perceived in multiple ways. Ambiguous illusions can be used to study the neural mechanisms of perception and how the brain resolves ambiguity.

Some related illusions include the following:

A Möbius strip, named after the German mathematician August Möbius, is a one-sided non-orientable surface, which can be created by taking a rectangular strip of paper and giving it a half-twist, then joining the two ends of the strip together.

Mobius Strip
From Wikimedia Commons

The Penrose triangle, also known as the Penrose tribar, is an optical illusion that depicts a three-dimensional object that is physically impossible to construct.

Penrose Triangle


The Penrose stairs, also known as the impossible staircase or the Penrose steps, is a two-dimensional representation of a staircase that appears to ascend or descend indefinitely, yet is physically impossible to climb or descend because the steps are not connected in a logical manner.

Pensrose Staircase

The Necker cube is an optical illusion that features a simple wireframe drawing of a cube. The cube appears to switch back and forth between two different orientations.

Necker Cube

The Schröder Staircase is an optical illusion that features a drawing of a staircase. The staircase appears to be either ascending or descending, depending on how the brain interprets the angles of the lines.

Schroeders_stairs
From Wikimedia Commons

The impossible cube is an optical illusion that depicts a three-dimensional object that is physically impossible to construct.

Impossible Cube Illusion


The impossible trident is a three-pronged impossible shape resembling a trident. It is usually depicted as a three-pronged fork with each prong appearing to be a continuation of the next, creating an impossible shape.

Impossible Trident
From Wikimedia Commons

The spinning dancer illusion is a visual illusion that depicts a silhouette of a dancer spinning clockwise or counterclockwise. The direction of the dancer’s spin can appear to change depending on the viewer’s perception

Spinning Dancer Gif
From Wikimedia Commons

Discovery of the Three Hares Illusion

The origins of the Three Hares symbol are not well-documented, and the creators of the symbol are unknown.

The symbol has been found in various cultures and historical periods, dating back to ancient China, and in medieval churches in Europe.

It’s believed that the symbol may have originated in Asia and then spread to Europe via the Silk Road. It’s also possible that the symbol was independently created in different cultures, as the concept of three hares chasing each other in a circular pattern is a simple and intuitive image that could have been easily created by different cultures at different times.

There is no specific creator of the symbol that is known.

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Mobius Strip

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Mobius Strip

A Möbius strip, named after the German mathematician August Möbius, is a one-sided non-orientable surface, which can be created by taking a rectangular strip of paper and giving it a half-twist, then joining the two ends of the strip together.

The result is a continuous loop with only one surface and one edge. It is a two-dimensional surface that has only one side and one edge. This means that if you were to walk along the edge of a Möbius strip, you would eventually return to your starting point, but on the other side of the strip.

Mobius Strip
From Wikimedia Commons

Table of Contents

How does the Mobius Strip Illusion work?

The Möbius strip is a fascinating mathematical object that has many interesting properties. It is a simple and elegant example of a non-orientable surface, which means that it cannot be consistently defined as having a “top” or “bottom” side. This can be demonstrated by drawing a line on one side of the strip, and following it all the way around. The line will eventually return to the starting point but will be on the opposite side of the strip.

The Möbius strip is also a fascinating object in terms of topology, which is the branch of mathematics that deals with the properties of shapes that are preserved under continuous transformations. The Möbius strip has many interesting topological properties and has been used to demonstrate a number of mathematical concepts, such as the concept of continuity and the concept of the Euler characteristic.

Möbius strips are also used in many engineering applications such as in the design of gears, tapes and conveyor belts, where the one-sidedness has certain advantages in reducing wear and tear.

The Möbius strip works by creating a surface that has only one side and one edge. It is created by taking a rectangular strip of paper and giving it a half-twist, then joining the two ends of the strip together. The result is a continuous loop with only one surface and one edge.

The key feature of the Möbius strip is that it is a non-orientable surface, which means that it cannot be consistently defined as having a “top” or “bottom” side. This can be demonstrated by drawing a line on one side of the strip, and following it all the way around. The line will eventually return to the starting point but will be on the opposite side of the strip.

The Möbius strip also has a number of interesting topological properties, which are properties that are preserved under continuous transformations. For example, the Möbius strip has only one edge, which means that it is not possible to separate the surface of the strip into two distinct parts without cutting the edge. Additionally, the Möbius strip has only one side, which means that it is not possible to consistently define a “top” or “bottom” side of the strip.

In terms of its mathematical properties, the Möbius strip has only one boundary component and its Euler characteristic is zero, which is different from a regular strip or a cylinder. The Euler characteristic is a topological invariant that can be calculated for any surface, and is related to the number of handles, holes and connected components of a surface.

In engineering, Möbius strips can be found in several applications, such as in the design of gears, tapes and conveyor belts, where the one-sidedness has certain advantages in reducing wear and tear. Additionally, the Möbius strip can be applied to the fields of computer science and physics, such as in knot theory, where it is used to study the properties of different types of knots and links.

Versions of the Mobius Strip Illusion

The following are some alternate versions of the Mobius Strip Illusion:

Mobius Strip

Mobius Stip
Google Drive Logo


Mobius Strip
Recycling Logo


Illusions like the Mobius Strip Illusion

Paradox illusions are a type of optical illusion that involve images that appear to be self-contradictory or impossible. They typically involve the manipulation of visual cues such as size, shape, movement, and depth perception to create an image that appears to be impossible or defies our understanding of the physical world.

In general, these illusions work by exploiting the way the visual system processes information. The brain relies on certain cues, such as perspective, shading, and texture, to infer the 3D structure of an object. When these cues are manipulated in a certain way, the brain can be fooled into perceiving an impossible or self-contradictory image.

Some related illusions include the following:

The Penrose triangle, also known as the Penrose tribar, is an optical illusion that depicts a three-dimensional object that is physically impossible to construct.

Penrose Triangle


The Penrose stairs, also known as the impossible staircase or the Penrose steps, is a two-dimensional representation of a staircase that appears to ascend or descend indefinitely, yet is physically impossible to climb or descend because the steps are not connected in a logical manner.

Pensrose Staircase

The Necker cube is an optical illusion that features a simple wireframe drawing of a cube. The cube appears to switch back and forth between two different orientations.

Necker Cube

The Schröder Staircase is an optical illusion that features a drawing of a staircase. The staircase appears to be either ascending or descending, depending on how the brain interprets the angles of the lines.

Schroeders_stairs
From Wikimedia Commons

The impossible cube is an optical illusion that depicts a three-dimensional object that is physically impossible to construct.

Impossible Cube Illusion


The impossible trident is a three-pronged impossible shape resembling a trident. It is usually depicted as a three-pronged fork with each prong appearing to be a continuation of the next, creating an impossible shape.

Impossible Trident
From Wikimedia Commons

The spinning dancer illusion is a visual illusion that depicts a silhouette of a dancer spinning clockwise or counterclockwise. The direction of the dancer’s spin can appear to change depending on the viewer’s perception

Spinning Dancer Gif
From Wikimedia Commons

Discovery of the Mobius Strip Illusion

The Möbius strip was independently discovered by the German mathematicians August Möbius and Johann Benedict Listing in 1858.

August Möbius, who is considered the primary discoverer, was a German mathematician and astronomer who is best known for his work in topology, particularly for his discovery of the Möbius strip. He described his discovery in a paper published in 1858, entitled “Theory of Schlichen” (or “On the Characteristic Numbers of Multiply-Connected Manifolds”).

Johann Benedict Listing, a German mathematician also independently discovered the Möbius strip in the same year. He described it in his book “Vorstudien zur Topologie” (or “Preliminary studies of topology”).

The Möbius strip was not well-known or studied at the time of its discovery, but it has since become a classic example in the field of topology and has been used to demonstrate a number of mathematical concepts, such as the concept of continuity and the concept of the Euler characteristic.

References and Resources

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