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Concentrate on the four dots in the middle of the picture for about 30 seconds. Then close your eyes, or alternatively look up towards the ceiling. Within seconds you will see a small circle of light. Continue looking. What Do You See? Is it a heavenly sign?





Look at the picture below for a couple of seconds and it will appear as if the arrows are moving anti-clockwise. Then look just above, below, or to the side of the picture and the speed the arrows are moving rapidly increases. Try it a few times.






If you stare at this image of a black light bulb for about 20 seconds and then look at something white, or to the side of it, you'll see a bulb glowing.





The tower on the right is leaning more. Correct? Well, no, in fact these two images of the Leaning Tower of Pisa are exactly identical.






On this grid are two triangles made up of several different coloured pieces. The first triangle is complete, however the second triangle which appears to consist of all the same pieces as the first has a square missing. Where has it gone ? Try counting the blocks that make up each piece - are they the same ?






Here we have a vertically oriented table which is much longer and thinner than the other table. Or is it? Remarkably, both tables are actually exactly the same size.


  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    On that last one. They aren't the same size. Measure them.

    I like the one that is either Jesus or the ZigZag guy.
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    • Profile picture of the author Joe Mobley
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    • Profile picture of the author Richard Van
      Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

      On that last one. They aren't the same size. Measure them.
      I just did and they are actually the same. I'm measuring 5.3 cm on both length ways and 2.5 cm width ways.

      Maybe my rulers broken?
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      • Profile picture of the author Cali16
        Originally Posted by Richard Van View Post

        I just did and they are actually the same.
        I measured them as well, and much to my surprise, the measurements are the same. So, Richard, your rulers aren't broken!

        I find the missing square in the two triangles to be quite interesting.
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        • Profile picture of the author Richard Van
          Originally Posted by Cali16 View Post

          I measured them as well, and much to my surprise, the measurements are the same. So, Richard, your rulers aren't broken!

          I find the missing square in the two triangles to be quite interesting.
          That actually still has me stumped.

          I'm waiting for a brighter Warrior with more time than I have, to tell me how it works.
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          • Profile picture of the author bizgrower
            Originally Posted by Richard Van View Post

            That actually still has me stumped.

            I'm waiting for a brighter Warrior with more time than I have, to tell me how it works.
            Discussing broken rulers is not allowed here because that would be political.
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            • Profile picture of the author Richard Van
              Originally Posted by bizgrower View Post

              Discussing broken rulers is not allowed here because that would be political.
              Good point Biz.

              Regarding plastic rulers (dam that's political too). Ok, regarding rulers that are used for measuring distances, it turns out it wasn't broken after all.

              However, I'm started to think Cali and my measuring ruler are faulty though seeing as Steve thanked Sal for pointing out the tables are not the same length and width, even though they are according to Cali and my own measuring implements.

              What do you reckon?
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              • Profile picture of the author Frank Donovan
                The angles at which the tables are drawn show the depth and legs which fool us into misinterpreting the length of the surface. Here's the same picture with all the depth cues removed. You can now see more clearly that the lengths are the same. It's even clearer if you play with flipping the pic around.

                But it's a good illusion.



                .
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              • Profile picture of the author bizgrower
                Originally Posted by Richard Van View Post

                Good point Biz.

                Regarding plastic rulers (dam that's political too). Ok, regarding rulers that are used for measuring distances, it turns out it wasn't broken after all.

                However, I'm started to think Cali and my measuring ruler are faulty though seeing as Steve thanked Sal for pointing out the tables are not the same length and width, even though they are according to Cali and my own measuring implements.

                What do you reckon?
                By the way, I do like your Duchess of Cambridge. lol

                With respect to the tables, the artist is good at drawing things in perspective view. Notice how the lines are at an angle and the use of shadows. Assume that in real life the table on the right is 2' tall x 4' x 4'.
                In normal position it would take up the 4 feet x 4 feet of floor space. As you tilt it up, it takes up less and less floor (horizontal) space.
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              • Profile picture of the author seasoned
                Originally Posted by Richard Van View Post

                Good point Biz.

                Regarding plastic rulers (dam that's political too). Ok, regarding rulers that are used for measuring distances, it turns out it wasn't broken after all.

                However, I'm started to think Cali and my measuring ruler are faulty though seeing as Steve thanked Sal for pointing out the tables are not the same length and width, even though they are according to Cali and my own measuring implements.

                What do you reckon?
                I was thanking for the other things. The tables DO seem to be about the same size. GRANTED, they LOOK WAY off, but I have been fooled too much by that to simply take that for granted.

                Steve
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          • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
            Originally Posted by Richard Van View Post

            That actually still has me stumped.

            I'm waiting for a brighter Warrior with more time than I have, to tell me how it works.
            You know, I've been counting squares on that triangle for a few minutes, and I don't see where that space comes from. But I know it's an illusion.

            I have no idea.

            Wait!

            I think I see it. The only line that isn't squared against the background is the long diagonal line. It has no grid behind it to follow.

            So, it's either;
            1) The squares in the background are not the same size, or the lines (of the square grid) aren't the same direction. or
            2) There is a difference in the diagonal line. meaning they aren't both the same. Maybe the same length, but not straight. In other words the triangles are not the same shape.

            If it's not one of those, I have no idea.



            The leaning tower...I'm guessing the illusion is because the images are side by side, and the lean to the right, forces us to see more space between the two towers, forcing our perspective.

            These illusions are interesting, because it shows that our brain interprets our surroundings in patterns that we have no control over. Our brain sees less than we think, and it fills in the missing pieces.

            Anyway, I could be wrong.

            Added after I saw the link for the towers. OK, Even though my explanation may appear sort of correct, I was wrong. Damn. The effect is from a different cause.
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            • Profile picture of the author positivenegative
              Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post


              These illusions are interesting, because it shows that our brain interprets our surroundings in patterns that we have no control over. Our brain sees less than we think, and it fills in the missing pieces.

              Anyway, I could be wrong.

              Coincidentally, by chance I came across the following article today on the very same topic . . .


              How your eyes trick your mind
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              • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
                Originally Posted by positivenegative View Post

                Coincidentally, by chance I came across the following article today on the very same topic . . .


                How your eyes trick your mind
                Quoted from the link.


                "One school of thought suggests that some illusions highlight the way the brain constantly tries to predict what will happen. The theory goes that many illusions show that we try to predict the future to compensate for the slight delay between an event and our conscious perception of it.

                The light from these words you are reading has to reach your eye, before a signal travels to the brain to be processed – this takes time, which means the world you perceive is slightly in the past. Mark Changizi, a theoretical neurobiologist, believes the brain may make predictions about your surroundings in order to “perceive the present”.



                Slight oh hand magicians use this fact often in their illusions. At an advanced level, it's also why it's impossible to hit a good boxer. The brain thinks the opponent will be in a certain place...but he isn't...so you miss.

                There is strong evidence that our brain is constantly predicting....maybe a tenth of a second into the future, and we perceive it as the present.
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                • Profile picture of the author bizgrower
                  Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

                  Quoted from the link.


                  "One school of thought suggests that some illusions highlight the way the brain constantly tries to predict what will happen. The theory goes that many illusions show that we try to predict the future to compensate for the slight delay between an event and our conscious perception of it.

                  The light from these words you are reading has to reach your eye, before a signal travels to the brain to be processed - this takes time, which means the world you perceive is slightly in the past. Mark Changizi, a theoretical neurobiologist, believes the brain may make predictions about your surroundings in order to "perceive the present".



                  Slight oh hand magicians use this fact often in their illusions. At an advanced level, it's also why it's impossible to hit a good boxer. The brain thinks the opponent will be in a certain place...but he isn't...so you miss.

                  There is strong evidence that our brain is constantly predicting....maybe a tenth of a second into the future, and we perceive it as the present.
                  That predicting thing could explain deja vu?
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                  • Profile picture of the author Dan Riffle
                    Originally Posted by bizgrower View Post

                    That predicting thing could explain deja vu?

                    Dude, I so knew you were going to say that! I don't care who you are, that's freaky right there.
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                    • Profile picture of the author bizgrower
                      Originally Posted by Dan Riffle View Post

                      Dude, I so knew you were going to say that! I don't care who you are, that's freaky right there.
                      I knew that you knew.






                      (Who would ever imagine that in in one night in a small town bar in the Colorado mountains there would
                      be 7 guys named Dan playing pool. True event. A few years ago.)
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                  • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
                    Originally Posted by bizgrower View Post

                    That predicting thing could explain deja vu?
                    I think it's a different mechanism. But I haven't really studied deja vu.

                    from Wikipedia;

                    The psychologist Edward B. Titchener in his book A Textbook of Psychology (1928), explained déjà vu as caused by a person having a brief glimpse of an object or situation, before the brain has completed "constructing" a full conscious perception of the experience. Such a "partial perception" then results in a false sense of familiarity.[1] Scientific approaches reject the explanation of déjà vu as "precognition" or "prophecy", but rather explain it as an anomaly of memory, which creates a distinct impression that an experience is "being recalled"
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                    • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
                      Banned
                      Very interesting ... the second one didn't work brilliantly for me, the first time I looked, simply because when I looked to the side, I could still see the after-image from the first one!

                      The "missing square" one was actually in one of our high school math books - there were a few "puzzles" at the back - with a good explanation.

                      Thanks for posting these ...

                      .
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                      • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
                        Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

                        Very interesting ... the second one didn't work brilliantly for me, the first time I looked, simply because when I looked to the side, I could still see the after-image from the first one!

                        The "missing square" one was actually in one of our high school math books - there were a few "puzzles" at the back - with a good explanation.

                        Thanks for posting these ...

                        .
                        Do you remember the answer?

                        I may be at a loss.
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                        • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
                          Banned
                          Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

                          Do you remember the answer?
                          Yes, I think so. After a fashion, anyway. I'll post it in a day or so, if +/- doesn't mind.
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      • Profile picture of the author hardraysnight
        Originally Posted by Richard Van View Post

        I just did and they are actually the same. I'm measuring 5.3 cm on both length ways and 2.5 cm width ways.

        Maybe my rulers broken?
        god save the queen
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    • Profile picture of the author seasoned
      Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

      On that last one. They aren't the same size. Measure them.

      I like the one that is either Jesus or the ZigZag guy.
      Yeah, and on the triangle, it is OBVIOUS what happened. The red and turquoise(?) triangles were SWITCHED! That made the resulting triangle the same size, but the red one is higher/longer so the other blocks had to be moved down/forward, and left the 1 block space.

      BTW the larger triangle is 1 unit higher, so the mustard block had to be moved down one. It couldn't fit, because the lip is three blocks, and the area on the green one has room for only 2. So it had to be moved forward. The ejtire upper area is 8 blocks, which is the length of the red block, so it fits. The number of units on the bottom is only 7, because it wasn't made to fit that way, and it leaves the one block hole.

      Steve
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      • Profile picture of the author Richard Van
        Originally Posted by seasoned View Post

        Yeah, and on the triangle, it is OBVIOUS what happened. The red and turquoise(?) triangles were SWITCHED! That made the resulting triangle the same size, but the red one is higher/longer so the other blocks had to be moved down/forward, and left the 1 block space.

        BTW the larger triangle is 1 unit higher, so the mustard block had to be moved down one. It couldn't fit, because the lip is three blocks, and the area on the green one has room for only 2. So it had to be moved forward. The ejtire upper area is 8 blocks, which is the length of the red block, so it fits. The number of units on the bottom is only 7, because it wasn't made to fit that way, and it leaves the one block hole.

        Steve
        I get that, I think.

        What puzzles me is the fact in the top one all the pieces fill an area yet they don't fill the same area when they're moved about, yet their areas are still the same.

        I think I need Alexa's maths book explanation.

        It also goes to show I wouldn't do very well at her school in a maths lesson.

        EDIT. This may help explain it better.

        It's all to do with a 'bent' hypotenuse.

        http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missing_square_puzzle
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        • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
          Banned
          Originally Posted by Richard Van View Post

          EDIT. This may help explain it better.

          It's all to do with a 'bent' hypotenuse.

          Missing square puzzle - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
          Better, there, I'm sure, than "in my own words".

          The large assembled image with the "missing square" isn't actually a triangle at all, because the hypotenuses of the two smaller triangles aren't really parallel/one an extension of the other, at all.

          In other words, if you join the top of that long "hypotenuse" to the bottom with a straight line, it won't follow exactly the position you expect, but there will be some bits "bulging" over the line, especially towards its center, and those little bits, none of which you can see under normal conditions, add up to the volume of the "missing square".

          .
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          • Profile picture of the author bizgrower
            The Hypotenuse Hypothesis.


            Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

            Better, there, I'm sure, than "in my own words".

            The large assembled image with the "missing square" isn't actually a triangle at all, because the hypotenuses of the two smaller triangles aren't really parallel/one an extension of the other, at all.

            In other words, if you join the top of that long "hypotenuse" to the bottom with a straight line, it won't follow exactly the position you expect, but there will be some bits "bulging" over the line, especially towards its center, and those little bits, none of which you can see under normal conditions, add up to the volume of the "missing square".

            .
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        • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
          Originally Posted by Richard Van View Post

          I get that, I think.

          What puzzles me is the fact in the top one all the pieces fill an area yet they don't fill the same area when they're moved about, yet their areas are still the same.

          I think I need Alexa's maths book explanation.

          It also goes to show I wouldn't do very well at her school in a maths lesson.

          EDIT. This may help explain it better.

          It's all to do with a 'bent' hypotenuse.

          Missing square puzzle - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
          One of my answers was right. Therefore, it is proof that I can bend reality with my mind.

          I am now concentrating on "Riffle spills coffee all over his shirt".
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  • Profile picture of the author AngelaB11
    Wow! Some of those are unbelievable!
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