In this brief video from Scientific American, the Ames Room illusion is demonstrated and then completely revealed.  If you are not familiar with an Ames Room, first have a look at this vintage Ames Room illusion photograph.  Now watch the video and see exactly how this trick is done.

All of the edges in this image are straight and either horizontal, vertical, or at a 45° angle.  Does it appear that way to you? Edit:  I just also noticed that if you move your scroll bar up and down when viewing this image it appears to have some motion elements to it.

The checker shadow illusion was originally published by MIT professor Edward H. Adelson in 1995.  It presents two squares that are the same shade but appear to be quite different from one another.  The video below demonstrates the illusion as a light square in a shadow is moved to reveal that it is the same […]