Ponzo Illusion

Estimation 20 October 2020 0 Comments

Ponzo Illusion

This geometric optical illusion from the early 1900s is called the Ponzo illusion – named after Mario Ponzo, who was the first to demonstrate this effect. The illusion uses linear perspective to confuse the brain into thinking that two lines are of different lengths. In the image below, the red line at the top of […]

Torii Illusion (Hering and Zöllner)

Estimation 5 January 2017 0 Comments

Torii Illusion (Hering and Zöllner)

Happy New Year everyone! Proferssor Dejan Todorović of the University of Belgrade created this optical illusion that highlights the effects of two different illusions known as the Hering illusion and the Zöllner illusion.  The blurred orange lines (representing a Torii, a traditional Japanese gate located in front of a shrine) are identical in all three […]

Variation of the Cafe Wall Illusion

Estimation 19 February 2015 0 Comments

Variation of the Cafe Wall Illusion

In this variation of the Cafe Wall illusion, created by Alan Stubbs, the vertical gray lines between the black and white squares appear to be quite wavy.  If you take a straight edge (like a sheet of paper or a ruler), however, and hold it up to the lines, you will find that they are […]

Crazy Circle Illusion from Brusspup

Video 27 July 2014 0 Comments

Crazy Circle Illusion from Brusspup

In this new video from Youtube sensation Brusspup, a group of eight balls can be seen rotating around in a circle.  If you focus on one individual ball at a time, however, you will notice that they are not rotating in a circle pattern at all.  Rather, each ball is moving in a straight line.  […]

Major Drapkin Illusion Card #18 – The Rod Illusion

Estimation 9 July 2014 0 Comments

Major Drapkin Illusion Card #18 – The Rod Illusion

Today’s illusion comes to us straight from the “Roaring ’20s”.   It is the 18th card in a series of 25 optical illusion cards published in 1926 by Major Drapkin & Co (London) which was a branch of The United Kingdom Tobacco Co Ltd.   The reverse side of the card contains the following: Which is […]

Ghost by Ramiro Chavez Tovar

Miscellaneous 1 November 2012 4 Comments

Ghost by Ramiro Chavez Tovar

If you stare at the center of this pattern designed by Ramiro Chavez Tovar, you should see a series of nonexistent black radial lines coming from the center of the image to the outer edge.  Some people have also reported seeing colors and peripheral rotation.

Length of Lines (View of Street)

Estimation 10 October 2012 0 Comments

Length of Lines (View of Street) - Estimation Illusion

This is an excellent example of the way in which our eyes deceive us.  In the street view shown below, the line AB looks to be much longer than line CD.  If you measure them, however, you will find that they are exactly the same length.