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Artist’s mind-mending portraits age before your eyes

Throughout art history, many artists have used the craft of optical illusions to trick their audiences into believing their art can shift and change before their eyes. This is a craft that self-taught artist Sergi Cadenas has mastered, as his intricate portraits seem to age before the viewers with a simple shift of perspective. His portraits contain dual images, as they transform from young to old as you move from one side of the artwork to the other. In one of his works, the face of a woman ages several years when you take a few steps in the opposite direction. In another, the piercing blue eyes of a young girl morph into the inky black ones of a little boy. <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CRBOn4aIL-o/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CRBOn4aIL-o/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Sergi Cadenas (@sergi.cadenas)</a> </div> </blockquote> Sergi, who began his career as an artist in his 30s, was inspired by flip-books he had seen as a child to create his own distinctive technique. Using a piping bag intended for decorating cakes, the artist creates vertical ridges on the canvas to provide a relief upon which he can paint two separate images. Each subject in Cadenas’ paintings can be individually viewed by simply observing the artwork from one side or the other. However, the transformative nature of his work allows him to address deeper themes and meanings of society. <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CEUTl4EK2bE/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CEUTl4EK2bE/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Sergi Cadenas (@sergi.cadenas)</a> </div> </blockquote> Some of his paintings confront complex subjects, such as the fleeting nature of youth, mortality, the dichotomy of emotions, and even racial equality. In an interview with <a href="https://www.augustman.com/sg/culture/art-design/spanish-artist-sergi-cadenas-discusses-transformative-art-and-bringing-dual-portraits-to-life-in-a-single-painting/">Augustman</a>, Sergi said, “My paintings reflect the candid, natural moments of people — memorialising their portraits in time. My portraits of famous people however, allow us to see the beauty, gifts, and transitory nature of time.” Image credits: Instagram

Art

This new illusion tricks your mind and your eyes

A new “expanding hole” illusion is strong enough that we’re both physically and mentally fooled, according to new research. The illusion depicts a black hole in the centre of a white background covered in smaller black circles and, if you’re one of the 86 percent of people tricked by it, the black hole will look like it’s expanding. According to the researchers who studied this illusion, which is completely new to science, those who were fooled by the illusion had a physical reaction, with participants’ pupils dilating as if they were actually moving into a dark area. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/06/fnhum-16-877249-g001.jpg" alt="" width="1950" height="1221" /> Does it look like the black hole is growing? You’re not alone in thinking that, according to this new study. Image: Supplied Dr Bruno Laeng, a psychology professor at the University of Oslo and the study’s first author, said the illusion showed that our pupils react to light we perceive, “even if this ‘light’ is imaginary”. “The ‘expanding hole’ is a highly dynamic illusion: the circular smear or shadow gradient of the central black hole evokes a marked impression of optic flow, as if the observer were heading forward into a hole or tunnel,” he <a href="https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/can-you-see-the-expanding-hole-most-peoples-brains-are-fooled-by-this-new-optical-illusion" target="_blank" rel="noopener">explained</a>. “Here we show based on the new ‘expanding hole’ illusion that the pupil reacts to how we perceive light - even if this ‘light’ is imaginary like in the illusion - and not just the amount of light energy that actually enters the eye. “The illusion of the expanding hole prompts a corresponding dilation of the pupil, as it would happen if darkness really increased.” After having tested the illusion using holes of varying colours - including blue, cyan, green, magenta, red, yellow and white - the team found the illusion was most effective when it was black. They also discovered that a black hole would cause the pupil to dilate, while coloured holes would result in the eye constricting. The study, published in the journal <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2022.877249" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Frontiers in Human Neuroscience</a>, shows that these kinds of illusions are more than just gimmicks, with researchers in the field of psychosociology studying them to better understand how the complex system that allows us to see and make sense of the world around us works. Image: Supplied

Mind

Optical illusion baffles internet

An optical illusion <a href="https://honey.nine.com.au/latest/optical-illusion-reveals-a-hidden-number-that-everyone-is-seeing-differently/e7610c56-b283-4e58-8487-55f389ab6174" target="_blank" rel="noopener">has sparked debate</a> on social media, after it caused each person to see a different number. The image, shared by Twitter user @benownie, features a black-and-white circle with a zig-zag pattern inside that contains a set of hidden numbers. However, viewers can’t seem to agree on what those numbers are. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> DO you see a number? If so, what number? <a href="https://t.co/wUK0HBXQZF">pic.twitter.com/wUK0HBXQZF</a> — Benonwine (@benonwine) <a href="https://twitter.com/benonwine/status/1494084416494354432?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 16, 2022</a></blockquote> “DO you see a number? If so, what number?”, the user captioned the post. Since the pattern aims to trick the eye into thinking the image is moving, it can be quite tricky to distinguish which numbers lie behind it, with most seeing a jumble of different numbers. “845283,” one person guessed. “45 283… and what’s the catch? Should I book an appointment with my GP?” another said. Another user and fan of Douglas Adams’ novel The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Galaxy pointed out the correct answer could be a sneaky Easter egg for fellow fans. “3452939. Strangely, this is also the telephone number of an Islington flat where Arthur Dent went to a fancy dress party, and met a very nice young woman whom he totally blew it with,” they wrote. “A few hitchhikers [sic] guide diehard fans peeking out of the closet here. I love you all x.” The image even prompted some to suggest others who struggled with the photo to get their eyes tested for astigmatism. “I can only see 528. Does that mean anything about my eyesight?” one concerned person wrote. “When was the last time you had a sight test?” a helpful commenter replied. “Sounds like you may have an astigmatism or difficulty with contrast.” Another user explained that the numbers a person can see could be proof of how good someone’s eyes were. “I’m guessing the numbers you see depends on your ‘contrast sensitivity’ (different from what a standard eye measures),” they explained. “It can be tested by opticians. Worth doing if you’re struggling, as it can affect your ability to see at night, or rain, fog, etc.” According to <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/contrast-sensitivity#:~:text=Contrast%20sensitivity%20is%20a%20measure,enough%20contrast%20with%20its%20background." target="_blank" rel="noopener">ScienceDirect</a>, a repository for scientific research, contrast sensitivity describes “the ability to detect subtle differences in shading and patterns”, which is important for “detecting objects without clear outlines” such as “steps covered with a patterned carpet”. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/02/contrast-sensitivity-test.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> An example contrast sensitivity test. Image: Vision Center It’s likely that your contrast sensitivity has been tested if you wear glasses, which <a href="https://www.visioncenter.org/refractive-errors/contrast-sensitivity/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">involves</a> reading out black letters from a white chart which become less distinct across each row and from the top to the bottom of the chart. This test is different from the one usually used during eye exams, such as those you take to receive or renew your driver’s licence. Image: Twitter

Mind

$32 optical illusion dress baffles millions

Image: TikTok A TikTok video from user ‘xojemian’ gained a lot of interest earlier this week as she flaunted her figure in a $32 "optical illusion" dress that dramatically pinched her in at the waist. The influencer named Jem wore the ‘Mind Of My Own Maxi Dress’ from brand Fashion Nova in a video that quickly garnered millions of views. Users were left shocked after watching the video, which saw Jem posing in the boldly printed dress that made her waist look inches smaller. The video, which has attracted nearly 2.7 million views, was shared with the caption ‘trying the viral waist illusion dress’. TikTok users flooded the comments as they were left dazed and confused by the illusion that was created by tying a thick piece of fabric around the waist of the dress. One user commented, “Girl it looked like you almost cut yourself in half for a second.” Another person said “I couldn’t comprehend that for so long.” Others were so impressed they exclaimed they couldn’t wait to try it for themselves.

Beauty & Style

Often fooled by optical illusions? Here’s why

If you have ever seen an optical illusion and wondered why you may have been tricked by it, you’re not the only one. Researchers interested in cognitive science and visual perception have used optical illusions to see how our brain works - even when we’re not being amazed or tricked by a deceptive image. “Illusions help us understand the rules our brain uses to create reality, based on the input it receives from our senses,” says Mark Williams, an honorary professor of cognitive science at Macquarie University. “What we actually see or hear or feel or taste or smell isn’t actually what’s out there, but what we think is out there. “Because we don’t see the world as it actually is, illusions help explain to us how we are creating the world we actually perceive.” This means that our brains don’t see the world wholly, instead responding to everything it perceives and filtering out what it doesn’t think is important. “Our sensory systems respond to the sum of all contextual information in which the relative information is more important than the absolute,” says Dr Spehar, a psychologist from the University of New South Wales “So for example, you perceive colour relative to the background, or you see orientation relative to the frame of reference. Let’s put our perceptions of reality to the test with this multicoloured illusion. Is it moving? <img style="width: 500px; height: 375.2900232018562px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7843585/109a9c3cc8949eb4a12d252545fb759c.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/9693caf172e54a1e8d66f94106e45659" /> Image: Wikimedia Commons Though this image appears to move, staring at the centre of the image makes it stop. This illusion, known as rotating snakes, triggers receptors in your eyes that detect movement in your peripheral vision. Dr Spehar says that though we don’t fully know how the illusion works, it appears to involve the differences in contrast between the black, white, and coloured areas. “The illusion has a lot of light and dark elements, of both high and low contrast scattered everywhere,” Dr Spehar says. “[These] stimulate motion-sensitive neurons in the periphery of our visual field.” Even when you blink or move your eyes, parts of the illusion are projected onto different parts of your eye, meaning that it appears to move in a clockwise or counterclockwise movement. Image: Wikimedia Commons

Mind

Test your brain with this colourful illusion

Optical illusions can be a fun way to test your vision, and this latest one is no different. In the below image, created by David Novick, the levitating spheres might seem like they are red, purple, or green at first, but if you look closely, you will spot their real colour. <img style="width: 500px; height:281.11111111111114px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7841416/colour-ball.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/957db14472df4edb87fccdec9ca1c173" /> The spheres are actually all the same shade of beige, and are an example of the phenomenon known as the Munker-White illusion. How does the illusion actually work? David Novick, who is also a professor of engineering education and leadership at the University of Texas, said it is because “our acuity for shape is better than our acuity for colour, which means that we perceive the shapes with more detail and the colours with less detail.” He told <a href="https://www.sciencealert.com/these-balls-aren-t-really-all-different-colors-here-s-what-s-going-on">Science Alert</a> that, though the outlines of the spheres look identical, which they are, “the colour sort of bleeds over, or assimilates, to adjacent spaces”. The illusion relies on the hue of the stripes in the foreground rather than the colours behind the spheres. It works as the colour of the spheres gets “pulled” closer to the colour of the stripes that cross over them in the foreground, which warp our perception of the actual hue of the spheres. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> There's a great article by <a href="https://twitter.com/NicolettaML?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NicolettaML</a> about my research on illusions now posted at <a href="https://twitter.com/LiveScience?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LiveScience</a>: <a href="https://t.co/45T2TnLOHG">https://t.co/45T2TnLOHG</a>. — David Novick (@NovickProf) <a href="https://twitter.com/NovickProf/status/1395081119490617347?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 19, 2021</a></blockquote> So, removing the crisscrossing stripes will also remove the illusion, leaving only identical beige balls behind. Novick shares around two new illusions every week to <a href="https://twitter.com/NovickProf?s=20">his Twitter account</a>, and has found that some of his older posts will get rediscovered, go viral, and sometimes make the news.

Mind

Hilarious wedding photo goes viral after unfortunate angle

A wedding photo has put social media users in a frenzy over a bizarre optical illusion. Shot from behind, the snap shows a groom leading a horse which is carrying his bride along a pathway. But the bride’s long gown ends up covering the horse’s body, making it look like she has long horse legs. <img style="width: 351.5981735159817px; height: 500px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7838397/2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/ef042ac72717455ba93d7884ed675344" /> The photo has since gone viral, with users on social media blown away by the unfortunate angle. “I love weird pics that just accidentally happen,” said one Reddit user. “They should frame this for their house.” Added another: “This is has blown my mind. It’s awesome.” Said a third: “The perfect woman doesn’t exi....” Added one more: “At first I thought the bad angle was because the guy looked so much shorter than the bride then I looked further and saw the horse legs!”

Beauty & Style

Bird or bunny? This video sends the Internet down the rabbit hole

Is it a bird or a bunny? A new optical illusion has hit the Internet and had people debating. It began when Daniel Quintana, a researcher in biological psychiatry at the University of Oslo in Norway, posted a video showing an animal being stroked. “Rabbits love getting stroked on their nose,” Quintana wrote in the caption. However, when looked at another way, the ‘snout’ of the supposed rabbit resembled a bird’s neck, and the ‘ears’ open beak. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> Rabbits love getting stroked on their nose <a href="https://t.co/aYOZGAY6kP">pic.twitter.com/aYOZGAY6kP</a> — Dan Quintana 🐰 (@dsquintana) <a href="https://twitter.com/dsquintana/status/1163083819605475328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 18, 2019</a></blockquote> The video left many in confusion as to what the creature really is. “Fam I can’t be the only one that sees a bird and a bunny,” one commented. “I see a raven. Anyone else?” another wrote. “I sat here for ages seeing someone petting a crow with its beak open to the air, and thinking “rabbits??”” one added. Many said the video resurrected the old rabbit-duck dilemma. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"> The optical illusion came to life, it's official, someone has a magic pen!!! <a href="https://t.co/EDX84LTzT8">pic.twitter.com/EDX84LTzT8</a> — Keisha Renee (@Broadwaybandit5) <a href="https://twitter.com/Broadwaybandit5/status/1163627346726989830?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2019</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"> <a href="https://t.co/IeWEPVE5bW">pic.twitter.com/IeWEPVE5bW</a> — ShadowSpade (@ShadowSpadeXIV) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShadowSpadeXIV/status/1163587468190294016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 19, 2019</a></blockquote> Some people commented with pictures and videos of their own ‘rabbits’. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"> My rabbit loves too. <a href="https://t.co/EDkcHT50eu">pic.twitter.com/EDkcHT50eu</a> — Cécile B (@cecile__b) <a href="https://twitter.com/cecile__b/status/1163547154083979264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 19, 2019</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"> Here's my rabbit <a href="https://t.co/KuSGNOAAQR">pic.twitter.com/KuSGNOAAQR</a> — Stan O'Connor (@TourguideStan) <a href="https://twitter.com/TourguideStan/status/1163124718343458817?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 18, 2019</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"> This is my pet lizard <a href="https://t.co/XX9Zdszemt">pic.twitter.com/XX9Zdszemt</a> — Ⓥ (@hanavmay) <a href="https://twitter.com/hanavmay/status/1163944701063360512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2019</a></blockquote> According to <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2019/08/21/us/bird-rabbit-tweet-trnd/index.html">CNN</a>, the animal in question is in fact a bird – specifically, an African white-necked Raven named <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BUNV918B2va/">Mischief</a>. He is 18 years old and based in the World Bird Sanctuary in Valley Park, Missouri. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/ByN5Sj-FEyC/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/ByN5Sj-FEyC/" target="_blank">Mischief says, “Hi!” Corvids are excellent mimickers, and this is one of Mischief’s favorite vocalizations. Contrary to popular belief, a corvid does not have to have its tongue split to be able to mimic like this. It is a natural behavior. #worldbirdsanctuary #whiteneckedraven #mischieftheraven</a> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/worldbirdsanctuary/" target="_blank"> World Bird Sanctuary</a> (@worldbirdsanctuary) on Jun 2, 2019 at 11:18am PDT </div> </blockquote> Paige Davis, curator of bird training at the sanctuary told CNN that Mischief is “a very talented bird”, with abilities to fly, paint, talk and more. “He even recycles cans and bottles, showing that recycling is so easy, a bird can do it,” Davis said. “His talents are endless.”

Mind

Can you see what’s wrong with this photo of a crow?

A photo of a crow is making users on social media do a double take as all is not what it seems. Originally posted on <a rel="noopener" href="https://imgur.com/JAW80Ee" target="_blank">Imgur</a> and <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.reddit.com/r/confusing_perspective/comments/9rsqo3/cat_shapes_like_a_bird/" target="_blank">Reddit</a>, the photo shows a black bird standing on its side on a tiled surface, but on closer inspection, you realise you’ve been fooled. <img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7821788/cat.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/6e0da6ec94074e8a8a7180490c13aa40" /> Photo: <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/confusing_perspective/comments/9rsqo3/cat_shapes_like_a_bird/">Reddit </a> Have you noticed it yet? The big reveal sent Twitter into a meltdown after it was revealed that the crow isn’t actually a crow, but it’s a black cat with his head tilted. The “bird’s” beak is the cat’s ear, and if you look closely, you’ll notice the cat’s second eye is on what is supposed to be the crow’s neck. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en-gb"> <a href="https://t.co/5iragBms6W">pic.twitter.com/5iragBms6W</a> — Robert Maguire (@RobertMaguire_) <a href="https://twitter.com/RobertMaguire_/status/1056368608031444992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">28 October 2018</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en-gb"> <a href="https://t.co/X2ktE7Qr86">pic.twitter.com/X2ktE7Qr86</a> — 🔊AudiO∇Owl 🦉 (@pheealzabub) <a href="https://twitter.com/pheealzabub/status/1056375861820166145?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">28 October 2018</a></blockquote> After people realised they were tricked, a few hilarious reactions ensued. One person posted, “Damn kitty you got me there,” while another said, “Holy crap, totally got me.” “Usually, once you see it, you can’t unsee it. But every time I look at it, I still see the bird,” wrote one user. How long did it take you to figure it out? Let us know in the comments below.

Technology

Is it a beach or a door? Infuriating new optical illusion baffles internet

A new optical illusion asking people whether they see a beach or a door has left the internet baffled. The photo, shared on Twitter by social app <a href="https://twitter.com/9GAG/status/1033927593752449025">9GAG</a>, asks its followers: “Is this a door, or a beach?” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Is this a door, or a beach? Don't let this become the next 'Black and Blue Dress' please<a href="https://t.co/4HN5KOrUgu">https://t.co/4HN5KOrUgu</a> <a href="https://t.co/lhqYgTAjd8">pic.twitter.com/lhqYgTAjd8</a> — 9GAG (@9GAG) <a href="https://twitter.com/9GAG/status/1033927593752449025?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 27, 2018</a></blockquote> If you look at the photo vertically, the image looks like a section of a door: the blue being part of the door, the turquoise the frame, and the cream the concrete surround. But once you flip the image horizontally, it looks like a stretch of beach with a crystal blue sky, turquoise waters and cream coloured sand. <img width="634" height="414" src="https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/08/30/10/4F85F61B00000578-6113599-image-a-9_1535621318449.jpg" class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" id="i-5f88ec537d8c576"/> The image quickly divided social media users, with both sides putting forward compelling evidence for their side. It is not yet known whether the image is a beach or a door – but what do you see?

Art

7 optical illusions that will make you second guess your vision

If you thought you could trust what you see – think again. These seven optical illusions, created by <a href="https://www.lenstore.co.uk/vc/in-perspective/" target="_blank">Lenstore</a>, will have you questioning whether you should believe your eyes or not. Scroll through the gallery above to test yourself with these 7 optical illusions. The next slide will provide the solution. Image credits: <a href="https://www.lenstore.co.uk/vc/in-perspective/" target="_blank">Lenstore</a>

Mind

This baffling optical illusion tests your eyesight

The latest brainteaser sweeping the internet is a red circle – but for some there's more to it. The optical illusion, posted on Playbuzz, tests your eyesight. It asks you to look for the hidden image inside the circle. <img width="498" height="420" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7817562/in-text-1_498x420.jpg" alt="In Text 1 (2)"/> Some can see an outline of a figure, while others see a detailed image. <img width="499" height="428" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7817563/in-text-2_499x428.jpg" alt="In Text 2 (1)"/> Last week, a test touted as a <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/78413947/this-logic-puzzle-for-children-is-stumping-plenty-of-adults" target="_blank">straightforward logic puzzle for children</a> had plenty of adults scratching their heads. The brainteaser challenges kids to answer nine questions based on a sketch of a campground, in order to test their powers of observation, logic and reasoning. Then there was the string of animals hiding among other animals tests, created by Hungarian cartoonist Gergely Dudas, also known as Dudolf. Dudolf created a find the cat among the owls puzzle. <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fthedudolf%2Fposts%2F720342174734364%3A0&width=500" width="500" height="614" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true"></iframe> The puzzles swept the internet, bamboozling Facebook users. Republished with permission of <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank">Stuff.co.nz.</a>

Art

Can you spot the hidden animal?

A new brainteaser asks viewers to spot the hidden animal in the wallpaper. Creator of the wallpaper, Bangkok-based illustrator Chalermphol Harnchakkham, shared the aesthetic design that also doubles as an optical illusion. The wallpaper appears to look like a simple floral design, but a closer inspection will reveal something else. Can you spot the hidden animal? <img width="500" height="503" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7817559/1_500x503.jpg" alt="1 (121)"/> If you need a hint, make sure you concentrate on the flower petals. For those who are still struggling to find the animal, the name of the wallpaper gives a helpful clue – Magnolia Pug. If you look carefully at each of the petals, you will soon realise they each contain a squishy-faced pug. Did you spot the pug in the image?

Mind

The optical illusion that can break your brain

There is a new optical illusion known as the McCollough Effect that is breaking brains across the internet. This illusion is like the white and gold or black and blue dress that went viral a few years ago, however, scientists have warned that staring at these images could have a longer-lasting impact on your mind. To trigger the McCollough Effect, one must stare at the coloured vertical and horizontal lines for three minutes each before staring at black and white lines. After a while, viewers will be tricked into thinking that the black and white lines are coloured, and they may appear as red, green or pink. In 1975, a study found that the McCollough Effect made some people still see black and white as green and red up to three months after viewing the illusion. Apparently staring at the original coloured images again at a 90-degree angle anti-clockwise returns vision back to normal in half the time it normally would. Proceed with caution! Below is the optical illusion for those who want to try it for themselves. <iframe width="400" height="300" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nfwJxnijBno?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>

Mind

7 accidental optical illusions that will make you laugh

Optical illusions rely on our brain gathering data that isn’t initially correct. Upon further inspection, we realise how the separate details of the image work together. <a href="https://www.boredpanda.com/funny-optical-illusions/" target="_blank">Bored Panda</a> has shared incredible examples of optical illusions in everyday photos that will make take a second look. From animals taking on different bodies to people blending in backgrounds, these photos prove just how easily appearances can be manipulated. Which photo is your favourite? Let us know in the comments below.

Art

The optical illusion that has stumped the internet – can you work it out?

Optical illusions have the uncanny ability to manipulate our eyes to see things in a certain way. A new optical illusion is warping people’s minds with an image of a street. Internet users are struggling to comprehend two pictures posted on image sharing site Imgur, that claim to be the exact same photo. <img width="500" height="295" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7268009/1_500x295.jpg" alt="1 (87)"/> “This is the same photo, side by side,” the caption reads. “They are not taken at different angles.” “Both sides are the same, pixel for pixel.” However, the majority of people believe that the photos are taken from two different angles. “For me it looks like the roads are going in different directions, like one road forking off,” wrote one Reddit user. “For me my first reaction was the right side was on an angle and the left was more of a straight shot,” said another. One person has explained how this optical illusion is playing tricks on the viewer. “It's because the 2 streets come together at the bottom of the pictures,” wrote one user on Reddit. “Your brain tries to perceive this as one image with a fork in the road and therefore the street in the picture on the left must be at a different angle than the picture on the right.” For those who struggle to believe that they are the same photo, one user decided to place both images on top of each other to see what would happen. <img width="435" height="647" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7268011/2.png" alt="2 (61)"/> Did you initially think that the photos looked different to each other? Let us know in the comments below. Image credit: Reddit

Mind

The incredible optical illusions of the 19th century

Before the creation of movies, cartoons and photography, the art of optical illusions was captivating people around the world. Beginning in the 1830s, optical illusions were specifically created to entertain and were designed to be spun, twirled, reflected or illuminated for the illusion to work. In 1833, a French publisher started selling optical illusions to the public due to an idea by Joseph Plateau. The devices that would feature optical illusions were known as phénakisticopes, a French interpretation of the Greek word for cheating vision. <a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/iPAEzqIxtzyZq?utm_source=iframe&utm_medium=embed&utm_campaign=Embeds&utm_term=http%3A%2F%2Fdustyoldthing.com%2Foptical-illusions-19th-century%2F" target="_blank" class="_2XBDTIVigBJDybhZvL-hU3"> <img src="https://media.giphy.com/media/iPAEzqIxtzyZq/200w.webp" class="nlSABoG9CSaJpsufv8WW9 _3vYn8QjoEvrXxHyqdn9ddZ _2XBDTIVigBJDybhZvL-hU3" id="gif"/></a> Plateau was fascinated by movement and how the human eye discerned it. He created the device less than 10 years before he went completely blind himself, but the concept would be reproduced again and again. The name was altered throughout the years, until it was later known as zoetropes. <a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/animation-lsd-phenakistoscope-8Ag869uLpWjV6?utm_source=iframe&utm_medium=embed&utm_campaign=Embeds&utm_term=http%3A%2F%2Fdustyoldthing.com%2Foptical-illusions-19th-century%2F" target="_blank" class="_2XBDTIVigBJDybhZvL-hU3"> <img src="https://media.giphy.com/media/8Ag869uLpWjV6/200w.webp" class="nlSABoG9CSaJpsufv8WW9 _3vYn8QjoEvrXxHyqdn9ddZ _2XBDTIVigBJDybhZvL-hU3" id="gif"/> </a> The principles of zoetrope technology became the foundation for motion pictures and film animations. <a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/zoetrope-Hq7aL7e3mQ3iU?utm_source=iframe&utm_medium=embed&utm_campaign=Embeds&utm_term=http%3A%2F%2Fdustyoldthing.com%2Foptical-illusions-19th-century%2F" target="_blank" class="_2XBDTIVigBJDybhZvL-hU3"> <img src="https://media.giphy.com/media/Hq7aL7e3mQ3iU/200w.webp" class="nlSABoG9CSaJpsufv8WW9 _3vYn8QjoEvrXxHyqdn9ddZ _2XBDTIVigBJDybhZvL-hU3" id="gif"/></a>

Art

The optical illusion that makes drivers slow down

Instead of asking drivers to slow down, optical illusions have been created in various countries to trick drivers into altering their speed. In Iceland, a town has painted a crosswalk illusion on the sidewalk to confuse drivers, forcing them to immediately reduce their speed. The clever illusion makes the crossing look like it has 3D bars that would rip up the bottom of a vehicle. In reality, it is just the perspective of the painting. <img width="500" height="250" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7266148/road-illusion-in-text_500x250.jpg" alt="Road Illusion In Text"/> In Vancouver, they have also used the trickery of optical illusions to reduce speed. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> In Vancouver they have this <a href="https://t.co/fFEKRvWmjH">pic.twitter.com/fFEKRvWmjH</a> — Valentina Lord- Bachkarova 🎮👻🧙‍♀️ (@VPestilenZ) <a href="https://twitter.com/VPestilenZ/status/912664729876869120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 26, 2017</a></blockquote> What do you think of this new road trend? Do you think it is a clever way to reduce drivers’ speed? Let us know in the comments below.

Art

What colour is this chest of drawers?

A picture of a chest of drawers has gone viral online after people across the world are disagreeing over whether it was painted blue and grey, or white and pink. A photograph of the drawers was uploaded to Reddit by user agamiegamer who asked users what colours they saw. Viewers were divided over what the correct colour was. What colour combination do you see? <img width="497" height="375" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7266111/1_497x375.jpg" alt="1 (65)"/> The Reddit user who shared the picture later confirmed that the drawers were in fact grey and blue. After hearing the answer, some people were unconvinced. "Well it's definitely pink and white, but the lighting makes the white appear light blue but anybody with a brain can tell it's actually white." Some people suggested that the original photograph was edited using Photoshop to create the optical illusion. This debate follows “The Dress” that caused a frenzy in 2015 after people argued over whether it was blue and black or white and gold. The iconic dress, made by Roman Originals, was actually blue and black. What colour combination did you see? Let us know in the comments below.

Technology

This Lego optical illusion has the internet baffled

Optical illusions are a great way to test your brain, and today’s one which was posted on popular forum Reddit has the internet struggling to find the solution. The full size image, created with Lego bricks, can be seen below. Can you figure out what it is (with this one it’ll really help if you’re a lover of art). <img width="500" height="730" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/44284/lego-in-text_500x730.jpg" alt="Lego In Text"/> Image credit: Reddit To see the answer, scroll through the gallery above. Did you get this one?

Mind

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Can you see what’s wrong with this photo of a crow?

Is it a beach or a door? Infuriating new optical illusion baffles internet

7 optical illusions that will make you second guess your vision

This baffling optical illusion tests your eyesight

Can you spot the hidden animal?

The optical illusion that can break your brain

7 accidental optical illusions that will make you laugh

The optical illusion that has stumped the internet – can you work it out?

The incredible optical illusions of the 19th century

The optical illusion that makes drivers slow down

What colour is this chest of drawers?

This Lego optical illusion has the internet baffled