Your brain will insist

May 24, 2010 8:06 AM

Crazy Cubes optical illusion. (SLYT)
posted by The Mouthchew (27 comments total)

I liked the part where it zoomed in on the Flat Wood Toothpicks.
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 8:11 AM on May 24, 2010 [2 favorites]

Based on the same concept, the paper dragon from a past Gathering for Gardner is a fun little toy.
posted by etc. at 8:17 AM on May 24, 2010 [2 favorites]

Actually, I knew my brain would insist and that they were likely concave to begin with so I closed one I and focused mainly on the top of the frame. It worked! Where is my cookie?
posted by Burhanistan at 8:26 AM on May 24, 2010

I hate you, my lying eyes, and your insufferable conspiring with my idiot brain.
posted by Astro Zombie at 8:29 AM on May 24, 2010 [4 favorites]

> n with so I closed one I

One eye, rather. My own internal ego/personality reduction methods are my own business.
posted by Burhanistan at 8:33 AM on May 24, 2010 [1 favorite]

This type of illusion is known as the Hollow-Face illusion.
posted by euphorb at 8:57 AM on May 24, 2010

Umm.. well I figured that one out in about .2 seconds, thanks.
posted by ReeMonster at 9:04 AM on May 24, 2010

I love you, my lying eyes, and your ingenious conspiring with my idiot brain.
posted by homunculus at 9:07 AM on May 24, 2010

Aw heck, that was fun! Now I want to build little illusion boxes of my own.
posted by kinnakeet at 9:16 AM on May 24, 2010

Seek help ReeMonster! or at least sober up.

I kid, I kid.
posted by cmfletcher at 9:35 AM on May 24, 2010 [1 favorite]

Whoa, whoa - slow down, egghead.
posted by ChuqD at 9:50 AM on May 24, 2010

I just saw Impossible Motion, first prize in the Neural Correlate Society’s 6th annual “Best Illusion of the Year” contest, on Futility Closet.
posted by milestogo at 9:51 AM on May 24, 2010

This is based on a similar principle, but a little less obviously so: Magnet-like Slopes. (Unfortunately lacking in toothpicks, as well)

(From here, where even the borders of the page are eye-bending)
posted by ook at 9:54 AM on May 24, 2010

grrrrr :)
posted by ook at 9:55 AM on May 24, 2010

This illusion of two floating nuts is even worse... downright evil.
posted by PontifexPrimus at 10:02 AM on May 24, 2010 [6 favorites]

What has been seen cannot be unseen, much like the arrow in the FedEx logo.
posted by ColdChef at 10:12 AM on May 24, 2010

Disney used a version of that same illusion in the "Haunted House" ride, with concave faces lit from below. As you move past them, they seem to be turning to look at you.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 10:45 AM on May 24, 2010

Another SLYT cube illusion. Depending on your perspective, obviously.
posted by spoobnooble at 11:52 AM on May 24, 2010 [2 favorites]

If I just relax and observe, instead of thinking about what I should be seeing, I can "flip" my perception of the image back and forth between convex and concave.

Hard to disengage the brain in such a way but it is very profitable on occasion.
posted by 3FLryan at 12:57 PM on May 24, 2010

I love the Haunted Mansion ride! I love these crazy-ass illusions too.
posted by Mister_A at 12:58 PM on May 24, 2010

I like the candle/fire cube spoobnooble linked to. Reminds me of the tricks street painters do with perspective.
posted by The Mouthchew at 1:16 PM on May 24, 2010

Stupid brain!
posted by gallois at 2:46 PM on May 24, 2010

Umm.. well I figured that one out in about .2 seconds, thanks.

It's not an optical illusion; it just looks like one.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 5:18 PM on May 24, 2010

Reminds me of the Spinning Lady illusion I found the other day. (alt. site)

(It just switched direction on me.)

While I was finding it again, I came across Mighty Optical Illusions. Happy duckrabbit!

posted by Twang at 7:12 PM on May 24, 2010

This is the same principle behind Dick Termes' art.
posted by roll truck roll at 8:49 PM on May 24, 2010

Hey, I saw the LOST finale, now I don't believe ANYTHING anymore.
posted by blue_beetle at 5:54 AM on May 25, 2010

I like where someone said "it's old" and the guy responded "no, it's different". OK, then.

Other bonus: towel on oven as backdrop? Really?
posted by jscott at 9:15 AM on May 25, 2010