Ames window illusion illustrates how we don't directly perceive external reality. Special Holiday deal! Go to NordVPN.com/veritasium and use code VERITASIUM to get 68% off a 2 year plan plus 4 additional months free. It’s risk free with Nord’s 30 day money-back guarantee!
Special thanks to:
Prof. Phil Kellman from UCLA Psychology kellmanlab.psych.ucla.edu
Museum of Illusions in Los Angeles for the use of their Ames Room laillusions.com
Curiosity Show - Video on Ames Illusion: de-film.com/v-video-DkVOIJAaWO0.html
References:
Ames, A., Jr. (1951). Visual perception and the rotating trapezoidal window. Psychological Monographs: General and Applied, 65(7), i-32. doi.org/10.1037/h0093600
Marcel de Heer & Thomas V. Papathomas (2017) The Ames Window Illusion and Its Variations
DOI:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199794607.003.0014
Oross, Stephen, Francis, Ellie, Mauk, Deborah & Fox, Robert. (1987). The Ames Window Illusion: Perception of Illusory Motion by Human Infants. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception & Performance, 13(4), 609-613.
Behrens, R. (1987). The Life and Unusual Ideas of Adelbert Ames, Jr. Leonardo, 20(3), 273-279. doi:10.2307/1578173
Burnham, C., & Ono, H. (1969). Variables Altering Perception of the Rotating Trapezoidal Illusion. The American Journal of Psychology, 82(1), 86-95. doi:10.2307/1420609
Allport, G. W., & Pettigrew, T. F. (1957). Cultural influence on the perception of movement: The trapezoidal illusion among Zulus. The Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 55(1), 104-113. doi.org/10.1037/h0049372
Zenhausern R. Effect of Perspective on Two Trapezoid Illusions. Perceptual and Motor Skills. 1969;28(3):1003-1009. doi:10.2466/pms.1969.28.3.1003
Gehringer, W. L., & Engel, E. (1986). Effect of ecological viewing conditions on the Ames' distorted room illusion. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 12(2), 181-185. doi.org/10.1037/0096-1523.12....
Long, G.M., Toppino, T.C. Adaptation effects and reversible figures: A comment on Horlitz and O’Leary. Perception & Psychophysics 56, 605-610 (1994). doi.org/10.3758/BF03206956
Gregory RL. Looking through the Ames window. Perception. 2009;38(12):1739-40. doi: 10.1068/p3812ed. PMID: 20192124.
Jahoda, G. (1966). Geometric illusions and environment: A study in Ghana. British Journal of Psychology, 57(1-2), 193-199. doi.org/10.1111/j.2044-8295.1...
V. Mary Stewart (1974) A Cross-Cultural Test of the “Carpentered World” Hypothesis Using The Ames Distorted Room Illusion, International Journal of Psychology, 9:2, 79-89, DOI: 10.1080/00207597408247094
Margaret Kathleen Cappone (1966) The Effect of Verbal Suggestion on the Reversal Rate of the Ames Trapezoid Illusion, The Journal of Psychology, 62:2, 211-219, DOI: 10.1080/00223980.1966.10543786
Researched and written by Petr Lebedev and Derek Muller
Filmed by Derek Muller and Raquel Nuno
Animations, VFX, and Music by Jonny Hyman
Ames Room VFX and additional Ames Window animation by Nicolas Pratt
Additional Music from epidemicsound.com "Life in Color" "Singularity"
Large Ames window construction by GW Construction
Video supplied by Getty Images
KOMMENTARE
Maker's Muse
Dude, the example with the rubix cube absolutely broke me. Even if you try to cheat and look at an edge it still tricks you. The Curiosity Show is a goldmine!
Vor yearGreenCup, BlueCup
Not for me. The rubix cube for me broke this illusion. If u know what's happening and keep your eye on the cube the trick may break.
Vor 5 TageFrion Lixzy
wym it does work. just look at the upper edge of the shorter side
Vor 8 TageV!SR4X_X
i had a cube in my hand when he said that.
Vor 11 TageNoel Becker
@erikig Perfect!
Vor 22 TageAndy Roseby
Yep, i tried that too! There's a weird audio thing i saw once. A screen was split into 2 and both sides had a video of a person speaking a certain small word. The weird thing was that the one on the left was visually pronouncing a different first letter to the one on the right and depending on which one you looked at, you 'heard' a different word from the same audio???
Vor 23 TageJimmy is Promo
When I first watched it. The very beginning, I was able to watch it rotate 100%. The second I heard the host say it was an illusion and oscillates, then I couldn't go back. Kinda frustrating now lol
Vor 22 TageDeborah Sharrock
When he was rotating in the window at first, I could only see him rotating and couldn’t figure out what the illusion was. As he explained that it appeared to oscillate, my perception automatically switched to that and now I can’t switch it back 🤯
Vor 3 MonateZyodl
Plecebo effect ruined it haha
Vor 7 Tagekris molemans
@laestrella kind like looking to our celestials true our atmosphere moving clockwise also makes people think we rotate while only oscillation has bin proved.
Vor 15 TagePueblo King
Same
Vor 17 TageLovethisNation
same here. I was like “what is he talking about, he’s just spinning” but then it just got stuck oscillating
Vor 18 TageChristopher Guilday
That’s exactly what happened to me lol.
Vor 18 TageLawsFreeLanceMalice
I’ve experienced a really strong illusion like this in my workshop. Two sheets of circle perforated metal, 8feet by 4feet on top of my bench and when I moved the top sheet across the lower sheet, the circles blended and confused my view so much that I felt like I was briefly falling. The effect was like closely looking at the very edge of a cosmic-sized single piece of perforated metal with a quick side to side view swooshing past my view. It was very much like a third-eye experience during the brief illusion, it wasn’t allowing me to see the workbench or anything else.
Vor 3 Monateatifkhas
Ux
Vor 20 TageLawsFreeLanceMalice
@Seitan Beats Your Meat spear fishing out over 50feet, staring down, while sun beams lit everything up, was the coolest vertigo experience for me.
Vor 20 TageSeitan Beats Your Meat
I get it, it was the perforated holes that gave you the illusion of movement as they slid past each other. I’ve experienced things like this, and it’s a trip. Unfortunately as you age you start to have problems with balance because of that inner ear crystal thing (can’t remember the name of it) getting stuck briefly if you tilt your head “too much” and it causes vicious vertigo. Add that to an illusion type of scenario and phew To top it off, once you start having vertigo, everything triggers it: heights, any movement like elevators or swings, etc. I should invent an old person amusement park, lol, using vertigo inducing stuff and illusions. Fuk everyone up without leaving the ground
Vor 23 TageHamsterMC
Could you… explain in more detail? I don’t quite understand the specifics of the shapes you’re describing. Were the sheets rectangular, but with evenly spaced circular holes, or were the sheets themselves circular? Were the holes the same size and/or the same spacing apart for each sheet? How big were the holes? The best I can imagine it so far is that the two sheets were identical to each other but laid over top of each other unevenly, and the holes must have been big enough for you to see the moments right before and after the circles fully lined up as you were sliding them… since if the perforations were tiny it would be really hard to see whether they were partially lined up as opposed to fully lined up, leading to more of a sudden ‘closed - open - closed again’ effect rather than appearing to move fluidly between those positions
Vor MonatKmations
pardon
Vor 2 MonateVulcan H
This is fascinating and mind boggling. Even knowing what the image looks like, knowing that it's rotating, knowing how the illusion works and why my brain is fooled, I still can't see it any other way. It just seems impossible for my brain to look at it as rotating naturally.
Vor 28 TageTreeofwysdm
@Blank Blank "Approach the world with a little more humility and a little less certainty." A word of advice to you.
Vor 6 TageTreeofwysdm
Vulcan, same!!
Vor 6 TageBlank Blank
@Youtuber well you are right to some extent. It’s not exactly surface level conscious thinking, but through exposure to illusions such as this, and with thought controlling trainings like thought experiments or meditation, you can make it more perceivable as both rotating and oscillating. For example, have you ever had a bad thought you couldn’t make go away? Well by practicing controlling your thoughts by meditating and not letting your thoughts wander, you can get better at removing such ideas. This works by the same principle, but a different method. By doing thought experiments like the trolly problem you can activate and train the part of your brain responsible for problem solving. And by exposing yourself to other illusions like this one, but ones that are easier to figure out you can activate and train the part of your brain responsible for perception and information gathering. With both of these put together you can get better at seeing an illusion for what it really is. Remember, your brain is like any muscle, it can be trained.
Vor 20 TageYoutuber
@Blank Blank It's not a conscious process whatsoever. Some people will never be able to perceive it differently because of how their brain computes the stream that the consciousness views.
Vor 21 TagBlank Blank
@Fiecl ?
Vor 24 TageProcyon Nova
What's even better is when you can consciously "switch" the illusion on and off in your mind. Or essentially see both perspectives at once.
Vor yearFLO'S EATYARD
Ikr it's so cool
Vor 19 TageRepent and believe in Jesus Christ
Repent to Jesus Christ “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” 2 Corinthians 4:16 NIV h
Vor 20 TageIrshaad Ali
Yeah, it's pretty amazing
Vor Monat0x44 0x46
You're a sorcerer.
Vor MonatTesla-Spectre
The weirdest is when you first are illusioned, and then you force yourself to see the truth... that first/second/third time was really weird, since my brain wanted to compete with my eyes. The more you see the truth if you want to, the more you can switch... and then ultimately it is really fun, switching to and fro
Vor 2 MonateOzone
I love your mix of scientific, philosofical, strange and fun stuff! And you always sort out the worst tangles so that everyone can get a glimpse at least of how it hangs together! Keep up the good work!
Vor Monatgrimtt
Early film makers used these principles to create dynamic scenes, esp since early film cameras weren’t particularly mobile; they had to bring the scene to the camera rather than vice versa. Plus the budget wasn’t high so easier to create a big appearing room using depth of vision tricks that to build an actual large room.
Vor 3 MonateRoy Spector
my favorite part in all of these illusions, is when you manage to see the real thing, and your brain updates your beliefs about the object you're seeing. with the window, for example, when i see the larger side getting away from me instead of getting closer, my brain tells me "btw that side is like super big". and that's extra weird because it gets smaller (in my precpective) as it travels away.
Vor MonatHolly Rockwell-Celerier
This was an awesome presentation combining physical objects, perception and movement. The section where you talk about what the "brain sees" vs. what you think you are looking at floored me. The concept that the brain is always deciding, instant by instant, what it thinks you "should" be seeing by making comparisons with known objects and picking the one it thinks fits best is rather disconcerting. Of course I see what I see, oops, that that little lump of matter in my head tells me what to see and what I am seeing is a bit frightening.
Vor 3 MonateWrM
“My Brain prefers the illusion, rather than what’s actually happening”......if this isn’t 2020 in a nutshell lol
Vor yearBlank
THERE HE IS OFFICERS THIS MAN SPOKE FACTS
Vor 8 TageSkinny Conor
@Forward1776 deez nuts
Vor 9 TageForward1776
Liberals in a nutshell.
Vor 9 TageFISTS OF IRON GAMING - Русский
@UltimateMegaKirbyX welcome to 2022
Vor 17 TageSkinny Conor
@cannesahs question what the shape of space?
Vor 18 TageICan’tPlayPiano
Although I wasn't paying attention and didn't realize that the window wasn’t rectangular at first, I could see that the window was rotating when you were in it. I thought the illusion was just because of shading. Thanks for the explanation :)
Vor 3 MonateANAGHA S MENON
When the trapezoid actually comes to view I perceive the smaller edge is somewhere in the back... with respect to the camera and the longer edge... and then it looks like it is oscillating. It took me all the energy at first to see the rotation but then I realized and told myself that when the trapezoid is seen in its full length, it is actually horizontal to my view and that is where the rotation begins... I started to clearly see the rotation.
Vor 15 TageWally West
My mind definitely prefers the illusion, but I can consciously force it to see what's actually happening. It's a bit easier with the circular version. The large version that you built and put yourself in was obviously rotating to me, the illusion didn't work at all. And towards the end of video when you replayed the version with the Rubik's cube, I saw it as rotating. The two faces, at 9:50, was easy. If you know anything about 3D modeling and lighting it's obvious the mask that appears brighter is the one protruding outward. Which implies that you can use "book smarts" to literally change the way you see the world. As I understood better how the window illusion worked, it stopped working for me. And as you pointed out at the end, this applies to things beyond optical illusions. Every day we see people with the same set of data in front of them come to wildly different conclusions.
Vor 20 TagePrince Ozodinobi
I don't know if there's a prize or anything, but after one or two tries I was able to see the yrue movement of the Ames rectangle. First with the rubiks cube attached;second with the ruler attached; and finally on its own. I think it helps focusing on one point( in my case the short end) and mapping out its trajectory. So when it's turning around you expect that point to be at a certain place and look for that. And surely your brain sees it at that point as opposed to the illusion. It was really fun exerting my will over my brain. Haha
Vor 11 TageGary Heywood
This has gotta be the most disturbing illusion I have ever seen, no matter how hard I try to beat it, it gets me every time.
Vor 11 MonateNicolas Brodehl
@Drakthar bro its simple, just look at it
Vor 4 MonateMax Halsall
I can just about if i try, but i can absolutely at the very edges of its rotation.
Vor 5 MonateJoel Wexler
My head's exploding.
Vor 6 MonatePeter Vansan
actually with him in it and two eyes I see it as rotating but with one eye it's back to oscillating
Vor 6 MonateThe Pickle
I see both happening, depending on what I tell my self is happening, or if I'm concentrating on the edge moving towards the camera. I see the illusion if I relax my vision on the center and expect to see an "illusion" but the moment I acknowledge what is really happening it goes away.
Vor Stundethatwouldbeillogical
So I had an interesting effect with the illusion. It worked well for me when it was a ruler in the window, or the rubik's cube, but when he was in it himself, his arms, legs and head created too many points of reference for my mind to track, and the illusion totally broke down. Upon more thought it may also be possible that the reason the illusion breaks down for me when it is a person in the window and not a cube or a stick is because the person is asymmetrical. They have a head on one end and feet on the other. My mind could be using that information to correctly interpret the whole window as spinning. Another possibility is that humans and the general shape of them are something we see regularly and are very good at identifying. It could be simply that my brain knows what a human looks like and is able to track that spinning, and correctly interprets the window as spinning with him. Also when he showed the masks, the impression was obvious to me because it is darker. Less light goes into the impression so it will always appear darker than something that is sticking out.
Vor 3 MonateDavid Trepanier
It took me a bit to be able to see the rotation, but I was able to get there. Still easier to see the oscillation though. Also I could see which face was an impression, but I have really good depth perception. Enjoyed this video!
Vor 2 MonateJames Delius
Where can I get a 3D monitor like yours? 🙂
Vor 10 Tage100%VG
This one is very cool! After watching How it works, I can force myself to follow, say the Rubik's Cube, thinner side around and notice that when it's in the back, you can see the cardboard hide parts of and then when in front, appears to float around, but doing so makes my head spin for a good while. Somehow, forcibly canceling the optical illusion stresses my eyes and/or mind in the forehead. It's more like dizziness than a headache, but kind of both.
Vor 3 MonateMark Goulet
When you and the ruler were in the window, I could see it rotating better, and I learned how it moved. Only then was I able to see it how it actually moved without any objects on it. Also, the knowledge that the smaller side is closer helps. You can kind of start to imagine what it would look like, and that makes it easier to see in reality. Also, I can only really see the small side passing by me when it's perpendicular, but now it's pretty easy to see it fully rotating.
Vor 8 MonateJami Lehtonen
I can't see it as 3D, it is just a piece of paper for me.
Vor 10 TageMaxendermen
Same with the Rubix cube
Vor 19 Tagetaf
Also important to pay attention to the light values. There are subtle shadows that kind of give it away.
Vor 21 TagIsmael Gonzalez
Ya te
Vor 25 Tagemarc jonarcie delacruz
its because now you we're finally able to determine the actual direction of rotation.
Vor 26 TageQuantum Jet
Prior to the addition of the Rubix cube I was able to see the shape continually turn. Once the Rubix cube was added I was no longer able to see the reality of the spinning shape but could only see it oscillating. Thanks for changing my view of reality. Could someone kindly devise a shape that when viewed spinning changes my view of the world and society we live in?
Vor 5 MonatePittCougar
That was fun. The more you showed the illusion, the easier it was for my brain to be able to switch between the two ways of seeing it (oscillating versus not)
Vor 3 Monaterpbajb
I could only see oscilation until you put yourself through a window; then something 'clicked' in my head and I saw the rotation clearly. Amazing!
Vor 2 MonateBraddah Spliff
I've actually had this optical illusion happen during certain loading screens on the game Fallout 4. They're loading screens with Vault Boy pins that are rotating. The pin is not even the same on both sides or rectangular, but it still can look like it's just going back & forth instead of rotating like it actually is.
Vor 22 TageRamakanta Sahu
I love how this guy tricks us into gaining knowledge.
Vor yearg.bruce
That s not that good
Vor yearRocketmanfossel
@MrShanester117 pretty natural I guess. Although I hate the fact that we hate efforts naturally
Vor yearAmog Mungus
Cliccbaët
Vor yeareisshannreiko
so does vsauce
Vor yearMrShanester117
Pretty pathetic that people have to be tricked into knowledge
Vor yearGordalot
Keys to focus on a singular point on the rotation. I used to play with my grandparents ceiling before I was in school, that had sponge plaster applied to it with a smooth border. (I saw it by accident one day, and tried to see it on command.) It looked like a bit like mountain range. But if I presented the “sun” or the light in the centre of the room was actually by the wall. It would make the peaks turn into valleys, just by pretending that the shadow side was from a different light source. Also fun to “merge” floor tile lines on the vertical e together to make the floor pop out like a 3-D picture where you have to line up 2 points together.
Vor 23 TageArtstuff
I realized that the sides, even though it’s plastered on the same, it is inverted on the Y axis, so when you see it flip to one side the other side will mirror it instead of appear the same. Because of this I think that a perfectly even square can’t work because both sides are the exact same. Thought I do agree that trapezoids are doing something in this illusion.
Vor MonatS. Fleming
When using the ruler it forced my brain to see the illusion correctly. It has to do with the way its tappered. I think that is the window moving into distance. And expect it to get larger as it comes towards me. But because the tapper is actually more from the deliberate shape of the window and not as much because it's moving into distance, then the illusion really breaks down after I realize it will be the small end of the tappered shape that I see.
Vor 28 TageArgonile
Watching the illusion, I could only see it go back and forth constantly - the moment you put in the ruler it took me a moment but I finally started seeing it go around properly! Crazy cool optical illusion!
Vor 2 MonateSciencerely
As a human biologist it's so amazing to think how our brains process their environments. We humans have specific neurons (called grid cells) which are active in hexagonal patterns as we move around. We also have specific neurons which tell us when a person is looking at us or somewhere else. And in a quite funny experiment it was also shown that specific neurons are highly active when they hear the voice of Homer Simpson (would love to make a video about that myself). The fact that our brains fall for optical illusions just adds to their awesomeness!
Vor yearSpindoctor
I have always found it amazing how we can tell with such precision when somebody is looking at us, even to the point where we can tell if somebody is looking at our eyes directly at seemingly impossible distances. The difference of angle of a persons eyes at 10 meters when looking at a face or a chest is miniscule but seemingly easily detectable.
Vor yearFureversalty
@zapto lite I was about to comment that but i saw you already did. Hexagons are the bestagons
Vor yearSachiel
Excuse me what? Homer? Also nice to see you here
Vor yearSachiel
@zapto lite indeed
Vor yearMichael Skinner
Hm...
Vor yearDon Engel
Neat thing is that on the circular illusion I can force myself to see the rotation and switch back and forth. But with the rectangular one, no matter how hard I try I cannot fix it to rotation vs oscillation.
Vor 21 TagVanessa Ashford
it initially looks like it stops for me, but once I fully understood what was happening with the Rubik's cube it (somewhat) broke the illusion for me as my brain adjusted to what I was actually looking at. Also, interestingly, the Ames room illusion has always been really fickle for me, I only seem to actually get it about a third of the time or so. The way someone once explained it to me, the reason these types of illusions ultimately work usually has to do with the fact that we actually only have 2D vision, not 3D vision (if we had the latter, we'd be able to see every surface of every object from all angles simultaneously, which is obviously so different from how our vision *actually* works that it's not even really possible to imagine it accurately, but this is how a hypothetical 4D being would presumably see the world), but our brains are really good at combining 2D images from our retinas together to allow us to perceive depth (from a single directional vantage point, at least) and distance in 3D space. Our brains are *so* good at it, in fact, that they'll even do it with actual entirely 2D images like paintings, photos, etc. not to mention moving sequences of 2D images like films or animation. However, this means that our brain can also be somewhat easily "tricked" into perceiving illusionary depth in other situations where it seems to directly contradict other visual information we are receiving (because really, all depth perception is kind of an illusion for us in some sense), like when an object appears to move in a way which doesn't square with the way our brain wants to fit it into 3D space (which is sort of what's going on here). The reason it varies somewhat is because different people's brains are essentially trained to intuit somewhat differently shaped 3D spaces (like the interior of a rectilinear building versus a rounded building, for instance) depending on what they get used to during the very early formative years of childhood when we're all first learning to understand this space which we can only *directly* perceive a little over 2 dimensions of at most. But even with these differences accounted for, *no one* can actually see in 3D, it's just not possible with the physics of how light moves through three spatial dimensions, and the physiology of how our eyes are able to obtain sensory information from visible light. Obviously, this last part is pretty much me restating what the video already says, but yeah, our limitations due to 2D vision are usually what's ultimately to blame for oddities like this.
Vor 23 Tagewilson rawlin
Very cool experiment. The good thing was the more I watched the more I could see it rotate. I could easily see the egg shape. I think this is a good representation for why UFOs and other strange sightings happen with people.
Vor 2 MonateF. D.
Wow :) That was actually fascinating and interesting and I really like your philosophical conclusion at the end.
Vor MonatDennis Lubert
When I looked at it long enough, eventually at the point where it "reverses" oscillation I could start seeing that it doesn't. Concentrating on it, this moment extended to almost the full revolution. The illusion was broken for like, the whole day. Next day, it was there again, and I had the same trouble forcing me to see it differently... weird... almost like this red and green pattern that changes your brainwaves for months...
Vor yearRakanawe
@Veracity McCollough effect
Vor yearTheConnected Chris
its in the modulated waves of cellular technology man. Theres no hiding from them now. they gotcha man.... they gotyou
Vor yearVeracity
"red and green pattern that changes your brainwaves" Where is this illusion, what's its name?
Vor yearCrakkaJac
I dont understand what illusion people are seeing? I dont see it, just him hanging there and spinning.
Vor yearJustin White
6:46 here I figured it out. This makes it more obvious. The hard shadow on the larger end is what makes it happen. If it were a 3d object that black 'side' should start to shrink. It doesn't (because it's drawn on a flat surface) so your brain can only process it as spinning in the other direction.
Vor 28 TageJimmy is Promo
Finally, at 11:50 I was able to watch it rotate again. It is all about lighting.
Vor 22 TageIndy Duinmeijer
You’re right I could see it rotate there
Vor 21 Tagshaggybreeks
I've seen a fairly large window up close on several occasions, and it seems like sometimes, I can only see the illusion, and other times, I am flat out unable to see the illusion. In this video, I can only see the illusion. I have heard that there is a connection between schizophrenia and the perception of optical illusions, that schizophrenics are less able or likely to see an illusion.
Vor 24 Tagejimh16
crazy! I always liked drawing the 3d cubes and having my mind change which direction the face of the box was oriented. This gives a little bit of the science as to why that is.
Vor 6 MonateRik L
My brain: gets it finally My eyes 1 sec later: no
Vor yearAnimesh Singh
Just focus on the top corner of smaller edge you will get it.
Vor yearSBlackKnight_ YT
MY EYES ARE HURTING
Vor yearMeena Khanduri
I can't see the illusion
Vor yearalg
happened to me too lol
Vor yearT T
I was the 666th like, is this a warning?
Vor yearPotato Pie
It]s fascinating how perception works. Can you please do a video on the art of perception someday perhaps?
Vor 2 MonateWOODA Reclaimed Wood
This was awesome. You whent much further into the depths of the meaning beyond science. Kudos.
Vor 23 TageFr34k 0.o
Easiest way to see through the illusion (for My case at least) is to focus on the middle point on top, this way it is clearly visible that it's rotating instead of oscillating :)
Vor 3 MonateAnonymous
Outstanding. Your closing point is timely, and wow.... relevant. That also made me think about a perplexing mystery (one that you have probably covered). Specifically, the Monty Hall Problem. The fact that it confuses so many people is one thing. The paradox is how absolutely incredibly difficult it is to "teach" someone that the answer is correct. ...especially when in reality, the problem is elementary school mathematics. (Which isn't to say that I understood it without great struggle). My theory has always been that there is something deeply rooted in our minds that expects binary decisions and observations - fight, or flight, light or dark, hot or cold, etc. That is purely speculation, of course. In any event, the study of the "rectangle familiar" reminded me of this. Cheers, and thanks!!
Vor 3 Monatefiddley
Ruler: Seamlessly slides through matter, which is impossible My Brain: I'm ok with this
Vor yearUbel The Spiritual Cat
Quantum tunneling
Vor 4 MonateEver StanDinG
Quantum rulerchanics
Vor 6 MonateHope Rules
🤣👍🏽
Vor yearavedic
I like how your brain is forced to chose one of two impossibilities.... Either this window _isn't_ perfectly rectangular.....OR.....solid objects _can move indiscriminately through other solid objects._ And everyone's brain goes with option #2. I guess our brains just cannot FATHOM a window not being perfectly constructed. Why, that would be impossible. Objects travelling through each other though? Sure, why not....there's a first time for everything. Way to go brain.
Vor yearpeleg itay
I'll be laughing quite a while at that remark. thanks!
Vor yearTabitha Feller
For the majority of the video, I had the same issues. But the longer I watched it, the easier it became to see it correctly. This illusion is awesome
Vor 2 MonateShiki Khorinthian
If I wasn't told that this was an illusion I wouldn't have noticed. It takes some effort, yes, but as some people have pointed out already it's possible to convince your brain otherwise, though at least for me it's quite difficult to do Love the video!
Vor MonatMs. Jones Science
I have been in love with your videos fof years now. You inspired me to do my own youtube channels. So thank you Also this video is mind blowing. Illusions are so cool, and slightly scary lol what's real? I try to get people to understand the theories "problem" in science, but you explained it very well. Youre the best!
Vor 5 MonateGraeme Hampton
Thankyou for the shout out to the great "Curiosity Show" here in Australia. Fantastic program for kids in '70s and "80s. Rob and Dean made science cool and interesting.
Vor 5 MonateDogerson Suchwow
The ruler part is so weird, it phases through the window but in such a weird way, like it’s not actually clipping through, *this is so wild and infuriating at the same time*
Vor yearslicedtoad
Usually, you have to kind of play along with an illusion to get the full effect. This is the opposite, it doesn't go away even when what's happening is blatantly impossible; it gets worse instead. It's also the only illusion that's ever managed to make me feel strong emotions. Specifically frustration and a desire to yell at reality.
Vor yearLord Monkton
I've watched and rewatched so many times trying to see the rotation, but every time I fall for the illusion.
Vor yearOmar Capaso
@uni *reverb fart sound effect*
Vor yearuni
its just like **fart sound effect**
Vor yearEd S
I was only able to see it when it was mostly face long. It’s a lot harder to tell with one eye, after you mentioned it. It was also hard to tell when I didn’t see the full rotation. And yeah, the shadows make broke the illusion faster.
Vor 2 MonateJustin White
8:23 ooh we had one of these at the science centre. Was highly amusing to watch others inside it VS being in it yourself. I forgot what it was called, but yeah this room came to mind at the beginning of this video. I've always been fascinated by optical illusions. (mostly MC Esher.)
Vor 28 TageLuigi Simoncini
One interesting extrapolation of these sorts of illusions was made by D. Dennet with regards to the philosophy of mind and consciousness, namely the very fact that we perceive ourselves as conscious beings with a centered and synchronised locus of control/perception/consciousness may well not be the right interpretation of reality, but a mental illusion and in fact it collides with the way brains work. This makes a lot of people unhappy because they don't want to abandon the idea of a supernatural consciousness or "soul" presenting no illusory property.
Vor 3 MonateIan F White
I love these sort of illusions. The window rotates off-centre, so the shorter edge dimension never gets larger than the longer edge as it rotates closer to the observer. Also, I'm partially sighted, so don't see all of the window at once when looking at a particular point. Try covering the screen with a shaped piece of paper or obscure your view with your hand. Thanks for sharing ;)
Vor 4 MonateKynan Williams
My brain must have figured out what was really going on and it wasn't that interesting to watch, but then when I concentrated on letting the illusion work especially with the Rubik's cube, I was able to see what you were talking about, it was actually really cool to see it both ways
Vor 23 TageBardhok Ndoji
I did fall for it initially. But soon as you explained, I could easily see what was happening. The trick is to visualize the shape of it in your mind and follow it. Then it all makes sense.
Vor 2 MonateIvan McDaniel
I could overcome it for a second, but then, even though I knew, it tricked me again. After watching for longer, and repeatedly drilling it into myself that the shape is a trapezoid, I stopped seeing the illusion; my brain became attuned to what was actually happening.
Vor 4 MonatePeter Rosqvist
Absolutely amazing video! I was thinking of your analogy at the end when you showed the Ames rooms
Vor 19 StundenMichael Looks
This is the first optical illusion that I've been entirely unable to see normally, my mind is fooled each time. What the heck.
Vor yearStarShade
It took me until I heard the explanation for what is going on before I was able to break the illusion and I only did it once.
Vor yearKaleb B
No you're seeing it right that's actually the first ever 4d art piece that's why the ruler can go through the window.
Vor yearkmj217
Same for me. Usually once I know how it works, I can see it. Not this one.
Vor yearKenza Rezyarifin
Yes
Vor yearRyusuta
The absolute best way to see it correctly is to focus extremely intently on the very bottom corner of the large side.
Vor yearLandy J
whenever you mentioned what was happening i.e the ruler cutting the window, my perception changed. Otherwise I just saw it turning(also I'm a math student so im used to unusual shapes)
Vor 21 TagChristopher Guilday
I can see both of them by literally telling my brain what is happening, but if I’m not in active thought that it is indeed rotating (And here’s why) then my subconscious takes over and it just oscillates. If I focus on the ends and kind of “Un-focus” my vision I can also see it spinning.
Vor 18 TageWayne Campbell
What's funny is, as I was watching you do that, I could tell that it was rotating, and at the same time I could tell that it looked like it was swiveling. I don't know how to explain it. I have a bad left eye that I don't really see much out of, so most of my vision is through my right eye. Maybe that has something to do with it. But it's really strange seeing it rotate and swivel at the same time.
Vor 2 MonateNB
The only way I could avoid seeing the illusion and actually see the rotation was to focus on the point where the window was fixed to the rotating part. Even after watching that though, and my brain knowing what was happening and seeing it, the moment my eyes moved from that point I couldn't see the reality anymore. Quite jarring, honestly!
Vor 2 MonateArman
It's so cool how you can condition yourself to see it in different ways.
Vor yearFabio A
It’s like the drawing where you can either see a duck or a horse. Some writer said that, that was real magic. A person might only see a horse until they’re told that there is also a duck in the image and once told how to notice/see the duck, the duck drawing “magically” appears in ones mind/perception.
Vor yearMalfattio
Yeah, it reminds me of those Laurel and Green Needle audio clips
Vor yearvsGoliath
Okay, I think I figured out how to perceive it properly! I kept my eye on the top corner of the long side. If you do that, while it still looks funky, I was at least able to see the short end traverse in a noticeable way.
Vor 12 TageShaun Allred
This video captures the essence of science... humility, curiosity and an open mind 👍
Vor 5 Monatezzzut
One of my favourite optical illusions. That guy who thought about it is brilliant.
Vor 22 TageEliot
This is super interesting to me, as I only have one working eye, and I can choose to see either an oscillating or rotating image, or both at once. Maybe it’s because I’m used to my perspective?
Vor 2 MonateNeha Motwani
These illusions, in some way, shows that how rigid our brains are in holding our perceptions that we can even perfer impossible phenomenon for that. A great video to end this year👍
Vor yearcptmaj
I love the offering to consider humility on things we feel so certain on.
Vor yearquintessenceSL
I'd draw a different conclusion. If forced into a particular perspective, your brain makes due with what is on hand. It is only through a change in perspective that other relevant data becomes clear.
Vor yearalibaba
👍
Vor yearEpifan3
The way I was actually able to see the card rotate 360 was by watching the stick that's attatched directly in the middle of the card at the bottom. It helped me follow the corners of the card accurately!
Vor MonatMiss Kay
Thanks!
Vor 5 TageJ A
I can see both. At first I could only see the illusion, but after sometime I was also able to see it rotating.
Vor 21 TagJames Goude
When you put the ruler in the illusion I was able to focus really hard to see the spinning. That rubiks cube example absolutely shattered me though xD
Vor 5 MonateAlice Wonderglass
I remember the curiosity show, it was great. Everyday after school. This is a fantastic illusion so hard to sort in your brain. Yours was the easiest to spot sorry, I finally saw what I was supposed to or not..
Vor 26 TageAndy H
Need to watch this again when high. Awesome video but a little surprised you didn't mention the rotating face illusion. Most of what our senses take in is based on our internal construct of the world around us. More people need to understand this.
Vor 2 MonateDonag
Wow, I'm speechless. Easily the craziest optical illusion I've ever seen.
Vor 23 TageSwarnendu Sekhar Das
Well I was convinced that the object is rotating when I observe it from very short distance. It's mind-blowing.
Vor 6 Monate[Unintelligible]
I usually dislike being fooled, including by illusions, but this one makes me smile for some reason.
Vor MonatMeowth
When you attached the rubik's cube to the thing, you thought it'll be less confusing. But it actually got worse.
Vor yearYing Ying
@purpl3grape studios what? If you’re saying I live in a round hut, I don’t…
Vor yearpurpl3grape studios
@Ying Ying Living in a round hut does help
Vor yearMonika Krzeminska1
Lel
Vor yearMonika Krzeminska1
Probably
Vor yearMonika Krzeminska1
You know right
Vor yearYITT Mashups
11:58 - Man, that shot with the black line is really giving my brain a fighting chance, but even with it, I am repeatedly going back and forth with seeing it correctly or illusory. It's killing me!
Vor 3 MonateBarearmz
I loved The Curiosity Show as a kid. It inspired a generation. Wow. This brought back some great memories.
Vor 4 Monateleostarkiller
I just had a thought after coming away from a quantum physics video. Could it be that our own perception defines possibility, and by losing it in death, certainty becomes uncertainty again because your consciousness can no longer be observed, not even by you as your perception is gone in death, so could it be that maybe the afterlife actually does exist in a state of superposition, but cannot be observed, and always in a state of uncertainty, in essence all religions are right, and none of them are. The afterlife is an ever changing uncertainty that cannot be observed, and thus possibilities are endless. Its only a thought I came to, especially when you tie in perception of reality being how its defined.
Vor 5 MonateSebizz
The part with the Rubik’s cube really messed with my brain until I unfocused my eyes. That made it about easier to see the actual full rotation
Vor 19 TageHalfLucan
After staring at this for a while, I can see the rotation on the big wooden versions, but the paper ones still kill me
Vor yearIllegalCqt
@Thoticcus Prime cool, but why do you despise illusions?
Vor yearThoticcus Prime
@IllegalCqt I can see through it easily since I despise illusions and fake things
Vor yearError 404
Same
Vor yearIllegalCqt
@DanksterPaws I meant the top corner of the longer side
Vor yearDanksterPaws
@IllegalCqt what the hell is left supposed to mean
Vor yearCress DRG
At 12:00 I was finally able to defeat the illusion by focusing on one of the attached hangers. Very nice illusion!
Vor 6 MonateLyri Metacurl
I can switch perspectives by focusing my mind on the top edge, and the slightly curved front edge helped too
Vor 2 MonateJames Bowditch
A. Australian here. The Curiosity Show was part of my childhood. B. You should discuss the Spinning Woman illusion. I love the fact that we can change the direction of spin.
Vor 3 MonateTheWeeaboo
With de Heer Circle it's actually quite a bit easier for me to tell exactly what it is doing without really stretching my mind too much. The rubix cube example was the most extreme out of all really.
Vor 5 TageCuriosityShow
Thanks for acknowledging the source of this, and there is much more at www.youtube.com/curiosityshow where we are steadily uploading segments from Curiosity Show each week - Rob
Vor yearKatrina Piper
@TrendyTim I used to rush home from primary school (in the 70s) so I could watch it.
Vor yearIna Nymin
thx..just subbed both channels..much love
Vor yearChiranth Nandi
I don’t know why Veritasium didn’t pin it or heart your comment, Rob...
Vor yearStellarAudyssey
Grew up on the show!!
Vor yearzeroling ping
Some one: doing this on Medieval era That one Pope: WITCH!
Vor yearBeshaba
I can follow it, but my eyes definitely want to focus on the illusion, which makes it quite difficult. Very fun illusion!
Vor 18 Tagenonsquid
This same effect occurs when standing at the base of a wind turbine. The blades appear to slow down then impossibly speed up.
Vor 4 MonateThePhilosopher
I couldn’t see the illusion very well until you put the ruler in it. I was about to give up on this video until the ruler. Lol. Edit* I do construction work and deal with a LOT of straight lines, so I can 100% agree that seeing the rotation is not directly related to an individuals familiarity with straight lines and right angles.
Vor 16 Tagefirst last
If you slow the video down completely and stare at the corner of the cube while stopping and starting it and not looking at the shading, you can appreciate that the small corner with the cube is in the front and moving toward the right. Same with the ruler, if you slow it down and stare under the ruler and the real ruler shadows, you can appreciate that the ruler is not traveling through the windows and that the smaller end is indeed in the front and not the back. This one took some stops and starts but eventually I could appreciate it.
Vor 6 Monatepratik dedhia
"We should approach the world and our conclusions about it with a little more humility and a little less certainty" Starting off this hopefully exciting year with thisexcellent lesson. Thanks a lot.
Vor yearspracketskooch
I wonder how many people apply that lesson to the existence of a god, for example? Same data, vastly different interpretations. How many people have the humility to say, "I don't know, and in all likelihood, can't know" and mean it? It's a lot easier to have humility and less certainty when it comes to rotating trapezoids, or the speed of light, but it's much harder to do the same when it comes to the foundations of your worldview.
Vor yearPronto
Yeah, that guy in WI who left 500 vials of coronavirus vaccine out of the fridge on purpose was just exercising his Constitutional right to interpret reality according to his own perception...
Vor yearYous0147
This is the culminating speech of the video for a very good reason, such an beautiful way to end it of, it gives the whole lesson meaning.
Vor yearWilliam Verhoef
Another lesson: even though there are many things that are uncertain, there are also many things that are certainly wrong.
Vor yearYoung God
funnily enough, the demonstration at the beginning was very easy to see what was actually happening. with the smaller model it is basically impossible
Vor 22 TageJames Delius
So it seems this illusion would be easier to break in person (versus on a video where your brain is trying to simulate depth perception). The example about what happened in the experiment when the subjects were seated farther away and using only one eye would seem to bear that out.
Vor 10 Tageaimelez_
When I started to look at one corner on the small side I could follow it and start seeing it rotate. This illusion is crazy!
Vor MonatZurl Hammerdoom
So weird. I can see it rotating clockwise, counterclockwise, and oscillating. Interestingly, when he attached the Rubix cube I could no longer see the rotation. I could with the ruler though.
Vor 3 MonateChris Bradley
I can sometimes break the illusion, but only by focusing on some areas and trying hard to perceive what it should look like, if I relax the illusion returns. Oddly, I found the non trapezoid shape easier to break.
Vor 8 MonateYunan
I mean, the hypothesis does support the rectangular world argument so its harder to break
Vor 15 TageHarry Davey
Yeah same, the one that was shaped like a guitar pick didn't fool my brain at all for some reason.
Vor 19 TageAdam Simpson
I can see the rotation up until the window is directly aligned with the large side away from the camera. Then my brain breaks and just picks a direction, seemingly at random as it come back around. The masks are easy to tell. The lighting completely gives them away.
Vor 4 Monate