The Illusion Only Some People Can See

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!

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.

The Ames Window Illusion is just so mind-boggling to me, no matter how much I tried to trick it, it always seems to me that it is oscillating.

The only time I was able to see it NOT oscillating, was toward the late middle portion of the video ( 11:58 ) , when you were showing the jumbo window spinning, shot from outside of your (real) window. I was able to follow the under/bottomside of the lower corner of the short side in a full 360° spin. If I diverted my attention to any other portion of the spinning window, it appeared to oscillate.

“My Brain prefers the illusion, rather than what’s actually happening”......if this isn’t 2020 in a nutshell lol

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.

I first became aware of this illusion while in person at Six Flags in Atlanta, Georgia back in the early 70's when, after stepping into a "Room", the perceived perception of depths & distance conflicted with my natural understanding of the world. I was maybe 11 years old back then and the illusion imprinted on me. Thes explanation from this video helped explain the perception.

For some reason (possibly just memories from the first time I ever saw it), I always see the skull in the painting as a skull, just warped like it was skewed in Photoshop. Honestly, just impresses me that Holbein was able to do that with paint.

Ruler: Seamlessly slides through matter, which is impossible
My Brain: I'm ok with this

I'm screaming at my brain: "STOP SEEING THE ILLUSION!!!" But I can't stop seeing it!

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

Finally, at 11:50 I was able to watch it rotate again. It is all about lighting.

I love how this guy tricks us into gaining knowledge.

Me after re-watching the video 5 times and finally seeing it rotate
“Finally, inner peace”

I wanted to search for "Ames Window Illusion" when I heard Alan Watts talking about it in one of his lectures. The description didn't prepare me. It's really quite remarkable, particularly with Derek hanging halfway out of it.

With the big window, I actually perceive it as continuing to rotate up until the moment it's edge-on. After that, my perception flips, and I see it coming "back" from an oscillation that I never saw in the first place.

When you attached the rubik's cube to the thing, you thought it'll be less confusing. But it actually got worse.

"Approach the world with a little more humility and a little less certainty!" - Ve 42.0

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.

One of my favourite illusions. I love how the shorter end tricks the brain and mind into perceiving back/forth; when my eyes clearly see the short end coming towards me/the screen. I find following the short side allows me to perceive the rotation and break the illusion. Also, my method works even better for me being tired af, so my noodle isn't opperating as properly as it should and allows my eyes to be able to catch the spinning, exnaying the back/forth completely.

That hands down is the craziest illusion I've ever seen.

Well I guess I can stop working on.… exactly the same video 😂🤦‍♂️

The point you made so well captures something that I've struggled to put into words and show an example of for years, the missing data between what is observed vs what is. Perception being the brain trying to make sense of the input . And how that might skew results , human understanding is riding on a lot of assumptions. Take that into account when you feel too sure. Wisdom is knowing that we know nothing, be humble . I want to incorporate this into a visual art sculpture

The Curiosity Show was fantastic. Thanks Rob & Dean for your incredible work on the show.

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*

My brain: gets it finally
My eyes 1 sec later: no

I have always found it amazing how our brains are programmed even at a subconscious level. In Haunted Houses and Fun Houses, it is not uncommon to come across a room where a stationary bridge goes through a spinning cylindrical hallway. Automatically you will start to feel dizzy and your body will feel almost as if it is flipping over. That is because your brain doesn’t understand the concept of a room flipping over and over so your senses are telling you that you are the one who must be flipping over and over. All fascinating things.

This is a really great and educational video and I love it so much. I'm going to show this video in my class for my students and, hopefully, they will be enlightened with a new and positive view on Science and perceive the world with a new and creative view.

After staring at this for a while, I can see the rotation on the big wooden versions, but the paper ones still kill me

This is the first optical illusion that I've been entirely unable to see normally, my mind is fooled each time. What the heck.

Absolutely amazing video! I was thinking of your analogy at the end when you showed the Ames rooms

This was awesome. You whent much further into the depths of the meaning beyond science. Kudos.

The most incredible thing is that he trust the thin wires holding it up

"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.

I had totally forgotten about the Curiosity Show. Used to watch it when I was a kid.

A rare creation that keeps getting better and better all the way to the last sentence..
more wisdom and knowledge = more humility

I can't stop thinking about them dining on Christmas with that huge sculpture hanging near their table

8:28 "It just looks like an ordinary room"
Um.. That's the most unordinary room I've ever seen.

I am able to see the rotation when I fix the bottom of the image and keep my eyes focus there. As soon as I leave that spot I was looking, the oscillation returns. Pretty amazing stuff!

I've appreciated this illusion for may years, and this is the best presentation I've encountered!
That said, I was a bit blown away by the dual window experiment with babies.
Having recently (~10 years - I'm old!) lost all vision in one eye, I very clearly see BOTH windows oscillating.
One more blurry peek into how our brains work...

The illusion is enhanced by the camera's single "eye".

Life lesson:
"My brain prefers the illusion over what is really happening"

15:08 ABSOLUTELY!!! ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

I can briefly break the illusion, but the lighting inevitably makes my brain trust the illusion more. Even getting this far required an enormous amount of mental thought to convince my subconscious that the shape is not doing the seemingly obvious. Very interesting!

"Stop being so certain about things" Should be the automated response when anyone posts on twitter.

Unless I focus and concentrate really hard on the "thinner" end, my brain is totally fooled. And I love it :)

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

Ohhh man you just hit my nostalgia button with The Curiosity Show. It was an after school must watch in the late 80’s/early 90’s

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 🤯

"This doesn't make any sense"
*Proceeds to make sense of it*

The proportions of the smaller and larger side seem to be important. I understand how the illusion works, and I can see it rotating for a moment! It’s like the illusion breaks. But mostly it oscillates.

Where were you back in the 60s (rhetorical)? I would have made it through high school without being bored if I had only one teacher like you! Now I'm just an old guy who really likes what you are doing and the philosophical wisdom you incorporate into your musings and teachings. Great fun for any brain!

Tittle: The illusion that only some person can see
Alternate tittle: The illusion that a person can only sometimes unsee

When you think you're going to watch a fun video during a snack break, and end up rethinking your entire perception of the universe...

At the very start of the video, when you were talking about the sponsor I was distracted and not paying much attention, so I saw it spinning normally, no illusion. Then eventually I focused on watching the video and only then I started perceiving the illusion, and then the ruler and the cube killed it. I honestly think that if I wasn't searching for that, I might not have been "fooled" by it.
I've found that difference in perception interesting, so I wanted to post it here.

This my fav video yet. Been binge watching this channel.

Kudos for mentioning the "Curiosity Show". Rob and Dean were my heroes too.

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.

Wow, the message toppled the contents which is on of the best i have ever seen on youtube

Thank you for shouting out The Curiosity Show

Brain: “Oscillating”
Veritasium: “Rotating”
Reality: It is just a 2D video, the pixels just get squeezed and unsqueezed over and over again.

Once I saw it correctly, I couldn't unsee it. Sometimes my brain would flip back and fort between it tricking me and not. Now i'm even more confused. This is fascinating.

This was my biggest confusion since last week, when i observed this phenomena in park's gate... Thanks for this explanation 😊

That rotating trapezoid illusion is mind blowing . Although after watching that rotation 10 times , now I could sense that it's rotating and not oscillating but still it's need lot of focus to see rotation

Thanks for acknowledging the source of this, and there is much more at krplus.net/ucuriosityshow where we are steadily uploading segments from Curiosity Show each week - Rob

"My brain prefers the illusion over what is really happening."
Isn't that the most profound statement on our reality, and how we experience it?
3:46

6:28 - focus on the pointish section end and watch it go round, if you stare hard enough you can see it rotate round fully, keep ur eye on that point and keep in mind it is going in a circle not back on itself so view it like that is definitely what's happening (worked for me anyway) its anticlockwise
12:10, focus on the longer side and watch it go round fully, keeping ur eye on that one spot and keep an open mind of ah yes it is continuously spinning clockwise

I used to have a hard time breaking the illusion, but after years of visual arts training and practice, I'm much better at seeing through illusions in shape, motion and colors.

My Frontal Lobe: "This is quite interesting. Neat."
My Basal Ganglia: "What sorcery is this? Kill it!"

I saw the rotation correctly and now I can not unsee it to be fascinated.

8:00 Wow! This particular shot is an amazing illusion! Take a closer look, this is not just a shot of “looking around an ancient cave”, this is an optical illusion. Imagine the brightest part of the cave is not a depression, but a bulge. Flip your perception and the entire frame turns into a sweeping dolly-zoom panorama. Fantastic!

Love the video. The end was brilliant!! 💖

if you stare at the corner you can actually bypass the illusion sometimes

I can see rotation on the "de Heer Circle" but the window illusion was actually making me angry I couldn't stop it from happening lol..

Love the message at the end.

1:11 I grew up in Switzerland and got to enjoy the Curiosity Show dubbed in German as a child. I'm in my 40 nows and it took me a long time to figure out the name of the show just from random details I remembered. Eventually I did figure it out and watched a lot of it on here just a few years ago. So to see that show mentioned here is very special to me because I loved it as a child and I still love it now 💙

"Oh the Irony" that got me so well

After watching this and trying as hard as I could, I eventually was able to "correct" the illusion if I concentrated and told my self it's moving toward and away, instead of taking in the whole picture.

I stared at the upper tip of the longer half of the illusion, it helped me see through it when I paid attention to the illustrations’ creasing.

Derek's final comment -- about having humility in areas outside the world of science -- reminded me of the episode "Knowledge or Certainty" from Jacob Bronowski's masterful series "The Ascent of Man." Bronowski criticized those who believe that they had "absolute truth," a priori -- and that that certainty can lead people to commit atrocities because of their belief that they already have everything figured out.

It's so cool how you can condition yourself to see it in different ways.

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...

I lost my left eye about 18 months ago and now am attempting to coach my daughters volleyball team. It's super hard for the girls to understand that I am sometimes struggling to see which side of the net the ball has fallen to. Furthermore I had run an industrial repair company for 30 years. After the accident I was only able to effectively repair items that I had previously repaired prior to the accident. Newer items that I had never seen previously all looked like flat nickels. It has been so hard for me to understand the thinking of the engineer without being able to see the depth. This also is so hard to explain. Now after seeing this video, I can see why I'm struggling. Super helpful really!! Great job as always.

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.

It’s even easier to fool the eye when looking at a 2d screen

“So we should approach the world and our conclusions about it with a little more humility and a little less certainty”. ❤️

I almost cry with the conclusion ❤️

just found this video. Absolutely awesome.

"Clearly, Leonardo knew how to give side-eye" "Oh, the IRON-y" DEREEEEEK PLEASE

"You should never never doubt what nobody is sure about."

That slight bending helped me see the complete rotation.

What a fantastic conclusion 😍😍😍

"Your eyes can deceive you; don't trust them."
- Obi-Wan Kenobi

"I saw this on a curiosity show, and i was... curious"

11:11 fwiw, I would like to have a moment of that kid's enthusiasm, and the saw sounds that follow as my ringtone.

I really love it. I spent half an hour for 16 min video i slowed my speed and concentrate on only cube then i realize its really rotating. Ames must have worked hard to invent this

I am trying to convince my brain everytime that it is rotating not oscillating, and at the end of video, my brain says, ok then I'll rotate everything for ya. Dizzy😵💫

Imagine a burglar tries to break into a trapezoid window. He'll be confused asf

This has been my favorite
Illusion for a long time.

What is even more trippy is that after forcing myself to think that they are spinning constantly the illusion 'broke' and then I had to try to see them as oscillating.
And then I could switch back and forth at will by just thinking which way I wanted to see it.