Can you always believe what you see? Are we always looking at the truth or our judgment take in the control of the world? Can our eyes play tricks on our minds? Challenge yourselves and take a good look at the pictures below. Let’s see if you can get the correct answer!

1. What’s wrong with this picture?

Photo Source: Moillusions

It looks like some of the boys are chilling in a college after class. It may take some time for you to see what’s wrong with this picture. Don’t worry! I even zoom in and out a few times and still couldn’t see it! How about a hint?

Take a good look at the bench where the boys are sitting on. Oh, wait! Where is the bench!? Yes, the boys are just leaning against the wall in a sitting position!

2. Count all the black dots you can see

Photo Source: Optics4kids

Hmm……, perhaps 35 blacks dots? Oh no the black dots keep jumping around from side to side! Is there a problem with my visions!? Hey there, don’t worry, I have the same confusion as you in the first place. Let us relax and focus on one white spot, and you will realize… there are no black dots at all!

3. Which green line is longer?

Photo Source: Brainden

Okay, I am confident that the line further in the picture should be longer. 

Answer: They are the same length! You can use a ruler and measure it, both lines are certainly the same length! 

4. Which yellow circles are bigger?

Photo Source: BBC Future

Well, it looks like the yellow circle below is bigger in size. But wait a minute, let’s take a good look at the circles again, actually, they are of the same size! Measure it if you can’t believe it!

5. Which side of the rectangle bar in the middle is darker?

Photo Source: Optics4kids

Answer: They are both the same shade!

In fact, if you cut out this rectangle from the picture, you will see it - 100% the same shade on both sides! Mind-blowing, isn’t it?

These pictures illustrated perfectly demonstrated a theory:

Optical Illusions

This shows us that our minds can be tricky and make assumptions based on what we see in the first place. This is because our minds interpret the information through visual senses at an extremely fast pace and generate a most likely conclusion. Therefore, this is a perfect reminder for us – what we think we see is often not the truth.

“Our senses can be trusted but they can be easily fooled.”

Aristotle

Cover Photo: Erik Mclean || JOSHUA COLEMAN