Stories

Highlighting the magic behind people, places, science, and art.

Fun with Ambiguous Images

Fun with Ambiguous Images

Some of the most popular optical illusions are illustrations that offer multiple interpretations. Two viewers can look at the same image and see totally different things. Unlike "hidden pictures,"...

5 Easy Card Tricks You Can do Today

5 Easy Card Tricks You Can Do Today

Looking to make a quick impression? Win a bet among friends? Trying to liven up game night? You don’t need to be a master to know a few good card tricks, that’s why we’ve made a list of five easy t...

Fun with the Droste Effect

Fun with the Droste Effect

The "Droste effect" refers to the technique of creating a recursive image or, put more simply, a picture inside of itself. The Droste effect gets its name from the image on the packaging of a popul...

Fun with Zoetropes

Fun with Zoetropes

The Zoetrope or “wheel of life” is an analog animation device that predates the dawn of cinema. Invented by William George Horner in 1834, the machine was first marketed in 1887, before most people...

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History of the Nine Dot Problem

History of the Nine Dot Problem

The nine dot problem is a classic lateral thinking exercise that gained widespread popularity in the 1970's and 80's. Participants are presented with a set of dots arranged in a 3x3 grid and challe...