The science of optical illusions
Plain-English guides to how illusions work, for curious adults, parents and teachers. Every guide links to original illusions you can try for yourself.
Learn · GuideTypes of Optical Illusions, Explained (With Examples)Literal, physiological and cognitive illusions, plus motion, color, geometric, ambiguous, impossible and afterimage illusions, with an example of each.
Learn · GuideWhy Colors Trick Your Eyes: The Science of Color IllusionsColor constancy, simultaneous contrast, the Munker illusion and afterimages: how your brain builds color, and why it sometimes gets it wrong.
Learn · GuideThe Dress: Why Everyone Saw It DifferentlyBlue and black or white and gold? The 2015 photo, the lighting assumptions behind it and what scientists found when they studied it.Start with the illusions
Each guide pairs the science with interactive examples from our collection of 57 original illusions. Prefer to explore first? Browse all illusions by type, take the optical illusion test or grab the free printable worksheets for kids.
