My Jack Handy Moments: Whoah, dude
Anyone who says the eye has been intelligently designed need only be reminded of two things: 1) it only registers as visible a small band of electromagnetic radiation and 2) it is incredibly subject to optical illusion and cognitive bias in recognition. In other words, we often see what we want to see or are easily manipulated to see what others want us to see.
Optical illusions are a total “Whoah, dude” moment because you can know exactly what you’re tricked into seeing (“It’s not a schooner… it’s a sailboat.”) and still be completely at the mercy of the photos. This is because the authors of images either intentionally or coincidentally play on the fact that the human brain (and the eye in particular) attempts to be efficient and in doing so takes shortcuts in processing data based on what you would expect to see.
Here are some of my favorites.
I still have a hard time believing this isn't a spiral. You will too.
More “blow your mind” after the break.
This uses the same principle as the spirals to make straight lines crooked.
Some optical illusions look like they ought to be animated gifs.
Some look like they're best enjoed while... ahem... partaking.
The waves are not there... the waves are not there... count to 10.
A different kind of optical illusion, this is more of just an irrational image... one of my favorites from MC Escher.
Moire Circles also aren't really an optical illusion like some of those above, but the effect is no less cool.
