The Red Wine Color Illusion

Does the color of wine change when poured into a glass?
Although it may appear darker, the red shade remains the same. This visual trick is a result of the Munker-White illusion—where our brain perceives colors differently depending on their surrounding context.

If you’re intrigued by puzzles like this, reach out to my syndication agent to feature them in your publication.

Rediscover the Beauty of Visual Mathematics

Explore the captivating fusion of art and math in the world of Visual Mathematics. Dive into intricate diagrams, stunning visuals, and thought-provoking designs that stimulate both the mind and the eye. Visit the Archimedes Lab online gallery to find posters and t-shirts showcasing the elegance of math art.

Enhance your school, home or office with thoughtful, math-inspired designs!

Cylindrical Anamorphosis of Hand With Reflecting Sphere

M.C. Escher’s 1935 lithograph Hand With Reflecting Sphere inspired artist Kelly M. Houle to create her own interpretation in charcoal on illustration board. When a cylindrical mirror is placed at the center, it produces a striking reflection. Houle explains, “When the original image is bent and stretched into a circular swath, the shadows seem to fall in all directions. When the curved mirror is used to reflect the anamorphic distortion, the forms take on the familiar rules of light and shading, making them appear three-dimensional” (Kelly M. Houle, “Portrait of Escher: Behind the Mirror,” in D. Schattschneider and M. Emmer, eds., M.C. Escher’s Legacy, 2003).

The original work.
Circular anamorphosis of the original work as seen by an observer.
Final result: 3D cylindrical anamorphosis.

Cylindrical anamorphosis is an art technique that creates distorted images that appear normal when viewed through a cylindrical mirror, manipulating perspective and light to produce a three-dimensional effect from a two-dimensional surface.

About Kelly M. Houle

Kelly M. Houle is known for her work in anamorphic art and illuminated manuscripts. Her projects often blend artistic expression with scientific themes, such as her illuminated manuscript based on Darwin’s On the Origin of Species. She has exhibited her work widely and continues to explore innovative techniques in contemporary art.

For more information about her work, visit Kelly M. Houle’s website.

A Remarkable Op’ Artwork Selected by NASA: ‘Moona Lisa’

Today, September 14th, we are thrilled to announce that Gianni Sarcone‘s op’ artwork “The Moona Lisa” has been selected as NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day for the International Observe the Moon Night. This captivating piece, created in collaboration with astrophotographer Marcella Giulia Pace, showcases a stunning arrangement of lunar images that, when viewed from a distance, reveal the iconic portrait of the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci.

The vibrant colors of the moons are naturally derived from atmospheric conditions and sunlight reflections at various times, creating a unique visual experience. “The Moona Lisa” not only pays homage to da Vinci’s genius but also highlights the remarkable capacity of our brains to recognize faces, even when obscured.

You can explore the full image and learn more about it on NASA’s website.

Additionally, prints of this op artwork are available for purchase in our online gallery. It’s a unique opportunity to own a piece that celebrates the Moon and reinterprets a Leonardo-inspired icon through a captivating visual illusion.

Join us in celebrating this fusion of art and science, and experience the magic of “The Moona Lisa.”

This GIF illustrates the creation process of Moona Lisa. For more details, visit Sarcone’s Behance page.

Exploring Impossible Figures: A Philosophical Twist on Reality

Impossible figures are intriguing forms that defy the reality of our 3D world. In the 90s, I began experimenting with representations of cylinders featuring fictitious right angles—an artistic play on geometry. These twisting impossible figures, which defy mathematics and physics, are ideal for interior decoration or merchandise like t-shirts or mugs because they captivate the viewer’s imagination and provoke thought. Their striking, paradoxical nature draws attention, making them perfect conversation pieces, while also offering a philosophical twist on the idea that what seems real may not always be.

By stripping those imaginary geometric form down to their essence, I instill them with greater power.

These drawings are taken from my book Drawing Optical Illusions, still available on Amazon.

And are available as prints and t-shirts and merch from my online gallery!

Buy prints and apparels here: https://redbubble.com/shop/ap/164384901
Buy prints and apparels here: https://redbubble.com/shop/ap/164477598
Buy prints and apparels here: https://redbubble.com/shop/ap/164403619

Why does the symbol for zero look like a capital ‘o’ (0)?

The history of this fundamental number is surprisingly intricate. Its roots can be traced back to ancient Babylon around 300 BCE, where a positional numeral system employed two slanted wedges to signify an empty place in a number. However, this was merely a placeholder without any numerical value.

A more concrete step towards our modern zero emerged in Greece. The letter omicron (ο), short for οὐδὲν (ouden = nothing), was utilized as a placeholder in astronomical calculations by figures such as Ptolemy and Iamblichus as early as the 1st century CE. This practice likely influenced Indian mathematicians following Alexander the Great’s conquests.

Indian mathematicians revolutionized this concept by transforming the placeholder into a full-fledged number. Initially represented by a dot called ‘bindu‘ (बिन्दु), zero became a cornerstone of arithmetic and algebra. This innovation was crucial in the development of our modern number system.

Journey of a Ring Along a Penrose Triangle

A neat animated tribar! It’s worth noting that the tribar, or Penrose triangle (aka Reutersvärd triangle), attributed to British mathematician Roger Penrose, was not technically ‘invented’ or ‘discovered’ by him. The geometric principles underlying its existence were already evident in Greek and Arabic ornamentation, including tiling and friezes…

The Origin of Modern Alphabets

The Phoenician alphabet is a writing system exclusively representing consonants, requiring readers to infer vowel sounds. Beginning in the ninth century BC, adaptations of this alphabet thrived, including Greek, Old Italic, and Anatolian scripts. Its appealing feature was its phonetic nature, with each sound (including vowels) represented by a single symbol, simplifying learning to only a few dozen symbols.

The Phoenician alphabet is an abjad writing system.