Puzzles and
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Visual illusions, perception puzzles, cognitive illusions, paradoxes, galleries...

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Introduzione

Introduction

Einführung

Optical illusions: illusioni ottiche (It), illusions d'optique (Fr), ilusiones ópticas (Sp), optische Täuschungen (Ger), ilusões de ótica (Por), gezichtsbedrog (Du), optické klamy (Cz), 错视 (Ch), 錯視 (Jap), оптические иллюзии (Ru), אשליות אופטיות (He), خداع بصري (Ar), प्रकाशिक भ्रम (Hi), oculorum fallaciae (Lat).

What you see isn’t always what you get!
Since ancient times, humans have known that immediate perception is not a reading of physical reality. Vision is the most creative act that a human being is capable of. Seeing is depicting the world on the living canvas of our mind. As we depict well only what we really know, our mind is both the canvas and the artist. In this creative process, the eyes represent nothing other than a medium with which our mind interprets and reconstructs our near environment. Some illusions teach us to doubt and to question the many appearances of the reality - they are a kind of school of life!

    What is "seeing" exactly?
    What is an Optical Illusions?
    Our Philosophy and Goals

	Illusion of the month Each month a new optical illusion to solve is posted
	Illusion Gallery Stretch your brain and trick your mind with these brain-bending illusions
	Hypnoptical illusion Have fun being deceived by these puzzling illusions

Features for publishers Color illusory motion Workshops Introduzione Puzzles Paradoxical triangles Queen of illusion Laboratori sulla percezione Color phenomena Do-it-yourself puzzle Impossible objects Mind & Brain Illusion workshops Moiré effects Puzzle Shop Optical illusions are... Archimedes' Journal Monthly illusion Visual oddities Magic experiments Are you colorblind? Magic skulls Illusion Gallery Our philosophy Ambigrams Contact Macabre illusions Books Illusions with numbers Vanish puzzles Einführung Rules to Puzzle Solving Sitemap Shadow effects Optic tops Ancient visual illusions Perception puzzles Visual oddities Curiopticals About us Hypnoptical Illusions Seing is... Kinetic illusions Intro en français Moving pattern Friends Visual mosaic patterns Optical illusion features Make your own 3D Illusions Moon illusion Illusion cards TangraMagic

Archimedes-lab.org is a volunteer-driven initiative. We rely on donations to achieve our mission - to inspire and motivate people with challenging mental activities.

*What's new*
Mask of Love: a new illusion by G. Sarcone, presented at Best Illusion of the Year Contest.
Weekly features: syndicated optical illusions for newspapers and magazines!
Crystal Skulls: a printable thrilling geometric illusion puzzle that has defied science for centuries!
Macabre optical illusions: more than 20 scary skulls appearing out of innocent pictures.
*Visitor favorites*
Explore the world of Kinetic illusions: animated optic discs...	Experiment online with some Color phenomena
Rediscover some less known old optical illusions	Investigate those optic interferences called Moirés
Download our free illusory motion pattern (gif)	Learn why the Moon appears larger near the horizont

Browse our top optical illusions resources

Create a baffling perception vanish puzzle

Perform the famous Ishihara Color test

Visit our gallery of Impossible objects

Can you SEE what these ambigrams say?

Observe the influence of shadow on Depth perception

Boost your visual creativity by solving Droodles

Enjoy doing these deceptive online visual experiments!

Explore another way of looking at things

Workshops

Programs & Events

Friends & Partners

For publishers


A large collection of brain teasers* and mechanical puzzles for you to solve or to offer and challenge your friends and family.* Take a look!	Find unique merchandise with our puzzles and optical illusion art on posters, postcards, t-shirts, mugs, and more. Take a look!	A great selection of puzzling optical illusion books that will trick your eyes and entertain your mind for hours. Take a look!	Meet G. Sarcone, the author of Archimedes Lab, on his website dedicated expressely for publishers & content acquirers seeking original publishing and editorial projects. Take a look!

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