Richard Wiseman's Blog, page 57

Eyes right – eyes left? New illusion

My pal and amazing psychologist Rob Jenkins has created this great illusion.  The animation below shows the same image getting smaller (you might need to click on the image to get it to animate).  However, at the start the women looks like she is looking to your left and at the end she appears to be looking to your right.

Do you know why it works?

Amazing tunnel illusion…..

I love this – a great use of illusory motion…..

Does it work for you?

Should you work for free?

Every week I get emails from people who are organising commercial events, charging people to attend, and asking me whether I will speak for free. Here is a wonderful clip from Harlan Ellison about his take on working for free ….

Is he right? What do you think?

Answer to the Friday Puzzle….

On Friday I posted this puzzle…..

in the equation:

43 + 57 = 207

every digit is precisely one way from its true value.  What is the correct sum?

If you have not tried to solve it, have a go now.  For everyone else the answer is after the break…

52 + 66 = 118

Did you solve it? Any other answers?

I have produced an ebook containing 101 of the previous Friday Puzzles! It is called PUZZLED and is available for the Kindle (UK here and USA here) and on the iBookstore (UK here in the USA here). You can try 101 of the puzzles for free here.

It’s the Friday Puzzle….

Today I set off on a little Paranormal Road Trip with Jon Ronson and Rebecca Watson.  I will be posting about our little adventure next week, but if you want to know what we are up to the website is here.

OK, here is the puzzle.  As ever, please do NOT post your answers, but do say if you think you have solved the puzzle and how long it took. Solution on Monday.

in the equation:

43 + 57 = 207

every digit is precisely one way from its true value.  What is the correct sum?

I have produced an ebook containing 101 of the previous Friday Puzzles! It is called PUZZLED and is available for the Kindle (UK here and USA here) and on the iBookstore (UK here in the USA here). You can try 101 of the puzzles for free here.

For people who go on and on and on….

…it’s an infinity chair! (via @MattBloomFilms)

Would you have one in your house?

Why Starbucks vans shouldn’t have sliding doors…..

David B sent me this and it made me laugh lots……

Like it?

Wonderful video – from grey to colour….

Tickets for the next Edinburgh Secret Society event – Sing-along-a Wickerman – go on sale today at 10 am here.

The ever wonderful @meaderic brought my attention to this wonderful video……

Like it?

Answer to the Friday Puzzle…..

On Friday I set this puzzle…..

Imagine that you have a strip of fencing that is 1 meter high and 10 meters long.  It is totally flexible and so can be made into any shape, but you can’t cut it.  You are standing in the middle of a field.  What is the best way of arranging the fencing to ensure that it encloses the largest amount of land?

If you have not tried to solve it, have a go now.  For everyone else the answer is after the break.

Easy.  Form the fencing into a circle, stand in the centre of the circle and declare that you are on the outside of the fence!  Did you come up with this solution?  Any others?

I have produced an ebook containing 101 of the previous Friday Puzzles! It is called PUZZLED and is available for the Kindle (UK here and USA here) and on the iBookstore (UK here in the USA here). You can try 101 of the puzzles for free here.

It’s the Friday Puzzle!

Imagine that you have a strip of fencing that is 1 meter high and 10 meters long.  It is totally flexible and so can be made into any shape, but you can’t cut it.  You are standing in the middle of a field.  What is the best way of arranging the fencing to ensure that it encloses the largest amount of land?

Solution on Monday!

I have produced an ebook containing 101 of the previous Friday Puzzles! It is called PUZZLED and is available for the Kindle (UK here and USA here) and on the iBookstore (UK here in the USA here). You can try 101 of the puzzles for free here.