First, today is my birthday. Thank you. Second, the other day I came across this great illusion in a book. Basically, the eyes are identical in both pictures, as shown by the crop (I had to photograph the pages and so there is a slight different in colour). What’s especially great is that the illusion was published way back in 1832, in David Brewster’s ‘Letters on Natural Magic’. To my knowledge, this has never appeared on the web before. Enjoy…..
Like it? Oh, and did I mention that it was my birthday?
Just received this lovely birthday illusion from @AstarothGabriel – can you spot all of the letters that make up Happy Birthday…
Finally, to celebrate British taxpayers funding the Pope’s visit to the UK today (so NWS)…..
It’s my birthday.
Happy birthday, Mr. Wiseman! Here´s a birthday-illusion for you: http://tinyurl.com/2w69lss
Happy Birthday Richard!
Happy Birthday!
Happy birthday!
Happy Birthday to my favorite Astronomer! TY for teaching me so much and for filling the need I have to look into space.
he’s not phil plait lol, r u saying all bald people look alike?
lol hahaha
Yes, the eyes are identical – it’s the “bags” underneath them and the angle of each face that make them appear so different.
And happy B-day too!
Happy birthday!
They look identical to me. What’s the illusion?
Also, at the end of each face, the brows extend off the side of the temple, which makes that eye look more elongated than its counterpart on the other face.
Eyeppy birthday to you, eyeppy birthday to you,
Eyeppy birthday to you Prof Wiseman
Eyeppy birthday to you.
I have baked you an imaginary birthday cake. (I am not in the habit of baking real birthday cakes.)
The recipe of this imaginary cake is the one described here:
http://outerhoard.wordpress.com/2007/07/18/drinks-and-a-dessert/
I have a hunch that this would appeal to you (being slightly quirky and all), and would be interested to know if I am right. In my fantasies I would share it with you over Afternoon Tea…
Buon compleanno!
long and healthy live, Richard
Happy birthday!
So… where’s the illusion?
Happy birthday!
Joyeux anniversaire Prof Wiseman! coincidentally, same birthday as my dad who is also a quirky scientist and a magician
Happy birthday Richard! x
Happy birthday yay ll&p
Happy Birthday, Professor Plait! (har har) Coincidentally, I went to college with Phil Plait. He had hair back then, too.
Happy birth day from holland (diana73-twitter)
Herzlichen Glückwunsch from Germany … Live long, live happy, have a good beer!
Happy birthday prof!
Happy Birthday Richard!
Hippo, Birdies, Two Ewes
Hippo, Birdies, Two Ewes
Hippo, Birdies, Hippo, Birdies,
Hippo, Birdies, Two Ewes!
Happy Birthday! Nice of the Pope to drop by for it; hope he brings you a present.
Is there some reason the eyes shouldn’t look different?
Tim Minchin!
(Yay!)
Oh, and I don’t think you’ve mentioned it, but isn’t today your birthday? Happy Birthday, then!
otanjoubi omedetou mr. wiseman!
Happy Birthday, is it true that the Pope is going to make you a Saint as a present?
Happy birthday.
The reason why the eyes look different is because we are noticing real differences – the conspicuous difference in bags and the fact that the right face has texture and contours that join up with the left eye. Not much of an illusion in my opinion.
First: very happy b-day! =) Second: happy b-day! =) and 3rd… HAPPY B-DAY!! =)
When are you coming to Coimbra? I need an autograph on my “59 seconds”. Yesterday night I met in person Luís de Matos in person and I thought that it would be nice to have you here too, for some “Encontros Mágicos”.
Nice ilusion, this one. Oh, and by the way: did I mentioned my HAPPY B-DAY to you?? =)
cheers*
gabriela
Congratulations on completing another lap around the sun!
Ive been enjoy you blog for the past few months , thanks for making me think!
Cheers!
Dwight
Happy Birthday!
Happy birthday, Richard.
The Tim Minchin song is fantastic!
Happy birthday to us!
Yes, it’s my birthday, too
happy b-day
Happy birthday Richard!! And I love the Tim Minchin song!
Happy Birthday. I like the birthday puzzle, although I’m having trouble spotting some of the letters in there.
Moltes felicitats! (…i a veure si fas alguna cosa amb les edicions de Quirkology en castellà i català; la primera totalment exhaurida, i imposible de trobar, i la segona inexistent). (Hey!… It’s also a puzzle!)
Happy Birthday!
‘appy birfday, prof wiseman.
btw, tim minchin rawks.
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday!
I’ll have a glass to your birthday.
Happy birthday!
And I love the Tim Minchin song
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday!
Tim Minchin song, and animation: very deriviative of the Uncle Fucka song from the South Park movie.
Still fun, though.
like the photo for sure ! and here is wishing you a very happy Birthday!
Happy birthday from Italy!
Happy birthday!
The eyes are identical, which is why they don’t fit the first picture. What is the illusion here? Am I once again missing some genitalia hidden in the drawings?
The first picture appears to look to the right, the second to the left. At least to me.
Happy Birthday Mr. Wiseman!
Tanti auguri sing. Wiseman!
Alles Gute zum Geburtstag! Happy Birthday!
Here is another Illusion for you: http://tinyurl.com/stripesillu
Happy Birthday, all the best!
To quote the song you gave us:
Fuck you you motherfucker!
Nice.
Bye
Don’t let the door hit you on the way out. Pope’s still a fucker, by the way.
Even better – don’t fuck anyone you motherfuckker.
This comment is more appropriate than the video you pasted
Someone tries to make a statement with that video…
Happy birthday, belated! So, how do you REALLY feel about the pope? You were a little ambiguous there…
fuck the mother fucker