New Book: 101 Bets you will always win

Exciting news! My new book, ‘101 bets that you will always win‘ has just been published by BoxTree. It’s based on the Quirkology bets videos, and outlines endless ways to fool your friends and family. Not only that, but the book also explains the science behind many of the bets and even has a secret bet built into it!  It’s hardback, gold embossed, has over 200 illustrations and usually retails at £9.99. However, for a short period of time Amazon has it for an amazing £3.99.

To celebrate the launch I have produced a new ’10 bets’ video.  Hope that you enjoy it!

A new Beuchet chair illusion

I have always been a huge fan of the Beuchet chair illusion. Created by psychologist Jean Beuchet in the 1960s, this wonderful illusion is used all over the world to make people appear to be tiny.

There is, however, one small problem from a practical perspective. The illusion involves building a large chair back and seat, and a carefully crafted chair base.  When I was working on items for the Quirkology exhibition I wondered whether it might be possible to create a much simpler, and more portable, version of the illusion.

After endless trial and error I realised that the same effect could be created with a small cut out of a chair and a piece of cloth!

Here is my chair in action and a reveal showing the size of the chair. It took a huge amount of time to create just the right shape of chair, but the illusion works well, can be made for just a few pounds, and is ultra-portable.

And here I am using the illusion whilst being interviewed about the exhibition on STV news…

I have used it several times and if you want to re-create the piece for a project, feel free to get in touch!

New Quirkology Exhibition!

Want to be levitated by David Copperfield, see one of the world’s greatest optical illusions, or be attacked by a giant monster?

Then head over to our new Quirkology exhibition at the Museum of Childhood in Edinburgh, Scotland.  The exhibition allows visitors to experience the impossible, and features several unique items.

Master magician David Copperfield has invented an optical illusion in which he appears to levitate visitors, and has kindly allowed us to be the first exhibition in Britain to stage the piece.

 

In another first, famous Japanese illusion inventor Kokichi Sugihara has granted us special permission to exhibit his latest creation, ‘Rectangles and Circles’. This illusion is currently taking the Internet by storm, and shows several 3D rectangles that transform into circles when reflected in a mirror. The Quirkology exhibition is the only place in the world where visitors can experience Sugihara’s amazing creation live.

In addition, the exhibition features an
interactive video show, classic illusions, a goat that appears to follow visitors around the room, and fun photo opportunities for all ages.
The exhibition runs until 1 September 2016 at Edinburgh’s Museum of Childhood on the Royal Mile. Admission free. In addition to the exhibition, visitors can participate in a special Quirkology trail throughout the museum.

And the whole exhibition fits on a USB stick, which allows any science centre, museum or school to reproduce it!

Photo credits: Gordon Rutter, Kenny Mathieson, Richard Wiseman.

With thanks to: David Britland, David Copperfield, Kokichi Sugihara, Water Closet Press and Caroline Watt.

 

New YouTube video

We have just filmed a new Quirkology video! It involves a miniature bear and a magic trick – enjoy….

Want to get the perfect sleep?

Tonight we are staging a mass participation study to help people get a good nights sleep. It is free to join in, and we hope that lots of people will take part. All you have to do is click this link and follow the instructions…..

https://herts.eu.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_8kTyOjNQ25FFDE1

Many thanks

Richard

 

10 new and amazing illusions!

We have just released another Quirkology video containing 10 more optical illusions! Hope you like it….

The secret life of David Berglas

I am delighted to announce my latest project! For decades magician David Berglas amazed the world with a series of seemingly impossible stunts.

David is now in his 90s, and I recently interviewed him about his early years. He experienced some of the most dramatic events of the twentieth century, including living in Germany during Hitler’s rise to power, attending the 1936 Berlin Olympics, and working as a postwar Nazi hunter.

I have produced a website containing his memories. I hope you like it.

To visit the site, click here.

10 amazing paper stunts!

I have just created another Quirkology video, this time containing 10 amazing things that you can do with a piece of paper. Hope that you enjoy it!

The World’s First Mind Reading Tee Shirt

Are you struggling to find the perfect Christmas gift? Struggle no more. After years of careful experimentation, we have created the world’s first mind reading tee shirt. And not only that, they are available for sale. Amazing. So, the links to buy them are here

US: https://teespring.com/QuirkologyTeeUS

EU: https://teespring.com/QuirkologyTeeEU

These are available until the 9th December.

and the video showing this ground-breaking invention in action is here:

New Quirkology video!

Hi there. We have just produced a new video containing 10 amazing bets that you will always win – hope that you enjoy it!

Mary Poppins and the science of sleep!

Yesterday I posted a new In59seconds video on Youtube, describing research showing that one of the best ways of falling asleep is actually to stay awake….

However, I had no idea that exactly the same idea crops up in Mary Poppins, and predates the research by over 40 years…..

The secret of visualisation

I have just made this new 59 Seconds video about the best way of using visualisation to achieve your goals – hope you enjoy it!

How to improve your sleep in seconds….

Here is another 59 Seconds video with a quick tip to improve your sleep. It is based on research that I carried out for my Night School book – if you make the suggested change, please let me know how it goes!

New Quirkology Video – The Incredible Candles!

We don’t post many of these because they take sooooo long to think and develop, but here is our new Quirkology video – The Incredible Candles!  Hope that you enjoy it.

Would you make a good agony aunt?

Here is another dilemma in need of your expert guidance…..

“I’m in my twenties and expecting my first child. However, since I became pregnant my partner seems to have completely lost interest in me. He is spending lots more time with his friends, and doesn’t tend to return calls and texts. I feel bored and lonely. Should I end the relationship and bring up our baby without him around?”

What would you say?  Please…

1) Feel free to post your advice in the comments section below
2) Read other peoples’ comments – if you think the advice is good, press the ‘thumbs up’ button

Let’s see who can come up with the best advice!