5 Amazing Optical Illusions That Will Surprise You

Spinning Dancer

Nobuyuki Kayahara / WikiMedia Commons

Which way is the dancer spinning? Clockwise? Counterclockwise? You can choose which direction you want her to spin by simply wishing it! (Hint: if the foot touching the ground is perceived to be her left foot, the dancer appears to be spinning clockwise; if the foot touching the ground is her right, then she appears spinning counterclockwise)

Lilac Chaser

Like blinking Christmas tree lights, these pink lights seem to turn off in sequential order. But stare at the center. What is that running around the circle?

Benham's Top

moillusions.com

Named after 19th century toymaker, Charles Benham, this illusion began as a small amusement device. When the top is spun, and the viewer stares at the center, subtle arcs of color called Fechner colors, become visible along the top. The optical phenomenon is still not yet fully explained, and scientists are currently researching the illusion for methods of detecting diseases of the eye. What color do you see?

Deskarati's Bicycle

Deskarati / moillusions.com

Look at those wheels spin! Wait. Are they spinning? Look closely at the spokes. The gray color-wave is spinning around the wheel in a counterclockwise direction, though we perceive the spokes spinning in the opposite direction.

Celebrities Look Like Monsters

Hit play, stare at the center cross, and watch these beautiful celebrity faces mold into hilariously deformed trolls. The images have not been altered, and appear completely normal, but we expect some magic at play here.

Which of these fooled your eyes? Let us know in the comments.