Bluesky Facebook Reddit Email

Seeing double: Clever images open doors for brain research

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University created 'visual anagrams' using AI to study how people mentally process visual information. The findings reveal classic real-world size effects, even when objects are rotated versions of the same image.

The experts that can outsmart optical illusions

Researchers found that medical imaging experts can solve common optical illusions, including judging the size of objects. Training to improve visual perception can also make experts less susceptible to these illusions. This study has implications for training medical image analysts.

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

Which side is which?: How the brain perceives borders

Researchers at Salk Institute discovered that neurons deep in the brain's cortex process information from borders first, then send clues back to upstream areas. This supports the importance of the 'feedback' pathway for deciphering borders.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

Optical illusions explained in a fly's eyes

Scientists at Yale University found that flies perceive motion in static images similarly to humans, using a shared strategy for motion detection. By analyzing specific neuron types and behavior, the researchers developed a theory explaining how optical illusions work, which may also apply to human visual systems.

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only)

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only) delivers reliable low-light performance and rugged build for astrophotography, lab documentation, and field expeditions.

Brown researchers teach computers to see optical illusions

Researchers developed a neural-network model that perceives contextual optical illusions like humans, advancing knowledge of human visual system. The model includes feedback connections between neurons, which improve artificial vision by addressing context-dependent weaknesses.

The brain's dress code

A functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study found that The Dress activates frontal and parietal brain areas, depending on perception. Researchers identified differential brain activity in participants perceiving the dress as white-gold versus black-blue.

How understanding GPS can help you hit a curveball

Research at the University of Rochester shows that our brains apply an algorithm to track objects, including baseballs, even when they move outside our visual field. This understanding can help hitters better anticipate a curveball's trajectory.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.

Sun's loops are displaying an optical illusion

Astronomers have discovered that the Sun's corona loops appear as a constant width due to an optical illusion, but in reality, they are tapered structures. This finding has significant implications for coronal heating models.

Optical illusion reveals reflexes in the brain

Researchers at Queen Mary University of London found that an optical illusion captures attention more strongly than other visual tests due to reflexive brain processing. The study suggests that the brain rapidly processes visual clues to guide where eyes look, influencing what we see.

Optical illusions show vision in a new light

Researchers used two well-known optical illusions to study how the brain assesses relative size, revealing that environmental clues affect perception after three-dimensional image processing. The Ponzo illusion was found to hold true regardless of eye use or presentation order.

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station offers research-grade local weather data for networked stations, campuses, and community observatories.

Seeing the world differently

Researchers found that individual volunteers' perceptions of optical illusions varied greatly due to differences in brain size. The primary visual cortex area affects the extent to which we see visual illusions.

Scientists uncover how the brain controls what the eyes see

Researchers found that specific brain regions show similar patterns of activity when viewing ambiguous images, implying these regions contribute to conscious experience. The study's findings may help understand disorders like dyslexia by providing insight into the functional role of motion-perception areas in the brain.