I have lots of questions about an email FW: I have received many, many times. [more inside]
posted by doublehappy on Aug 16, 2009 - 25 answers

What acoustical phenomena explain the apparent pitch-shifted echo I heard while observing tonight's fireworks display? [more inside]
posted by Songdog on Jul 4, 2009 - 12 answers

I'm directing a play that calls for an actor to be tarred and feathered on stage. It's a powerful moment, and I'd love to do it. But ... how? [more inside]
posted by minervous on Sep 3, 2008 - 33 answers

How does this card trick/illusion work?
posted by red cell on Nov 11, 2007 - 7 answers

When I look at an image (on my LCD computer screen) that is composed of a combination of solid colors separated by black borders, I perceive the colors as appearing on different planes of depth, as if the image were three-dimensional. If I close either eye, the illusion collapses. Am I the only one affected by this, or is it a consequence of the way LCDs display color? [more inside]
posted by pmbuko on Apr 25, 2007 - 15 answers

Is there any sort of recognised optical illusion or visual deficit that can make it hard to realize that a vehicle is stationary? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Oct 16, 2006 - 17 answers

I need help 'seeing' an optical illusion. Picture is inside. [more inside]
posted by bchaplin on Oct 16, 2006 - 19 answers

Saw this act on America's Got Talent and have overcome my shame at watching this terrible show to ask, how the hell is it done? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RB-wUgnyGv0 Any insights?
posted by BorgLove on Aug 10, 2006 - 13 answers

What is the name of the flickering light used to create visual illusions? [more inside]
posted by scodger on Mar 5, 2006 - 11 answers

How is this magic trick done? [more inside]
posted by AmbroseChapel on Nov 4, 2005 - 22 answers

What's that sweet post-sneeze smell I smell? [more inside]
posted by cortex on Sep 8, 2005 - 23 answers

My bathroom has mirrored walls instead of tiles. When I look at myself in one wall/mirror, I seem slightly shorter and wider than I seem in the other mirror, creating the illusion of a 5 lb difference in my appearance. Is there a way to figure out which mirror (if either) is accurate?
posted by xo on Feb 11, 2005 - 9 answers

In around 1986/87 (+/- two years), I saw an edition of The Last Resort with Jonathan Ross (failed UK attempt to copy the Letterman chat show format). One of his guests that night was a freakish guy, possibly French, who swallowed things and then extracted them through his stomach. So, he'd swallow some string, then stick a skewer or something through his stomach wall, and hook out the string. Yes, it was that disgusting.
1. Was this real or an illusion? From what I can remember, there were close-ups and it didn't look like it was being faked.
2. Who was this man?
posted by humuhumu on Dec 2, 2004 - 6 answers