Ames window (left), Ames room (right)

Adelbert Ames, Jr. was an American scientist who made a bunch of contributions to a bunch of different fields.  But he’s perhaps best known for the optical illusions he created: the Ames window and the Ames room.  Both of these illusions rely on making what is really a trapezoid appear to be a rectangle.

In the video of the Ames window (on the left), the window is really rotating in just one direction, but to the viewer it looks like it keeps switching directions.

You can make your own Ames room if you’d like.  Just print out the room plan, and follow the instructions.  Here’s a video that walks you through the whole thing.

Optical illusions are neat!

Thanks to Danny!  Whose brain nearly exploded while watching the video.  But it didn’t.  Close call though.