How It Works

Cognitive optical illusions

The never-ending climb

For those who find walking up stairs a chore, this image might be your worst nightmare. Where do these stairs stop? This illusion, known as the Penrose stairs, is designed to hold no start or end point. If you were to try and climb these stairs in real life you would be climbing forever and never reach a higher point.

When taking in this image, your general knowledge of the way

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from How It Works

How It Works2 min read
All About scooters
In the UK, non-commercial electric kick scooters can only be ridden on private land The first motorised scooter was called the Autoped. It looked very similar to today’s electric kick scooters, but ran on gas with an engine attached to the front whee
How It Works3 min read
Munching Molars And Ferocious Fangs
Whether they’re chewing on grass, tearing through flesh or fighting off a foe, teeth are an essential survival tool for the world’s animals. A tooth is a layered structure made from hardened calcium carbonate that erupts from a vertebrate’s jaw and i
How It Works3 min read
Orchestral Arrangement
Why are the brass in the back and strings at the front of an orchestra? The reasons for the positioning of an orchestra all relate to how the brain ‘hears’ different sounds. A modern symphony orchestra typically consists of around a hundred different

Related Books & Audiobooks