Ever wondered how sharp your eyesight really is? Here’s a fun way to find out! Take a look at this special image. At a normal distance from your screen, if your eyesight is pretty good, you should see Albert Einstein. But if you see Marilyn Monroe instead, it might be time to think about getting glasses or contact lenses.
If you’re wearing glasses right now, try taking them off and see if the image changes. You can also ask someone nearby what they see. This effect can be experienced by anyone if you change the distance or size of the picture. When the image is far away, you’re more likely to see Marilyn Monroe because our eyes only catch the bigger shapes from a distance. But as you move closer, you start to notice the finer details of Einstein.
We promise there’s no digital trickery involved! Try pausing this video and walking away from your screen. The image might change for you at a different distance than it does for your friends because everyone’s eyes are a bit different. The further away you can stand and still see Einstein, the better your eyesight probably is. You can also squint your eyes to blur the photo and see the effect.
This image is a cool example of a hybrid image. It combines a low spatial frequency of one picture with a high spatial frequency of another. Depending on how well you can focus or see contrasts, your eyes will pick out different details. Up close, you can usually see fine details like Einstein’s mustache and wrinkles. But as you move further away or if your vision isn’t great, you lose those details and only see the general features like the shape of a mouth, nose, and hair, which makes it look like Marilyn Monroe.
We love playing tricks on your brain with illusions! We’ve put together a playlist of our favorite ones that you can watch. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, and subscribe for more fun science videos every week.
Stand at different distances from your screen and observe the image. Note down at which distance you see Albert Einstein and at which distance you see Marilyn Monroe. Discuss with your classmates why the image changes with distance.
If you wear glasses, try viewing the image with and without them. Record any differences in what you see. Share your findings with the class and discuss how corrective lenses affect your perception.
Use a simple photo editing tool to create your own hybrid image by combining two different pictures. Present your creation to the class and explain how the spatial frequencies of each image affect what is seen.
Research another optical illusion and present it to the class. Explain how it works and what it reveals about human perception. Compare it to the Einstein-Monroe hybrid image.
Hold a class discussion about eyesight and perception. Share personal experiences with vision tests and discuss the importance of regular eye check-ups. Reflect on how optical illusions can teach us about our vision.
Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Curious how good your eyesight is? Take a look at this image. Who do you see? If you’re at a normal viewing distance from the screen and have decent eyesight, you should be seeing Albert Einstein. However, if you see Marilyn Monroe, you may want to consider wearing glasses or contacts.
If you’re wearing your glasses right now, try taking them off, and the image may change. Alternatively, if you’re near someone else, ask them what they see. The effect can actually be observed by anyone if we change the distance or size of the picture. If it’s far away, you’re more likely to see Marilyn Monroe, as our eyes only pick up the broader strokes of an image from a distance. But as you come closer to the image, you see the finer details of Einstein.
We promise we haven’t changed anything digitally. In fact, pause this video now and try walking away from your computer screen. Chances are the image will change, and at a different distance than your friends, because our eyes are all slightly different. The further away you can stand and still see Einstein, the better your eyesight likely is. You can achieve a similar effect by squinting your eyes to blur the photo.
So, what’s going on? This image is an example of a hybrid image, where a low spatial frequency of one picture is combined with a high spatial frequency of another. Depending on how well you’re able to focus or pick up contrast, your eye will only pick out certain details. Up close, we’re generally able to see fine details like Einstein’s mustache and wrinkles. However, as the distance increases or if your vision is poor, your ability to pick up details fades away. Instead, you only see the general features like the shape of a mouth, nose, and hair, making it seem like Marilyn Monroe.
We love tricking your brain with illusions! We’ve put together a playlist of our favorite ones that you can watch by clicking the screen. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, and subscribe for more weekly science videos.
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This version maintains the original message while removing any informal language and ensuring clarity.
Eyesight – The ability to see; vision. – Scientists study how different factors like light and color can affect our eyesight.
Image – A visual representation of something, such as a picture or reflection. – The image of the cell under the microscope helped students understand its structure.
Distance – The amount of space between two points. – In physics class, we learned how to calculate the distance between two objects using a formula.
Details – Small parts or features of something that are often important for understanding. – The details of the experiment were recorded carefully to ensure accurate results.
Frequency – The number of times a wave repeats in a certain period, often used in the context of sound or light waves. – In science, we explored how the frequency of a sound wave affects its pitch.
Focus – The point at which rays of light, heat, or other radiation meet after being refracted or reflected. – The telescope was adjusted to focus on the distant planet, making it appear clear and detailed.
Contrasts – The differences between two or more things that are compared. – The contrasts between the two chemical reactions were highlighted in the lab report.
Features – Distinctive attributes or aspects of something. – The main features of the new software include faster processing and improved graphics.
Illusions – Things that are perceived differently from how they actually are, often tricking the senses. – Optical illusions can teach us about how our brain processes visual information.
Brain – The organ in the head that controls thought, memory, and emotion. – Neuroscientists study the brain to understand how it influences behavior and learning.
