Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Creative Bloq
Creative Bloq
Technology
Natalie Fear

This viral elephant optical illusion is pure magic

Purple elephant optical illusion.

If there's one thing the internet loves, it's a good optical illusion. The most recent brain-boggling viral hit is this deceptively simple purple elephant illusion that appears to transform right before our eyes, despite no video trickery involved.

From the cognitive to the physiological, optical illusions come in all forms, constantly proving that we can't always believe our eyes. Even when the science behind the visual trick is revealed, optical illusions still manage to perplex and amaze all corners of the internet.

Shared by Science Magician, Matt Pritchard, this optical illusion consists of a circle of vivid purple elephants in a circle. The aim is to find which one is the brightest, but the more you search, the less clear it becomes, as each appears more vibrant than the last.

"This illusion is based on a new science paper I read by Hinnerck Schultz-Hildebrant. It’s a fascinating combination of mechanisms in our vision system and colour theory," Matt explains on Instagram. The illusion works best when your brightness is turned up (especially on OLED screens). Tell us what you see in the comments below.

For more op art, check out this dotty optical illusion that sparked a delightfully nerdy colour debate or take a look at this deceptively simple grid illusion that melted people's minds.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.