The old optical delusion scam. 
11
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From the moment we first open our eyes, our brains start learning to translate the two-dimensional images that hit our retinas into three-dimensional scenes. The vast majority of the time, our world is lit from above (by the sun outdoors, or by overhead lights, mimicking the sun, indoors), so our brains will generally "assume" that light is coming from above and interpret the scene accordingly. The way this particular scene is lit, it can be interpreted either as upside-down plates with a light source at the upper left, or right-side-up plates with a light source at the lower right. Since our brains assume a light source from above, they tend to jump to the conclusion that the plates are upside down (having "upside down" appear first in the text probably helps with this interpretation).
That said, I am unable to identify which plate is supposed to be right side up, and even knowing how the illusion works, it took me a long time to view them that way.
Behind-the-dog
Level 6
Apr 17, 2021
1
Brilliant explanation. Thank you!
@Apunzelle You're most welcome. I learned about this doing photo research for a textbook on perception. I was asked to come up with a similar illusion using craters on the moon. In this pair of photos, the image on the right is identical to the image on the left but rotated 180 degrees. We want to see the light as coming from the upper left, which turns the craters into bumps in the rotated version.
@Behind-the-dog Fascinating. I do appreciate your explaining this ... and showing another example. 
Power of suggestion.
Cult leaders and prophets have known this trick always.
BufftonBeotch
Level 8
Apr 16, 2021
1
How does this work? It’s maddening not knowing. 
Apunzelle
Level 7
Apr 16, 2021
1
It must have something to do with our hardwired perception, maybe the world really is a glass half full and not half empty?
Holy motherfucker. It must be an omen from God!
barjoe
Level 9
Apr 16, 2021
1
For my next trick I'll turn my walking staff into a serpent. lol I suppose I could call down a plague but we already have one. 
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