Impossible Cube Illusion
Where up is down and through is over: a playground for paradoxical geometry.
🧐 What do you see?▼
Watch the cube as it rotates. Focus on the bars where they cross each other. Notice how some bars seem to pass throughothers in a way that would be physically impossible in 3D space.
🧠 Why this works▼
Inspired by the work of M.C. Escher, this is a variation of theNecker Cube. It exploits our brain'sassumption of volume.
Whenever your eyes see a collection of lines that *could* be a cube, your brain instantly constructs a 3D mental model. This illusion deliberately provides conflicting "depth cues"—some cues say a bar is in front, while others say it's behind. Your brain skips between these interpretations, creating the sense of an "impossible" object.
🧪 Try variations▼
- Adjust Speed: Use the Speed slider to slow down the rotation. It's often easier to see the "impossible" breaks when the motion is slow.
- Perspective Shift: Does the "impossibility" feel stronger as it rotates into different angles?
❓ FAQ▼
Is this a Penrose object?
Yes. Like the Penrose Triangle or Penrose Stairs, it is a "forbidden figure" that utilizes local consistency to hide global impossibility.