Why would we show an optical illusion to a monkey or a sparrow? To learn how they experience time, of course

Why would we show an optical illusion to a monkey or a sparrow? To learn how they experience time, of course | Ishan Singhal

Animals may inhabit the same world as us, but new research shows how their perceptions of what is around them differs Imagine standing in your garden. A bumblebee whizzes overhead too quickly to follow, a sparrow darts from the fence to the trees, and a snail lugs itself across the garden stones.

First covered Jul 7, 2026 · 12:00 AM PT · 1 article

Coverage

16h Guardian Environment Why would we show an optical illusion to a monkey or a sparrow? To learn how they experience time, of course | Ishan Singhal — Animals may inhabit the same world as us, but new research shows how their perceptions of what is around them differs Imagine standing in your garden.

More coverage from around the web

scienceabc.com Optical Illusions In Animals: Do Animals Experience Optical Illusions?

sciencedaily.com Monkeys and humans see optical illusions in similar way | ScienceDaily

science.org Do animals perceive time differently from humans? | Science | AAAS

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Macaque Monkeys Perceive the Flash Lag Illusion

nationalgeographic.com Optical illusions show how animals perceive the world | National Geographic

Appeared in: 2026-07-07 (#19)

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