This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American
Sleight of hand artist, theatrical pickpocket, and our collaborator in some of our earliest neuromagic studies, Apollo Robbins (aka The Gentleman Thief) explains and demonstrates the art of misdirection in his TedGlobal 2013 lecture.
On supporting science journalism
If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.
For more neuroscience of magic, starring Apollo Robbins, see our previous blog post:
If you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in that two-century history.
I’ve been a Scientific American subscriber since I was 12 years old, and it helped shape the way I look at the world. SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe. I hope it does that for you, too.
If you subscribe to Scientific American, you help ensure that our coverage is centered on meaningful research and discovery; that we have the resources to report on the decisions that threaten labs across the U.S.; and that we support both budding and working scientists at a time when the value of science itself too often goes unrecognized.
