The Science of Illusions: Teller Reveals How Magic Tricks Your Brain

17 hours ago3 min read

How does magic fool our brains? Neil deGrasse Tyson, Teller, and neuroscientist Susana Martinez-Conde reveal the secrets behind illusions.

Neil deGrasse Tyson and Magician Teller with microphones converse against a dark background. Text reads "Science of Illusion" in yellow, suggesting a discussion theme. — The Science of Illusion: How Teller & Scientists Prove Your Brain is Easy to Fool

Teller Reveals Magic Tricks Your Brain

Have you ever wondered why magic tricks leave you amazed, baffled, and sometimes laughing at yourself?

Neil deGrasse Tyson, alongside co-host Gary O’Reilly, sat down with Teller (of Penn & Teller) and neuroscientist Susana Martinez-Conde to explore the surprising science behind illusions.

From the psychology of misdirection to the evolutionary quirks that make magic possible, this episode of StarTalk takes a deep dive into how magicians manipulate reality.

Watch the Podcast

How Magicians Hack Your Brain: The Science of Illusion with Teller 🎩🧠

Biggest Takeaways

Your brain constructs reality, not just perceives it. 🧠 Magic works because our minds fill in gaps and take shortcuts.
Misdirection is a cognitive illusion. 🎭 Magicians don’t just trick your eyes; they manipulate your attention.
Magic and science share a mission. 🔬 Both seek to understand human perception—just from different angles.

How Magic Hacks Your Brain

Teller, the famously silent half of Penn & Teller, breaks his silence in this rare recorded interview, sharing his insights into the art of deception.

“The fun of magic is partly being amazed. The fun of magic is also partly figuring it out if you can. It’s okay to be thinking that way,” he explains.

Neuroscientist Susana Martinez-Conde agrees, revealing that magic tricks our minds because our brains constantly construct reality.

Susana Martinez-Conde with gray hair, colorful shirt speaks into a microphone. Text: "Illusions are not a bug; they're a feature." Blue background. — “Illusions are not a bug; they’re a feature,” Susana Martinez-Conde says.

“Illusions are not a bug; they’re a feature,” she says.

Our brains simplify information to react quickly—an essential survival trait—but magicians exploit this tendency, leading us to see things that aren’t there.

The Power of Misdirection

Misdirection is more than a magician waving a hand to divert your attention.

“When the audience laughs, time stops, and the magician can do anything,” Teller shares, recalling wisdom from legendary magician Johnny Thompson.

Whether through humor, storytelling, or unexpected questions, magicians shift focus long enough to work their tricks unnoticed.

Martinez-Conde describes this phenomenon as inattentional blindness—our brains simply don’t register what we’re not focusing on. “If I ask, ‘Does anyone have a scarf?’ your brain starts searching for an answer, and while you’re thinking, you miss the trick happening right in front of you.”

Magician teller in a blue patterned shirt speaks into a microphone. Text: "Magic is kind of the playground for this very important thing of how we ascertain truth." -Teller. Dark blue background. — “Magic is kind of the playground for this very important thing of how we ascertain truth.” Teller says.

The Ethics of Magic: Truth vs. Trickery

One of the most powerful discussions in the episode touches on the ethics of deception.

Teller and Penn have long been vocal critics of psychics and fraudulent mediums who claim supernatural powers.

“It is very unpleasant to see your art form turned into a crooked operation that hurts people,” Teller states.

Neil deGrasse Tyson agrees, noting how Penn & Teller use their magic not just for entertainment but to promote critical thinking.

“If I can teach you something, and you don’t even realize you’re learning, that’s a magic trick,” Tyson remarks.

That’s It!

Magic isn’t just about fooling the eye—it’s about understanding the brain.

Whether you’re a magician or a science enthusiast, this episode of StarTalk proves that the real magic is in how we perceive the world. As Teller puts it, “The fun of magic is trying to figure it out and failing. If you succeed, you’re happy. And if you fail, you’re happy. It’s a no-lose situation.”