The Science of Magic

Dec. 14, 2010
More from this show

Magic tricks take advantage of how the human brains pay attention to surroundings. Phoenix Barrow Neurological Institute researchers Stephen Macknik and Susana Martinez-Conde have traveled the world to study how magicians fool the brain and the science behind that. They will talk about their new book based on that research, “Sleights of Mind,” as Tony the Magician performs tricks they will analyze.

In this segment:

Stephen Macknik:Phoenix Barrow Neurological Institute;Susana Martinez-Conde:Phoenix Barrow Neurological Institute;

Also in this episode:

SPOTLIGHT
Jivik Siik
aired March 6

The Story of the O’odham Revolt, Told Through Oral History

A duckling tilts its head with text reading: Get your ducks in a row
March 11

Getting Your Ducks in a Row to Avoid Conflict When You Are Gone

The cast of Downton Abbey in Character
airs March 8

Stream ‘Downton Abbey’ with Arizona PBS Passport

Fountain Hills with text reading: Food Festival Saturday, April 11, 2026, Fountain Hills, Arizona
April 11

Join us for the We-Ko-Pa ‘Check, Please! Arizona’ Food Festival

Subscribe to Arizona PBS Newsletters

STAY in touch
with azpbs.org!

Subscribe to Arizona PBS Newsletters:


Gifts presented by Arizona PBS
The American revolution cd

CD: The American Revolution - Music From The PBS Documentary

Ken Burns dvd set

Ken Burns -The American Revolution (6-DVD Set)

A Ken Burns dvd set pledge gift

The American Revolution - Ken Burns -The American Revolution (6-DVD set) + An Intimate History (HBK)

make your selection
LATEST CONTENT
MORE EPISODES
Alix Bierson from the Arizona Science Center

Full Episode March 6

Democrats Fund Races; Free Little Library; Pompeii Exhibit

Chuck Coughlin, President and CEO of HighGround Inc., and Stacy Pearson, Co-founder of Lumen Strategies

March 5

Arizona Democrats to invest in JoAnna Mendoza’s campaign

Jon Brodsky, Sky Harbor Airport Lee Franklin, Phoenix Public Library Community Relations Director

March 5

Sky Harbor launches new “Free Little Library”

Alix Bierson, Arizona Science Center

March 5

Arizona Science Center’s limited time Pompeii exhibition

Victoria Jackson

March 4

U.S. hockey teams win gold, face unequal attention

Kate Brophy McGee

March 4

The legal battle over who controls Maricopa County elections

Sarah Grado

March 4

notMYkid provides youth substance use prevention

Kate Brophy McGee on Arizona Horizon

Full Episode March 4

Who controls Maricopa County elections; U.S. hockey win controversy; notMYkid milestone

Dakota Baden

March 3

Annual Pony Express ride coming back to the Valley

Phil Fedor and Dakota Baden

Full Episode March 3

Conflicts escalate in the Middle East; school vaccine mandates; Pony Express

Will Humble

March 3

Arizona voters may decide to end school vaccine mandates

Christina Estes and Evelyn Farkas

March 3

Airstrikes kill Iran’s Supreme Leader, conflicts escalate in the Middle East

Daniel Rothenberg, Co-Director, Future Security Initiative, ASU

March 2

Iran war likely to last four to five weeks

Stacey Gandy, Coordinator, ASU Community Collaborative

March 2

ASU Community Collaborative supports student-run clinic at Westward Ho

Gile Bae, Concert Pianist

March 2

International pianist Gile Bae to teach master class at ASU

Daniel Rothenberg, Co-Director for the Future Security Initiative, ASU, Stacy Gandy, Coordinator, ASU Community Collaborative, Gile Bae, Concert Pianist

Full Episode March 2

Iran war; ASU Community Collaborative; International pianist Gile Bae