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When we think of mind bends, we immediately imagine things like four-dimensional hypercubes, quantum mechanics or an infinite universe. After all, they say that the human mind is one hell of a mystery and there are a few things that can send it into overdrive.

Well, it turns out that things don’t have to be so elaborate to create a temporary mental lapse. Quite on the contrary, daily random things, if lined up in a way that could be summed up as “accidental camouflage,” can create a brain fart so powerful it could blow you backwards with the brutal force of “what da heck is that thing?!”

So today we have a very special treat for you: Bored Panda's freshly baked list of pics of camouflaged things found in the weirdest places, at the weirdest times, occurring in the most absurd and all-too-real scenarios. Call them optical illusions if you will, but there is definitely so much more going on in these pics.

#1

The Void Stares Back

The Void Stares Back

MapsCats Report

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Mary Peace
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Who left their googly eyes on the mat? Almost thought there was a cat there!

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#2

Dog On A Bear Blanket

Dog On A Bear Blanket

BMichael919 Report

#3

My Mom Painted This Outlet To Match The Rocks

My Mom Painted This Outlet To Match The Rocks

newherel Report

Accidental camouflages are so mind-bending, you may need to look twice or thrice to find out exactly what’s going on. Call it “Where’s Waldo” real-life edition, or the types of optical illusions that happen when an object blends into its surroundings. So to find out what’s exactly up with these illusions, Bored Panda previously spoke with Lisa Yaszek, a Regents Professor of Science Fiction Studies at Georgia Tech where she researches and teaches science fiction as a global language crossing centuries, continents, and cultures.

“As humans, we’re fascinated by optical illusions both because they are a symbol of human creativity and because they demonstrate just how good we are at flexible thinking,” Lisa Yaszek told us. She added that there is something inherently pleasing about the ability to perceive an image in different ways, argued Lisa, and she wondered if it’s perhaps it’s part of our natural aptitude for learning.

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#5

Purrrrfect Camouflage

Purrrrfect Camouflage

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“Whatever the source of our love for optical illusions, it’s fascinating to note that the desire to create optical illusions seems to be as old as humanity itself. The prehistoric artists who decorated the Cave of Altima 20,000 years ago used the natural bulges in the rock walls of the cave to give volume and depth to the animals they drew there; the Greek-Egyptian inventor Heron of Alexandria (10CE-70AD) engineered a device that made it look like priests could open temple doors with verbal commands; and the Airavatesvara Temple in India is covered in 800+-year-old carvings of animals that change species when viewed from different angles.”

#7

Help I Lost My Lovebird In This Pile Of Mangoes

Help I Lost My Lovebird In This Pile Of Mangoes

-_-BaDgEr-_- Report

#8

My Wife Was Wearing The Right Jacket At The Right Time

My Wife Was Wearing The Right Jacket At The Right Time

Purp_Skurp_349 Report

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Therefore, it’s no surprise that optical illusions never fail to capture our imagination. “Whenever people invent new creative or technical processes, they use them to create optical illusions! Indeed, we’ve seen this throughout the twentieth and twenty-first centuries: pioneering filmmakers like George Melies drew on vaudeville stagecraft and scratched and painted on celluloid to create the first filmic special effects; Op artists Josef Albers and Bridgette Riley manipulated geometric forms on canvas to convince the eye that unreal spatial places existed; and today we have digital technologies that allow us to radically transform the scale and presentation of images in sometimes truly mind-blowing ways,” Lisa explained.

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#10

My Full Cup Of Milk That Made The Cup Look Upside Down

My Full Cup Of Milk That Made The Cup Look Upside Down

PapaMutt Report

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Caro Caro
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would totally think that the cup is upside down and make a huge mess.

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#13

A Second Look Is Not Enough

A Second Look Is Not Enough

traitor_swift Report

#14

My Brain Refuses To Believe There Are 4 People In This Photo

My Brain Refuses To Believe There Are 4 People In This Photo

DrFlames2192 Report

#15

The Tree Had Eyes... Eastern Screech Owl Mom And Two Of Three Owlets Peeking Out

The Tree Had Eyes... Eastern Screech Owl Mom And Two Of Three Owlets Peeking Out

leslm2019 Report

#17

We're Getting A New Kitchen Countertop Soon. Making Sandwiches Will Be Easier

We're Getting A New Kitchen Countertop Soon. Making Sandwiches Will Be Easier

m83live Report

#18

The Picture On The Back Of This RV Lines Up With The Mountains In The Background

The Picture On The Back Of This RV Lines Up With The Mountains In The Background

Tadevils Report

#19

Not Perfect, But Quite Satisfying

Not Perfect, But Quite Satisfying

Kinetikat Report

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#21

My Pet Mouse Blends In With My Partner's Pajamas

My Pet Mouse Blends In With My Partner's Pajamas

Dalen-Dalen Report

#22

Went To Take A Nap & Found My Bed Purring

Went To Take A Nap & Found My Bed Purring

Missamble Report

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Rissie
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

More poshouflage! Kitties know what they like and it better be pretty and soft!

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#23

My Puppy (Ling Ling) Has Interesting Camouflage

My Puppy (Ling Ling) Has Interesting Camouflage

timo606 Report

#24

The Way My Chameleon Hides On My Military Backpack

The Way My Chameleon Hides On My Military Backpack

Realhumanbeing3 Report

#26

By Complete Coincidence, The Trees Along This Street Matched The Colors Of The Buildings

By Complete Coincidence, The Trees Along This Street Matched The Colors Of The Buildings

Bomurang Report

#27

Careful What You Grab

Careful What You Grab

scottsafriendofgod101 Report

#28

Dang Hard To Find The House Numbers

Dang Hard To Find The House Numbers

naturally-blue Report

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#31

Dog Blending Into The Ground

Dog Blending Into The Ground

tmcin12 Report

#32

Nice Cushions

Nice Cushions

Craig Russell Report

#33

Ever Wondered What A Hatched Avocado Looks Like?

Ever Wondered What A Hatched Avocado Looks Like?

migraine_boy Report

#35

When She Matches The Court

When She Matches The Court

frostman5115 Report

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Bardhi's Dad
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It somehow looks like she is lying in perfect shape on the painting of Piet Mondrian

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#36

“What Kind Of Pupper Is This?”

“What Kind Of Pupper Is This?”

SarahSmilla Report

#37

The Way My Hard Hat Blends In With The Sky

The Way My Hard Hat Blends In With The Sky

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#38

The Lichen Huntsman Spider

The Lichen Huntsman Spider

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#41

This Dinner Plate Exactly Matched My Daughter’s Top

This Dinner Plate Exactly Matched My Daughter’s Top

TheGunt123 Report

#42

My Boyfriend's New Shirt Matches Perfectly To His Tattoo

My Boyfriend's New Shirt Matches Perfectly To His Tattoo

the_soup_whisperer Report

#43

After A Two Week Search, I Finally Found My Remote

After A Two Week Search, I Finally Found My Remote

x-Mowens-x Report

#44

Young Girl Posing With A Bag Of Popcorn

Young Girl Posing With A Bag Of Popcorn

shellybean23 Report

#46

Only A Top

Only A Top

MrPotato341181 Report

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Kirsten Kerkhof
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was so focussed on what the top said that I didn't even notice the lack of legs!

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#47

Picked Up This Little Guy And This Is Where He Chose To Lay

Picked Up This Little Guy And This Is Where He Chose To Lay

_Geiger Report

#48

23 Minutes. That's How Long It Took Me To Find My Glasses

23 Minutes. That's How Long It Took Me To Find My Glasses

Dirak07 Report

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La Kalypso
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This pattern is the work of Satan. Imagine looking for your glasses when you can see nada?

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#49

Two Dogs Lying On The Floor

Two Dogs Lying On The Floor

StrangeCoisas Report

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#50

My Favorite Rug

My Favorite Rug

pg_99 Report

Note: this post originally had 125 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.