Scientific Amusement

252 entries in Scientific Amusement
250 per page
Creators Title Comments & References Year Source Page AA Categories
Henri Decremps Premiere apparence de Mouvement Perpétuel. on a perpetual motion machine, compass needle moves constantly
 		1785
Supplément A La Magie Blanche Dévoillée
143
Henri Decremps Autre apparence de Mouvement Perpétuel. other perpetual motion machine, made from wood
 		1785
Supplément A La Magie Blanche Dévoillée
147
Henri Decremps Machine hydraulique exprimant la circulation du fang dans les veines & les arteres. hydraulic machine to simulate the circulation of the blood in the arteries, variations
 		1785
Supplément A La Magie Blanche Dévoillée
173
Henri Decremps Expériences nouvelles, & divers Tours d'équilibre. balancing different objects apparently impossible equilibrium
 		1785
Supplément A La Magie Blanche Dévoillée
268
Fontaine de circulation, paradoxe et disgression Liquide experience
 		1786
Testament de Jérôme Sharp
43
H. Röhl Perpetuum-mobile apparent perpetuum mobile construction
 		July 1895
Die Zauberwelt (Vol. 1 No. 7)
104
Die gehorsamen Streichhölzer matches in water with heads toward center, the move out in star formation
 		Nov. 1896
Die Zauberwelt (Vol. 2 No. 11)
173
Der optische Farbkreisel optical illusion with half colored spinner
 		Dec. 1896
Die Zauberwelt (Vol. 2 No. 12)
190
Antonio Molini Das furchtsame Streichhölzchen rubber-banded match shoots out when ignited
 		June 1897
Die Zauberwelt (Vol. 3 No. 6)
93
Antonio Molini Der kleine Springinsfeld paper figure on cork on card on top of full glass, suddenly jumps up
 		July 1898
Die Zauberwelt (Vol. 4 No. 7)
109
Das geheimnisvolle Papierfähnchen No. 12, piece of paper with grain and apple moves by itself, experiment
 		1900
Der Amateurzauberer
162
Der elektrisierte Spazierstock moving a cane with a paper that has been rubbed and loaded with electricity
Related to Nov. 1900
Die Zauberwelt (Vol. 6 No. 11)
174
Zum Elektrisierten Spazierstock clarifying illustration for the effect
Related to Feb. 1901
Die Zauberwelt (Vol. 7 No. 2)
30
Der zerschlagene Stock wooden stick held by two paper rings, stick broken with a hit but paper remains intact
 		Apr. 1901
Die Zauberwelt (Vol. 7 No. 4)
61
Die frei an der Wand hängende Münze coin sticks to wall, no preparation
 		Aug. 1901
Die Zauberwelt (Vol. 7 No. 8)
127
Ein Ei je nach Wunsch auf der Oberfläche des Wassers schwimmen oder in dasselbe niedersinken zu lassen egg floats on water surface or sinks down as spectators wish
 		Sep. 1901
Die Zauberwelt (Vol. 7 No. 9)
137
Das Balancieren eines Eies balancing an egg on its tip, two methods
 		Sep. 1901
Die Zauberwelt (Vol. 7 No. 9)
138
Das rotierende Ei rotating an egg on a plate
 		Sep. 1901
Die Zauberwelt (Vol. 7 No. 9)
139
Antonio Molini Ein Zündholz mit einem Tropfen Wasser anzuzünden "lighting a match with a drop of water"
 		Oct. 1901
Die Zauberwelt (Vol. 7 No. 10)
159
Die rastlose Weintraube grape floating up and down in champagne
 		Oct. 1901
Die Zauberwelt (Vol. 7 No. 10)
159
A Bottle Cannon and Seidlitz Powder non-magical science experiment
 		1902
The Modern Conjurer
290
Shark in the Fish-pond non-magical science experiment
 		1902
The Modern Conjurer
291
A Dodge with a Sixpence non-magical science experiment
 		1902
The Modern Conjurer
293
Experiment with Corks non-magical science experiment
 		1902
The Modern Conjurer
293
Pins into a Small Glass already Full of Water non-magical science experiment
 		1902
The Modern Conjurer
294
Magnetised Paper non-magical science experiment
 		1902
The Modern Conjurer
294
A Simple Coin Trick coin in broken match into bottle, non-magical science experiment
 		1902
The Modern Conjurer
295
To Pick a Floating Indiarubber Ball up from a Basin of Water with the Mouth non-magical science experiment
 		1902
The Modern Conjurer
295
The Home-Made Cinematograph non-magical science experiment
 		1902
The Modern Conjurer
296
An Egg and Bottle Trick non-magical science experiment
Also published here 1902
The Modern Conjurer
297
Perpetual Motion non-magical science experiment
 		1902
The Modern Conjurer
299
Atmospheric Pressure liquid remains in glass swung around, non-magical science experiment
 		1902
The Modern Conjurer
301
A New Umbrella Stand non-magical science experiment
 		1902
The Modern Conjurer
303
Electricity on the Spot non-magical science experiment
 		1902
The Modern Conjurer
304
Cardboard Figures Blow Out and Light a Candle non-magical science experiment
 		1902
The Modern Conjurer
306
Superior to the Spirit Level non-magical science experiment
 		1902
The Modern Conjurer
307
Objects Suspended Without any Support vacuum, non-magical science experiment
 		1902
The Modern Conjurer
307
The Burnt Thread non-magical science experiment
 		1902
The Modern Conjurer
310
To Bore a Hole Through a Coin with a Needle non-magical science experiment
 		1902
The Modern Conjurer
311
How Water Deceives non-magical science experiment
 		1902
The Modern Conjurer
312
A Novel Way to Slice a Pear non-magical science experiment
 		1902
The Modern Conjurer
312
Magnetised Marionettes non-magical science experiment
 		1902
The Modern Conjurer
314
To Empty a Glassful of Water with a Bottle also Full of Water non-magical science experiment
 		1902
The Modern Conjurer
315
To Bore a Hole through a Pin with a Needle non-magical science experiment
 		1902
The Modern Conjurer
315
Egg Spinning non-magical science experiment
Also published here 1902
The Modern Conjurer
316
To Suspend a Glass Full of Water non-magical science experiment
 		1902
The Modern Conjurer
317
The Travelling Egg non-magical science experiment
 		1902
The Modern Conjurer
318
Alphonse Wunnenburger Eine elektrische Spielerei paper sticks to hand
 		Mar. 1902
Die Zauberwelt (Vol. 8 No. 3)
45
Carl Willmann Der Radiograph "Ein amerikanisches Wunder", Gee-haw whammy diddle (Hui-Maschine), toy
 		Sep. 1903
Die Zauberwelt (Vol. 9 No. 9)
142
Joe Berg The Balancing Dime dime balanced on wire of hanger, hanger spun around finger
 		1937
Here's New Magic
14
Breaking A Pencil With A Dollar Bill
1937
Money Magic
20
Joey Hoppensack poses a problem and its answer... string melts into ice cube, physics
 		1941
The Jinx (Issue 138)
784
Martin Gardner Japanese Paper Bird bird fold that flaps its wings, application with flash paper and coin appearing from bird or traveling in bird
Inspired by
  • "Houdini's Paper Magic" (p. 117)
Related to
  • "Scientific Recreations" (Tissandier, 1881, French work)
 1941
After the Dessert
11
Eddie Joseph A Dose for the Smart Guy glass of water under newspaper, paper whipped away, as sucker trick, coins balanced on glass
 		1942
Coin and Money Magic
40
Eddie Joseph The Kick coin stack on table, coin rolls towards it and knocks out selected coin
Related to 1942
Coin and Money Magic
48
Eddie Joseph Perfect Timing two coins on table edge, pushed off table towards floor, one straight down one sharply forward, they hit floor together
 		1942
Coin and Money Magic
85
Eddie Joseph Good Shootin' coin stack on table, coin rolls towards it and knocks out selected coins
Related to 1942
Coin and Money Magic
105
M. T. Coogan A Drop in the Bottle with a bottle, a cigarette and a paper loop
Also published here May 1945
The Phoenix (Issue 84)
343
Martin Gardner Beery salt spilled in beer rises to top, see also p. 758
 		Oct. 1949
The Phoenix (Issue 188)
754
A Table Illusion moth balls in water mysteriously ascent and descent
 		June 1949
Hugard's Magic Monthly (Vol. 7 No. 1)
553
Francis J. Rigney Hats Off to This flying hat stunt, using a mirror in front of face
 		Dec. 1949
Hugard's Magic Monthly (Vol. 7 No. 7)
609
Victor Farelli "Optical" Magic on afterimage optical illusions, using playing cards
 		May 1950
Hugard's Magic Monthly (Vol. 7 No. 12)
663
Joseph H. Fries The Heavenly Helicopter making a helicopter from a card
 		Aug. 1950
Hugard's Magic Monthly (Vol. 8 No. 3)
695
Ormond McGill The Pendulum: In Performance
  • constructing the pendulum
  • operating the pendulum
  • powers of the pendulum
  • individuality in working with the pendulum
  • experimental evidence with the pendulum
  • and as to miracle
 		1951
Psychic Magic — Vol. 6
24
Balloon (9)
  • Martin Gardner’s Encyclopedia of Impromptu Tricks
two balloons put together with tube, air flows from one to other
 		Mar. 1951
Hugard's Magic Monthly (Vol. 8 No. 10)
765
Balloon (12)
  • Martin Gardner’s Encyclopedia of Impromptu Tricks
static electricity using balloon and comb
 		Mar. 1951
Hugard's Magic Monthly (Vol. 8 No. 10)
766
Banana (2)
  • Martin Gardner’s Encyclopedia of Impromptu Tricks
banana peals itself when placed over milk bottle with burning paper inside
 		Apr. 1951
Hugard's Magic Monthly (Vol. 8 No. 11)
777
Emil Jarrow The Obedient Match
  • Two Table Tricks
paper match balances on a coin on edge under a glass, bet about removing the match, comb with static electricity
Also published here Aug. 1951
Hugard's Magic Monthly (Vol. 9 No. 3)
826
Zum Dessert special way to cut a lemon, peel is linked
 		1953
Hokus Pokus (Vol. 14 No. 3)
118
C. James McLemore Stop-Go two balls are tied to two strings and hanging down, they swing back and forth on command
Variations 1954
Tarbell Course in Magic — Volume 6
32
Carl "J. N. Teroga" Schnetzer Der magische Propeller Hui-Maschine / Gee-haw whammy diddle , propeller on stick turns and changes direction
 		1958
Hokus Pokus (Vol. 19 No. 1)
609
Martin Gardner Stick Up bar bet with bent paper clip and paper match, creator unknown
 		Oct. 1959
Ibidem (Issue 18)
7
P. Howard Lyons Molding with Fluid Silicone tip
 		Dec. 1961
Ibidem (Issue 24)
32
Max Malini The Inertia Trick glasses covered with a tray, on the tray are tubes with eggs, tray is knocked away and eggs fall into glass
Also published here 1962
Malini and His Magic
40
Whisky-Water Transposition glass with whisky is placed inverted on glass with water, liquids transpose, physics, see p. 94 for more information
 		1962
Malini and His Magic
48
Hans Herrmann Kleinzauberei zum Hausgebrauch
  • Wolken über leeren Tassen (clouds appear in cups)
  • Papier auf eine brennende Kerze zu halten, ohne es zu verbrennen (paper does not burn when held over flame)
Related to 1962
Hokus Pokus (Vol. 23 No. 6)
243
Martin Gardner Doink!! pin stuck through rubber eraser bounces when dropped on table
 		Sep. 1962
Ibidem (Issue 26)
25
Hans Herrmann Kleinzauberei zum Hausgebrauch
  • Ein Ei auf die Spitze stellen (make an egg stand upright)
  • Ein Ring aus einem Teller mit Wasser nehmen, ohne sich die finger nass zu machen (removing ring from water, without the fingers getting wet)
  • Einen Apfel in vier Teile schneiden, ohne die Schachtel zu beschädigen (cutting apple, sewing method)
  • Ein Geldstück unter einem Hut hervorbringen, ohne den Hut zu berühren (removing a coin from under a hat, without touching the hat)
Related to 1963
Hokus Pokus (Vol. 24 No. 1)
4
Old Hat: Scientific Explanation of a Toy article on the wind machine toy (aka Skidoo), reprint from Popular Mechanics (before 1920) and comments
Related to Nov. 1964
Ibidem (Issue 30)
2
Eddie Joseph Indian Rice Stabbing Illusion first one cup of rice fills six cups, then glass jar of rice clings to stick or knife
Related to 1969
The Art of Eddie Joseph
225
Astus Les Boules Capricieuses white balls rise and sink in liquid, chemical experiment
 		1969
Hokus Pokus (Vol. 30 No. 4)
68
Stewart James, Gene Gray A Match for Gravity watch and match tied to thread, over stick, see p. 337 for reference
 		Apr. 1970
The Pallbearers Review (Vol. 5 No. 6)
330
Marconick A Perfect Glass Balance glass in ring on rope is wheeled around
Also published here 1973
Original Magic 5
22
Patrick Page The Revolving Snake
  • How to Make a Fascinating Novelty
Paper snake on wire is put on lamp and starts to spin as long as the lamp is alight
 		1974
Tricks with Paper
9
Patrick Page An Impromptu Propellor little tray formed from cigarette paper, spins on finger,
 		1974
Tricks with Paper
12
Patrick Page The Balancing Note on the nose and on the finger
 		1974
Tricks with Paper
14
Patrick Page Ping-Pong on the Nose balancing a paper tube on the nose and throwing balls into it
 		1974
Tricks with Paper
15
Picture Gallery paper can be folded so it shows different pictures
 		1974
Tricks with Paper
41
Moving Pictures how to make a flick book
 		1974
Tricks with Paper
62
How to Make a Parachute
1974
Tricks with Handkerchiefs
56
There She Blows coin spins on glass, stunt
 		1974
Tricks with Coins
23
Jochen Zmeck Der J. Z. Kartenbalken stick of wood with card suits and values, finger are moved together and where they meet the suit and then value are found to match a previous selection
Inspired by
  • version in Magie and "Das große Buch der Magie"
 1974
Das Zmeckt!
20
Karl Fulves Zero Gee Lunaball (scientific toy), light metal sphere with magnetic outer surface, close-up levitation
Related to Jan. 1975
The Pallbearers Review (Vol. 10 No. 3)
841
Joseph Dunninger Trick Sugar sugar cube thrown in bowl of water, it first sinks but then rises back to surface, chemical
 		Mar. 1975
The Pallbearers Review (Vol. 10 No. 5)
869
Newman the Hypnotist Telekinesis construction spins under glass cylinder, physics
Also published here
  • "Telekinesis" (Sphinx, April 1923, Vol. 22 No. 2)
 1975
Mind & Matter
53
Misdirection Matematica geometrical problem, solution on p. 15
Also published here
  • Clayton Rawson's "Death From A Top Hat"
 Feb. 1975
Circular de la Escuela Mágica de Madrid (Vol. 1 No. 2)
7
Martin Gardner Motor Psiquico paper balancing on needle spins, heat
Also published here Aug. 1975
Circular de la Escuela Mágica de Madrid (Vol. 1 No. 8)
9
Karl Fulves, Martin Gardner Psychic Motors "Curiosities"
piece of paper spins on the tip of a needle
  • Martin Gardner's Method (Scientific American, April 1975)
  • Streamlined Psychic
  • Stop/Reverse
 		1978
The Chronicles (Issue 11)
1168
Karl Fulves Solid Liquid "Curiosities"
seesaw set-up with two filled glasses, ruler and pencil, it swings when water is pushed and thus water is apparently solid, physics
Inspired by
  • Martin Gardner's "Science Puzzlers"
 1978
The Chronicles (Issue 12)
1182
Karl Fulves Einstein Centennial thoughts on various ideas in physics
  • Bang Bang
  • 90% Paradox (Sturgeon's Law)
  • Time Out
 		1979
Interlocutor (Issue 29)
111
Karl Fulves Time Turned Backwards physics musings
 		1979
Interlocutor (Issue 38)
152
Crash - Diving Submarine raisins in club soda rise up and down, physics
 		1979
Elastrix
38
The Twirling Cigarette Paper spins on tip of finger, physics
 		1979
Elastrix
38
The Deceptive Hairpin one or two ends of wire pin put on spectator's arm, he doesn't know if one or two pins without looking, physics
 		1979
Elastrix
39
The Ghost and the Arrow arrow reverses when viewed through glass of water, physics
 		1979
Elastrix
40
Fire Power No. 24, compass needle moves, iron in staple in matchbook influences needle
 		1979
Self-Working Mental Magic
36
Marconick Equilibre parfait d'un verre glass in ring on rope is wheeled around
Also published here 1979
New Original Magic — Volume 3
20
M. T. Coogan Der Sturz in die Flasche with a bottle, a cigarette and a paper loop
Also published here June 1981
Intermagic (Vol. 8 No. 2)
76
Larry White Ein Stroh-Voller Trick liquid in straw apparently flows upwards
Also published here
  • Genii, Feb. 1978
 Jan. 1983
Intermagic (Vol. 9 No. 4)
137
Barrie Richardson Blowout filled glass jar of rice clings to knife
Also published here Nov. 1986
Magick (Issue 380)
1898
Gläser seventeen impromptu magic items and gags with a glass
 		Dec. 1986
Intermagic (Vol. 12 No. 3 & 4)
122
Reflexes No. 26, bill dropped through fingers, cannot be caught
 		1989
Self-Working Coin Magic
38
Metal bending No. 27, coin apparently soft and bent back and forth
 		1989
Self-Working Coin Magic
39
Martin Gardner Rattle Rock Spoon making rattle rock from bowl of plastic spoon, reverses direction when spun on table
 		1991
Cheat Sheet (Issue 7)
69
Karl Fulves Theory Only bet with polarizing light filters
Also published here
  • "The Dancing Wu Li Masters" (G. Zukav, 1979)
 1991
Cheat Sheet (Issue 7)
71
Martin Gardner Blow Up marshmallow grows to twice the size in vacuum and then instantly collapses again
 		1993
Rigmarole (Issue 1)
10
Joseph K. Schmidt Star Burst "four psychic tricks" No. 3
broken toothpicks rearrange themselves into star configuration under paper cover, water makes them unbend, quirting lighter
 		1993
Rigmarole (Issue 3)
30
Martin Gardner Rising Marble marble rises to the top in rice-filled glass
Also published here
  • "Physics Teacher" (Sept. 1994)
 1994
Rigmarole (Issue 10)
115
"Abheben" arms pressed on sides of doorway
 		1994
Hokus Pokus (Vol. 56 No. 1)
23
Loch in der Hand hole in hand, optical illusion
 		1994
Hokus Pokus (Vol. 56 No. 1)
24
Gang durch Postkarte walking through a postcard
 		1994
Hokus Pokus (Vol. 56 No. 1)
24
David Zver Crystal Dust breaking of a Rubert's Pearl / Devil's Teardrop in open hands
 		1994
Syzygy (Vol. 1 No. 6)
25
The Psychic Pulse strange animation of two toothpicks in the hand
 		1994
Wonderful Routines of Magic — The Second Addendum
159
Martin Gardner, Stewart James A Match for Gravity
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
heavy expensive object tied on a string is dropped, but the string loops around a pencil just before object falls on floor
Related toAlso published here June 1994
MAGIC (Vol. 3 No. 10)
59
Martin Gardner The Bent Playing Card
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
leaning card seems to bend, optical illusion
 		Oct. 1994
MAGIC (Vol. 4 No. 2)
67
Martin Gardner The Waltzing Egg Shell
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
egg shell waltzes around on plate
 		Nov. 1994
MAGIC (Vol. 4 No. 3)
69
Martin Gardner Colored Shadows
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
colors of shadows of red and green light bulbs are reversed
 		Dec. 1994
MAGIC (Vol. 4 No. 4)
65
Karl Fulves Reverso No. 39, numbers, words and designs appear in mirror image through glass of water
 		1995
Easy Magic
56
Martin Gardner Rotating Egg
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
raw vs. boiled egg
 		Jan. 1995
MAGIC (Vol. 4 No. 5)
65
Martin Gardner Curious Feedbacks
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
moving fingers together under a stick, pulling on a rope with two different-sized knots
 		Feb. 1995
MAGIC (Vol. 4 No. 6)
67
Martin Gardner Two Corking Good Challenges
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
two challenges with a cork swimming in glass of water
 		Mar. 1995
MAGIC (Vol. 4 No. 7)
66
Martin Gardner The Candle See-Saw
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
balancing candle that is burning on both sides
 		Apr. 1995
MAGIC (Vol. 4 No. 8)
88
Martin Gardner Headline
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
Bernoulli effect demonstration be blowing on balancing ruler
 		May 1995
MAGIC (Vol. 4 No. 9)
61
Martin Gardner Blacker Than Black
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
white paper appearing blacker than black paper
 		June 1995
MAGIC (Vol. 4 No. 10)
69
Martin Gardner Mysterious Circles
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
card with straight lines is spun and circles are visible
 		July 1995
MAGIC (Vol. 4 No. 11)
73
Martin Gardner The Enchanted Die
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
hollow form optical illusion
Also published here Aug. 1995
MAGIC (Vol. 4 No. 12)
71
Martin Gardner The Frustrating Papers
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
tearing a piece of paper into three pieces in one go
Related to Oct. 1995
MAGIC (Vol. 5 No. 2)
83
Martin Gardner Stabbing an Eggshell
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
piercing a piece of egg shell with a knife
 		Nov. 1995
MAGIC (Vol. 5 No. 3)
78
Martin Gardner Light From The Wrong End
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
bottom end of just-blown-out match light another match
 		Dec. 1995
MAGIC (Vol. 5 No. 4)
83
Martin Gardner Der esoterische Glas-Trick air bubbles in upside down glass filled with water
 		1996
Intermagic (Vol. 20 No. 2)
83
Martin Gardner The Mysterious Balloon
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
inflating a balloon inside a bottle
Also published here Jan. 1996
MAGIC (Vol. 5 No. 5)
83
Martin Gardner A Square That Ain't There
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
optical illusions
 		Feb. 1996
MAGIC (Vol. 5 No. 6)
73
Bob Farmer Thugs & Tugs bet about tearing a piece of paper into three pieces in one go
Related to Mar. 1996
MAGIC (Vol. 5 No. 7)
72
Martin Gardner Transporting an Olive
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
moving an olive with a glass upside down around
 		May 1996
MAGIC (Vol. 5 No. 9)
73
Martin Gardner Somersault Shell
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
half an egg shell is put in water, it turns over as it sink, spectator cannot duplicate this
 		June 1996
MAGIC (Vol. 5 No. 10)
71
Martin Gardner An Illusion of Weight
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
haptic weight/gravity illusion with large and small can
 		July 1996
MAGIC (Vol. 5 No. 11)
73
Martin Gardner The Cartesian Matches
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
matches floating up and down in bottle of water
 		Aug. 1996
MAGIC (Vol. 5 No. 12)
85
Martin Gardner Roly-Poly Folder
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
empty and bent match book somersaults on the table
 		Nov. 1996
MAGIC (Vol. 6 No. 3)
79
Martin Gardner Pepper presentation for the stunt in which pepper in water rushes to the edge of the glass, soap
 		1997
The Fine Print (Issue 6)
154
Martin Gardner Balancing A Book
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
book balanced on three fingers which move together to always the same spot
 		Jan. 1997
MAGIC (Vol. 6 No. 5)
77
Martin Gardner Magnetized Pencils
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
two pencils held together with force, they seem to cling together then
 		Feb. 1997
MAGIC (Vol. 6 No. 6)
73
Martin Gardner A Mirror Paradox
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
phrase that reflects lengthwise in the mirror but not sideways
 		Mar. 1997
MAGIC (Vol. 6 No. 7)
73
Martin Gardner Which Thread?
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
heavy item hanging on middle of a thread, one pulls at the bottom thread, question about whether the thread breaks above or below the object
 		Apr. 1997
MAGIC (Vol. 6 No. 8)
77
Martin Gardner Sneaky Switches
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
light bulb and switch board
 		May 1997
MAGIC (Vol. 6 No. 9)
73
Randy Wakeman Elastorama pencil seems to be made from rubber, then it is put in a glass tube and both seem to bend, optical illusion
 		May 1997
MAGIC (Vol. 6 No. 9)
75
Martin Gardner The Rising Marble
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
dry rice with marble is shaken and marble rises, also with mix of small and large nails
 		Sep. 1997
MAGIC (Vol. 7 No. 1)
75
Martin Gardner Retinal Retention
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
moving board with slit up and down a page
 		Oct. 1997
MAGIC (Vol. 7 No. 2)
85
Martin Gardner Water Level Riddle
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
small glass swims in water
 		Nov. 1997
MAGIC (Vol. 7 No. 3)
81
Ted Bohmann Gesellschaftsscherze getting smoke out of bottle, two phases
 		1998
Intermagic (Vol. 22 No. 1)
27
Martin Gardner The Ball That Rolls Uphill
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
experiment with two pencils and a ping pong ball
 		Jan. 1998
MAGIC (Vol. 7 No. 5)
73
Martin Gardner How Far Apart?
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
puzzle with object between two mirrors
 		Mar. 1998
MAGIC (Vol. 7 No. 7)
79
Martin Gardner The Unreversed Reflection
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
curiosity with reflected image, bent mirror surface
 		Apr. 1998
MAGIC (Vol. 7 No. 8)
79
Martin Gardner Two Stunts With A Bottle
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
trapping air under pressure in a bottle to blow out a candle, and coin on top of (cold) bottle moves
 		June 1998
MAGIC (Vol. 7 No. 10)
72
Martin Gardner Psychic Motor
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
paper balancing on needle spins, heat
Also published here Sep. 1998
MAGIC (Vol. 8 No. 1)
74
Martin Gardner The Pulfrich Illusion
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
swinging pendulum swing unexpectedly when viewed through 3d glass lens
 		Oct. 1998
MAGIC (Vol. 8 No. 2)
75
Martin Gardner Swinging Cups
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
two hanging and swinging coffee mugs behave unexpectedly with one starting the swinging when the other one stops
 		Nov. 1998
MAGIC (Vol. 8 No. 3)
83
Martin Gardner The Revolving Circle
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
circle on spinning top
 		Dec. 1998
MAGIC (Vol. 8 No. 4)
86
Karl Fulves Cold Cash spectator should guess which coin is heavier with closed eyes, they are the same but colder coin seems heavier
 		1999
Discoverie (Issue 1)
5
Martin Gardner Dice Catch
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
bet of getting two dice held at side of glass into glass
 		Jan. 1999
MAGIC (Vol. 8 No. 5)
84
Martin Gardner Apparition
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
after-picture after staring at an image
 		Feb. 1999
MAGIC (Vol. 8 No. 6)
87
Martin Gardner Tabletops Illusion
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
classic optical illusion
 		Mar. 1999
MAGIC (Vol. 8 No. 7)
81
Martin Gardner Three Balls High
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
height of cylinder that contains three tennis balls is less than the circumference of one ball
 		Apr. 1999
MAGIC (Vol. 8 No. 8)
76
Martin Gardner Zero Gravity
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
water doesn't run out of holes in a bottle if the bottle falls
 		May 1999
MAGIC (Vol. 8 No. 9)
75
Martin Gardner Climbing Bear
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
paper carton figure climbs up when pulling on string
 		June 1999
MAGIC (Vol. 8 No. 10)
75
Martin Gardner The Jumping Pencil
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
pencil jumps out of plastic bottle with balloon insert
 		Aug. 1999
MAGIC (Vol. 8 No. 12)
83
Martin Gardner Reverse Jack's Profile
  • Martin Gardner's
seeing one-eyed Jacks through glass of water, mirror writing
 		Sep. 1999
MAGIC (Vol. 9 No. 1)
78
Martin Gardner Two Stunts With Eggs
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
black egg is silver under water, egg floats in middle of glass, salt in water
Also published here Oct. 1999
MAGIC (Vol. 9 No. 2)
85
Gary Rand Quicksand small ball sinks into paper cup filled with rice, then rises up again when shaken, thread
 		2000
Discoverie (Issue 3)
36
Karl Fulves X-Eyes distorted writing on paper or two index fingers becomes a prediction or revelation when put near the eyes and eyes are thrown out of focus
 		2000
Discoverie (Issue 4)
44
A Startler For a Careful Housekeeper balancing stunt with knifes and cork
Also published here
  • Mahatma, Vol. 1 No. 4, June 1895
 Jan. 2000
MAGIC (Vol. 9 No. 5)
82
Martin Gardner Two Rollers and a Yardstick
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
experiment with stick on two tissue rolls
 		Apr. 2000
MAGIC (Vol. 9 No. 8)
77
Martin Gardner Match Penetration
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
match is pinned on safety pin and penetrates other pin side when snapped
 		May 2000
MAGIC (Vol. 9 No. 9)
81
Martin Gardner The Electric Grape
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
flashes from grapes in microwave
Also published here May 2001
MAGIC (Vol. 10 No. 9)
82
Martin Gardner Shuffled Pages
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
shuffling two books together by their pages, cannot be pulled apart
 		June 2001
MAGIC (Vol. 10 No. 10)
83
Martin Gardner A Pinhole Paradox
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
small hole in paper cover at end of tube, one sees three holes
 		July 2001
MAGIC (Vol. 10 No. 11)
73
Martin Gardner A Slinky Problem
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
dropping an extended slinky toy
 		Aug. 2001
MAGIC (Vol. 10 No. 12)
82
Martin Gardner Broken Symmetry
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
experiment with cards standing upright in a circle and then falling down
 		Sep. 2001
MAGIC (Vol. 11 No. 1)
118
Martin Gardner The Water Knot
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
three water streams can be adhered together
 		Oct. 2001
MAGIC (Vol. 11 No. 2)
75
Martin Gardner The Rotating Face
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
negative mask that follows
 		Nov. 2001
MAGIC (Vol. 11 No. 3)
71
Mac King, Mark Levy Too Gross, Too Hard, Too Lame, Too Strong What Mac King and Mark Levy left out of their new book "Tricks With Your Head"
  • Locked Room Mystery
  • The Whisker
  • Let's Play Submarine!
  • Gay Spray
  • Fire and Naked Chicks
 		Apr. 2002
Genii (Vol. 65 No. 4)
70
Egg Balanced on the Rim of a Bottle non-magical science experiment
Also published here 2002
The Encyclopedia of Egg Magic
97
Spinning an Egg on a Plate non-magical science experiment
Also published here 2002
The Encyclopedia of Egg Magic
98
Eggs, Spool, and Glasses - First Method eggs balanced on tubes on tray on top of glasses, tray whipped away
Also published here
  • Howard Thurston, 400 Tricks You Can Do, p. 104
 2002
The Encyclopedia of Egg Magic
99
John Weiss Eggs, Spool, and Glasses - Second Method eggs balanced on tubes on tray on top of glasses, tray whipped away
Also published here
  • "Eggs, Tray and Glasses" (The Linking Ring, Vol. 34 No. 11, Jan. 1955, p. 73)
 2002
The Encyclopedia of Egg Magic
99
Eggs, Spool, and Glasses - Third Method eggs balanced on tubes on tray on top of glasses, tray whipped away, two layers
Also published here
  • Jean Hugard, Hugard's Annual of Magic 1937, p. 75
 2002
The Encyclopedia of Egg Magic
101
Hubert Lambert Meet the Odd Ovum egg sucked into bottle
Also published here
  • The Gen, Vol. 15 No. 11, Mar. I960, p. 270
 2002
The Encyclopedia of Egg Magic
249
The Crush-proof Egg egg cannot be crushed between hands
Also published here
  • Martin Gardner in Hugard's Magic Monthly, Vol. X No. 3, Aug. 1952, p. 975
 2002
The Encyclopedia of Egg Magic
254
Martin Gardner Knock Off the Match
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
knocking a match off a coin under a glass, static electricity
 		Feb. 2002
MAGIC (Vol. 11 No. 6)
76
Mac King, Mark Levy Big Ben string to ear to make sound louder
Also published here
  • Tricks With Your Head
 Mar. 2002
MAGIC (Vol. 11 No. 7)
69
Martin Gardner A Watermark Code
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
wet writing
 		Apr. 2002
MAGIC (Vol. 11 No. 8)
84
Martin Gardner The Magic Jigger
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
shot glass with marble, image underneath cannot be seen until water is filled in
 		May 2002
MAGIC (Vol. 11 No. 9)
84
Martin Gardner Spooky Rotation
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
optical illusion with two circles
 		Oct. 2002
MAGIC (Vol. 12 No. 2)
94
Martin Gardner Mysterious Glass Straw
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
siphon made out of glass straw
 		Jan. 2003
MAGIC (Vol. 12 No. 5)
102
Martin Gardner Water Down
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
water runs along string into glass
 		Mar. 2003
MAGIC (Vol. 12 No. 7)
94
Martin Gardner The Twirled Ring
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
ring spins on a string held at both ends, string pulled tighter
 		June 2003
MAGIC (Vol. 12 No. 10)
110
Martin Gardner Suspended Bottle
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
bottle filled with rice is lifted with stick
 		Aug. 2003
MAGIC (Vol. 12 No. 12)
100
Martin Gardner Bronx Cheer Syndrome
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
sound distorts picture on old television
 		Oct. 2003
MAGIC (Vol. 13 No. 2)
111
Martin Gardner Unbroken Tissue
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
paper tube sealed with tissue paper and filled with rice, paper cannot be broken by pressing on rice on other side
 		Nov. 2003
MAGIC (Vol. 13 No. 3)
119
Martin Gardner Coin That Floats Japanese 1-yen coin floats on water, then sinks on command
  • KF note (Karl Fulves)
 		2004
Discoverie (Issue 9)
120
Martin Gardner The Paper Pistol
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
paper folded up and when shaken a piece of paper pops out with a bang
 		Apr. 2004
MAGIC (Vol. 13 No. 8)
102
Karl Fulves Crushed filling plastic bottle with hot water, emptying it and capping it, it deforms, variation with special brand
 		2005
Latter Day Secrets (Issue 10)
398
Barrie Richardson Letting Go! presentation for James's effect, mug tied on a string is dropped, but the string loops around a pencil just before object fall on floor
Inspired by 2005
Act Two
175
Barrie Richardson The Astonishing Rice Jar Suspension filled glass jar of rice clings to knife
Also published here 2005
Act Two
196
Mac King, Bill King Holey Moley
  • Magic in a Minute
walking through a sheet of paper
 		Mar. 2005
MAGIC (Vol. 14 No. 7)
126
Mac King, Bill King Curses! Boiled Again!
  • Magic in a Minute
finding out which egg is boiled by spinning
 		Apr. 2005
MAGIC (Vol. 14 No. 8)
122
Mac King, Bill King Kitchen Fishin'
  • Magic in a Minute
pepper moves on water surface
 		May 2005
MAGIC (Vol. 14 No. 9)
126
Mac King, Bill King Amazin' Aqua-Raisins
  • Magic in a Minute
raisins swim up on command in glass of water
 		Oct. 2005
MAGIC (Vol. 15 No. 2)
112
Mac King, Bill King Aqua-ca-dabra
  • Magic in a Minute
water stays in glass with card on its face when turned upside down, no trick
 		Dec. 2005
MAGIC (Vol. 15 No. 4)
128
Michael Powers Science Friction straw balanced on saltshaker, straw moves and is animated, static electricity
Related to 2006
Power Plays
229
Stewart James A Match for Gravity Bar bet, looping pendulum, heavy expensive object tied on a string is dropped, but the string loops around a pencil just before object falls on floor
Related toVariationsAlso published here
  • Linking Ring, Sep 1926
 2007
The Essential Stewart James
5
Dave's Proposition vacuum bar bet, sucking water into glass with burning match
 		2007
Session
105
Eric Henning On the Fortune Telling Fish
May 2007
MAGIC (Vol. 16 No. 9)
90
Gaëtan Bloom The Eggs, Cards, and Glasses
  • Bloomerangs
tray knocked out of glass/eggs/glasses construction, selection ends up in a glass
 		Aug. 2007
MAGIC (Vol. 16 No. 12)
96
Juan Tamariz How to Win Impossible Bets several bar bets
  • The "I"
  • Smoking without Consuming a Cigarette
    • Making a knot into a cigarette
  • Tying a Knot in a Rope without Releasing the Ends
  • Eating without Touching the Hat
  • Tearing a Deck of Cards
  • The Flat Match
  • Steel Bridges
  • To Catch a Thief
  • The Multiplication of Bread
  • Flying Food
  • Trip to the Moon
Related to 2008
Verbal Magic
107
Harold Cataquet Iridium Flares
2009
Mind Blasters II
217
Martin Gardner A Match for Gravity heavy expensive object tied on a string is dropped, but the string loops around a pencil just before object falls on floor
Also published here July 2010
MAGIC (Vol. 19 No. 11)
62
Martin Gardner The Mysterious Balloon inflating a balloon inside a bottle
Also published here July 2010
MAGIC (Vol. 19 No. 11)
62
Martin Gardner The Enchanted Die hollow form optical illusion
Also published here July 2010
MAGIC (Vol. 19 No. 11)
63
Martin Gardner The Electric Grape flashes from grapes in microwave
Also published here July 2010
MAGIC (Vol. 19 No. 11)
63
Martin Gardner Two Stunts With Eggs black egg is silver under water, egg floats in middle of glass, salt in water
Also published here July 2010
MAGIC (Vol. 19 No. 11)
63
Dal Sanders Instant Star
  • Teach by Magic
toothpicks morph into a star formation with a drop of water
  • Applications
 		Dec. 2010
MAGIC (Vol. 20 No. 4)
87
Robert E. Neale See it Slant optical illusion with slant tower of Pisa on two cards
  • Handling on the Table
  • Handling in the Air
 		Feb. 2011
Genii (Vol. 74 No. 2)
23
Michelangelo Kirigami Ring
  • Teach by Magic
walking through a postcard
  • Applications
 		Feb. 2011
MAGIC (Vol. 20 No. 6)
74
Ian Rowland Seen Yet Unseen
  • Loving Mentalism
Einstein/Monroe hybrid image as surprise prediction, 37 prediction in Starbucks logo, predictions hidden in plain sight
Related to June 2012
MAGIC (Vol. 21 No. 10)
58
Matt Mello Thread of Life performer pulls invisible string from spectator's palm (scientific amusement), it is then felt by spectator on the skin
 		2012
Thread of Life
1
Diamond Jim Tyler Post-It Puzzle impossible object with paper and three slits
Also published here
  • Bamboozlers, Volume 3
 July 2013
MAGIC (Vol. 22 No. 11)
53
Jim Steinmeyer A Hole in Your Head
  • Conjuring
hole in hand optical illusion with tube, then ribbon penetrates hand visually
Inspired by
  • "The Penetrating Ribbon" (Gordon Howatt, The Restless Spook, 1940s)
 Dec. 2014
Genii (Vol. 77 No. 12)
34
Bill Spooner Tempered Glass Phenomena Rupert's Drops, exploding tears, as "William E. Spooner"
  • The Bologna Flask
 		Mar. 2014
MAGIC (Vol. 23 No. 7)
44
Emil Jarrow Match under Glass Bet paper match balances on a coin on edge under a glass, bet about removing the match, comb with static electricity
Also published here Mar. 2016
Genii (Vol. 79 No. 3)
66
Allan Zola Kronzek Creepy Crawly crumpled straw wrapper moves
Also published here
  • "Grandpa Magic"
 Dec. 2018
Genii (Vol. 81 No. 12)
97
Augustin Charpentier The Three Deck Illusion stack of three card cases, haptic weight/gravity illusion
 		2020
Distilled
206
Max Malini Whisky-Water Transposition shot glasses with water and whiskey are opening-to-opening with a playing card in between, liquids transpose
 		2022
Max Malini
221
Max Malini The Eggs in Glasses glasses covered with a tray, on the tray are tubes with eggs, tray is knocked away and eggs fall into glass
Also published here 2022
Max Malini
406
The Belt Balancing Illusion belt balances on pointed stand at table edge in seemingly impossible way
 		May 2023
Genii (Vol. 86 No. 5)
53
David Kovac Fork & Coin Balancing on rim of glass
 		2023
The Magic Apple Live! 2
90
Roberto Giobbi The Mystic Triangle optical illusion that simulates a triangle design, presentational idea for an intro
 		2024
Unexpected Agenda (Issue Nov. 23)
339
Roberto Giobbi What We Can Learn From A Cow optical illusion
 		2024
Unexpected Agenda (Issue Dec. 13)
359
Dr. Matt Pritchard Cartoon Physics & Magic
  • Workshop
3D optical illusion in which anything vanishes when it is pushed through a hole in a cardboard box, three designs:
  • The (B)Lack Hole
  • The Invisible Zone
  • The Bananas Box
 		Feb. 2025
Genii (Vol. 88 No. 2)
70
Dr. Matt Pritchard The Ghost Scope: Building your own wonder cell phone on carton tube with angled mirror inside
 		Aug. 2025
Genii (Vol. 88 No. 8)
68
Blake Vogt, Hok Floating Cube
  • Inventing Magic, With Hok
paper box seems to float or move impossible over zoom session, hollow form à la Jerry Andrus
Related to Sep. 2025
Genii (Vol. 88 No. 9)
53
250 per page