Magicians sometimes perform seemingly impossible feats of memory, for instance, to remember the order of a “randomly shuffled” deck of cards. To accomplish this, they use well established mnemonic techniques.

Thomas Blacke, magician, escape artist, and Guinness World Records holder, will perform during the vote counting at the 9th Annual Best Illusion of the Year Contest on May 13, 2013, in Naples, Florida.   Blacke holds 11 world records, including the Guinness World Record for the Fastest Handcuff Escape Blindfolded and the Guinness World Record [...]

Apollo Robbins, a.k.a the “Gentleman Thief,” explains his technique of managing attentional spotlight during the Neuromagic 2012conference on the Island of Thought, San Simón, near Vigo, Spain, while demonstrating on neuroscientist Flip Phillips of Skidmore College. Attentional spotlight is the focus of consciousness at any given moment, and it can be directed–or, as in magic, [...]

“I see you have a watch with a buckle.” Standing at my side, Apollo Robbins held my wrist lightly as he turned my hand over and back. I knew exactly what was coming but I fell for it anyway. “Yes,” I said, trying to keep an eye on him, “that looks pretty easy for you [...]

Over the holidays, my love for competition overtook my dislike of being constantly monitored, so I got a fitbit. The small device tracks the number of steps I’ve taken and the number of floors I’ve climbed, syncing to a server that ranks me against friends and family. Living in LA, where everyone drives everywhere, having [...]