Ben Balas
@bjbalas.bsky.social
Vision Scientist, Dad, Would-be artist & dreadful chess player. Check out my new #visionscience textbook here: https://www.routledge.com/Practical-Vision-Science-Learning-Through-Experimentation/Balas/p/book/9781032691121 All opinions my own.
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Ben Balas
@bjbalas.bsky.social
· Nov 4
Practical Vision Science: Learning Through Experimentation
This workbook provides a collection of experiments and observations that use physical materials (rather than digital displays or resources) to reveal fundamental properties of the human visual system....
www.routledge.com
Hey there #visionscience and #psychscisky friends! I wanted to take a moment to (finally) do a proper promo 🧵 about my new textbook: Practical Vision Science, which is now available from Routledge books. <1/n> www.routledge.com/Practical-Vi...
A random post sent me down this interesting rabbit-hole about the intensely weird makeup that was used in the early days of television. I feel like this would make a really cool #visionscience project for a lab class! cosmeticsandskin.com/aba/max-and-...
November 14, 2025 at 7:43 PM
A random post sent me down this interesting rabbit-hole about the intensely weird makeup that was used in the early days of television. I feel like this would make a really cool #visionscience project for a lab class! cosmeticsandskin.com/aba/max-and-...
Beautiful #aurora tonight in Fargo. The colors were absolutely gorgeous and it filled more than half the sky at some points. Photos courtesy of the kiddo.
November 12, 2025 at 3:23 AM
Beautiful #aurora tonight in Fargo. The colors were absolutely gorgeous and it filled more than half the sky at some points. Photos courtesy of the kiddo.
Like, I definitely do not need something that will just sit on a shelf. Then again, something I can pick up off the shelf, say "Engage," and then run across the room with might be something I do need.
I really hope this means at some point we will get Lego Star Trek videogames 🖖
November 11, 2025 at 2:14 AM
Like, I definitely do not need something that will just sit on a shelf. Then again, something I can pick up off the shelf, say "Engage," and then run across the room with might be something I do need.
Catching up on some of the older movies in advance of watching PREDATOR: BADLANDS and I may need to write a mini #visionscience essay about the scene in PREDATOR 2 where they try to catch our man by taking advantage of his visual system but totally get a lot of things wrong.
a person in a blue suit is standing in the rain with a gun
ALT: a person in a blue suit is standing in the rain with a gun
media.tenor.com
November 10, 2025 at 12:49 AM
Catching up on some of the older movies in advance of watching PREDATOR: BADLANDS and I may need to write a mini #visionscience essay about the scene in PREDATOR 2 where they try to catch our man by taking advantage of his visual system but totally get a lot of things wrong.
I was talking with our Communications Manager at NDSU about my lab's recent work on #pareidolia (paper announcements soon!) & he sent me this delightful cartoon from the Worthington Daily Globe (8/20/1973). His father was the editor & worked w/ the cartoonist on the idea. #visionscience #sciart
November 5, 2025 at 3:41 PM
I was talking with our Communications Manager at NDSU about my lab's recent work on #pareidolia (paper announcements soon!) & he sent me this delightful cartoon from the Worthington Daily Globe (8/20/1973). His father was the editor & worked w/ the cartoonist on the idea. #visionscience #sciart
Excellent chimeric face image showing off a left visual field bias for face processing - this image will tend to look more like John Travolta to observers, but the next one (see following post in this thread)... <1/2>
Respond with the same actor as a hero and villain.
November 4, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Excellent chimeric face image showing off a left visual field bias for face processing - this image will tend to look more like John Travolta to observers, but the next one (see following post in this thread)... <1/2>
Lots of stuff that bugs me in this article, but this really stood out: "At Milnor Public Schools, Fitzgerald said his approach is basic, that students can use AI for idea generation, not for class work."
But coming up with YOUR ideas is the good stuff! Don't teach kids to outsource that.
But coming up with YOUR ideas is the good stuff! Don't teach kids to outsource that.
AI allows more time for students, North Dakota educators say
State has provided guidance on artificial intelligence
www.inforum.com
November 4, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Lots of stuff that bugs me in this article, but this really stood out: "At Milnor Public Schools, Fitzgerald said his approach is basic, that students can use AI for idea generation, not for class work."
But coming up with YOUR ideas is the good stuff! Don't teach kids to outsource that.
But coming up with YOUR ideas is the good stuff! Don't teach kids to outsource that.
Neat sale item from Surplus Shed for you #visionscience and #optics folks - their FluxOptic device gives you a lens/mirror with adjustable focal lengths. Looks super-cool for all kinds of demos! www.surplusshed.com/pages/item/F...
FluxOptic™
<p>Finally after years of work, production of our patented FluxOptic™ device is complete. Create it into an adjustable lens or mirror with a wide focal length range<strong> without g...
www.surplusshed.com
November 4, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Neat sale item from Surplus Shed for you #visionscience and #optics folks - their FluxOptic device gives you a lens/mirror with adjustable focal lengths. Looks super-cool for all kinds of demos! www.surplusshed.com/pages/item/F...
One more #Halloween post from the kiddo over at So Desensitized! This time she's wrapping up the scary season posts with a look at HOCUS POCUS. Enjoy! buttondown.com/blaisebalas/...
Kids These Days Keep Lighting Black Flame Candles
Hey all! Happy Halloween! Welcome to the final post of the 2025 So Desensitized Spooky Season Spooktacular: Witches! Get ready for some witchy Halloween...
buttondown.com
October 31, 2025 at 9:37 PM
One more #Halloween post from the kiddo over at So Desensitized! This time she's wrapping up the scary season posts with a look at HOCUS POCUS. Enjoy! buttondown.com/blaisebalas/...
Opening night of EVIL DEAD:THE MUSICAL was fantastic at Fargo North! Great songs, great laughs, and a whole lot of blood. Here's a photo of me from Parent Preview night having taken a seat in the Splatter Zone, which was absolutely worth the mess.
October 31, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Opening night of EVIL DEAD:THE MUSICAL was fantastic at Fargo North! Great songs, great laughs, and a whole lot of blood. Here's a photo of me from Parent Preview night having taken a seat in the Splatter Zone, which was absolutely worth the mess.
Another #VisionScience demo for your Halloween over at my teaching website. This time, a very basic version of the Gelb Staircase. This one has a reputation for being tricky, but I've found it to be pretty successful.
Vision Demos: Gelb Staircase
Vision Demos: Gelb Staircase Things you will need: Paper in a range of grayscale values, ideally spanning black to white. Lots of art vendors will have these, but it’s useful to have a heavier weigh...
docs.google.com
October 31, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Another #VisionScience demo for your Halloween over at my teaching website. This time, a very basic version of the Gelb Staircase. This one has a reputation for being tricky, but I've found it to be pretty successful.
We've got a live performance of EVIL DEAD: THE MUSICAL to go to, but if you're not checking out the bloodiest stage show in Fargo tonight, this sounds really great!
I'm having a lot of fun preparing to do my live narration of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow tonight. I haven't been this excited to perform live in a long time.
October 30, 2025 at 9:07 PM
We've got a live performance of EVIL DEAD: THE MUSICAL to go to, but if you're not checking out the bloodiest stage show in Fargo tonight, this sounds really great!
Another addition to my #VisionScience teaching website: A new hands-on demo for DIY Binocular Rivalry! All you need are anaglyph glasses & matching colored pencils to watch your two eyes fight for your visual awareness. Students really like this one and it's super quick to do. #STEMEducation
Vision Demos: DIY Binocular Rivalry
Vision Demos: DIY Binocular Rivalry Things you will need: A pair of 3D anaglyph glasses - I’ve found that Red/Green are easier to work with but Red/Cyan will also likely be good. Colored pencils or...
docs.google.com
October 30, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Another addition to my #VisionScience teaching website: A new hands-on demo for DIY Binocular Rivalry! All you need are anaglyph glasses & matching colored pencils to watch your two eyes fight for your visual awareness. Students really like this one and it's super quick to do. #STEMEducation
Another new post from the kiddo at So Desensitized! This time she's back to the #horrormovies with a look at PRACTICAL MAGIC. Enjoy! buttondown.com/blaisebalas/...
Kids These Days Don't Break Generational Curses Anymore
Hey all! Welcome to the fourth and final week of the 2025 Spooky Season Spooktacular! This week is gonna be some lighthearted witches, with Practical Magic...
buttondown.com
October 29, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Another new post from the kiddo at So Desensitized! This time she's back to the #horrormovies with a look at PRACTICAL MAGIC. Enjoy! buttondown.com/blaisebalas/...
This year's painted pumpkin for #Halloween is K-POP DEMON HUNTERS' Derpy Tiger! Haven't set him outside yet due to some lingering rain, but hopefully the neighborhood kids get a kick out of him.
October 28, 2025 at 9:49 PM
This year's painted pumpkin for #Halloween is K-POP DEMON HUNTERS' Derpy Tiger! Haven't set him outside yet due to some lingering rain, but hopefully the neighborhood kids get a kick out of him.
Tonight is the parent preview night for Fargo North High's production of EVIL DEAD: THE MUSICAL. The kiddo has the enviable title of Student Blood Lead, which means she's been perfecting the 4 different kinds of stage blood they need for the show. Here she is in action in an awesome backstage photo.
October 28, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Tonight is the parent preview night for Fargo North High's production of EVIL DEAD: THE MUSICAL. The kiddo has the enviable title of Student Blood Lead, which means she's been perfecting the 4 different kinds of stage blood they need for the show. Here she is in action in an awesome backstage photo.
COW TOOLS forever.
43 years ago today, readers the world over opened their newspapers and gazed upon cow tools for the first time. happy birthday cow tools. you look great.
October 28, 2025 at 4:32 PM
COW TOOLS forever.
Thanks in part to @annajfinley.bsky.social there is now a batch of tomato soup bars in our house. Think spice cake, but with tomato soup instead of pumpkin or something. Better than you think, but still mildly troubling.
a can of campbell 's tomato soup with a penny on the front
ALT: a can of campbell 's tomato soup with a penny on the front
media.tenor.com
October 28, 2025 at 1:28 AM
Thanks in part to @annajfinley.bsky.social there is now a batch of tomato soup bars in our house. Think spice cake, but with tomato soup instead of pumpkin or something. Better than you think, but still mildly troubling.
Reposted by Ben Balas
Bivalve shells are often colored, either by optically active pigments in the crystal structure of the shell itself, or by the protein layer on top (periostracum) being colored. Yellow and brown are most common, with green and blue being much less so. (311)
October 27, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Bivalve shells are often colored, either by optically active pigments in the crystal structure of the shell itself, or by the protein layer on top (periostracum) being colored. Yellow and brown are most common, with green and blue being much less so. (311)
Just back from seeing Guillermo Del Toro's FRANKENSTEIN at the Fargo Theatre. Absolutely worth seeing on the big screen and gorgeous throughout. Kiddo just finished the book & was intrigued by some of the plot decisions made here, which makes me want to give it a re-read. Awesome day at the movies!
a man with curly hair stands in front of a statue
ALT: a man with curly hair stands in front of a statue
media.tenor.com
October 26, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Just back from seeing Guillermo Del Toro's FRANKENSTEIN at the Fargo Theatre. Absolutely worth seeing on the big screen and gorgeous throughout. Kiddo just finished the book & was intrigued by some of the plot decisions made here, which makes me want to give it a re-read. Awesome day at the movies!
New post from the kiddo at So Desensitized! This time she's continuing her #horrorlit commentary with a look at @maggiestiefvater.bsky.social's THE RAVEN CYCLE. Enjoy!
Kids These Days Are Still Sometimes Raised By Witches
Hi all and welcome back to week three of the 2025 So Desensitized Spooky Season Spooktacular! We’re wrapping up this week with Maggie Stiefvater’s...
buttondown.com
October 26, 2025 at 5:38 PM
New post from the kiddo at So Desensitized! This time she's continuing her #horrorlit commentary with a look at @maggiestiefvater.bsky.social's THE RAVEN CYCLE. Enjoy!
I love that these can basically be divided up into Shame, Indignation, and whatever Balrog is doing.
October 25, 2025 at 9:02 PM
I love that these can basically be divided up into Shame, Indignation, and whatever Balrog is doing.
Reposted by Ben Balas
Here's a recording of my talk on the role of computers in making art, including so-called "AI", which was presented as the opening keynote of SIGGRAPH 2025, incorporating lessons from the history of computer graphics, photography, modern art, and philosophy of art. www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2YR... 1/
Can Computers Create Art? Lessons from art history
YouTube video by Aaron Hertzmann
www.youtube.com
October 24, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Here's a recording of my talk on the role of computers in making art, including so-called "AI", which was presented as the opening keynote of SIGGRAPH 2025, incorporating lessons from the history of computer graphics, photography, modern art, and philosophy of art. www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2YR... 1/
Some nice coverage of Fargo North High's upcoming production of EVIL DEAD: THE MUSICAL. The kiddo is the Student Blood Lead for this show, which means she has been perfecting the stage blood they need for the stage & for the splatter zone (which is different stuff!)
It's alive! Set design, staging help local theaters scare up good times with horror productions
“Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde” and "Misery" continue their runs this weekend with "Evil Dead: The Musical" starting Thursday, Oct. 30.
www.inforum.com
October 24, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Some nice coverage of Fargo North High's upcoming production of EVIL DEAD: THE MUSICAL. The kiddo is the Student Blood Lead for this show, which means she has been perfecting the stage blood they need for the stage & for the splatter zone (which is different stuff!)
In my #Neuropsychology course, I use many patient videos to give examples of various consequences of brain injury. Some of these are really excellent and can be tricky to find, so I thought I'd share this doc with links to some of my favorites - a brief 🧵with some highlights. (more to come later!)
Neuropsychology_Psyc486_VideoLinks
docs.google.com
October 23, 2025 at 4:01 PM
In my #Neuropsychology course, I use many patient videos to give examples of various consequences of brain injury. Some of these are really excellent and can be tricky to find, so I thought I'd share this doc with links to some of my favorites - a brief 🧵with some highlights. (more to come later!)