Reality Isn't True Either

Why does a metal plate feel much hotter than a wooden one in summer – even though both are at the same temperature? Why can bats hear sounds where everything is silent to us? And is the red I see the same red as the one you see? In our minds, the world is colourful, warm, noisy or well-ordered – but is it really? In his new book, bestselling author Florian Aigner takes us on an astonishing and entertaining journey of discovery through the physics of sensory perception. He shows that our perception is based on very specific physical processes – and why that still doesn't mean we see, hear, smell, taste or feel things as they really are. In fact, it is we ourselves who create the world in our minds! Whether colour, sound, temperature or taste: all these sensory impressions are based on physics, but how we organise, understand and experience them takes place in our brains. And what's more: humans are the only species that have learnt to deliberately expand their senses – through technology, through science, through curiosity. This has given rise to a new kind of evolution: a cultural, self-directed expansion of our consciousness. This book combines accessible physics with surprising anecdotes from biology, technology and culture, whilst posing the big question: What is reality – and how does it arise in our minds?