Eye Reflections

Do the Math

- By Ivars Peterson

Ever caught someone staring out into space and wondered what the heck they were looking at? To find out, you might follow their gaze, study their expression, or hey, just ask them, right? But now there's an even better, more precise way: Observe what is being reflected on the surface of their eyes.

Here's how to try this out: Get close and look right into a friend's eyes. You'll see a curved reflection of your face, a nearby window, a bench, a tree, or whatever else might be in view. Among the many important things they do, eyes can act like little mirrors that reflect exactly what a person is looking at. So, you can learn a lot about what a person is looking at and what their surroundings are like just by studying these reflections.