A new brainteaser is challenging the nation to find the hidden number nine in a sea of sixes – but only 1% of people can do it in less than nine seconds. Can you spot it?
This brainteaser isn’t for the faint-hearted. This type of puzzle, along with optical illusions and riddles, offers some serious benefits beyond the thrill of outsmarting your mates and family by solving it quicker than them.
Research has shown that regularly tackling mental challenges like these can boost your brain health, staving off the negative effects of ageing and enhancing your memory, critical reasoning, and attention to detail.
But the benefits don’t end there – it’s also widely reported that attempting these puzzles can lift your mood, giving you a dopamine boost each time you crack one. So, give this tricky brain teaser a go – it might just make you happier and healthier.
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As reported in India Times, only a small minority of people can solve this one quickly – with only one percent of participants able to spot the solitary nine hidden amongst a sea of sixes in just nine seconds. So, the only question left is – how quickly can you find it?
If it took you more than nine seconds to locate the lone number nine, don’t fret – you’re in good company with 99 percent of the general public. However, if you spotted it almost instantly, give yourself a hearty pat on the back – and don’t forget to share this with all your friends so they know who in the group chat has the sharpest eye for detail, previously reported the Mirror.
The reason it’s so tricky to spot the number nine is simply because it’s incredibly well camouflaged. The way a six and a nine are written is quite similar, just in reverse, with the loop at the bottom for sixes and the top for nines.
If you’re struggling to find the elusive nine, here’s a hint: focus on the bottom right-hand corner of the image and see if you can spot it now. However, if you’ve had enough of searching or want to confirm your answer, scroll down for the result.
Our brains actually function slightly behind reality – but don’t fret, it’s only by a matter of milliseconds. This is due to the information taken in by our retinas needing to be processed by our minds, causing a minor delay.
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Therefore, we often rely on a constant stream of assumptions as we navigate through the world – keeping us safe and coordinated – and this usually works out perfectly fine.
However, puzzles like this one disrupt that process – and while for some people that can be a bit unsettling, or even frustrating as you struggle to decipher the exact details of what is in front of you – it can also pose an interesting question – how much attention are we really paying?
By allowing yourself the space to ponder this every now and then, you may start to challenge some of the assumptions you are relying on, or scrutinise things in more detail.
