Expert: Kevin Johnson - 8/26/2006

Question
I have been watching a guy on tv do amazing things. He can pass through glass windows of restaurants as if it were made of water, he can levitate easily over 10' and travel for long periods of time, he can manipulate material things to make them dissapear and reapear some place totally different or simply transform them from one thing to another totally different thing. He never uses props and only performes outside among the people on sidewalks, restaurants, soccer fields and being watched by bystanders. There is no film stoppages and he does not use any of the usual magician props. My question is: is there theoretical explanation for these stunts? Is there any window in the science of physics that will allow the possibility of such acts, and if so what is it? He says he does those things by applying his body, mind and spirit to the task.

Answer
Hello Al,

The tricks used by "magicians" (or illusionists as these skilled entertainers should more aptly be called) are a combination of the right props and/or constructions and sleight-of-hand techniques. Even when knowing how they are performed, the simplest card tricks (e.g. three card monte) can still be baffling when well performed.

When an illusionist has a good act, he of course keeps the trick secret, to keep the audience guessing and to keep others from copying his act. But sooner or later somebody figures it out, or the performer reveals the trick and moves on to new acts.

I am sure that there exists a natural explanation for these acts, it is just not (yet) known.

See here for a list of magic tricks and how they are done:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_magic_tricks

Since a sleight-of-hand act requires a good idea, physical dexterity, a good deal of psychology to fool the audience and lots of training, the illusionist you are talking about is absolutely right when he says he uses his body, mind and spirit to the task.

Even with his language he does not fail to mislead his audience into thinking he means something supernatural ;-)

Even though I cannot tell you how these particular tricks are done, I hope I could help you a bit with my commentary.

Peace,
Kevin