ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Impossible object

An impossible object is something that looks really cool and interesting, but it can't actually exist in real life. It's like when you draw a picture of a unicorn with wings and a horn, but you know that unicorns don't really exist.

One really famous impossible object is called the "Penrose Triangle." It's a drawing of a triangle that looks like it goes around and around, but if you tried to build it in real life, it wouldn't work because the pieces wouldn't fit together.

Another common impossible object is a painting called "M.C. Escher's Waterfall." It shows water flowing uphill in a circular pattern, which is pretty neat, but it can't really happen because water always flows downhill.

Basically, an impossible object is like a fun puzzle or optical illusion that can trick your brain into seeing something that can't actually exist. It's a way for artists and designers to challenge our eyes and imagination.