Optical illusion puzzles continue to dominate social media, leaving users both fascinated and frustrated. The latest brain teaser to go viral features a seemingly simple picture, yet most people have failed to spot the rat cleverly hidden within it. The challenge: find the rat in under 15 seconds.

At first glance, the image looks ordinary. But a closer look reveals that the tiny rat is camouflaged so well that even sharp-eyed viewers have struggled to detect it. Many online users admitted they scanned the picture multiple times, only to realise they had completely missed the creature hiding in plain sight.This makes the puzzle a great example of how optical illusions manipulate perception. Objects right in front of us become invisible due to patterns, colours or distracting visual clutter. The current illusion has sparked intense debate online. While a small handful of users claim they spotted the rat in seconds, the majority confessed they couldn’t find it even after prolonged attempts. Many described the puzzle as “mind-twisting” and “more difficult than it looks”.If you haven’t found the rat yet, don’t be discouraged, most people haven’t either. The solution lies hidden within the picture, waiting for sharp observers to uncover it.

These brain teasers do more than entertain. Psychologists say optical illusions can shed light on our attention span, observation skills and visual processing ability. For some people, spotting hidden objects comes naturally; for others, the challenge sparks curiosity and increases focus.This is why such pictures are often used for quick IQ challenges or personality tests. They reveal how efficiently your brain filters details that your eyes pick up. Credits: Amar Ujala