Kaleidoscopes create beauty from simple mirrors

Kaleidoscopes are optical toys that transform simple objects into stunning, symmetric patterns using angled mirrors. Invented in 1816 by Scottish physicist Sir David Brewster, these devices typically use two or three mirrors set at precise angles, often 60 degrees, to multiply images. Loose items like beads or glass pieces scatter light, which then bounces between the mirrors, generating endlessly shifting, intricate designs as the tube rotates.