How Things Look on Instagram: "When cycling in desert environments, one of the most striking optical illusions you might encounter is the mirage. On very hot days, layers of air near the ground heat unevenly, causing light rays to refract in odd ways. That can make distant stretches of sand or asphalt look like pools of water shimmering ahead what most people think of as the classic desert “water on the road.” These illusions are more than just visually confusing they can be physically dangerous