Can we believe our eyes? Most of us are confident that we can, but we shouldn't be so sure. Every day, we fail to see things that are right in front of us, miss sudden or unexpected changes and fall for illusions without realising it. The culprit? Blind spots. These hidden gaps in our perception are responsible for errors in operating machinery, diagnosing medical conditions, giving evidence in court and even influence how we invest our money or shop.

Unseen explores the hidden corners of the human mind where perception fails, from the everyday oversights to the deep-rooted cognitive biases that shape our worldview. Lifting the lid on how our minds shape what we see, neuropsychologist David Lewis and illusionist Keelan Leyser explore the different types of blind spots, why they occur, how they can be used to manipulate our thoughts and the practical steps we can take to avoid them.

What have you been missing?

Occupation explains how Russia sought to subjugate these territories through a toxic mix of violence, political influence and economic coercion. Its security forces kidnapped, tortured and killed civilians and officials, seized businesses and properties from Ukrainian owners, erased physical evidence of Ukrainian culture, and subjected the population to a barrage of constant propaganda.

More than half of the pre-war population fled, to Europe, Russia or the rest of Ukraine, and most who remained were hostile to the occupiers. Yet Russia found local politicians to front its regime. A few people openly collaborated; most faced uncomfortable choices to survive under Russian rule.

In occupied Ukraine, Moscow attempted to create an ersatz ‘new Russia’, based on fantasy, ideology and violence. This regime was a microcosm of the contemporary Russian Federation, reflecting its deepening militarisation and authoritarianism.