How Everything Works on Instagram: "A desert mirage is a fascinating optical illusion caused by the bending of light, known as refraction. The hot sand heats the air just above the ground, creating a layer of warm, less dense air beneath cooler, denser air. As light from the sky passes through these layers, it bends upward, tricking your eyes into seeing what looks like shimmering water on the ground. This effect is called an inferior mirage, and it’s nature’s way of creating the illusion of an