Holograms

A hologram is a kind of picture that looks 3D. Unlike a normal photo, a hologram shows depth. You can see different sides of the object when you move your head. Holograms are made using lasers and special light. They look almost like magic.

How They Are Made

Holograms are made with beams of laser light. The laser splits into two beams. One beam bounces off the object being photographed. The other beam shines right onto a special film. When the two beams meet, they create a pattern that records the shape of the object in 3D.

Where You See Them

You have probably seen holograms without knowing it. They are on credit cards and dollar bills to stop people from copying them. Some sticker and trading cards have shiny holograms too. Museums sometimes show holograms to display old items. In the future, holograms may be used for video calls.

Fun Facts

• The word 'hologram' comes from Greek words meaning 'whole picture'.
• The first hologram was made in 1947.
• If you cut a hologram in half, each piece still shows the whole image.

Did You Know?

Some scientists are working on holograms that you can touch, where lasers make you feel the shape of something that isn't really there.