Why can you see heat waves in your peripheral view but not when you focus on them?

Question

I was in line at the bank yesterday and it got me all squiggly

In: Physics

Answer 1

Not an expert, but I’d guess it’s concerned with hunting. While you’re concentrated on a target you don’t really need to know everything happening at the sides, but you *do* want to know if something moves or shift as it could be something hunting you.

Answer 2

This interesting question has been asked in various forms in this subreddit. Here’s one that might help.

ELI5: Why there’s a shadow of heat, but I can’t see it with my eyes?
byu/nazaro inexplainlikeimfive