There's science behind the magic.

• Position: Jason Latimer - Interview - Brief article

Jason Latimer of Agoura Hills, Calif., has been wowing crowds with his magic since he was 12 years old. Now 25, the world-champion illusionist is using his undergraduate studies in mathematics, economics, and physics from the University of California, Santa Barbara, to push magic's boundaries. Upfront talked to Latimer about life as a professional magician.

What do you like most about being a magician?

I really like watching the audience. I enjoy seeing the first look on their faces, when they tilt their heads to the side and they're trying to process what is actually happening. [They're thinking that] you really shouldn't be able to bend light or fly.

How did going to cortege affect you?

It has made me a better magician. When I first went in, I was a card magician. Now I have a full-blown...