As humans, we're hardwired to discern such recognizable and often meaningful patterns, a psychological phenomenon referred to as pareidolia (pronounced par-i-DOH-lee-a). We see the face of an old man ...

A moss-covered tree trunk, yes, but take a closer look. Your brain's ability to find familiar objects, such as a face or body part, in random stimuli has a name: pareidolia. (For more, read "Seeing ...