By the age of 3, children appreciate nature's fractal patterns

A fractal pattern is a basic pattern that repeats at different scales.

• Exact fractals repeat exactly at every scale, for example, the growth spiral of a plant.
• Statistical fractals repeat in similar but not identical fashion across scales and are not spatially symmetrical, for example, clouds, mountains, rivers, and trees.

Fractal patterns have always been apparent in nature, from seeds and pinecones to ferns. Now they are becoming more evident in man-made objects.

Studies revealed that children as young as three consistently preferred common fractal patterns. Prior to these studies, exposure to fractal patterns was expected to vary across a person's lifespan due to environmental and developmental patterns.