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The Guardian - AU

Science

Donna Lu

They’re in clouds, electric sockets and even on toast. Why do humans see faces in everyday objects?

Brain

A towel dispenser in a public washroom appears to be smiling. — Our brains detect faces in inanimate objects, and in other visual patterns with no inherent meaning. Photograph: Dave Gorman/Getty Images

Faces: we see them in clouds, electrical outlets and even a $28,000 toasted sandwich said to look like the Virgin Mary.

Known as face pareidolia, seeing faces in inanimate objects or patterns of light and shadow is a common phenomenon.

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