COMMENT | Pareidolia: When the mind 'sees' things that aren't there

COMMENT | What is pareidolia? Pareidolia originates in the mind. It is a psychological phenomenon where we see recognisable shapes in clouds, rock formations, or otherwise unrelated objects or data.

Our brains are wired to constantly seek ways to make sense of the world around us and this can lead to the perception of familiar objects or patterns where none actually exist.

Often, what we see is deeply rooted in our own psyche. For some of us, this could be because that is just how our brains work, and for others, it could be because something is motivating them to seek out such experiences.

In other words, we see what we want to see. Look long enough and it becomes real.

In 2004, a 10-year-old grilled cheese sandwich which was said to bear the image of the Virgin Mary was sold on eBay for...