Labyrinths of stones form in cold landscapes when water freezes into ice needles that push pebbles to one side. Overtime, the rising and falling of ice needles move the pebbles into intricate ...

Perfect circles of stones cover the ground in parts of Alaska and the Norwegian islands of Spitsbergen. Elsewhere in the far north, stones form other striking patterns on the ground: polygons, stripes ...

Experiments and modeling work offers new insights into the striking patterns of repeating stones seen in frost-prone landscapes. Nature is full of repeating patterns that are part of the beauty of our ...

Some of the most breathtaking zen garden patterns on the planet owe their existence to an unlikely artist: thousands of tiny “ice needles.” From swirls to circles to orderly rows, each delicate design ...

When people think of stone carving and sculpture, they often picture the ancient Greeks and Romans or master artists such as Michelangelo. Today, few artists are willing to trade paintbrushes for ...

In remote regions of the Arctic, Antarctica, and the Australian outback, an explorer can trek across bleak, uninhabited landscapes only to suddenly stumble upon ground decorated with weird patterns.