Ever seen a face in literally a random blotch on the wall? This phenomenon is known as Pareidolia. It is very difficult to unsee that unearthly face once your brain begins to see it.
To materialize my Pareidolia and to quench my absurd need to paint, mum and I went browsing for some interesting-looking pebbles during the first lockdown. I am particularly proud of the stereo.
I know what you did last summer
A curious-looking owl pair lived in the giant Neem tree situated in the veranda of my house. My family and I were mesmerized by the mindful and keen gaze they kept on us from above. None of the other birds on that tree, including an impressive population of parrots, pigeons, crows, and occasional woodpeckers and kingfishers seemed to care about the four ape-descendants living below in the concrete nest. But these owls could make conscious eye contact with us, sometimes even hooted at us and made a kind-of head movement. This movement, where they would jerk their heads back and forth, is supposed to be a way of threatening or challenging, as I observed. They never attacked us though. Sadly, our neighbors were not so lucky.
Try catching an owl’s eye. Its stare will make you believe that it knows all your secrets.
Sanovar is a first-year Ph.D. candidate in Dr. Beena Pillai’s lab. She is searching for factors and pathways involved in nerve cord regeneration in red wiggler earthworms. She also wishes to drench in paint someday.