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# Why trees look like rivers and also blood vessels and also lightning…
- URL: https://www.cascadepbs.org/show/its-okay-be-smart/episode/why-trees-look-like-rivers-and-also-blood-vessels-and-also-lightning-wlwdxh/
- Published: 2024-07-24T13:45:28.000Z
- Updated: 2025-08-20T09:55:55.000Z
- Description: Why do the same, self-repeating patterns appear in trees, rivers, lightning, and even our bodies?
- Author: Cascade PBS Staff
- Tags: Be Smart, Season 12, Episode 9, #ZZZ_Episode_de4bada7-3a16-4d3b-a29e-30664f2b6cf2, #episode, #ZZZ_Show_dc38a6e9-266e-43c1-b647-45e7445fad27, #v1.16

Why do the same, self-repeating patterns appear in trees, rivers, lightning, and even our bodies? Is there some essential, hidden rule of nature that makes these intricate designs appear all over the place? Let’s talk about fractals.