Enormous polygon patterns in rock lie dozens of meters below Mars’ surface, ground-penetrating radar data suggest. Similar patterns develop on the surface in Earth’s polar regions when icy sediments ...

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.

NASA's Curiosity rover snapped this view of polygon-patterned bedrock on May 4. Mars is home to a lot of odd-shaped rocks that can look pretty random. Patterns, however, can catch scientists’ eyes.