News Math

Scientists find a naturally occurring molecule that forms a fractal

The protein assembles itself into Sierpiński triangles

An illustration of bacterial molecules forming a triangular fractal.

Researchers have found a bacterial protein that links up to form a type of fractal called a Sierpiński triangle (illustrated). It’s the first known case of a naturally occurring regular fractal on the molecular level.

Franziska Sendker

By Emily Conover

Fractals are everywhere in nature, from river deltas to tree branches.