Editor’s Note: This article previously appeared in a different format as part of The Atlantic’s Notes section, retired in 2021.

Our video team highlights a short film from Kouhei Nakama that explores different textures and patterns on human skin:

As the animation sweeps through colors and textures, one might feel a sense of wonder. Or, hey, maybe just anxiety, like this reader:

Anyone experience trypophobia watching this? I definitely did.

No need to Google it; Julie has you covered:

Stephen Wheeler / Flickr

Trypophobia is the fear of clustered holes like those shown in the lotus seed pod [seen right]. The lotus seed is the classic example of the sort of holes that frighten trypophobics, but sponges, soap bubbles and even aerated chocolate can be triggers. Trypophobia is not recognized in pyschiatry's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, but it is present in 16 percent of people, according to a new study in Psychological Science, which is the first to address the strange fear.

BuzzFeed also addressed it: “Trypophobia Is A Real, Terrifying Thing, And You Definitely Have It.”

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