In mathematics, Power Law is a relationship between two variables (say x and y) which follow a power pattern, e.g. y = ax^k, where a is a constant. According to physicists Olivier Bénichou and colleagues at the University of Paris and the Curie Institute, animals use power laws to minimize the time they spend searching for hidden objects:):). The study corroborates previous observations made by biologists, and could be used to speed up human searching.

Two-state search strategy (Courtesy: PhysicsWeb)Animals exhibit two different kinds of behavior while searching. In the first phase they move quickly on a single trajectory from one location to another. Then in the second phase they search the new location by moving around more slowly and randomly -- akin to molecules undergoing diffusion. They carry on this two-phase process until they find the object. Pet owners routinely see this type of behaviour in their dog, for example, when it looks for an object in the garden.
In order to minimize the search period, it seems that the time spent in the first phase is equal to the time spent in the second raised to a certain power, similar to the power law! This particular search technique might also be employed by us humans, for example, searching for a lost object or perhaps even a victim in an avalanche:):).