Phospholipid bilayer

Water crystals forming on glass demonstrate an emergent natural process occurring under appropriate conditions of temperature and humidity.

Ripple patterns in a sand dune created by wind or water is an example of an emergent structure in nature.

Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland is an example of a complex emergent structure created by natural processes

Self-organization is a process where some form of order arises out of a random system. The process is spontaneous: it happens on its own. It is not directed or controlled by any agent inside or outside the system.

Self-organization occurs in a variety of physical, chemical, biological, social and cognitive systems. A common example is crystallization. An example from biological chemistry is the lipid bilayer, which is the basis of the cell membrane, and so is of great importance.