Today's wonder
A true thing
There are about 3 trillion trees on Earth -- more than the estimated 100 to 400 billion stars in the Milky Way.
Source: Crowther et al., Nature (2015)
A small invitation
Look up for one full minute. Sky, ceiling, treetops -- just look.
What is awe?
Psychologist Dacher Keltner, who has studied awe for more than two decades, describes it as the feeling of being in the presence of something vast that goes beyond your current understanding of the world.
Two things happen at once. You meet something vast -- a night sky, a huge act of kindness, a piece of music that fills the room. And your mind has to stretch to take it in. That stretch is the "whoa."
Vast
Something bigger than you -- in size, in time, in goodness, or in meaning.
Stretch
Your usual way of seeing the world has to make room for it.
Small self
Your worries shrink to their real size, and you feel part of something larger.
"The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science."
Explore the site
The Eight Wonders
The eight things that move people to awe all over the world. The most common one might surprise you.
The Science
What awe actually does: kinder choices, a calmer body, more time, and a healthier sense of self.
Find Your Awe
Awe walks, a five-minute awe pause, and ways to find wonder from wherever you are.
Wow Facts
True facts about the cosmos, life, your own body, and how far people have come.
The Slow Gallery
Original artwork made for slow looking. One image, one minute, no rush.
The good news about awe
You do not need to stand at the edge of the Grand Canyon. In a study of awe stories collected from 26 countries, the most common source of awe was not mountains or oceans. It was other people -- their kindness, courage, and ability to overcome. That kind of awe is available to anyone, anywhere, on any day.