The science of Awe: why "wow" is a biological switch for connection, resilience, and meaning in life

Awe is often described like it’s beyond language—something you feel more than you can explain. But over the last ~20 years, psychologists, neuroscientists, and health researchers have built a pretty crisp, testable model of awe: what triggers it, what it does to cognition and physiology, and why it matters for social life and well-being.

Feb 26, 2026 · Affective Science