The Power of Awe

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Awe is the feeling of encountering something vast and mysterious that you don't understand. Researchers collected over 2,000 stories to figure out when do people actually feel awe? The most common reason people felt awe was when they saw someone doing something kind or courageous. But he also heard experiences of something called collective effervescence. This week on Unexplainable, Manning Went explores why we feel awe.

Awe is what takes our breath away when we face a sky full of stars or listen to a moving piece of music. But scientists are still trying to pin down why we feel such a powerful emotion, and whether it’s possible to cultivate more of it in our lives.

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