Health Check How awe can boost your health
Apr 8, 2026
Rogelio Navarro, field reporter who covered a grassroots prosthetic programme in Guadalajara. Dacher Keltner, Berkeley psychologist studying awe and emotion. Andrew Green, global health journalist tracking conflict-driven health threats. They explore how awe arises from space, nature and art. They also discuss war-related supply and cyber risks to healthcare, and a user-focused, affordable robotic prosthesis project.
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Awe Predicts Health But Causality Is Unconfirmed
- Correlation exists but causality is unproven; more rigorous biological studies are needed.
- Keltner notes awe uniquely predicts lower inflammation compared with pride, gratitude, joy or amusement.
Deliberately Look For Awe In Eight Domains
- Seek awe deliberately in eight domains: nature, big ideas, moral beauty, collective movement, spiritual practice, visual arts, music and others.
- Keltner suggests museums, intentional music listening, and time outdoors as easy access points.
Victoria Falls Sparked Everyday Awe
- Andrew Green felt awe visiting Victoria Falls, struck by the scale and pounding water.
- He used that experience to then notice small wonders in daily walks like leaf skeletons and bridge engineering.