THE SCIENCE OF AWE
AWE IS A REAL NEED
You've probably seen it without knowing what to call it. Your child stops. Goes quiet. Looks up at something — a bird, a thunderstorm, a question that just occurred to them — and for a moment, they're completely present. That's awe. And researchers have spent decades studying what happens next.
Clinically Supported. Developmentally Necessary. Practically Accessible.
Awe is not a luxury emotion. It is not a trend. It is not a vague spiritual idea.
Modern psychology and neuroscience increasingly show that awe is a core developmental input that supports emotional regulation, learning, social connection, and healthy identity formation in children.
CLINICALLY BACKED
BY RESEARCH
Over the past two decades, researchers—led in large part by psychologists at the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley—have identified awe as a distinct emotional state with measurable biological and psychological effects.
Peer-reviewed research shows that awe:
- • Activates the parasympathetic nervous system (the body's calming system)1
- • Is associated with lower levels of chronic inflammation (IL-6), a biological marker linked to stress-related illness2
- • Increases well-being, life satisfaction, and positive mood3
- • Produces a "small self" effect—healthy humility that reduces ego-focus and increases perspective4
- • Increases kindness, generosity, and helping behavior5
These are not philosophical ideas.
They are measurable outcomes observed in controlled laboratory and field studies.
Awe functions as a regulatory emotion—helping organize both brain and body.
1 Shiota et al., 2011 – Emotion
2 Stellar et al., 2015 – Emotion
3 Rudd, Vohs & Aaker, 2012 – Psychological Science
4 Bai et al., 2017 – Journal of Personality & Social Psychology
5 Piff et al., 2015 – Journal of Personality & Social Psychology
AWE SUPPORTS LEARNING
AT A BRAIN LEVEL
Researchers describe awe as a "knowledge emotion"—an emotional state that prepares the brain for learning.
Studies show that awe:
- • Increases curiosity
- • Expands openness to new information
- • Encourages flexible thinking
- • Helps the brain update mental models of the world
In other words, awe makes the brain more receptive.
Awe does not push information into children.
It awakens the curiosity that drives learning.
(Valdesolo, Shtulman & Baron, 2017 – Emotion Review)
(Gottlieb, Keltner & Lombrozo, 2018 – Cognitive Science)
AWE IS NECESSARY FOR
HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT
Children are biologically wired to experience awe.
Early childhood is naturally full of awe. Kids notice bugs, stare at clouds, listen to stories, watch animals, discover patterns, and ask endless questions.
As children grow older, research suggests awe experiences often decline due to:
- • Increased screen saturation
- • Faster pacing of life
- • Rising performance pressure
- • Reduced unstructured exploration
When awe decreases:
- • Curiosity drops
- • Stress increases
- • Learning becomes more transactional
When awe is protected:
- • Curiosity stays alive
- • Resilience increases
- • Learning remains joyful
Protecting awe protects curiosity, resilience, and lifelong learning.
SparkStar is built around this research — every story, song, and mission designed to put awe within reach of everyday family life. We build awe intentionally because children need it.
AWE IS PRACTICAL,
NOT ABSTRACT
Awe does not require meditation retreats, special equipment, or advanced training.
Clinical research shows awe is commonly triggered by:
- • Nature and the cosmos
- • Music and art
- • Acts of moral beauty (kindness, courage, generosity)
- • Big ideas and discoveries
These are everyday experiences.
Awe is not something children must intellectually understand.
It's something they feel.
Global Galactics is built around this research — every story, song, and mission designed to put awe within reach of everyday family life. We build awe intentionally because children need it.