Excelsior

UC Berkeley psychology department press released findings that the experience of 'awe' is significantly correlated with simultaneous reduction in cytokines, or, proteins that are directly associated with inflammation, stress, and boredom. They are not bad in themselves, they communicate guidance and guarding of cells performing damage repair, but they have a tendency to accumulate and remain long beyond their original purpose. (Imagine the plumber fixes the sink, but then moves into the kitchen and says no one may use it.)

All we need do to reduce this insurgence, is enter states of awe as frequently as possible. Ideally, we do this through actual physical experience of awe - such as a breath-taking scenic hike, or witnessing a miracle. But, one can even get some Awe just by looking at novel photography and art, too. It doesn't have to be mind-blowing or have copious sustain. It just needs to stimulate, however briefly, some excitement or appreciation for the wonder and beauty of life.

Here are some images that hit my Wow button:















What are some of yours?

I've kept a copy of this in my email for the longest time.

Cropped it a little.

I love these ones.
right click and select "view image" for full resolution.




Sorry about the size of this one, but can you find the pale blue dot?


Again, sorry about the size of this one, but the size and resolution only increases the Wow effect.


Cosmic perspective. Again, sorry for the size.


The Pillars of Creation.


And this last one is sooo big, I will post the URL instead. Our closest galactic neighbor.
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap150106.html
Click on the image for it's full and awesome magnitude.

Sorry about the big pics, but it's a big universe.

Fire violin an old favourite

pegasus and moon

fire horse

Something else of interest that my husband has looked into in great detail is the metatron cube

that is so cool!

Beautiful!!

The Helix nebula, hanging out in Aquarius, 700 light years away:



The Cat's Eye Nebula is double curious:



but what gets me is its halo:



I ask my daughter for a new search query that's guaranteed to bring in the 'mazing, she responds in .29 seconds,
"Bismuth crystals!"
Bis-wha?



WwWwWOW! These crystals can be made DIY at home by smelting (at cooking temperature) bismuth, or, a lead-alternative commonly found in fishing weights and shotgun ammo and then cool-

"...and try 'swinging off a mountain!'




Man people do some brave stuff!



But no one's as crazy as an imp!


Ah... eyeballs... what a beautiful world ツ