The Humane Space

From lilies that generate physical force to trees that count cold hours, explore the hidden science behind spring’s great awakening—and what fleeting wildflowers can teach us about timing, connection, and the beauty of impermanence.

Experience the magic of spring—now in the app.

A digitally collaged image of the Flatiron Building in New York City, with torn sections revealing views of the city from different eras, including black-and-white horse-drawn carriages, modern-day traffic, and color-altered skyscrapers. The composition creates a fragmented timeline converging around the iconic triangular building.

Have you ever felt like time bends around emotion—flying when you're happy, crawling when you're not?

In a new Awe Walk, explore how we experience time, from poetic reflections to physical footsteps. Walk with the past, present, and future all at once.

🎧 Now in the app.

They’re incredible!!! Thanks for sharing.

Images by Craig Burrows and courtesy Chronicle Books.

We're featuring the stunning ultraviolet photography of Craig Burrows
from the book, "What the Bees See: The Honeybee and Its Importance to You and Me," published by Chronicle Books, offering a glimpse into a world invisible to the human eye.

🔍 Discover how bees see the world—now in the app.

Bees are far more than expert pollinators. Research shows they can recognize human faces, solve mazes, and even use simple tools. Many scientists now believe that bees are self-aware, able to feel pain, and even possess a primitive form of consciousness.

Bees see what we can’t. 🐝

While we see soft petals and bright colors, bees navigate an electric landscape of ultraviolet patterns invisible to us. Their entire world is bathed in colors invisible to us, revealing patterns and signals meant only for them—a glowing roadmap to pollen and nectar.

Images of common flowers with corresponding emojis.

💐 Do flowers have hidden meanings?

In Victorian times, every flower carried a message. Sweet peas expressed gratitude, lavender symbolized distrust, and yellow carnations? Disdain.

Learn about floriography and discover what your favorite flower meant—now in the app.

Drift through space. Glow with fire. Settle into stillness. 🌌

In this new guided visualization, transform from a drifting meteoroid into a brilliant streak of light, illuminating the night sky before coming to rest in the serene waters of a glacial lake.

🎧 Your celestial journey awaits in the app.

A photograph of a tomato garden.

Why grow a garden? 

There are many benefits to gardening, like growing beautiful flowers or your own food.

But a 2020 study also found that being around soil and plants helps lower cortisol and that contact with gardens helps manage stress.

Explore the mental benefits of gardening—now in the app.

Can your plants hear you? 🪴

New research reveals plants can “hear” predators, send signals like neurons, and even deceive pollinators. But do they think? Feel? Act with purpose? Scientists are rethinking what intelligence really means.

Explore more in this Deep Think, now in the app.

An image of floating beautiful fabric.

The air you breathe has a history.

It has passed through ancient forests, across oceans, and through the lungs of those who lived centuries ago. Explore the deep connection we all share through breath.

🎧 Take a relaxing Awe Walk with us in the app.

Feeling overwhelmed? 🌿 Let the rhythm of falling rain clear your mind and the warmth of sunlight restore your focus. Step into calm, clarity, and balance—one raindrop at a time.

🎧 Find your moment of renewal in the app now.

Image: Kusakabe Kimbei, photographer, “Japanese Travellers,” Japanese, 1870s - 1890s, Hand-colored albumen silver print. Image courtesy The Metropolitan Museum of Art

But not all philosophers agreed. Emerson dismissed travel as a “fool’s paradise,” and some argue that short trips rarely lead to lasting change.

So, who was right? Explore the philosophy and science of travel—now in the app.

Michel de Montaigne thought so. The 16th-century philosopher saw travel as a “profitable exercise” that exposed us to different ways of thinking. Centuries later, studies support his view—showing that international travel enhances creativity, builds empathy, and improves emotional agility.

Image: Kusakabe Kimbei, photographer, “Japanese Travellers,” Japanese, 1870s - 1890s, Hand-colored albumen silver print. Image courtesy The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Does travel change us?

A beautiful photograph of hot air balloons against a blue sky

What makes an experience adventurous?

Adventure is good for our emotional health, lends us a sense of personal growth, and helps us build resilience.

Today in the app, explore the E.P.I.C. Model of Adventure. Each step promises to push you further out of your comfort zone.

A photograph showing flower petal layers.

What rhythms, harmonies, and melodies shape your life?

In our new Awe Walk, discover how percussion, bass, accompaniment, and melody work together, just like the routines, values, and passions that bring balance to your life.

🎧 Explore in the app.

Image: Unknown Indian Artist. "Loving Couple (Mithuna)," 13th century. Image courtesy The Metropolitan Museum of Art

But what does science say? Research suggests that our beliefs about destiny shape how our relationships unfold.

Now in the app, discover the origins of the soulmate myth, from ancient stories of split souls to the cultural ideals that shape the search for "The One."

Across cultures, the concept of a fated connection has endured. Plato described humans as once being whole, split apart by Zeus, destined to seek their missing half. In Chinese mythology, an invisible red thread of fate binds two destined lovers.

A stone sculpture of a loving couple (Mithuna) from the 13th century, created by an unknown Indian artist, set against a curved background with the text "Do you believe in soulmates?" arched above. Image courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Do you believe in soulmates?

A 2021 poll found that 60% of U.S. adults do. But where did this idea come from?

An abstract image of flower petals on a yellow background.

A peaceful exploration of color awaits, where the interplay of light and pigment inspires a deeper appreciation for the simple yet profound beauty in your environment.

🎧 A new Awe Walk, "A Color Quest," is now in the app.

An image of composer Clara Schumann.

This Valentine’s Day, take an Awe Walk with composer Clara Schumann.

One of the greatest composers of the Romantic era, she infused “Three Romances for Violin and Piano” with deep feeling— a soundtrack for love, longing, and beauty.

🎧 Now in the app.

A famous Art Nouveau painting, *The Kiss* by Gustav Klimt, depicting a couple embracing, wrapped in an ornate golden robe with intricate geometric and floral patterns, set against a shimmering gold background with a field of colorful flowers below.

How does love affect you? 💕

Science shows that love isn’t just a feeling—it’s a full-brain takeover. Dopamine surges, cortisol spikes, and serotonin drops, making us obsess over someone new.

Explore the biology of love—now in the app.

Image: Gustav Klimt. "The Kiss," 1907—08

A soft-focus photograph of a pink and white lotus flower with a centered quote by Thich Nhat Hanh, overlayed in elegant white text, emphasizing the four elements of true love: loving-kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity.

In "How to Love," the late Vietnamese monk and peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh outlines what he calls the "four elements" of true love, offering timeless guidance for deep and meaningful connections.

Today in the app, explore how these four elements offer a framework for love.

John William Godward. “Le Billet Doux (The Love Letter),” 1913. Image courtesy Art Renewal Center

A classical painting of a young woman in a flowing pink and purple gown, delicately unrolling a small scroll while seated on a marble ledge, with a serene landscape of mountains, trees, and a blue sea in the background. John William Godward. “Le Billet Doux (The Love Letter),” 1913. Image courtesy Art Renewal Center

Have you ever written a love letter?

For centuries, putting pen to paper was the only way to express affection over great distances. From Frida Kahlo to John Cage, 20th-century creative geniuses wrote some of history’s most beautiful love letters.

Explore them—now in the app.

A stunning photograph of Peru’s Rainbow Mountain, showcasing its vibrant layers of red, yellow, and blue, overlaid with the text "Finding Reciprocity and Balance with Ayni" in a serif font, evoking themes of harmony and connection.

How often do you notice the balance of giving and receiving? 🌿

Explore Ayni, the Andean principle of reciprocity—where every breath, step, and act of kindness is part of nature’s constant exchange. Observe the unseen connections that sustain life.

🎧 Walk with Ayni in the app now.