More than 4.5 million people visited the Grand Canyon in 2013. In the same year, worldwide revenues for Cirque du Soleil were close to $850 million. Fireworks displays, first developed in seventh-century China, are now featured in celebrations throughout the world at tremendous public expense. Why is that? New research shows that natural wonders, grand firework displays, jaw-dropping human abilities and great works of the arts appeal to something fine in human nature—our need to know: We’re better thinkers when we’re feeling awe.