Science is Beautiful
Science is a critical driver of human progress. To improve the world, we need to understand how it works using rational, methodical thinking and empirical analysis. Scientists are human of course, meaning they possess the character traits, emotions, and biases that can sometimes lead us astray from objective truth. But using the tools of science helps us transcend these limitations, providing systematic methods for testing ideas against reality and building reliable knowledge about our world. This doesn't mean however that we should strive to remove our humanity from science. As it turns out, a big part of what inspires scientific inquiry is something very human: the pull of beauty.
This week I want to discuss some fascinating research on aesthetic experiences in science conducted by my colleague Brandon Vaidyanathan. Brandon is Professor of Sociology and Director of the Institutional Flourishing Lab at The Catholic University of America. He is also a research fellow at the Archbridge Institute.
In the world's first large-scale international study examining aesthetic experiences in science, Brandon's team surveyed over 3,500 scientists across India, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States. They also conducted deeper interviews with more than 300 of these scientists. I believe what they discovered can help us inspire future scientists, increase public engagement with and support for science, and advance human progress.
Brandon and his team found that aesthetic experiences are a prominent feature of scientific inquiry. Most scientists report regularly experiencing wonder, awe, and beauty at work and believe that such experiences are important for science.
Nearly all scientists (95%) experience what Brandon terms "the beauty of understanding,” a profound satisfaction when they grasp the hidden order or inner logic of natural phenomena. This suggests that scientific research can have spiritual qualities. As one physicist described it, this moment of comprehension feels like "looking at the face of God, for nonreligious people." In addition, over 80% describe feeling "a sense of childlike joy or delight" in their work and report that their work opens up new mysteries to them.
Brandon's research also suggests that aesthetic experiences play a central role in supporting researcher wellbeing. Scientists who regularly encounter beauty in their work demonstrate significantly higher scores on indicators of human flourishing such as happiness, meaning in life, social connectedness, and mental health. Beauty isn't merely an incidental byproduct of scientific work. It's a fundamental component of what makes scientific careers fulfilling.
I believe these findings offer important insights for inspiring the next generation of scientists. When promoting scientific education and careers, we should take a more holistic approach that highlights the aesthetic features of science. We often focus on intellectual engagement, career prospects, or practical applications. While these features very much matter, the experience of beauty can help ignite the passion that drives scientific inquiry and sustains lifelong scientific engagement. As Brandon notes in a recent Profectus article, "Scientists are not simply technicians but seekers—drawn by enchantment, moved by mystery, and striving toward understanding. Their work is not just about explaining the world, but connecting more deeply with it."
I also believe this approach can improve how scientists connect with and inspire the broader public. Recent Pew research reveals that Americans have mixed attitudes about scientists. While most of the public views scientists as intelligent (89%) and focused on solving real-world problems (65%), only 45% describe scientists as good communicators. Scientific communication should better emphasize the beauty of science alongside facts, data, and practical applications. When scientists share the aesthetic dimensions of their work, they reveal the deeply human nature of science. This could create opportunities to both attract more people to scientific careers and cultivate broader public appreciation for the scientific enterprise.
Finally, I believe this work has important implications for advancing human progress. The psychological and social benefits of experiencing beauty that Brandon's work identifies, such as enhanced happiness, deeper meaning in life, stronger social connectedness, and improved mental health, support the persistence, resilience, creativity, collaboration, and innovation essential for human progress. This suggests that scientists who regularly experience beauty in their work are more likely to make breakthrough discoveries and drive the innovations that advance human flourishing. I also suspect that a public moved by the beauty of science, not just its utility, will be more likely to nurture the cultural foundations that sustain a progress-driven society where scientific research advances widespread human flourishing.
Brandon's work reminds us that the human capacity for beauty, wonder, awe, and mystery isn't separate from scientific thinking. It's integral to it. This understanding opens new pathways for science education, mentorship, and public engagement that honor both the analytical and aesthetic dimensions of science.
You can read more about Brandon’s research in this excellent article he wrote for Profectus.
Have a great weekend!
Clay