Awesome Experiences Make Us Nicer: Ever feel changed after watching an amazing sunset, or reaching the summit of a mountain or seeing the Northern Lights?

There's a reason for that, say psychologists.

New research published in the journal Psychological Science shows that awe-inspiring moments can literally make time seem to stand still, or at least slow down. That feeling improves our mental health since many people often feel time-deprived in this modernized world.

Studies showed that experiencing awe made people feel they had more time in their lives. And that, the researchers suggest, can make us nicer to each other.

"By altering time perception, feeling awe led participants to more strongly desire to spend time helping others and partake in experiential goods over material ones," said Melanie Rudd of Stanford University