This is kind of a tangent from the article, but I wonder if this also holds for watching cute/small animals? My dentist has TVs that are almost directly above the dentist chair (so front and center when you are reclined, but not in a place you're worried about them falling on you) and they play this mindless channel that is just cute/small animals doing things. It is mesmerizing and time passes really quickly. If this study holds true, I wonder what other items on the spectrum of existence can reduce pain when we watch them.
Such a curious part of the human experience.
It brings to mind the classic scifi film Soylent Green, in which we see the last moments of Solomon Roth's (Edward G. Robinson) life journey end to wall screen visuals of nature in springtime, accompanied by Beethoven's Sixth Symphony (the Pastoral).
May you not face your demise or dental work for a long time, but may it be as gentle.
That's one of the kinder random benedictions I've seen in a while! One of the best I've heard, along with "May your life be free of hemorrhoid pain and discomfort", uttered decades ago by a man on the street in NY to whom I had given a quarter.
Anecdotally, this isn’t surprising. I’ve always enjoyed nature documentaries, and since getting a large TV and decent sound system, I really enjoy them. They’re very calming to watch as a winding-down activity at night.
What sibling comment said. Planet Earth is probably the most famous series, and for good reason, but Netflix also has a bunch of others he’s narrated that are quite good.
I also really liked Dancing With The Birds, with Stephen Fry, but tbf I find birds fascinating.
