The 3-Day Effect takes a look at the science behind why being in the wild can make us happier, healthier, and more creative. Whether it’s rafting down Utah’s Green River, hiking in Utah’s wilderness, or walking through Rock Creek Park in Washington, DC, scientists are finding that the more exposure humans have to nature, the more we can benefit from reduced anxiety, enhanced creativity, and overall well-being.

Join science journalist Florence Williams and other researchers as they guide former war veterans, sex trafficking survivors, and even a nature-hater on three-day excursions into the wild. The crews don brainwave measuring devices to test nature’s direct effect on intelligence, creativity, and emotional health.

As it turns out, being outdoors can be a miracle cure for an array of serious and everyday ailments. The astonishing results of this understudied phenomenon inspire action…and definitely a walk in the park