It turns out awesomeness is the single biggest driver of sharing.

Studies done by the New York Times show that the most shared articles on their site are ones that inspire awe.

Specifically, things that are epic in scope and require “mental accommodation by forcing the reader to view the world in a different way.”

“They’re seeking emotional communion, Dr. Berger said.

“Emotion in general leads to transmission, and awe is quite a strong emotion,” he said. “If I’ve just read this story that changes the way I understand the world and myself, I want to talk to others about what it means. I want to proselytize and share the feeling of awe.”