At a maximum security prison in Oregon, select inmates watched 60 minutes of nature videos every day for a year.
Inspired by the research of Dr. Nalini Nadkarni, the study was intended to measure the psychological benefits of exposure to nature. The results were incredible. Nearly half the inmates said the images soothed them, while violent acts in the prison dropped by 26%. Additionally, guards reported the inmates seemed calmer while also reporting a drop in self-inflicted injuries.
The conclusion? Nature benefits everyone, even convicted felons. As a result of the study, prisons across the country are launching their own similar experiments. While the study has its critics, the nature experiments have made prisons safer for both inmates and guards.