diff --git a/src/styles/global.css b/src/styles/global.css
index f321aa9..8ce3afa 100644
--- a/src/styles/global.css
+++ b/src/styles/global.css
@@ -55,15 +55,17 @@
   /* Nebula glow (BRAND D.5) — auth band, static AND animated. Alphas are
      contrast ceilings (DESIGN.md): Cherenkov ≤.38 / Azure ≤.35; cores sit in
      opposite corners — cores never meet. */
+  /* Lava-lamp rule (research): motion reads only on DEFINED shapes — blobs are
+     ~30% wide with visible falloff edges, high alpha, and travel far. Cherenkov
+     core stays pinned to the right half (text zone lives left of ~52%). */
   --nebula:
-    radial-gradient(52% 58% at 78% 76%, rgba(0, 228, 216, 0.38), transparent 66%),
-    radial-gradient(46% 52% at 12% 18%, rgba(0, 122, 255, 0.33), transparent 64%),
+    radial-gradient(34% 40% at 76% 74%, rgba(0, 228, 216, 0.55), transparent 62%),
+    radial-gradient(30% 36% at 14% 18%, rgba(0, 122, 255, 0.45), transparent 60%),
     radial-gradient(75% 85% at 40% 55%, rgba(0, 0, 156, 0.8), transparent 72%);
-  /* Photo-hero variant: no indigo depth blob over photography, Cherenkov ≤.30
-     with its core pinned ≥80% band width (only ~.15 fringe reaches text). */
+  /* Photo-hero variant: no indigo depth blob over photography. */
   --nebula-glow:
-    radial-gradient(52% 58% at 82% 80%, rgba(0, 228, 216, 0.3), transparent 66%),
-    radial-gradient(46% 52% at 10% 15%, rgba(0, 122, 255, 0.28), transparent 64%);
+    radial-gradient(30% 42% at 80% 72%, rgba(0, 228, 216, 0.6), transparent 60%),
+    radial-gradient(26% 36% at 14% 20%, rgba(0, 122, 255, 0.5), transparent 60%);
   /* Hero scrim over the photo — worst-case AA computed in DESIGN.md:
      small text lives left of 52% band width (α ≥ .76 there). */
   --hero-scrim: linear-gradient(to right,
@@ -723,7 +725,8 @@ mark { background: var(--tint-cherenkov); color: inherit; border-radius: calc(va
   .hero-band .band-bg::after {
     content: ""; position: absolute; inset: -45% -30%;
     background: var(--nebula-glow);
-    animation: glowdrift 12s ease-in-out infinite alternate;
+    mix-blend-mode: screen; /* blobs GLOW over the photo instead of tinting it */
+    animation: glowdrift 9s ease-in-out infinite alternate;
   }
   /* Whole-page wash — slow drift, clearly alive */
   .has-ambient::before { animation: ambient 36s ease-in-out infinite alternate; }
@@ -747,8 +750,8 @@ mark { background: var(--tint-cherenkov); color: inherit; border-radius: calc(va
   to { transform: translate3d(8%, 6%, 0) rotate(6deg) scale(1.3); opacity: 1; }
 }
 @keyframes glowdrift {
-  from { transform: translate3d(-6%, -4%, 0) rotate(-5deg) scale(1); opacity: 0.55; }
-  to { transform: translate3d(7%, 5%, 0) rotate(5deg) scale(1.25); opacity: 1; }
+  from { transform: translate3d(-13%, -9%, 0) rotate(-6deg) scale(1); opacity: 0.5; }
+  to { transform: translate3d(13%, 10%, 0) rotate(6deg) scale(1.3); opacity: 1; }
 }
 @keyframes kenburns {
   from { transform: scale(1) translate3d(0, 0, 0); }