There is something strangely passive about sleep. For roughly a third of our lives, we lie still, largely unaware of the world around us, unable to work, eat, travel, protect ourselves, or do any of the things that seem useful for survival. From an evolutionary perspective, this should make sleep expensive. An unconscious animal is …
Fun fact: Some migratory birds can fly thousands of kilometres across multiple time zones—and still arrive perfectly alert and oriented. If you’ve ever stepped off a long-haul flight feeling like your brain’s been scrambled, you’re familiar with jet lag. That disoriented, sleepless, coffee-fuelled blur? It’s your internal clock being very unhappy. Now imagine doing the …
Fun fact: Using laser scanners, scientists have observed that some trees lower their branches at night—almost like they’re settling down to sleep. You’ve probably watched a tree swaying in the breeze during the day. But have you ever wondered what happens when the sun goes down? Do trees rest? Do plants “sleep” the way animals …
Imagine a world where we understand the exact workings behind when we feel sleepy or why at certain times of the day, we’re bursting with energy. On April 30th, 1994, a piece of this complex puzzle was placed when scientists at Northwestern University reported in Science magazine a groundbreaking discovery—a gene in mice that controls …