Climate change is eroding a precious resource: sleep

Climate change is eroding a precious resource: sleep
- May 25, 2022
- Sara Mednick, cog sci, National Geographic, May 25, 2022
-----
When outdoor nighttime temperatures topped 86°F, people lost an average of about 15 minutes a night. That may not sound like a lot, but it’s “actually quite a big deal,” says Sara Mednick, [professor of cognitive sciences], a sleep researcher at the University of California, Irvine. First off, other scientific studies suggest that those 15 minutes likely come from the uber-valuable “slow wave” sleep stage, she theorizes. We only get about an hour of that type of sleep a night, so taking away 15 minutes—or even five—cuts a big chunk of restorative time.
For the full story, please visit https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/climate-change-is-eroding-a-precious-resource-sleep.
-----
Would you like to get more involved with the social sciences? Email us at communications@socsci.uci.edu to connect.
Related News Items
- Careet RightCultures that still protect an afternoon rest period aren't fighting biology, they're working with it
- Careet RightA common smartphone metric may be brain health's next frontier
- Careet RightWhy temperature plays a powerful role in sleep, and how cooling solutions can help
- Careet RightAre naps good for you? What sleep experts really want you to know
- Careet RightSip passionflower tea, take a 5-minute micronap and build an 'anxiety bag' -- plus 8 more health tips to help you have a great week