Sleep

Sleep is a crucial biological phase, but exactly why almost every organism needs it remains mysterious. Now a study has uncovered a new piece of the puzzle, finding that a protein involved in DNA repair signals the brain when it’s time to sleep.

Newly published research has delved into the relationship between bedtimes and the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, and has found that hitting the hay between 10 and 11 pm could provide benefits to the heart.

A new paper has investigated the effects of poor sleep on newborns, finding that sound slumber during the first few months of life can be an important factor in preventing excessive weight gain during this early formative period.

Over the past few years we have seen a string a studies shed light on the way we can learn and form memories while we sleep. Now a new paper focussed on motor skills is deepening our understanding of the relationship between slumber and brain function.

QuietOn's latest set of active noise-cancelling sleep earbuds are absolutely tiny, suitable for side-sleepers and extremely simple to use – although there's a couple of odd design decisions here. I've spent a few weeks sleeping in "nordic quietude."

What exactly does sleep do to the brain, and how could its benefits be boosted? To investigate, the US Army has awarded researchers a grant to develop a portable skullcap that can monitor and adjust the flow of fluid through the brain during sleep.

It is well known that a physically active day can make for a better night's rest, but a new study has delved into how the timing of our workouts matters and suggests steering clear of late-night sessions if you want to feel rejuvenated in the morning.

Most asthma sufferers will know their symptoms are often worse at night. But why is this the case? A fascinating study has put more than a dozen asthma patients through two rigorous experiments and found the body’s circadian clock may be responsible.

New research investigating novel ways to improve focus in sleep-deprived individuals has found a device that non-invasively sends electrical stimulation through the neck can boost alertness and reduce fatigue in subjects kept awake for up to 34 hours.

A new study testing smartphone night modes that eliminate blue light wavelengths is suggesting they make no difference to overall sleep outcomes and the only way to improve sleep at all is to completely abstain from screen use before going to bed.

A long-term observational study is reporting a link between short sleep durations in midlife and increased risk of dementia in old age. The research cannot offer evidence of a causal link but it is one of the longest studies to detect this association.

New research published in the Journal of Applied Psychology suggests employees are more engaged and less fatigued when given the freedom to take brief, impromptu "microbreaks" whenever they feel the need throughout a workday.