Circadian Rhythm

How Electricity Changed the Way Humans Sleep Forever
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How Electricity Changed the Way Humans Sleep Forever

Something odd appears in a 1699 English court record. Nine-year-old Jane Rowth testified that she and her mother had just awoken from their “first sleep” when men arrived at their window around 11 PM. Her mother left with them and never returned. Historians glossed over Jane’s testimony for centuries until researcher Roger Ekirch noticed those…

Nighttime Light Pollution Increases Alzheimer’s Risk in Under-65s
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Nighttime Light Pollution Increases Alzheimer’s Risk in Under-65s

Nighttime light flooding American communities may increase Alzheimer’s disease risk, particularly for people under 65, according to research analyzing Medicare data and NASA satellite measurements. Scientists at Rush University Medical Center tracked Alzheimer’s prevalence across US states and counties from 2012 to 2018, comparing disease rates with outdoor light intensity captured by satellites. States with…