From the natural world to outer space, Inverse offers timely journalism and interesting points of view for people who want to know what's next. Health research, updates on SpaceX and NASA, sleep psychology, pseudo-science debunks, nightmarish robots, advancing A.I., shifting cultures, more sustainable energy, and those never-ending studies on caffeine and beer: The Abstract delivers weird facts straight to your brain, three times a week, two stories at a time.
With at least a third of Americans reporting that they don't get enough sleep, many of us are becoming increasingly disconnected from the nighttime needs of our body. A recent boom in the sleep tech industry could use data-driven science to help us regain control.
A lack of sleep not only negatively affects our physical health, our cognition, and performance in the following days suffer as well. However, advanced brain-computer interface technology reveals what’s happening in the sleeping brain for the very first time, offering new hope for increased cognitive function -- and a good night’s sleep.
Our first story examines how technology has changed human sleep patterns in recent centuries. Before modern electricity, waking up for hours in the middle of the night was not only normal, it also provided a satisfying slumber that left our ancestors feeling well-rested. With the invention of electricity, this biphasic sleep cycle was put to rest as people embraced nightlife and began staying up later. We’ve been trying to adjust ever since, but new technology from a growing sleep-tech industry can help us take back control of some much-needed rest.
Our second story takes a closer look at the groundbreaking technology that sheds light on a crucial sleeping process called "offline replay.” An unprecedented study reveals how humans organize their daily experiences when we’re asleep, and proves yet again why a good night’s rest may be even more important than previously thought.
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