Balancing Light: Michael Rosbash's Keys to Better Sleep

The Earth had been spinning on its axis for a billion years when the first living beings finally appeared. Since then, we have adapted to alternate between light and darkness. Professor Michael Rosbash won the 2017 Nobel Prize in medicine for his research into how circadian rhythms affect when we feel hungry and sleepy.

During his Nobel Prize acceptance speech, Rosbash stated that 50% of a person's genes are regulated by circadian rhythms. After the first extensive primate study on baboons in 2019, he has revised the figure to 70%.

Rosbash admits that scientists still do not know the biological purpose of sleep. Memories consolidate during sleep, but he believes that is not its true purpose. He guesses that it is related to metabolism, such as recharging adenosine triphosphate or ATP molecules consumed by our brains.

Rosbash identified electric light, such as that emitted by screens, as a contributor to disrupted concepts of time. "We are exposed to too much light at night and not enough during the day," he said. However, a lack of sunlight during the day is an even worse problem than the presence of light at night. Rosbash believes many troublesome sleep problems can be cured by improving these environmental factors.

Avoiding light exposure at night is not possible for people who work night shifts. Rosbash recommends that these people pretend night is day and vice versa. If there is no light in the room and you keep it dark for eight hours of sleep, your body will not know the difference. The biggest problem is interacting with your family and the rest of the world.