
Our Bodies Are So Ready to Celebrate the Rebirth of the Sun
The winter solstice is the culmination of a period every year when each cell in our body literally craves more light

Our Bodies Are So Ready to Celebrate the Rebirth of the Sun
The winter solstice is the culmination of a period every year when each cell in our body literally craves more light

The New Science of Controlling Lucid Dreams
“Engineering” sleeping consciousness could reduce nightmares, treat insomnia—and even be induce specific dreams just for fun

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Why Do Some People Need Just Four to Six Hours of Sleep?
Short sleepers cruise by on four to six hours a night and don’t seem to suffer ill effects. Turns out they’re genetically built to require less sleep than the rest of us

Science-Backed Sleep Tips from 2024 to Help You Snooze Better
From the “sleepy girl mocktail” to power naps, researchers explained which sleep trends this year really help with quality shut-eye

Does Sleep Training Work?
Many parents choose sleep training to get their babies to sleep through the night. But the evidence supporting it is flawed

If Political Stress Is Giving You ‘Electsomnia,’ Experts Have Sleep Tips
Scientific American staff and sleep experts share advice on how to get better sleep in the stressful days leading up to the U.S. presidential election—and those that come after

Sleep Training Won’t Hurt a Parent or Baby. Bad Sleep Will
Despite conflicting advice, letting your baby “cry it out” can help parents and babies alike

Up All Night? You May Have Actually Been Asleep
You say you haven’t slept all night. Brain scans say you have. New science says both inferences may be right

Is Sleeping on the Floor Good for Your Back?
Scientific American asked experts whether sleeping on a hard surface is actually beneficial for back pain

There Are Safer Ways to Bed-Share with a Baby
For some parents, bed-sharing is the only way their baby can sleep. Rather than talking to parents about how to do it safely, we try to pretend it doesn’t exist

Why Short Naps Are Good for You
A quick nap can boost your memory, your mood and even your creativity

People Hate Daylight Saving. Science Tells Us Why.
Something is awry about the way we mark time. Can research and policy changes help us reset the clocks?