Ashwin Lewis
Humans spend a third of their lives sleeping, but some researchers believe that technology could reduce this. We could evolve to need less sleep by using comfort-boosting technology to optimise our sleep. Scientists believe it's possible to reduce the total hours of sleep each night by improving our sleep environment. Humans already sleep more efficiently than our closest primate relatives, and we'll likely continue to evolve this way with the help of technology. However, some experts warn that we should be careful when tinkering with human nature, as sleep deprivation is associated with poor immunity.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Humans stopped sleeping in trees | Humans now sleep in beds, where they feel cozier and safer with less fear of predators |
| Humans sleep more deeply | Humans reach REM faster and waste less time on light sleep than primates |
| Humans need less sleep than primates | Humans need roughly half as much sleep as most monkeys and apes, about seven hours per night |
| Comfort-boosting technology | Technology can be used to optimise sleep, allowing humans to get the best, deepest sleep in the least amount of time |
| Light and temperature-controlled sleeping pods | These pods already exist in expensive early-model form and are predicted to become popular in the future |
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What You'll Learn
Humans sleep more efficiently than primates
Humans need roughly half as much sleep as most monkeys and apes, about seven hours per night. This is because we have been manipulating our environments to optimise sleep. We could evolve to need less sleep by using comfort-boosting technology to optimise our sleep even further.
Some sleep researchers believe that by 2055, most people will get by on only five hours of sleep per night. However, we should be careful when tinkering with human nature. Sleep deprivation is associated with poor immunity and can have negative health consequences. It is important for people to listen to their bodies, not just their devices.
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Humans sleep more deeply than primates
According to a study by Duke University sleep researcher David Samson, humans sleep "more efficiently" than their closest primate relatives. The study examined 21 species of primates and found that humans need roughly half as much sleep as most monkeys and apes, about seven hours per night.
The key to evolving to need less sleep, according to Samson, is to get the best, deepest sleep in the least amount of time. This is a skill that humans have been mastering for thousands of years, and technology can help further optimize sleep. For example, light and temperature-controlled sleeping pods could become popular in the future, allowing people to get by on less sleep while still feeling rested.
However, it is important to be cautious when tinkering with human nature and sleep patterns. Sleep deprivation is associated with poor immunity, and a society full of sleep-deprived individuals could lead to a public health crisis.
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Humans reach REM faster than primates
Humans have been evolving to need less sleep for thousands of years. According to a study by Duke University sleep researcher David Samson, humans sleep more efficiently than their closest primate relatives. Humans now sleep more deeply, reach REM faster and waste less time on light sleep than primates.
Humans stopped sleeping in trees and moved onto the ground, where they slept near fires and eventually in beds, where they felt safer and cozier. This evolution in sleeping habits has led to humans needing roughly half as much sleep as most monkeys and apes, about seven hours per night.
The key to needing less sleep is to get the best, deepest sleep in the least amount of time. This can be achieved by using comfort-boosting technology to optimize sleep. Scientists believe it is possible to reduce the total hours of sleep each night by improving one's sleep environment with light and temperature-controlled sleeping pods.
However, it is important to be cautious when tampering with human nature. Sleep deprivation is associated with poor immunity, and a society full of people who are not getting enough sleep could lead to a public health crisis.
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Technology can help us sleep better
Humans have been manipulating their environments for hundreds of years, and technology can help us continue to optimise our sleep. For example, light and temperature-controlled sleeping pods could help us get better sleep.
Humans stopped sleeping in trees and moved onto the ground, sleeping near fires and eventually in beds, where we feel cozier and safer. As a result, we now sleep more deeply, reach REM faster, and waste less time on light sleep than primates.
However, we should be careful when trying to sleep less. Sleep deprivation is associated with poor immunity, and it is important to listen to our bodies, not just our devices.
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Sleep deprivation is associated with poor immunity
Sleeping less in the future could free up more time for work and play. However, we should be careful when tinkering with human nature, warns Dasgupta. Sleep deprivation is associated with poor immunity. "It could take something drastic and shocking before people realise how important [sleep] is," he said.
Humans spend a third of their lives sleeping, but some sleep researchers believe that technology could reduce that. We could evolve to need less sleep by using comfort-boosting technology to optimise our sleep. The key is to get the best, deepest sleep in the least amount of time. According to a study, humans sleep "more efficiently" than our closest primate relatives. Scientists believe it's possible to shrink the total hours of sleep each night by improving your sleep environment.
Over time, humans stopped sleeping in trees and moved onto the ground, where we felt safer and cozier with less fear of predators. We now sleep more deeply, reach REM faster, and waste less time on light sleep than primates. We will likely continue to evolve in this way with the help of technology.
"For hundreds of years, we have been manipulating our environments, instead of the other way around," said Samson. "There's no reason we can't use science to take that a step further and continue to optimise sleep."
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Frequently asked questions
Humans can evolve to need less sleep by using comfort-boosting technology to optimise our sleep. This means getting the best, deepest sleep in the least amount of time.
Humans need roughly seven hours of sleep per night, which is about half as much sleep as most monkeys and apes.
Sleeping less in the future could free up more time for work and play.
Sleep deprivation is associated with poor immunity. It's important for people to listen to their bodies, not just their devices, when it comes to sleep.
