Evie Summers
Sleep is a huge part of our lives, with humans spending a third of their lives asleep. However, some sleep researchers believe that we could evolve to need less sleep in the future. Scientists from the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies and sleep expert Dr. claim that by 2055, most people will get by on only five hours of sleep per night. This could free up more time for work and play, but we should be careful when tinkering with human nature. Sleep deprivation is associated with poor immunity, and it's important for people to listen to their bodies, not just their devices.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Humans spend one third of their lives sleeping | |
| Sleep researchers believe we could evolve to need less sleep | |
| Comfort-boosting technology could help us optimise our sleep | |
| The key is to get the best, deepest sleep in the least amount of time | |
| Sleeping less in the future could free up more time for work and play | |
| Sleep deprivation is associated with poor immunity | |
| Light and temperature-controlled sleeping pods could become popular in the future | |
| By 2055, most people will get by on only five hours of sleep per night |
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What You'll Learn
Sleep-deprivation and public health
Sleep-deprivation is already a public health issue. As a society, we are obsessed with how to sleep less and still feel good. However, sleep deprivation is associated with poor immunity, and Dasgupta warns that a society full of people who think they are rested could explode into a public health nightmare.
Some scientists believe that by 2055, most people will get by on only five hours of sleep per night. This could be achieved by using comfort-boosting technology to optimise our sleep. The key is to get the best, deepest sleep in the least amount of time.
However, it is important to listen to our bodies, not just our devices. While sleeping less in the future could free up more time for work and play, we should be careful when tinkering with human nature.
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Comfort-boosting technology
Humans spend a third of their lives sleeping, but some sleep researchers believe that we could reduce this by using comfort-boosting technology to optimise our sleep. The key is to get the best, deepest sleep in the least amount of time. Scientists believe it's possible to shrink the total hours of sleep each night by improving your sleep environment.
One way to do this is by using light and temperature-controlled sleeping pods, which already exist in expensive early-model form. By 2055, most people will get by on only five hours of sleep per night, according to scientists from the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies and sleep expert Dr.
However, we should be careful when tinkering with human nature, warns Dasgupta. Sleep deprivation is associated with poor immunity, and a society full of people who think they are rested could explode into a public health nightmare. It's important for people to listen to their bodies, not just their devices.
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Sleep environment
While it is unlikely that humans will ever be able to function without sleep, some scientists believe that we will be able to get by on less sleep in the future. Duke University sleep researcher David Samson suggests that by improving our sleep environment, we can shrink the total number of hours we sleep each night.
One way to improve our sleep environment is by using comfort-boosting technology to optimise our sleep. This technology could include light and temperature-controlled sleeping pods, which are predicted to become popular in the future. By using these pods, scientists predict that by 2055, most people will only need five hours of sleep per night.
However, it is important to note that sleep deprivation can have negative consequences on our health. Dasgupta warns that a society full of people who are not getting enough sleep could lead to a public health crisis. Sleep deprivation is associated with poor immunity, and it is important for people to listen to their bodies and get the rest they need.
Therefore, while it may be possible to reduce the amount of sleep we need in the future, it is crucial to strike a balance between optimising our sleep environment and ensuring we are getting enough rest to maintain our health.
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Sleep-reducing medication
While there is no guarantee that humans will need less sleep in the future, there are some scientists who claim that by 2055, most people will be able to get by on only five hours of sleep per night. This could be achieved through the use of comfort-boosting technology and light and temperature-controlled sleeping pods.
Sleeping pills can have side effects, such as dizziness, fatigue, irritability, and long-term effects such as depression, particularly in patients with liver and kidney disease. They can also cause dependency, and it is important for people to listen to their bodies rather than just their devices when it comes to sleep. Physicians do not prescribe sleeping pills to children or adolescents due to the risk of severe side effects.
In addition to sleeping pills, sedating antidepressants can also be used to treat insomnia and promote sleep. These medications work on the neurotransmitters in the central nervous system to induce sleep, reduce anxiety, and promote relaxation. The dosage typically ranges from 10 to 25 or 50 milligrams, and they are available in various forms, including tablets and liquids. Potential side effects of sedating antidepressants include constipation, difficulty urinating, a dry mouth or throat, decreased sexual drive, and possible weight gain.
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Light and temperature-controlled sleeping pods
The key to this is optimising our sleep environment. Comfort-boosting technology will help us to do this. While this technology already exists in an expensive, early-model form, it is likely to become more popular in the future.
However, we should be careful when tinkering with human nature. Sleep deprivation is associated with poor immunity, and a society full of people who think they are rested could explode into a public health nightmare. It is important for people to listen to their bodies, not just their devices.
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Frequently asked questions
Scientists from the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies and sleep expert Dr. predict that by 2055, most people will get by on only five hours of sleep per night.
Humans could evolve to need less sleep by using comfort-boosting technology to optimise their sleep.
Sleeping less in the future could free up more time for work and play.
Sleep deprivation is associated with poor immunity. A society full of people who think they are rested could explode into a public health nightmare.
