#circadian-rhythm
48 episodes
#3762: Why Your Screen Won't Go Dark Enough at Night
LEDs can't truly dim low. Here's the physics — and the surprising fix that has nothing to do with blue light.
#3723: 80,000 People in Solitary: What It Does to the Brain
What happens inside a concrete box for 23 hours a day? The science of solitary, from SHU syndrome to post-isolation trauma.
#3590: Why Bad Sleep Makes Your Body Feel Broken
The surprising physiology behind that clammy, hungover feeling after poor sleep — explained.
#3534: The 90-Minute Blueprint: How Sleep Cycles Actually Work
N1, N2, N3, REM — what actually happens in each stage and how the cycle shifts across the night.
#3529: Pill Organizer vs. App: What Actually Works?
Evidence shows a simple pill organizer beats apps for compliance. But the ideal system uses both.
#3509: Why 8 Hours of Sleep Feels Like Zero
Sleep math is lying to you. Here's why interrupted sleep wrecks your brain worse than no sleep.
#3230: Why Your RGB Bulb Is Useless for Sleep Lighting
RGB bulbs go dim in red mode. Here's the physics, the fix, and what to actually buy.
#3166: The Split in Insomnia Treatment: SOI vs SMI
Sleep-onset and sleep-maintenance insomnia have different biology, different drugs, and different treatments.
#3114: Life Underwater: 90 Days Without Sun
How do submariners survive months underwater without sunlight, fresh air, or contact with home?
#3104: Does Tinfoil on Windows Actually Cool Rooms?
Tinfoil on windows can drop temps 4-5°C. But there are hidden tradeoffs you need to know.
#3053: Why Babies Sleep 18 Hours and Adults Need 8
Newborns sleep 16-18 hours for synaptic pruning, REM wiring, and metabolic survival. Here's how sleep architecture changes across life.
#3039: How Airlines Engineer Mass Sleep at 35,000 Feet
Airlines quietly perfected a group sleep induction system. Here's the lighting, meal, and temperature playbook — and how to steal it for home.
#3027: Why You Wake at 3 AM and Can't Get Back to Sleep
60% of chronic insomnia cases involve waking up mid-night. Here's what's different in your brain and what actually works.
#2816: Do You Need a Window to Be Happy?
Natural light isn't just nice — your brain has a dedicated biological pathway for it. Here's what happens when you take that away.
#2749: The 16-Hour Day Behind an 8-Show Week
What a Broadway actor's day actually looks like: silent mornings, straw phonation, and two-show days.
#2738: Why Can't Humans Sleep 24 Hours Straight?
Even when exhausted, your body won't let you sleep past 12-13 hours. Here's the biology behind the hard cap.
#2719: How Streetlight-Level Light Disrupts Mammal Immunity
Even minimal artificial light at night—equivalent to street lighting—disrupts immune rhythms and increases mortality 2.35x in wild mammals.
#2710: Is Sunlight a Vitamin or a Hormone?
Why calling vitamin D a "vitamin" is a historical accident—and what sunlight does that supplements can't.
#2708: Why Histamine Keeps You Awake and Makes You Sneeze
How one molecule runs both your allergy symptoms and your brain’s wakefulness system.
#2626: The Trust Problem in Bedroom Automation
Smart glass vs smart curtains for circadian health — what works in a rental bedroom without owning the walls?
#2623: How Much Bed Space Do You Actually Need to Sleep Well?
140cm bed for two? Research shows a 62% reduction in sleep disturbances just from having adequate space.
#2619: The Sleep Doctor Shortage
Night owls vs. clinical disorder—what sleep medicine actually says about delayed sleep-wake phase.
#2600: Circadian Lighting Gradients in Home Assistant
How to build a smooth, override-friendly circadian lighting system using Adaptive Lighting in Home Assistant.
#2589: Can You Actually See a Sleep Specialist?
Sleep medicine is real but hard to access. Here’s how the system works and what actually helps.