Slashdot Mirror


Camping Helps Set Circadian Clocks Straight

cold fjord writes "Counsel & Heal reports, 'Many people are stuck in the vicious cycle of late nights and late mornings. However, a new study reveals that a week of camping in the great outdoors may help people set their clocks straight. A new study, published in the journal Current Biology, reveals that if given a chance, our body's internal biological clocks will tightly synchronize to a natural, midsummer light-dark cycle. The study found that a week of exposure to true dawn and dusk with no artificial lights had a significant effect on people who might otherwise describe themselves as night owls. Researchers found that under those conditions, night owls quickly become early birds. "By increasing our exposure to sunlight and reducing our exposure to electrical lighting at night, we can turn our internal clock and sleep times back and likely make it easier to awaken and be alert in the morning," Kenneth Wright of the University of Colorado Boulder said in a news release.'"

5 of 173 comments (clear)

  1. In related news by korbulon · · Score: 4, Funny

    Studies show that me picking a fight with, oh, just about anyone, will get my clock cleaned, a hunderd percent guarantee.

    And who doesn't love a clean clock?

  2. Re:Try having a child by ebno-10db · · Score: 4, Funny

    Try having a child ... The funny thing is that you do actually get used to it; I was a night owl, but not anymore.

    I got used to it (and it amuses my old friends that I get up early) but I never really stopped being a night owl. Give me a chance, and I switch to my night owl schedule in a day.

    Being awake when the sun is out is unnatural. I understand that sunlight is necessary for green plants, but I'm not a green plant.

  3. Re:Why fix what ain't broken by RulerOf · · Score: 4, Funny

    Ok, cool, so camping helps circadian rhythms and the human health and all. What about teamkilling?

    Camping shifts the circadian-health median of the entire team toward an objectively "better" state. It can be said that camping raises the overall health and quality of life for everyone.

    Teamkilling on the other hand is a zero-sum game. The troll's erection grows proportionally to everyone else's level of discontent, with total hardness tipping the very edges of the Mohs scale when the voice chat explodes in rage.

    --
    Boot Windows, Linux, and ESX over the network for free.
  4. Re:Try having a child by voidptr · · Score: 4, Funny

    Talk about the cure being worse than the disease.

    --
    This .sig for unofficial government use only. Official use subject to $500 fine.
  5. Re:I do this to reset my kids "summer schedule" by PPH · · Score: 4, Funny

    Right. There's nothing better than throwing on a backpack and heading out into the woods to escape the pressure cooker of the office.

    Oh crap! Now I'm really screwed!

    --
    Have gnu, will travel.