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How Light at Night Affects Preschoolers' Sleep Patterns, Part Two (Video)

Posted by Roblimo on from the watch-the-spinning-light-and-feel-your-eyelids-growing-heavier-every-second dept.

Yesterday, in the intro to video number one of this two part extravaganza we wrote, "The effects of light and dark on adults' Circadian rythym has been studied over and over, but there hasn't been much research done on how light at night affects young children's sleep patterns."

Then we said, "This is the topic of Lameese Akacem's doctoral dissertation, and is a study being carried out under the aegis of the Sleep and Development Laboratory at the University of Colorado, Boulder," and we mentioned that this research is (at least in part) crowdfunded, and that the deadline for donating to this project is early next week, so if you feel this project is worth supporting you need to act within the next few days.

29 comments

  1. Better Crowdfunded Science Article Rejected by Kunedog · · Score: 4, Insightful

    A reposted article deserves a reposted reply.

    Which would you rather read about, Slashdot?

    a) An already-completed crowdfunded study in the hard sciences that resulted in a major discovery about a widely-known and supposedly well-understood chemical reaction, published in Nature Chemistry, or

    b) this unfinished study asking all of us for money, complete with glorious slashdot video, pointlessly spread out over two days?

    repost that sums it up:
    -----

    I know how it sounds to complain that your one submission (out of the many /. receives) didn't get accepted, but I've tried submitting this recent scientific discovery (published in Nature Chemistry) a few times. IMO it's perfect material for Slashdot: an interesting new hypothesis (about a supposedly "well-understood" reaction) put to the test via regularly evolving experiments and apparatuses. And it was even largely funded through Youtube viewers (who the lead scientist thanks in the paper) and documented with (at least one) well-done video.

    But /. never ran it. I can't help but think that part of the problem is that the scientist is Dr. Phil Mason, aka thunderf00t, who is known for his vids that expose Atheism+ and anti-Gamergate types as fools. Think about the lousy submissions that do often make it on the front page, especially those that push an agenda.

    This is why things like Gamergate (and Slashdot's atrocious coverage of it) matter, even if you yourself don't personally care about videogames; it is a fight against neo-puritans who want to filter ALL types of content (not just games, comics, music, movies, etc) you're allowed to see, and refuse to acknowledge the work of those who don't buy into the "narrative."

    P.S. Clearly I'm biased, so if any of you think that my article submission is unworthy for some other reason, let me know (seriously).

    1. Re:Better Crowdfunded Science Article Rejected by The+Fifth+Man · · Score: 1

      "I can't help but think that part of the problem is that the scientist is Dr. Phil Mason, aka thunderf00t"

      It's an open secret that post-deletion is rampant on /. now. I wish I could, like some imbecile just told me in another thread, call it a "conspiracy." But I've seen people complain and I had it happen to my own posts.

      If a submission has anything to do with anything or anyone that portrays certain Favored Topics in a negative light, you bet your ass it's never going to get the green light.

    2. Re:Better Crowdfunded Science Article Rejected by Roblimo · · Score: 2

      Where in this article you love so dearly is a mention of crowdfunding? In the part that's behind a high-cost paywall? If so, tough luck. Slashdot has rarely -- really never -- linked to paywall-restricted articles.

      ++ And FYI, I personally love to interview people like Dr. Mason. I think I'll send him a message through YouTube now, since that seems to be where he's most active online. Thanks for the tip, which you can stop repeating now. I read it the first time, believe it or not.

    3. Re:Better Crowdfunded Science Article Rejected by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Is this a poll because I vote for B.

    4. Re:Better Crowdfunded Science Article Rejected by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The article seems to be pushing the "Women in STEM" agenda.

      Although I'm not sure it meets that criteria anyway since the scientists here are Psychology majors. Does that field even count as STEM?

    5. Re:Better Crowdfunded Science Article Rejected by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Psychology people like to think they qualify as the S in STEM. Maybe a soft S for what that's worth.

    6. Re: Better Crowdfunded Science Article Rejected by Kunedog · · Score: 1

      Where in this article you love so dearly is a mention of crowdfunding? In the part that's behind a high-cost paywall? If so, tough luck.

      He mentions it in the video, and shows in the paper where he thanks his Youtube contributors.

      Slashdot has rarely -- really never -- linked to paywall-restricted articles.

      Thank you, that (linking the original paper but no news articles) was a problem with my submission that I didn't consider. That said, the BBC and other coverage is easy to find.

      ++ And FYI, I personally love to interview people like Dr. Mason. I think I'll send him a message through YouTube now, since that seems to be where he's most active online. Thanks for the tip, which you can stop repeating now. I read it the first time, believe it or not.

      OK, I promise not to post it again (not even if there's a Part 3 tomorrow).

    7. Re: Better Crowdfunded Science Article Rejected by Roblimo · · Score: 2

      Sorry. We're skipping part three and going directly to four. :)

      Believe it or not, we're getting a whole new audience on http://slashdot.org/videos. Our corporate masters finally stopped with the autoplay stuff and let us have an HTML5 alternative. And beta.... gone gone gone. Things are looking up.

      And yes, we're always looking for interesting people to interview, and mindful that "interesting" to one person is often "boring" to somebody else. You can't please everyone, so you might as well please yourself. https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

      After a day of the Dead though my new speakers, a Ricky Nelson tune is a good end to my day.

    8. Re: Better Crowdfunded Science Article Rejected by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You can't please everyone, so you might as well please yourself.

      Is that the motto of the Internet?

  2. Thank you AdBlock! by thedarb · · Score: 2

    Was able to adblock the video thumb on the front page. Yay! Please don't clutter the front page with video crap.

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    This sig intentionally left blank.
  3. How do we sleep up north? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    At 22.30, sky was still pale blue and soon, it will not get dark at all. My favourite time of the year, btw.
    I, my wife, kids and everyone around here never a had any problems sleeping when it's summer and 2,5 months of the year we practically have no dark sky at all. Curtains? No, actually we do not have curtains on any windows because the way thy are positioned, we never had any need for them.
    So, how can we sleep? We go to bed when sun is up with no problems.

    1. Re:How do we sleep up north? by Camel+Pilot · · Score: 2

      When the Sun in low on the horizon the spectrum is shifted towards the red and hence less blue light.

  4. Hint: Vajjy video articles suck by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I can read 5x faster than you can talk, hipsters.

  5. Interesting by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 1

    I actually tried to watch the video, but the progress indicator just spun and spun. Looks like the site's been Slashdotted.

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    #DeleteChrome
  6. Two videos?! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I didn't even want one!

  7. I fucking hate video by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It takes 20 times as long and make sure I have to sit through or click away ads. Bite Me.

  8. 8 years to earn a B.S. in Psychology? by McGruber · · Score: 1
    Yesterday's slashdot story linked to Assistant Professor Monique K. LeBourgeois' Resume, which says it took her eight years (1987-1995) to earn a B.S. in Psychology.

    I wonder why it took her so long?

    1. Re:8 years to earn a B.S. in Psychology? by DRJlaw · · Score: 1

      I wonder why it took her so long?

      I wonder how this is relevant when it concerns a baseline credential earned 20 years ago and you seemingly have no issue with the MS, MA, and PhD earned from 1996-03, much less her positions at Brown and UC Boulder.

      In other words, it's none of your damn business.

    2. Re:8 years to earn a B.S. in Psychology? by McGruber · · Score: 1

      I wonder how this is relevant when it concerns a baseline credential earned 20 years ago and you seemingly have no issue with the MS, MA, and PhD earned from 1996-03, much less her positions at Brown and UC Boulder.

      You don't find it strange that a person who needed eight years to earn a B.S. in Psychology was also able to earn three advanced degrees (MS, MA and PhD) in Psychology in just seven years?

      In other words, it's none of your damn business.

      I disagree. When someone asks for crowdfunding, the crowd has every right to ask questions about the person(s) seeking the crowds' funds!

    3. Re: 8 years to earn a B.S. in Psychology? by DRJlaw · · Score: 1

      No, I do not. People have families. People work jobs to pay for undergrad tuition. People transfer between schools. As for your "I have a right to know everything if they ask me for crowdfunding" approach - no. You have the right not to offer funds. The rest of us have the right to deem your request unreasonable given that, again, this was a baseline credential earned 20 years ago. Disclose your professional history for the past 28 years and I'll reconsider.

  9. In whose interest is this? by tgv · · Score: 1

    Why is Slashdot posting this run-of-the-mill type of research that cannot get normal funding on its front page, two days in a row? Cui bono? To whose benefit?

    1. Re:In whose interest is this? by Roblimo · · Score: 1

      Because this research is interesting for humans who reproduce and attempt to teach their offspring to act like adult human beings in 18 years or so. You may not have a reproduction partner at this point, but odds favor you finding one sooner or later. Every single one of your ancestors reproduced. Why should you be different?

      To whose benefit? Slashdot readers who have or might one day have children, nieces, nephews, step-grandchildren, etc. I'm sure that Timothy doting on his toddler-age niece had nothing to do with his choice of this project. (wink)

      You cannot rationally expect every Slashdot article or video to please everyone. It can't be done. There's a user subculture that hits Slashdot purely to complain. I love the ones who complain about the lack of video transcripts, which we supply almost all the time. Now the downer crowd will complain that the transcripts are in a font they don't like. Or something.

      "Smile and nod," I say. And make sure you have put on your skin-thickener before hitting Slashdot.

    2. Re:In whose interest is this? by tgv · · Score: 1

      Come on. This kind of front page publicity is very, very rare. Two days, no less. And this research has been done before. And in general, one or two experiments are not going to reveal the ultimate truth, so why the sudden interest in this?

      > Because this research is interesting for humans who reproduce and attempt to teach their offspring to act like adult human beings in 18 years or so.

      So because the staff is interested in it personally? Then just write so upfront. "I'm personally interested in this."

    3. Re:In whose interest is this? by Roblimo · · Score: 1

      So your suggestion for our next video interview is.....................? Please make sure you provide contact information.

      And realize: 10,000 or 20,000 Slashdot readers might be interested in something that doesn't interest you. And you and a *different* 10,000 or 20,000 may be interested in something else that the first 10,000 have no interest in whatsoever.

      And 'the staff being interested in it personally' means what? Slashdot only has three full-time people, plus me working part-time editing videos and setting up video interviews. 'The staff' each have their own interests. Something that catches a Slashdot staff person's eye is almost certainly going to be interesting to at last a decent-sized minority of users.

      Now I'm going to go eat, then edit a video interview Tim did with a guy who makes clicky keyboards. Some Slashdot users will like it and some won't. And some will say they can read a transcript faster than they can watch a video. Me too! So we run written transcripts of virtually all videos and still get comments about the lack of transcripts.

      I'm sure we'll also get complaints about background noise, since Tim shot this on a noisy show floor.

      We have a significant number of readers who are only happy when they are disparaging something or somebody, and I have learned over the years to wear lots of skin thickener cream and ignore idiotic comments (which yours was NOT) and the cowardly anonymous ones, to whom I pay no attention at all.

  10. How can I also advertise for funding on /.? by cyn1c77 · · Score: 1

    Please let me know. Do you have to sleep with or bribe someone?

    1. Re:How can I also advertise for funding on /.? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ask and ye shall receive:

      http://web.slashdotmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Slashdot-Media_Online-Specs_1.21.14.pdf

    2. Re:How can I also advertise for funding on /.? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Now that I have delivered as you requested I demand payment of the aforementioned sex bribe in full.

    3. Re: How can I also advertise for funding on /.? by Roblimo · · Score: 1

      Why not find a topic or interview subject that might be interesting to at least a substantial minority of Slashdot users? I'm married and Timothy has a g/f, so sleeping with us is a no-go. Bribes? Might as well just buy ads. Your content will then be marked "advertising" or "paid content" and will differ markedly in appearance from editorial copy on Slashdot. FYI, that's how you tell something on Slashdot is a paid ad. :)

  11. Can we find a more interesting question? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    There really aren't any questions worth answering more than how light affects pre-schoolers sleep patterns? Because that's totally the only variable in real life! Not sure what the point of a "controlled environment" is for understanding something that occurs, the vast majority of the time in a non-controlled environment. This means the research is of nil value as the results will seldom be applicable in the real world.

    It'll be faux-understanding at best, whatever they discern.