We spend one-third of our life doing it, and most of us don’t get enough of it. We’re talking, of course, about sleep. And although it remains a necessity to human beings, sleeping also remains a mystery. In fact, scientists still can’t say why human beings sleep at all, or why almost every other creature on Earth also sleeps each day. What is known is that a lack of sleep, or sleep deprivation, can have devastating affects on people of all ages, from newborn babies to aging seniors. And if you dig into the science of sleep, you will find a lot of unusual things can impact a good night’s rest. With all that in mind, here are some surprising facts about sleep that you probably never considered.
10. The Number “2” Is Involved In When We Feel Most Tired
According to The National Sleep Foundation, people feel most tired at two different times of the day: 2 AM and 2 PM. This, apparently, is when people young and old experience a natural dip in their alertness and attentiveness, which definitely explains the tiredness many of us feel after lunch and in the early afternoon. Still, why those particular times, and why the 12-hour correlation? Well, actually, scientists don’t have a definitive answer for that. However, repeated studies on sleep and sleep deprivation have discovered, reliably, that people are their most drowsy at both those specific times. Some scientists and sociologists have tried to chalk this phenomenon up to biology and evolution, but there is no clear answer for the impact the number “2” has on human exhaustion.
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