Muse: The magazine of science, culture, and smart laughs for kids and children

SLEEPING ISN’T SIMPLE

The astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) see 16 sunrises and sunsets each day. That’s a lot of turning the lights on and off! But it makes the astronauts do more than flip light switches. Normal nighttime cues, like the evening getting cooler and darker, are gone. The astronaut’s body doesn’t know when it’s time for bed. Suddenly, slipping into sleep isn’t so simple.

Circadian Rhythms

Humans usually stay awake during the day and sleep at night. Our bodies respond to light and dark and help maintain this daily cycle.

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