Dissecting the Circadian Clock in Real Time

Scientists have made progress in understanding the circadian clock, the 24-hour cycle that synchronizes with light-dark exposure, and how it functions. They developed a new way to study how the circadian clock synchronizes in real time, revealing surprises about the clock’s mechanisms.

Shorter days affect the mood of millions of Americans – a nutritional neuroscientist offers tips on how to avoid the winter blues

The annual pattern of winter depression and melancholy – better known as seasonal affective disorder, or SAD – suggests a strong link between your mood and the amount of light you get during the day. Binghamton Univesity mood expert offers strategies to beat the winter blues.

Permanent daylight saving time would reduce deer-vehicle collisions, study shows

Adopting permanent DST in the United States would reduce deer-vehicle collisions and likely prevent an estimated 36,550 deer deaths, 33 human deaths, 2,054 human injuries and $1.19 billion in costs each year. Deer-vehicle collisions would decrease under permanent DST because skies would be brighter later in the evening

“Springing forward” affects early birds less than night owls, study finds

Every spring, the Daylight Saving Time shift robs people of an hour of sleep – and a new study shows that DNA plays a role in how much the time change affects individuals. People whose genetic profile makes them more likely to be “early birds” can adjust to the time change in a few days. But those who tend to be “night owls” could take more than a week to get back on track.

Ditching the daylight saving time change for better sleep, health and safety

If the month of March has you dreading the night when we “spring forward” to daylight saving time, you’re not alone. More than half of Americans say they’re tired after the time change, and 63% of Americans say that they support the elimination of seasonal time changes in favor of a national, fixed, year-round time. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, research supports public opposition to seasonal time changes, and sleep science suggests that permanent standard time is the best option.

Seasonal time changes losing favor as U.S. prepares to “fall back”

A recent survey from the AASM found that 63% of Americans support the elimination of seasonal time changes in favor of a national, fixed, year-round time. As the U.S. prepares to “fall back” on November 1, are seasonal time changes losing favor? Medical experts and legislators say yes.

WashU Expert: This year, let’s make standard time permanent

Never again.After we turn back the clocks one hour on the morning of Nov. 3, Washington University in St. Louis chronobiologist Erik Herzog wants us to just keep it that way.“Just lock it in,” Herzog said. “Forever.”Herzog is a professor of biology in Arts & Sciences and president of the Society for Research on Biological Rhythms (SRBR), a scientific organization dedicated to the study of biological clocks and sleep.