Author: Shan Ritch

How Sleep Cycles Have Changed as Society Has Changed

A Scientific Look at Human Sleep Through Time

Sleep is a biological necessity, yet how humans sleep has shifted dramatically as society has evolved. While modern life often frames sleep as an eight-hour nightly obligation, scientific and historical evidence shows that human sleep patterns have been shaped and reshaped by technology, culture, and social structure.

Understanding how sleep has changed offers insight into why modern sleep problems are so common and why they are not simply a matter of personal failure or poor habits.

The Biology of Sleep: A Constant Beneath the Change

At the core of human sleep is the circadian rhythm, an internal biological clock that operates on an approximately 24-hour cycle. This system regulates sleep and wakefulness, hormone secretion (including melatonin), body temperature, and metabolism.

Light is the strongest external signal influencing circadian rhythms. Exposure to light, especially blue-wavelength light, suppresses melatonin and promotes alertness, while darkness allows melatonin levels to rise, signaling the body that it is time to sleep. This biological mechanism has remained consistent throughout human evolution, even as environments and lifestyles have changed.

Sleep Before Industrialization: Aligned With Nature

Light-Driven Sleep Timing

Before widespread artificial lighting, human sleep was closely synchronized with the natural day–night cycle. Sunset marked the beginning of reduced activity, while sunrise prompted waking. Seasonal variations also influenced sleep length, with longer sleep durations commonly reported during winter months.

Segmented Sleep Patterns

Historical documents from Europe and other regions describe a phenomenon known as segmented sleep, in which people slept in two blocks separated by a period of wakefulness around midnight. During this time, individuals might pray, read, reflect, or engage in quiet household tasks.

While this pattern appears frequently in historical records, modern anthropological research suggests sleep patterns varied widely across cultures and environments. Some pre-industrial societies practiced consolidated sleep, while others exhibited seasonal or flexible patterns depending on climate and lifestyle.

Sleep Duration in Traditional Societies

Contrary to popular belief, pre-industrial populations did not necessarily sleep longer than modern humans. Studies using wearable sleep monitors in hunter-gatherer and horticulturalist societies without electricity show average sleep durations ranging from approximately 5.7 to 7.1 hours per night, comparable to many industrialized populations.

The Industrial Revolution: A Major Turning Point

The Industrial Revolution introduced two powerful forces that permanently altered sleep:

Artificial Light

The widespread use of gas and electric lighting extended waking hours well beyond sunset. Evening light exposure delays melatonin release, shifting sleep onset later into the night and altering circadian timing.

Clock-Based Schedules

Factory work, standardized timekeeping, and compulsory schooling imposed fixed wake times, regardless of individual biological preference. Over time, societies transitioned toward monophasic sleep, a single consolidated sleep period, which became the cultural norm in industrialized nations.

This shift represented one of the first large-scale mismatches between biological rhythms and social expectations.

Modern Society: Technology and Circadian Conflict

Screens and Blue Light

Modern LED lighting and digital screens emit blue-rich light that strongly suppresses melatonin. Evening exposure delays sleep onset and reduce sleep pressure, making it harder to fall asleep at socially required bedtimes.

Social Jet Lag

The term social jet lag describes the discrepancy between biological sleep timing and externally imposed schedules. Many individuals sleep later on free days than on workdays, creating a pattern similar to repeated time-zone travel. This misalignment has been associated with increased daytime sleepiness, mood disturbances, and metabolic fluctuations.

Sleep Quantity vs. Sleep Timing

Large international studies show that people in industrialized societies may not sleep less than those in non-industrial settings. However, modern sleep is often more fragmented, more irregular, and more biologically misaligned, largely due to artificial light and social constraints rather than reduced opportunity to sleep.

Recent Social Experiments: What Happens When Schedules Change?

During the COVID-19 pandemic, widespread remote work and flexible schedules provided a natural experiment in sleep behavior. Many people reported sleeping longer and closer to their natural circadian preferences, highlighting how social structure often restricts sleep timing.

This period demonstrated that sleep patterns can shift rapidly when societal constraints are relaxed.

What Science Tells Us Overall

Several key conclusions emerge from sleep research across history and cultures:

• Human sleep biology has remained stable, but sleep expression is highly flexible
• The eight-hour, uninterrupted sleep model is not a universal historical norm
• Artificial light and rigid schedules are primary drivers of modern sleep disruption
• Many sleep problems stem from circadian misalignment, not personal failure

Understanding sleep as a biological process shaped by social forces allows for a more compassionate and evidence-based view of modern sleep challenges.

Conclusion: Learning From Our Sleep History

Sleep has never been a static behavior. From segmented nights by candlelight to late evenings illuminated by screens, human sleep reflects the world we build around ourselves. Modern science suggests that improving sleep may require not just individual behavior changes, but broader awareness of how light, work, and social expectations interact with our biology.

By recognizing how society has shaped sleep, we can better understand how to protect it.

At High Touch High Tech, we believe that science is most powerful when it is experienced, questioned, and explored firsthand. From understanding the biology of sleep to uncovering how our daily lives shape human behavior, we love helping students connect scientific concepts to the world around them. Through our on-site, in-school field trips, we transform classrooms into living laboratories, bringing hands-on experiments, curiosity, and discovery directly to students. By making science engaging and accessible, we aim to inspire the next generation of thinkers, innovators, and lifelong learners.

Come back next week and check out our next blog exploring the “sleep cycles” of plants!

Citations

1. Roenneberg, T., et al. (2012). Social jetlag and obesity. Current Biology, 22(10), 939–943.
2. Yetish, G., et al. (2015). Natural sleep and its seasonal variations in three pre-industrial societies. Current Biology, 25(21), 2862–2868.
3. Ekirch, A. R. (2001). Sleep we have lost: Pre-industrial slumber in the British Isles. American Historical Review, 106(2), 343–386.
4. Wright, K. P., et al. (2013). Entrainment of the human circadian clock to the natural light–dark cycle. Current Biology, 23(16), 1554–1558.
5. Cho, Y., et al. (2015). Effects of artificial light at night on human health. Chronobiology International, 32(9), 1294–1310.
6. Blume, C., Garbazza, C., & Spitschan, M. (2019). Effects of light on human circadian rhythms, sleep and mood. Somnologie, 23, 147–156.
7. Robbins, R., et al. (2021). Sleep duration and timing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sleep Health, 7(2), 248–251.
8. Street lights in Singapore (8233226620).jpg Flickr images reviewed by File Upload Bot (Magnus Manske) Media needing category review as of 15 April 2016 Photographs by Edwin Soo Singapore photographs taken on 2012-11-30
9. Flaming June, by Frederic Lord Leighton (1830-1896).jpg

On September 11, 2025 I attended a faculty introduction to the Biology Department at the University of North Carolina Asheville. Six Doctors of Biology introduced themselves and spoke briefly about their work. After each summary of the classes they teach and the research they are currently focused on, they each sat at a table of three to five students to answer questions and discuss their research further. They had conversations with each table of students.

Dr. Melinda Grosser was the director of the event as well as offering an overview of her own roles as professor and the research she is currently working on. She is doing extensive research on Staphylococcus Aureus because of its resistance to antibiotics. Her lab is using a control and comparing that to any mutations that may occur in their samples. She hopes to be able to design a knockdown strain. They are hoping to silence the antibiotic-resistant genes.

Dr Courtney Clark-Hachtel spoke about her study of Tardigrades and their remarkable resilience. She focuses on a particular species, Hypsibius exemplaris. Tardigrades are resilient in many ways, the most common is ability to desiccate or dry themselves out in times of drought stress. However, Dr. Clark-Hachtel is specifically focused on their ability to repair DNA after radiation exposure. Her lab is experimenting with observing how the DNA providing this ability reacts in other systems.

Dr Ted Meigs worked for the department of cancer research and pharmacology from 1996-2003. He has been a professor at UNCA for 23 years. He is currently researching how cells function and how molecules interact with cells. He has continued his research on cancer at UNCA. His lab is currently focused on the proteins involved in switched DNA that contribute to cell mutation on or off.

Dr Jonathan Horton has been a biology professor at UNCA for over 20 years. His focus is on forest mycology and ecology. His lab recently evaluated the vast amount of fallen trees due to hurricane Helene last September and their relation to possible changes in mycorrhiza. He has created a fungarium, a collection of dried fungus specimens. His collection exceeds 450 and he is working on getting a DNA bar code for each.

Dr. Camila Filgueiras teaches entomology along with other courses at UNCA. Her research focuses on how insects interact with their environment. She aims to understand the relationship of insects, plants, and microbes. One of her specific studies are on the American Chestnut and chestnut blight, Cryphonectria parasitica. Her lab also examines all pathogens affecting the majestic trees.

Dr Rebecca Hale is the director of undergraduate research. Her current research focuses on animal behavior where ecology and evolution overlap. Specifically, she is studying the parental behavior of salamanders. Not all species of salamanders have the same parental behavior. These behaviors include maternal care, paternal care and no care. One of the main species she studies is the Marble Salamander, Ambystoma opacum. The parental behavior of the Marble Salamander is that some mothers stay with her eggs and curve their body around the eggs to hold any moisture in contact with the eggs. This begins the hatching process. They do not stay for the hatching of the eggs.

Every professor had a chance to have a short chat with each student. They were all excited about their research and very engaging. They answered questions from the students and asked many questions of their own. When a student exhibited a focused interest on a particular branch of biology each professor offered to extend a conversation on the subject beyond the seminar. Many of the professors share their research with each other, for biological systems overlap.

Have you ever discovered a bag of cornmeal or a box of cereal that was shoved to the back of the pantry for long enough to forget, looked inside, and found it crawling with some sort of worm or beetle?  Chances are this is the mealworm or darkling beetle. They are commonly found around any grain storage areas due to the larvae’s insatiable desire for vegetative remains and delicious grains. Good news though: if food is what you were after when you discovered them, they can be eaten too!

Let’s start from the beginning. The oldest known record of mealworms was found in archeological digs exploring bronze age Turkey.  This means mealworms have been munching on our cereal for thousands of years!  Though they originated in the Mediterranean region, due to colonization and trade, they can now be found just about anywhere on earth.

The lifecycle of this insect begins as an egg that is about 0.05 mm and oval shaped. After about 4-19 days, depending on temperature consistency, the eggs hatch.  They prefer a temperature from 77-81 degrees. The female beetle lays about 70-100 eggs at a time. The newly emerged larvae are light orange or whitish and are about 3mm long; tiny! The baby larvae feed on vegetation and dead insects. They eat almost constantly and molt between each stage or instar. They go through about 9-20 instars through the duration of about 90-114 days. After the final molt when the larvae have reached the grand size of one inch it enters a pupate stage. The larvae will undergo a drastic change of physical features and attributes. The pupa is whitish and color and grow for about 3-30 days, once again depending upon temperature, they emerge as an adult darkling beetle!

The habitat of a darkling beetle in nature is dead grasses, leaf litter, decomposed organic matter, under old logs, and any other form of decomposing vegetation. Most often though they can be found near animal enclosures and food storage site including your pantry at times.

Uses for mealworm larvae include food for poultry, livestock, pigs, fish, reptile, pet birds, fish bait, and humans! They are packed with nutrients with every 100 grams of larvae raw having 206 calories and 14-25 grams of protein as well as potassium, copper, sodium, selenium, iron, and zinc. Compared to beef, mealworms are much more sustainable and occupy a much smaller amount of space. In May of 2017 Switzerland approved mealworms as a food and in 2021 they were approved by the European Union. Here in the U. S., there isn’t a specific regulation, and they can sometimes be found in novelty shops, or perhaps on sustainable homesteads if you search.

                For commercial or mass production, the space and energy required to raise mealworms is very little compared to livestock farms. You can raise them on oats, wheat, sliced potatoes, carrots, apples and just about any organic vegetative material.

Mealworms can also be used to recycle polystyrene! They can consume polystyrene at a rate of 34-39 mg per day. Specifically, the microorganism inside their gut is responsible for this action. They of course don’t prefer polystyrene and overall, it isn’t good for their long-term health, however it is possible and could be a source of recycling in the future

The possibilities of mealworm use may bring us closer to sustainability as we change towards mindsets and habits conducive to the preservation of the earth. You could easily set up your own mealworm operation to aid in supplementing your backyard chickens or ducks. All you need is a few plastic bins and a few mealworms and some grain to start the process. Even their “waste,” known as frass, can be used as a fertilizer. As we examine possibilities for a more sustainable the future, one thing is for sure:  mealworms can teach us so much about ecological cycles. Incorporating these models in our lives as we approach sustainability is key.

For more on mealworms and decomposers check out our podcast! https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/LXdEenw2pub

For more on mealworms visit : https://study.com/academy/lesson/mealworms-lesson-for-kids-facts-life-cycle.html

Shan M Ritch

Why do we want cookies or cake after a Meal? Is there something physiological that makes that happen? Max Planke, from the Florida Institute for Neuroscience, decided to find out. It was already known that there is a group of nerve cells, called the POMC neurons, that make us feel full after a meal. But what Planke discovered was that these same nerve cells are responsible for sugar cravings. After eating the sugar treat there is a release of opiate endorphins giving a satisfying feeling. When studying this process in mice it was discovered that the endorphin release happens just by anticipating the sugary treat! Scientists think understanding this process could help with obesity.

So, this explains what and why for dessert cravings but is there science in the dessert itself? Of course, there is because cooking is chemistry! Let’s bite into this by analyzing chocolate cake. To create the perfect moist soft chocolate cake the protein gluten in flour must be processed perfectly. When mixed with water the gluten is activating creating a web like structure that traps air bubbles. If you look at cake with a magnifying glass, you can see the results of those bubbles. When sugar and chocolate are added the sugar caramelizes adding flavor and texture. Then when butter or oil is added it inhibits the gluten formation. Once again, the amount of each ingredient is crucial to get the desired flavor and texture.

Between the ages of 2-4 children ask why repetitively. This is because the world around them has come into focus and they want to understand All Of It! That curiosity can be nourished by presence and wonder all through our lives. So, when you have a craving for that perfect chocolate cake after a wonderful meal, we know it’s because of the neurons in our stomachs and if you are curious why a chocolate cake from your grandma tastes best it is because she has repeated a recipe that is tried and true!

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250213143309.htm

https://maxplanckneuroscience.org/institute/mpfi-neuroscience/

https://cwcpediatrics.com/2025/07/21/why-is-my-child-asking-so-many-questions-understanding-the-why-phase/

What is STEAM?
STEAM stands for:
• Science – Understanding natural phenomena and scientific principles.
• Technology – Utilizing tools and resources to solve problems.
• Engineering – Applying design and construction principles to create solutions.
• Arts – Incorporating creativity and design thinking into projects.
• Mathematics – Using quantitative reasoning and analytical skills.

Let’s dive into how each part of STEAM plays a role in the world with one powerful image: The STEAM engine!
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Imagine a steam train chugging along the tracks. It’s powered by hot steam produced in a boiler, where water is heated by coal, wood, or natural gas. The pressure created in the boiler moves the pistons, which in turn gets the wheels turning.
Now let’s look at how each component of STEAM is at work in the steam engine:

The steam engine demonstrates the understanding of physical and chemical reactions (e.g., heating water to create steam).

Science is the systematic study of natural phenomena through:
• Observation – using senses to understand a subject
• Questioning – asking “why” and “how”
•Hypothesis – making predictions based on prior knowledge
•Experimentation – testing predictions through trials
•Analysis – drawing conclusions from data

Do scientists always stop at conclusions? Of course not! Repeatable experiments lead to more questions and deeper understanding.
Technology
From Hero of Alexandria’s early steam devices to modern trains, technology evolves over time. Like bricks building a taller house, each innovation builds on the last.

Technology isn’t just about computers. It’s the application of knowledge to solve real-world problems in every field, including:
• Agriculture
• Medicine
• Transportation

Engineering
The steam engine itself is an amazing example of mechanical engineering. The field of engineering applies scientific knowledge to design, build, and maintain systems.
Engineering has many branches, including:
• Civil Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
• Chemical Engineering

Through collaboration and education, engineers refine and improve existing designs, pushing innovation forward.

Art
Art may not seem like an obvious player in the evolution of the steam engine—but it’s absolutely essential!
Art brings imagination to reality. Before anything is built, it’s imagined—drawn, modeled, or sculpted. Scientific illustrations have helped us understand:
• Microorganisms
• Plant structures (botany)
• Insects (entomology)

Art has also:
• Depicted future technology before it existed (Star Trek!)
• Influenced the aesthetics and design of functional machines
A drawing of an early steam engine could have been the first step in making it real.

Mathematics
Math is often called the language of science. It can be:
• Utilitarian – for everyday functions like budgeting or measuring
• Theoretical – existing purely in the abstract, yet influencing real-world inventions
Much like art, theoretical math often becomes practical. Inventions like the steam engine required:
• Calculations of pressure
• Mechanical measurements
• Geometry in design
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Conclusion: STEAM Powers Progress!

STEAM is more than just an acronym. It’s a framework for innovation, problem-solving, and creativity.
Whether it’s a train moving across the tracks, a new invention, or a scientific discovery, each discipline works together to fuel progress. The steam engine is just one powerful example of how Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math come together to shape the world.

High Touch High Tech wants to share all the wonderful benefits of trees. Trees help to reduce erosion and they help reduce flood damage in the landscape. Champion trees are determined by factors such as height and diameter and the champion titles are awarded to many varied species of tree. To learn all about this you could check out the website: https://www.americanforests.org/champion-trees/champion-trees-registry/?gclid=CjwKCAjwvfmoBhAwEiwAG2tqzCeucx870G8EmSA-OXPJOLXOSoRzVrLmS1n3rXgp5edKTnyUEIQMkRoCCfQQAvD_BwE. 

The tree highlighted today is in Ware County GA. It is a Live Oak or as the botanists call it Quercus virginiana. The trunk circumference is massive at 440 inches and reaches a height of 78 feet! The crown spread is a majestic 161 feet! 

Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova
Tereshkova was born in Russia in 1937! She is an engineer and cosmonaut who orbited the earth 48 times in June of 1963. She was an amateur skydiver before joining the air force and was commissioned as an officer after training. She later became a cosmonaut instructor!

Sally Ride
Ride was born in Los Angeles in 1951! She began working for Nasa in 1978. In college she did research on the interaction of X-rays with interstellar medium making her an excellent choice as mission specialist in 1983!

Helen Patricia Sharman
Sharman was born in Britain in 1963! She was a chemist and a cosmonaut who spent time aboard the ISS in 1991 doing research. Before being an astronaut, she worked for the General Electric Company in London and worked as a chemist for the Mars chocolate bar company.

Roberta Bondar
Bondar was born in 1945 in Ontario! She was head of international medicine research for the space station for ten years before becoming the payload specialist on a mission in 1992. She was also the first neurologist to go to space.

Mariam H. Fardous
Fardous was born in Saidi Arabia in 1884! She is an epidemiologist, humanitarian (serving as Ambassador for African Impacts), scuba diver, and worked as a doctor. She later became a cosmonaut and flew aboard the Axiom Mission in 2023!

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Sally-Ride
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_women_astronauts

The Importance of Trees!

Trees are extremely important! We here at High Touch High Tech want to highlight trees and all the things they do! Have you heard of the heat island effect? This is where hot pavement and reflection from buildings increase temperature in urban areas. Trees help counteract this!

Did you know there are champion trees? Champion trees are determined by factors such as height and diameter and the champion titles are awarded to many species of tree. To learn all about this you could check out the website: https://www.americanforests.org/champion-trees/champion-trees-registry/?gclid=CjwKCAjwvfmoBhAwEiwAG2tqzCeucx870G8EmSA-OXPJOLXOSoRzVrLmS1n3rXgp5edKTnyUEIQMkRoCCfQQAvD_BwE.
The tree I am highlighting today is a Sand Hickory in Greenville South Carolina. The botanical name for this tree is Carya pallida. The trunk circumference is 134.3 inches, and it reaches a height of 151 feet! The crown is 80.5 feet!

When we think of innovators many people may come to mind suck as Nikoli Tesla, Thomas Edison and Alexander Graham Bell. However, these popular innovators are simply the ones that have received the most “publicity”. Many more throughout history have been overlooked.

In Honor of National Hispanic American Heritage Month, we here at High Touch High Tech would like to honor a few Latinx Innovators!
Dr. Ynes Mexia was a botanist from Mexico who started her career late in life at 51. She collected specimens of plants from N and S America. She discovered close to 500 new species! Many of them were named after her!

Guillermo Gonzalez Camarena was an electrical engineer born in 1917 in Guadalajara, Mexico. He was fascinated with electrical engineering at a young age, which fostered a talent for the field. He studied Electrical engineering in Mexica Cito at National Polytechnic Institute in Mexico City. His passion led him to create a chromoscopic adaptar that could easily be added to black and white televisions and in 1940 a patent was filed! The first color image in Mexico was broadcast on Channel 5 with his invention! In 1979 during the Voyager mission his system helped convert images of Jupiter into color! Camarena was also a strong advocate of educational television.

Julio Palamaz of Argentina made advancements in angioplasty surgery! Working with Richard Schatz, a cardiologist, he parented an expandable stent to open heart arteries! He earned a place at the National Inventors Hall of Fame!

Maria Isabel Amorin is a chemist from Guatemala. She recognized the severe devastation caused by the fast fashion industry. Micro plastics and dyes were contributing to severe pollution in rivers. She designed a polymer filter to absorb the contaminating dyes. These filters are created from shrimp shells, which are a waste in the Guatemalan shrimping industry. What better way to utilize a “waste” into a product to eliminate pollution!

Dr Grisel Trujillo is a professor at the School of Engineering and Sciences at Tecnologico de Monterrey. Along with having a PhD in Biotechnology she invented a 3D printer that could print organs! This invention is patented and could save many lives as they wait for organ transplants!

There are many more contributions from Latinx innovators including Helen Gertrude Dominguez who contributed greatly to higher education, Ellen Ochoa who went on several space missions, Arturo Arias Suarez who designed earthquake sensing technology, and Albert Vinicio Baez who helped invent the X-ray reflection microscope! We here at Science Made Fun hope you get curious to discover more innovators! Please follow the links below to learn more!

https://www.history.com/articles/latino-hispanic-inventions