Dolphins have evolved to sleep with half of their brain at a time! They close one eye while the other eye stays open, allowing them to keep an eye out for danger and maintain control over their breathing.
2. Humans Yawn to Cool the Brain
Ever wonder why you can’t stop yawning when you’re tired? Contrary to popular belief, yawning isn’t just about increasing oxygen intake. Recent research suggests that yawning helps cool down the brain! When we yawn, we stretch our jaw, which increases blood flow to the brain, and the cool air we breathe in lowers the brain temperature slightly.
3. Some People Only Need 4 Hours of Sleep—Thanks to a Gene
While most of us need 7-8 hours to feel fully rested, a lucky few carry a rare genetic mutation that allows them to function perfectly well on just four hours of sleep!
4. Sleepwalking: Your Brain’s Autopilot Mode
Sleepwalking, or somnambulism, is a phenomenon where a person can perform complex activities like walking, talking, and even cooking while still asleep. During sleepwalking episodes, certain parts of the brain, including those responsible for movement, are active while other parts, particularly those involved in judgment and memory, remain asleep.
5. You Forget 90% of Your Dreams Within Minutes
Have you ever woken up with a dream fresh in your mind, only to forget it moments later? You’re not alone! Research shows that most people forget up to 90% of their dreams within the first few minutes of waking. This is because our brains don’t store dreams as memories in the same way they store waking experiences.
6. Teenagers Really Do Need More Sleep
It’s not just an excuse! Teenagers experience a shift in their circadian rhythms (the body’s internal clock), which causes them to feel tired later at night and to need more sleep overall. This shift makes early school hours particularly challenging for teens, who often aren’t fully alert until later in the morning.
7. Why Are Cats Such Great Nappers?
If you’ve ever owned a cat, you know how much they love to sleep. Cats spend around 16 hours a day snoozing, which might seem excessive, but it’s actually a survival mechanism. In the wild, felines are predators that need to conserve energy for hunting. By sleeping for long stretches, they store up the energy required for those high-energy bursts of activity.
8. Bizarre Sleep: Giraffes and Elephants Sleep Standing Up
Giraffes and elephants are among the animals that can sleep while standing, though they do occasionally lie down. This adaptation helps them stay alert to predators, as it’s easier to take off running from a standing position. Giraffes, in particular, need very little sleep compared to other animals, snoozing for only about 30 minutes to two hours a day in short intervals.
9. “Sleep Drunkenness” is a Real Thing
Ever wake up feeling completely disoriented, as if you’ve been wrenched from a deep sleep? This sensation, called “sleep drunkenness” or sleep inertia, can occur when you’re woken up from a deep stage of sleep, such as REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep.
10. Lucid Dreaming: When You Control the Dream
Here's the completed side entrance to the Fairmont Building. Looks Spacious and less clutter!
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