I know evolution is governed by chance and it is random but does it make sense to “ruin” sleep if there’s light? I mean normally, outside, you never have pure darkness, there are the moon and stars even at night. In certain zones of the Earth we also have long periods of no sunshine and long periods of only sunshine.

I don’t know if my question is clear enough but I hope so.

Bonus question: are animals subject to the same contribution of light or lack of it to the quality of sleep?

  • Contramuffin@lemmy.worldEnglish
    0·
    6 months ago

    This is untrue - we have explicitly evolved to sleep in the dark. Sleeping in the light is a learned behavior that’s more or less an exploitation of a loophole in the circadian clock

    • givesomefucks@lemmy.worldEnglish
      01·
      6 months ago

      …

      A specific wavelength may effect you…

      That wavelength is not present in moonlight/starlight, which is not “full darkness”.

      For the vast majority of human evolution, “full darkness” wasn’t safe, and wasn’t even really possible.

      I understand what you and OP are trying to say. And you both kind of have the general idea but none of the details.

      Like how you got taught basic things in 6th grade, but by 12 grade you’re learning what you thought was the whole truth, was just a general overview.

      Which wouldn’t be bad if you recognized it, but loads of people want to insist the short summary the learned as a child is as deep as it gets

      • Contramuffin@lemmy.worldEnglish
        0·
        6 months ago

        Oh trust me, I know way more than you think. It is literally my job to study circadian rhythms. I can very comfortably say that you’re wrong

        • givesomefucks@lemmy.worldEnglish
          01·
          6 months ago

          The intensity and the wavelength of light influence entrainment.[2] Dim light can affect entrainment relative to darkness.[15] Brighter light is more effective than dim light.[12] In humans, a lower intensity short wavelength (blue/violet) light appears to be equally effective as a higher intensity of white light.[11]

          https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_effects_on_circadian_rhythm

          For anyone else, I won’t try to change your mind.