Knowledge Center

White men are the earliest risers — except on weekends (when black women beat them out of bed by 52 minutes)

Sleep is an increasingly precious commodity in today’s America. Although doctors recommend a solid eight-hours, a new study by the National Sleep Foundation reports that one in three Americans sleep fewer than six hours a night. Intriguingly, when it comes to getting a good night’s rest, some ethnic groups fare better than others. Here, a by-the-numbers breakdown of who’s sleepless ...

On average, Americans get far less sleep than we need. Are we choosing TV and the internet over sex and Zzz’s?

Americans are too tired to go out and socialize, too tired to work, and even too tired for sex, according to a new survey from the National Sleep Foundation. But while the poll results highlight a nation of sleep-deprived adults, they also pull back the curtain on what we’re doing, collectively and by race, instead of sleeping. Here’s a look ...

Medical researchers are trying to learn more about sexsomnia — a condition that causes suffers to engage in sex acts while fast asleep

A new study has focused renewed attention on a little-understood sleep disorder known as ‘sexsomnia’:

What is ‘sexsomnia’?

Also known as “sleep sex,” it’s a condition that causes people to engage in sexual activity during the deepest stages of non-REM sleep.

How common is it?

A recent study, presented at the Associated Professional Sleep Studies conference in San Antonio, found that ...

As the summer draws to a drowsy end, here’s a bracing roundup of recent scientific findings about sleep

We’re entering the dog days of August, and sleep is on everyone’s minds — whether it’s a contented siesta on a beachfront sun-lounger, or a nap after a sweaty commute from the office. Luckily, the world’s foremost experts in sleep have been hard at work to better understand our favorite nighttime activity. Here are five noteworthy new findings:

1. “Violent sleepers” are at higher ...

Recent evidence shows that people who thrive at night have higher IQs. Early risers beg to differ

Are you the type who stays up late to finish your work, or do you get up early to make a fresh start on the day? If it’s the former, you may be pleased to learn new research has found that those with higher IQs tend to be nocturnal night-owls. But if it’s the latter, you might have good reason to distrust the claim. ...