What happens when…
Trying to scroll to the end of the internet isn’t recommended at any time, let alone when your head’s on the pillow. Let’s swipe through the research...
Why is the lure of the screen so hard to resist?
01
Night light
If you’ve ever looked at a phone or laptop (welcome to being human in 2024), you’ll know about blue light – it’s the shortwavelength light emitted by screens that mimics daylight and triggers our brains to suppress production of melatonin, the ‘sleepy hormone’. But, ‘our devices emit a mix of wavelengths, with peaks in red, green and blue parts of the spectrum’, says Timothy Brown, a professor at the University of Manchester whose lab explores how visual signals are processed within the brain.
02
Dim view
You don’t need to have pulled an all-lighter to feel the effects of blue light the next day. A study by researchers in the Netherlands suggested that exposure to blue light before sleep can disrupt blood sugar levels and cause next-day cravings for carbs and sweets. Separate research from Northwestern University found that even low light exposure can affect heart health and raise risk of insulin resistance – a precursor to type 2 diabetes.
03
Smart moan
If your X-rated bedroom antics have more to do with the platform formerly known as Twitter, know that using your phone in bed is a 360 threat to sleep hygiene. Pinging notifications and interactions with strangers best described as ‘unpleasant’ can shift your brain into a state of hypervigilance – so you’re perpetually ready to respond. Great on a Saturday morning, less ideal on a Sunday eveni
