When Night Vanished: Light's Impact on Human Sleep

New parent Daniel's struggle with blue light glasses sparks a profound, millennia-spanning exploration into humanity's oldest rhythms. Join Corn and Herman as they journey back to a world before artificial illumination, revealing the lost art of "biphasic sleep" and the intimate lives our ancestors led when darkness truly meant darkness. They uncover how the relentless march of technological innovation—from the humble candle to gaslight and the omnipresent electric bulb—rapidly decoupled human activity from the natural day-night cycle, fundamentally altering our biology, social structures, and very perception of night. This episode delves into the profound implications of living in an age of perpetual light, exploring the surprising costs and unforeseen benefits of this luminous revolution, and offering insights into why understanding our ancient relationship with darkness might hold the key to reclaiming better sleep and a more balanced life in our modern, always-on world.