Hunter-gatherers slept less than you think. And they didn’t complain about being tired. We’re told we’re living through a sleep epidemic but were our ancestors actually sleeping better than us? The answer might change how you think about your nightly routine entirely.

In this episode, we dig into the real science of sleep: from why modern life is making us chronically exhausted, to whether you can actually recover from sleep debt and the surprising truth about what just a few missed hours does to your brain.

We also unpack the unexpected connection between your gut microbiome and your sleep quality, explore which foods and supplements actually work, and ask whether sleep trackers are genuinely helping you or quietly making your anxiety worse.

Plus, we get into the science of napping — how long is too long, what the military knows about tactical naps that most of us don’t, and whether offices should be installing nap pods. And if you’ve ever wondered whether cheese really gives you nightmares, or whether a poop transplant could help you sleep better, we have answers.

Sleep special: https://www.newscientist.com/subject/…

00:00 Intro
00:52 Are we really in a poor sleep epidemic?
06:22 Getting into sleep debt
16:47 How sleep affects your microbiome
25:36 Sleep trackers and other tech
29:28 Perfect the art of the nap

Offering their sleep tips in this special episode of the podcast are Rowan Hooper, Madeleine Cuff, Catherine de Lange and Alison George.

What does the latest science actually mean for us? Each week, New Scientist editors Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet dig into the biggest stories in science alongside expert scientists, from the mysteries of consciousness to the search for dark matter, to feed your curiosity and make sense of an uncertain world.

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