4 ms·

A few years ago there was all this talk about the discovery on the effects of sleep on the glymphatic system, where the brain is able to flush out metabolic tox

by SamBam 10y ago

A few years ago there was all this talk about the discovery on the effects of sleep on the glymphatic system, where the brain is able to flush out metabolic toxins that build up during the day. [1][2] I remember one of the things I read was a scientist saying that this might be one of the, if not the, primary functions of sleep, and that, now that we know what it was, we might be able to invent drugs that target it and allow the process to happen without sleep. This would allow people to remain awake without the fatigue, bleary-headedness, or risk of death, that might all be caused by these toxins. (Learning and memory might still be affected if you don't sleep at all, of course.) I don't know whether people are still researching that -- it was only fairly recent after all, so no surprise that we haven't heard much more. 1. http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2013/10/sleep-ultimate-brainwasher http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2013/10/sleep-ultimate-brainw... 2. https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/how-sleep-clears-brain https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/how-sle...

devoply 10y ago
Why don't we change society so we won't have to do this? Why change the man. At the end of the day I think our civilization is highly misanthropic. It really hates people and having to deal with all their human needs.
ue_ 10y ago
I do not support this happening within the current capitalist system. It will lead to even more exploitation of workers, especially in countries with labour laws that aren't as strict. It favors workaholics over people with good balance. Some may regard this as a silly objection, but arguably worker exploitation is the largest problem, with the exception of climate change, in the world today. It is important to consider social effects.
- kahrkunne 10y ago
  Woah calm down there Karl, I'm pretty sure we have a ban on politics here this month.
  - dang 10y ago
    Not a month—originally a week, but we ended it early: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13133855 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13133855 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13131251 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13131251 While I have you, though, please don't post things like "Whoa calm down there Karl". That's patronizing and uncivil, and primes the other person to react negatively. Instead, please post civilly and substantively. Your comment would be fine without the first sentence (along with an s/month/week/ of course).
    - kahrkunne 10y ago
      Alright, duly noted. Still coming to terms with what HN considers "civil" (the way it's described in the rules definitely doesn't help, and is actually harmful to understanding what HN considers "civil", IMO)
      - dang 10y ago
        I understand the desire for precise definitions, but this is not an area that admits of one. To propose one would certainly trigger an avalanche of objections and nitpicking, and even if we got it right I'm doubtful that many people would take it in. It doesn't seem to work to control a large community that way. What does seem to work is a body of case by case practice.
- SamBam 10y ago
  Honestly, that's a good worry to have. But I don't think that kind of consideration will (or should) ever stop basic science research. We might have well have told everyone not to research computer science and robotics, because of all the jobs that automation has removed. Instead, it's up to the politicians and regulators (unfortunately) to prevent exploitation.

by SamBam 10y ago

devoply 10y ago

Why don't we change society so we won't have to do this? Why change the man. At the end of the day I think our civilization is highly misanthropic. It really hates people and having to deal with all their human needs.

ue_ 10y ago

I do not support this happening within the current capitalist system. It will lead to even more exploitation of workers, especially in countries with labour laws that aren't as strict. It favors workaholics over people with good balance. Some may regard this as a silly objection, but arguably worker exploitation is the largest problem, with the exception of climate change, in the world today. It is important to consider social effects.

kahrkunne 10y ago
Woah calm down there Karl, I'm pretty sure we have a ban on politics here this month.
- dang 10y ago
  Not a month—originally a week, but we ended it early: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13133855 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13133855 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13131251 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13131251 While I have you, though, please don't post things like "Whoa calm down there Karl". That's patronizing and uncivil, and primes the other person to react negatively. Instead, please post civilly and substantively. Your comment would be fine without the first sentence (along with an s/month/week/ of course).
  - kahrkunne 10y ago
    Alright, duly noted. Still coming to terms with what HN considers "civil" (the way it's described in the rules definitely doesn't help, and is actually harmful to understanding what HN considers "civil", IMO)
    - dang 10y ago
      I understand the desire for precise definitions, but this is not an area that admits of one. To propose one would certainly trigger an avalanche of objections and nitpicking, and even if we got it right I'm doubtful that many people would take it in. It doesn't seem to work to control a large community that way. What does seem to work is a body of case by case practice.
SamBam 10y ago
Honestly, that's a good worry to have. But I don't think that kind of consideration will (or should) ever stop basic science research. We might have well have told everyone not to research computer science and robotics, because of all the jobs that automation has removed. Instead, it's up to the politicians and regulators (unfortunately) to prevent exploitation.