Daylight Boosts Better Sleep! Scientists Reveal Simple Daily Fix
By Health Correspondent
Struggling to sleep? The answer could be as simple as getting more light during the day.
Scientists at the University of Leicester have uncovered new evidence showing that light plays a key role in helping the body sleep properly — and it all starts with the eyes.
In a fascinating study using tiny fruit flies (a species called Drosophila melanogaster), researchers found that when the insects’ vision was disrupted, their sleep became broken and irregular.
By switching off genes linked to sight and tracking movement with sensors, the team discovered that flies with poor vision struggled to maintain normal sleep patterns — especially during the day.
Experts say this matters because humans and fruit flies share similar biological systems when it comes to how light is detected and processed by the brain.
Dr Ko-Fan Chen, lecturer in Neurogenetics in the University of Leicester’s School of Biological Sciences, and corresponding author on the paper, explained that visual signals help regulate the body’s natural sleep rhythms, suggesting light exposure is more important than previously thought.
Yu-Chien Hung, lead author and Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council-funded postdoctoral research associate, added that the findings could help scientists better understand sleep disorders — and even lead to new treatments in the future.
The takeaway? Poor lighting during the day — such as dim offices or staying indoors too much — could actually make it harder to fall asleep at night.
Researchers now believe that getting enough natural light could be a simple but powerful way to improve sleep quality.
The results have just been published in https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2451994426000040?via%3Dihub
