November 2024 Sunday, November 17, 2024 No events Monday, November 18, 2024 No events Tuesday, November 19, 2024 TFASS Tom F. Anders Seminar Series 12:00 pm Kelton Minor Data Scientist, Columbia University Data Science Institute Topic: Sleep in a Warming World: An Anthropogenic Experiment Humankind flourished during a period characterized by a relatively stable climate. In recent centuries human industrial activities have radically transformed the Earth system and demonstrably altered the climate, with accelerated global warming already apparent and expected to grow as a function of society's emissions decisions. While sleep health is formative for human development, functioning, and well-being throughout our lives, the putative influence of human-induced environmental changes on sleep remains poorly understood. Notably, nighttime temperatures are climbing faster than daytime temperatures in most populated regions due to global warming. For the global majority, human exposure to nighttime heat is further exacerbated by urbanization and the resultant urban heat island effect. While laboratory studies have historically shown that extreme temperatures can disrupt sleep, the real-world consequences of rising nighttime temperatures on sleep health remain underexplored. In his Thomas F. Anders seminar, Dr. Minor will shed light on recent ecological evidence from the first global study of the effects of nighttime warming on human sleep, the findings from a new systematic review of the literature, and a forthcoming global climate and sleep indicator. Cumulatively, this body of evidence indicates a clear link between higher nighttime temperatures and diminished sleep quality and quantity around the world. Research using new quasi-experimental designs further highlights that this relationship is causal in nature. The adverse effects of heat on sleep appear more pronounced during peak heat periods, among vulnerable groups, and in the hottest climates. Moreover, the current evidence points to a limited capacity for human adaptation to these warmer conditions over short to medium time horizons, highlighting the risk that climate change and urban heat islands pose to our sleep and, consequently, to broader aspects of human health, learning and well-being separately shown to suffer during hot weather. Dr. Minor will also emphasize critical gaps in research and call for increased collaborations between sleep researchers, climate scientists, and the climate impacts research community. Such transdisciplinary work is urgently needed to assess and address this "anthropogenic experiment" at a scale commensurate with its global footprint, aiming to safeguard the sleep of both current and future generations. Missed this TFASS? Click here to watch Dr. Minor's presentation! Wednesday, November 20, 2024 No events Thursday, November 21, 2024 No events Friday, November 22, 2024 No events Saturday, November 23, 2024 No events |
