Why do we sleep so long? Detailed answer

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Why do we sleep so long? Detailed answer

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Why do we sleep so long?

If we compare the human body with a machine, it is easy to see that the machine has one great advantage: it can work around the clock. A person needs to restore tired organs and tissues of his body at certain intervals: to repair the body and get rid of the waste products accumulated in it during the day. All this is done during sleep.

When a person sleeps, all the functions of his body slow down. The blood pressure drops. Pulse beats become less frequent. Breathing slows down. Even the body temperature drops a little. The process of metabolism during sleep is slower.

So, the body needs sleep primarily to maintain its vital functions. Well, how many hours of sleep does a person need? Although it is strange, but the duration of sleep is a very individual thing. Of course, children need to sleep longer than adults. The older a person gets, the less sleep he needs. The main thing is to sleep enough time and, when you wake up, feel rested and refreshed. Some people claim that four hours of sleep a night is enough for them, but for most this is clearly not enough. There are also such "dormouse" who can sleep for ten or more hours.

The great German philosopher Immanuel Kant was very fond of sleeping, but, knowing the value of time, he could not afford to sleep more than seven hours a day. However, the servant had to force him out of bed, otherwise he would sleep and sleep like a groundhog! By the way, a short nap - sometimes even 15 minutes or half an hour - can sometimes give more rest than a long nap. Of course, if it is a truly deep sleep, when our body really relaxes and all its cells rest.

Author: Likum A.

Random interesting fact from the Great Encyclopedia:

Which band released a remake of an anti-war song with lyrics that glorify the military?

The Bolland brothers' song "In the Army Now" received worldwide fame performed by the group "Status Quo". Initially, it was an anti-war song, but in 2010 the musicians released a remake, making it military-patriotic and rewriting all the revealing fragments of the text. So, "Uncle Sam did his best" turned into "Now you need to do everything in your power." And after the line "Your finger is on the trigger" instead of "But it doesn't seem right" it became "Now is the time to fight." Proceeds from the sale of the single, according to the band, were to go to organizations that help the wounded and rehabilitate former soldiers.

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The warmer it gets in cities, the less carbon dioxide the trees absorb. 12.10.2016

US scientists warn that as temperatures rise in cities, the ability of trees to absorb carbon dioxide is reduced by 12%.

Urban trees and shrubs are significant CO2 stores. They absorb it from the atmosphere during photosynthesis through stomata - special pores on both sides of the leaves, designed for gas exchange with the atmosphere and moisture evaporation. The absorbed gas is used by the plant for tissue growth. In general, this feature of plants is favorable for the climate, as it mitigates global warming.

It is estimated that trees in urban areas in the United States absorb 643 million tons of CO2 annually. Another 25,6 million tons are trees in cities. The scientists, led by Emily Meineke, a Harvard postdoctoral fellow, monitored 40 trees at 20 locations in Raleigh, Northern California, for three years. Places for observation were chosen from satellite images: 10 relatively cold places and 10 unusually warm ones. Usually the coolness is where there is more greenery. Asphalt and buildings, on the other hand, create additional heat. Although the difference in temperature is small - only 2-3 degrees Fahrenheit.

In each of the 20 observation sites, the scientists chose two loose-leaved oaks. Every third of the oaks they treated with an insecticide spray. The idea was that untreated trees in warm places would grow slower because they were more likely to be attacked by insects. Insects are exothermic, meaning their temperature depends on the temperature of the environment. The warmer, the more active the metabolism of insects, the more eggs they lay.

Indeed, after three years of observations, it turned out that there are more beetles in warm places, and untreated trees grow more slowly. At the same time, these trees absorb less CO2. When they compared the fresh growth of plants treated with insecticide and the growth of untreated plants, they saw that the beetles harm more the branches where they live, and not the whole tree. "We don't know exactly how much carbon dioxide is taken up by the new branches, but there isn't much in the tree overall," Meinecke said.

Why do trees grow worse in warm places? The authors of the work believe that in this way the tree is trying to reduce the consumption of moisture in conditions of rising air temperature, so it closes the stomata on the leaves. At the same time, it reduces the ability for photosynthesis, energy production, growth, and CO2 uptake.

According to Meinecke, the results of the work will be useful for urban planners who take into account the greening of the city as an absorber of greenhouse gases. The effect established by scientists will increase with increasing temperature. So, you need to choose trees that will absorb CO2 in warm and dry conditions.

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