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Curiosity Weekly

EPR Paradox and Quantum Strangeness (w/ George Greenstein) and Temperatures for Sleep

Curiosity Weekly

Warner Bros. Discovery

Science

4.6963 Ratings

🗓️ 18 July 2019

⏱️ 10 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Learn about why room temperature is so important for getting a good night’s sleep. Plus, learn about the EPR paradox and a famous debate from the world of quantum physics with a special guest, astrophysicist George Greenstein.

In this podcast, Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer discuss the following story from Curiosity.com about how scientists figured out why room temperature is so important for sleep: https://curiosity.im/2LH1Mpb

More from George Greenstein:

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Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/epr-paradox-and-quantum-strangeness-w-george-greenstein-and-temperatures-for-sleep


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Transcript

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0:00.0

Hi, we're here from Curiosity.com to help you get smarter in just a few minutes.

0:05.0

I'm Cody Gough.

0:06.0

And I'm Ashley Hamer.

0:07.0

Today you learn about why room temperature is so important for getting a good night's sleep.

0:11.0

Plus, you'll learn about a famous debate from the world of

0:13.3

quantum physics with a special guest. Astrophysicist George

0:16.6

Greenstein, but satisfy some curiosity. Scientists have figured out why

0:21.0

room temperature is so important for sleep.

0:25.0

If you've ever had a hard time passing out in a hotel or in your friend's guest room because

0:29.1

it was too hot or too cold, then this research could explain why.

0:33.2

According to a new study from a team of neuroscientists in Switzerland, it all comes down to what

0:38.1

they call Goldilocks neurons.

0:40.9

When the temperature is just right, these neurons increase rapid eye movement or

0:45.2

REM sleep, which is a pretty essential part of your sleep cycle. There's a lot of

0:49.7

activity in your brain that takes place during REM sleep.

0:53.0

In fact, your breathing, heartbeat, and brain activity increase to nearly the same levels as when you're awake.

1:00.0

Despite all that activity, one thing your brain can't do when you're in that deep sleep is regulate your body temperature.

1:07.0

Which is funny since our bodies are really good at controlling our body temperature when we're awake,

1:12.0

or even when we're asleep during non-rem cycles.

1:15.6

We do that by using mechanisms like panting, sweating, shivering, and getting goosebumps,

1:20.8

but all of those things require a lot of energy. Since your brain is so active during REM sleep,

1:26.5

your body pumps the brakes on those therma regulation mechanisms when you're sleeping. Of course, if the room gets

...

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