A few seconds lost over millions of years seem irrelevant, but atomic clock scientists say that better clock precision will help us study and feel the heartbeat of the universe.
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Sleep is important for everyone’s health, but it’s particularly important for children and teenagers, whose brains are still growing. Teenagers are biologically inclined to stay up later, resulting in two-thirds of young people being seriously sleep deprived. Lack of sleep can lead to obesity, depression, smoking, drinking, lower grades, and can contribute to car crashes. To prevent these things, health experts recommend that middle and high schools start no earlier than 8:30 a.m. School districts are not following this recommendation, however, as five out of six schools start before then. Listen to more about this ongoing public health issue.
Read MoreDebate: Should We Keep Daylight Savings Time?
Every spring and fall Americans turn the clocks back or forward one hour to make the best use of the daylight. It’s called Daylight Savings Time. When the clocks are turned back in the fall, it will be brighter in the mornings as we go to school and to work. New research shows this time change has a big downside: an increase in crime. By looking at crime patterns, researchers discovered that robbery rates increase when it's darker for a longer time in the evenings. Listen to this story and have students gather evidence for a debate about whether or not we should keep Daylight Savings Time.
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When people don't get enough sleep, it can affect attention, reflexes, and communication. Even the reactions of people are different when they are well rested from when they are deprived of sleep. A group of scientists studying epilepsy also studied the effects of sleep deprivation. They learned that when people don’t sleep enough, certain brain cells literally slow down. Listen to hear more about how important sleep is to the way we process information.
Read MoreCURRENT EVENT | April 15, 2022
Twice a year, Americans adjust their clocks. Pushing the clocks an hour forward in the spring during daylight saving time means more light in the evening, and many Americans want to make that permanent. They say more light at night saves energy and encourages people to be active. Changing the clocks, they argue, increases fatigue and can cause accidents. Others argue that changing clocks twice a year keeps the light consistent with our natural rhythms. Those who favor holding onto standard time are concerned that dark mornings can be difficult for those going to school or work. Listen to learn about an earlier attempt to stop switching the clocks and then debate: Should daylight saving time be permanent?
Story Length: 3:15
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03/19/2022
https://app.listenwise.com/students/events/2251-debate-should-daylight-saving-time-be-permanent
Classroom Discussion Themes