NASA's new lights are made to help astronauts get better sleep.
It’s probably not surprising that setting a sleep schedule has to be tough for the astronauts.
According to reports, approximately half of the people who have ventured to space depend on sleep medication.
NASA has recently come up with a new lighting system which will hopefully alleviate some of the sleep related issues. The plan will require a whopping $11.2 million.
State-of-the-art, light-emitting diodes will be put in place of the fluorescent bulbs in part of the International Space Station. The new lights will switch between blue, red and whitish lights depending on the time of day.
The blue light is said to simulate the human brain, essentially keeping people awake while the color red increases melatonin, which helps in regulating sleep cycle. Officials hope to install the lights by 2016.
Sleep deprivation is a serious issue. According to WebMD, reducing nightly sleep by only an hour and a half can reduce alertness during the day by 32%. Lack of sleep is also linked to memory impairment and a twofold higher risk of having an injury while at work.
