Should we scrap daylight saving time?
BBC Science Focus|November 2024
Most of us look forward to the extra hour we get in bed every October, but researchers argue that changing the clocks twice a year harms our health
IAN TAYLOR
Should we scrap daylight saving time?

Human beings don't like change. As a species, we're a conservative bunch, very adaptable, of course, but ultimately fond of safe, predictable stasis. So it's odd that twice a year, every year, we inflict a big, fundamental change upon ourselves when we turn our clocks back in autumn and forward in spring. On paper, this biannual gear shift doesn't seem that significant - it's only an hour after all. But our bodies really don't like change. The negative effects on our wellbeing are such that many health researchers believe the sun needs to set on daylight saving time (DST) altogether.

Their reasoning? The clocks inside our bodies aren't as easy to change as the ones on our walls. Mounting research shows that artificially altering the time twice a year has a significant impact on our circadian health, interrupting the rhythm of the internal body clocks that keep many of our bodily functions ticking. When the clocks spring forward in March, for example, there's usually a 25-per-cent uptick in the number of heart attacks reported. It's thought disruption to our circadian clocks raises our blood pressure and the amount of cortisol, a stress hormone, in our systems, increasing the overall risk of a heart attack.

Other research suggests that circadian disruption interferes with our immune response, with the number of natural killer cells a person has falling when their body clock is knocked out of sync. When we gain an hour in October, the sudden onset of darkness also takes a toll. "Particularly among people of European ancestry, there are those individuals who suffer from seasonal affective disorder," says Dr John O'Neill, who studies circadian rhythms at the Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology. "That's thought to be due to the times you see light. When you perceive that the day length is shorter, it signals you to be less active and this tends to lead to a lower mood."

This story is from the November 2024 edition of BBC Science Focus.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the November 2024 edition of BBC Science Focus.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM BBC SCIENCE FOCUSView All
COULD MARINE CLOUD BRIGHTENING HELP US FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE?
BBC Science Focus

COULD MARINE CLOUD BRIGHTENING HELP US FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE?

The theory behind marine cloud brightening is that brighter or whiter clouds reflect more sunlight back into space.

time-read
1 min  |
November 2024
IS IT SAFE TO RUN EVERY DAY, OR SHOULD I DITCH MY RUN STREAK TO SAVE MY KNEES?
BBC Science Focus

IS IT SAFE TO RUN EVERY DAY, OR SHOULD I DITCH MY RUN STREAK TO SAVE MY KNEES?

A running streak, where you run every day without taking rest days, can be highly motivating and beneficial for overall fitness. Running is great cardiovascular exercise and isn't to be discouraged (and finding a routine with some consistency is great). Getting a bit of exercise as often as possible is also hugely beneficial for your mental health.

time-read
1 min  |
November 2024
WHAT MAKES THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET SO GOOD FOR US?
BBC Science Focus

WHAT MAKES THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET SO GOOD FOR US?

The Mediterranean diet may help you live longer, especially if you also adopt the lifestyle of people living near the Med during the 1950s.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 2024
WHAT IS MEXICO'S BLUE HOLE?
BBC Science Focus

WHAT IS MEXICO'S BLUE HOLE?

The world's deepest blue hole (marine sinkhole) lies off the coast of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula. It's at least 420m (1,378ft) deep, but explorers still haven't found its bottom.

time-read
1 min  |
November 2024
HOW CAN I TELL IF I'VE GOT HIGH CORTISOL LEVELS?
BBC Science Focus

HOW CAN I TELL IF I'VE GOT HIGH CORTISOL LEVELS?

Cortisol is a hormone produced by glands in our bodies called the adrenal glands, which sit above the kidneys. It plays a critical role in various bodily functions, including regulating metabolism, reducing inflammation and helping the body respond to stress. While essential for our health, chronic elevation of cortisol levels can lead to several issues.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 2024
THE LUNGFISH
BBC Science Focus

THE LUNGFISH

In 1836, European scientists discovered a peculiar animal from the River Amazon that they struggled to identify. Its eel-like body was a few feet long and its air-filled lungs persuaded anatomists it must be a reptile.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 2024
ARE WE THE ONLY SPECIES TO HAVE BEEN THROUGH A STONE AGE?
BBC Science Focus

ARE WE THE ONLY SPECIES TO HAVE BEEN THROUGH A STONE AGE?

The Stone Age might conjure up images of early humans, sitting around a campfire or hunting prehistoric beasts, but evidence shows that we're not the only species that has learned how to work with stone tools. Wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) use stone tools to crack open nuts.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 2024
Should we scrap daylight saving time?
BBC Science Focus

Should we scrap daylight saving time?

Most of us look forward to the extra hour we get in bed every October, but researchers argue that changing the clocks twice a year harms our health

time-read
5 mins  |
November 2024
THE INTERNET OF ANIMALS
BBC Science Focus

THE INTERNET OF ANIMALS

SCIENTISTS ARE USING ELECTRONIC TAGS AND SATELLITES TO TRACK WILD ANIMALS AND CREATE A DATA NETWORK THAT COULD HELP US ADDRESS THE BIODIVERSITY CRISIS

time-read
8 mins  |
November 2024
MUSIC FOR A DISTRACTED GENERATION
BBC Science Focus

MUSIC FOR A DISTRACTED GENERATION

The number of things competing for our attention is often overwhelming. Can dreamy soundscapes created with neuroscience help our bewildered brains to concentrate?

time-read
10 mins  |
November 2024