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How we became the sleepless ape.

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Title: How we became the sleepless ape.
Authors: Samson, David (AUTHOR)
Source: New Scientist. 7/4/2026, Vol. 271 Issue 3602, p30-34. 5p. 6 Color Photographs.
Subjects: Rapid eye movement sleep, Circadian rhythms, Somnology, Sleep positions, Biological evolution
Abstract: The article focuses on the evolutionary uniqueness of human sleep, highlighting that humans sleep less than any other primate and allocate a higher proportion of their sleep to rapid eye movement (REM) phases. Unlike other great apes that sleep in arboreal nests, humans transitioned to sleeping on the ground, which increased vulnerability but was mitigated by social innovations collectively termed SHELL—shelter, hearth, environmental preparation, light, and lookouts—that created a protected communal sleep environment. This social sleep niche allowed humans to maintain shorter, more efficient sleep with cognitive benefits while managing risks through cooperation and shared vigilance. Studies of the Hadza hunter-gatherers illustrate that ancestral-style sleep is shorter and more fragmented than modern ideals but aligns closely with natural circadian rhythms, suggesting that timing and social context are key to sleep quality in human evolution. [Extracted from the article]
Copyright of New Scientist is the property of New Scientist Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Engineering Source
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DbLabel: Engineering Source
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PubType: Periodical
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  Data: How we became the sleepless ape.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22New+Scientist%22">New Scientist</searchLink>. 7/4/2026, Vol. 271 Issue 3602, p30-34. 5p. 6 Color Photographs.
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  Data: The article focuses on the evolutionary uniqueness of human sleep, highlighting that humans sleep less than any other primate and allocate a higher proportion of their sleep to rapid eye movement (REM) phases. Unlike other great apes that sleep in arboreal nests, humans transitioned to sleeping on the ground, which increased vulnerability but was mitigated by social innovations collectively termed SHELL—shelter, hearth, environmental preparation, light, and lookouts—that created a protected communal sleep environment. This social sleep niche allowed humans to maintain shorter, more efficient sleep with cognitive benefits while managing risks through cooperation and shared vigilance. Studies of the Hadza hunter-gatherers illustrate that ancestral-style sleep is shorter and more fragmented than modern ideals but aligns closely with natural circadian rhythms, suggesting that timing and social context are key to sleep quality in human evolution. [Extracted from the article]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of New Scientist is the property of New Scientist Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=egs&AN=194987659
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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      – SubjectFull: Rapid eye movement sleep
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Circadian rhythms
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Somnology
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      – SubjectFull: Sleep positions
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Biological evolution
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      – TitleFull: How we became the sleepless ape.
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              Text: 7/4/2026
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              Y: 2026
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