"researchers have found that in darkness most people eventually adjust to a 48-hour cycle: 36 hours of activity followed by 12 hours of sleep. The reasons are still unclear."
I'm not well-versed in modern sleep research, but our habits today are shifting drastically for the first time. Because of electricity, we're no longer bound to the sun cycle, as species of past millennia have been, and the typical day-night sleep schedule is no longer required.
With alternative sleep cycles popularizing (i.e. biphasic, dymaxion, everyman), I wonder if we'll find that more efficient/healthy systems exist. It's very possible that our modern habits evolved in spite of best health, reacting to more immediate issues instead. But now, with a counter to the danger of darkness, we have an opportunity to experiment with otherwise-unrealistic cycles.
But then again, the 6-10 hour blocks we're acclimated to may be so deeply engrained that our health would face consequences in any other situation.
I suppose my statement was a bit unfounded. Having just graduated, many of my friends have begun experimenting now that school's out (and schedules are less strict).
With alternative sleep cycles popularizing (i.e. biphasic, dymaxion, everyman), I wonder if we'll find that more efficient/healthy systems exist. It's very possible that our modern habits evolved in spite of best health, reacting to more immediate issues instead. But now, with a counter to the danger of darkness, we have an opportunity to experiment with otherwise-unrealistic cycles.
But then again, the 6-10 hour blocks we're acclimated to may be so deeply engrained that our health would face consequences in any other situation.