Well-lit rooms full of natural light are not just aesthetically pleasing, they contribute to our overall health.
The body’s natural circadian rhythms rely on full-spectrum light exposure to set our internal clocks, and anticipate daily changes in our environment. According to postdoc fellow Annika Barber, “light is our biggest time cue, but blue light is particularly important.”
Natural light consists of several wavelengths. Blue wavelengths specifically trigger cells in our eyes that transmit information to the part of our brains that control our circadian rhythms. Bodies that lack access to natural light can suffer from metabolic sluggishness. Conversely, excessive exposure to fluorescent light sends artificial blue lightwaves to our brains at times of the day when we naturally taper off our exposure to light. This is why it is wise to limit exposure to devices and screens before bedtime, so the body's natural circadian rhythms are restored.
For people who lack regular access to natural light during the day, there are tools to replicate full-spectrum light sources. However, Barber warns that the timing is just as important when using these light alternatives. “You don’t want to be telling your internal clock that it’s morning at 3:30 in the afternoon,” she said. “The body will take this as a wake-up call—but at the wrong time!”
Novel plant-based approach to a better, cheaper GLP-1 delivery system
Research led by Penn Dental’s Henry Daniell investigates the use of a lettuce-based, plant-encapsulated delivery platform as a new oral delivery of two GLP-1 drugs previously approved by the FDA in injectable form.
No brain, no gain: Neuronal activity enhances benefits of exercise
Research led by Penn neuroscientist J. Nicholas Betley and collaborators finds that hypothalamic neurons are essential for translating physical exertion into endurance, potentially opening the door to exercise-mimicking therapies.
In honor of Valentine's Day, and as a way of fostering community in her Shakespeare in Love course, Becky Friedman took her students to the University Club for lunch one class period. They talked about the movie "Shakespeare in Love," as part of a broader conversation on how Shakespeare's works are adapted.
In Becky Friedman’s English course Shakespeare in Love, undergraduate students analyze language, genre, and adaptation in the Bard’s plays through the lens of love.
Beating the heat: Designing cooling for bodies in motion
Dorit Aviv, director of Weitzman’s Thermal Architecture Lab, studies how humans, technology, and design intersect, paving the way for the development of novel approaches to cooling people efficiently.
