Sleep Special – with Prof Russell Foster
In this special edition of Just One Thing, Dr Michael Mosley interviews Professor Russell Foster, Director of the Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute at the University of Oxford and one of the world’s leading experts on body clocks. In this concise, practical episode, Foster explains how circadian rhythms work, how much sleep we truly need, […]
How Light Regulates the Body Clock
Professor Russell Foster’s research has transformed our understanding of how light shapes human biology. His work identifies a third photoreceptor system in the eye — melanopsin‑containing retinal ganglion cells — that detects blue‑enriched light (~480 nm) and sends powerful signals to the brain’s circadian clock. This system regulates melatonin release, sleep timing, alertness, mood, and […]
Sleep Medication & Mortality
This influential matched‑cohort study followed more than 20,000 adults and found that people prescribed common sleep medications (hypnotics) had a threefold increase in mortality risk, even when taking fewer than 18 pills per year. The analysis showed a clear dose–response pattern, with higher use linked to greater risk. Several widely used hypnotics—including zolpidem, temazepam, eszopiclone, […]