TED Series
Sleeping with Science Sleeping with Science Sleeping with Science

Sleeping with Science

Sleep — we spend one-third of our lives doing it, but what exactly do we get out of it? And how can we do it better? In this new TED series, sleep scientist Matt Walker uncovers the facts and secrets behind our nightly slumber. Tune in weekly for better zzz's! (Made possible with the support of Beautyrest)
Episodes
4:47
Matt Walker

A walk through the stages of sleep

Did you know you go on a journey every night after you close your eyes? Sleep scientist Matt Walker breaks down the difference between REM (Rapid-Eye Movement) and non-REM sleep, what occurs during each stage of sleep -- and why it's important to get enough of both.
4:54
Matt Walker

How caffeine and alcohol affect your sleep

Caffeine wakes you up, and alcohol makes you nod off, right? It's not that simple. Sleep scientist Matt Walker takes us into the eye-opening ways that these drinks affect the quantity and quality of our sleep.
19:18
Matt Walker

Sleep is your superpower

Sleep is your life-support system and Mother Nature's best effort yet at immortality, says sleep scientist Matt Walker. In this deep dive into the science of slumber, Walker shares the wonderfully good things that happen when you get sleep -- and the alarmingly bad things that happen when you don't, for both your brain and body. Learn more about sleep's impact on your learning, memory, immune system and even your genetic code -- as well as some helpful tips for getting some shut-eye.
2:05
partner content
Beautyrest

Innovations in sleep

The way we sleep is constantly evolving -- from the first raised beds in ancient Egypt to communal sleeping as a way to keep warm during the Industrial Revolution to separate beds for married couples in Victorian England. Now that we've begun to study sleep as a science, we're starting to understand just how important a good night's sleep can be to our health and happiness.