"Penguins' Surprising Sleep Habits: Thousands of Naps a Day for Survival"

1 min read
Source: The New York Times
"Penguins' Surprising Sleep Habits: Thousands of Naps a Day for Survival"
Photo: The New York Times
TL;DR

A new study has found that penguins are champion power nappers, falling asleep thousands of times a day in short bursts lasting a few seconds each. This fragmented sleeping pattern is unique among animals and highlights the limited understanding of sleep. Researchers speculate that the penguins' ability to sleep despite constant interruptions and disturbances in their noisy and crowded colonies may provide some essential benefit. However, some scientists question the significance of these fleeting bursts of sleep and suggest that sleep may be the default setting for the animal brain.

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