How Does Our Circadian Rhythm Affect Our Health?
Our circadian rhythm is best described as the natural cycle of mental, physical, and behavioral changes the body goes through in a 24 hour cycle. Often referred to as our “biological clock”, this system helps to regulate our bodies to function optimally within the cycle of a day.
In this blog we will discuss the affects of circadian rhythm and health by examining the underlying hormonal processes within that are governed by it. These hormonal processes can directly affect our mood, mental health, sleep quality, and even our productivity. Understanding how light affects these processes can help us to optimize our lives and improve our overall health.
Circadian Lighting Design Made Simple
The discovery that light fundamentally affects our health revolutionized how we think about lighting interior spaces. Lighting design now involves considerations of biology, especially the impact of illumination on circadian rhythm.
Business at the speed of (circadian) light: A F500 Company Productivity Study
The business world is transforming not just because of technological or strategic innovations, but also because of biology. Many recent biological breakthroughs in how our living environment affects fundamental health are making it clear that the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the light that shines upon us have deep-biological influences on our minds and bodies.
Circadian Lighting for Senior Living and Elderly Care
Caring for older adults in senior living or memory care facilities presents unique challenges—especially related to disrupted sleep-wake cycles. Many residents, particularly those with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, spend most or all of their time indoors and away from natural light cues. Unfortunately, traditional electric lighting does not provide the critical sky-blue light signals required to maintain healthy circadian rhythms—the biological clock that governs sleep, alertness, mood, and metabolism.
Daylighting, Weather, and Wuthering Heights
As I put down the book to take a break from the bleak, stormy moors and constant gloom surrounding Wuthering Heights, the steady downpour outside my window accentuates my blah feelings on an otherwise relaxing winter weekend. I’m struck by the decidedly muted light bathing my reading chair, despite it being midday in Spring, and sitting within a meter of a large, east-facing window. I wondered how much mood- and energy-boosting natural light actually reaches me through the window during inclement weather. My handy melanopic spectrometer, held vertically facing the window at 1.5m, registered a mere 155 m-EDI despite being bright enough to read by. Could my present funk be part Brontë and part melanopic light deficiency?
SkyView™ Technology DOE Grant to Revolutionize Circadian Lighting
We are thrilled to announce that Biological Innovations and Optimization Systems, LLC was recently awarded a prestigious $1 million grant from the Department of Energy (DOE) for our groundbreaking SkyView™ technology! This funding highlights the DOE’s recognition of our advancements in illuminating visually appealing environments while significantly optimizing circadian health through our patented Gradient Circadian Optimization (GCO) technology, embedded in the SkyView™ Tile.
Bright Students – Dark Classrooms – Why Healthier School Lighting Matters
Imagine walking into a classroom where every student has the same textbooks, the same desks, and the same teacher—yet some students can’t absorb the material because the lighting isn’t right. That’s essentially what’s happening with melanopic light exposure in many classrooms today.
Fixing the Fundamental Flaw in Indoor Lighting
Step outside from a well-lit office into the daylight, and you’re met with a world hundreds of times brighter. Your eyes adjust quickly, so you may not think twice. But that blue sky day that surrounds you tends to bring joy and energy; a gloomy day – not so much. With outside light having such effects on mood and energy, have you ever considered what the effects are of spending so much time under electric lighting?
The Super Bowl and Sleep
Did Your Super Bowl Watch Party Mess with Your Sleep? Probably Not the Way You Think!
What is Melanopic Daily Exposure Ratio (M-DER)?
In our modern world, artificial lighting has become an integral part of our daily lives. However, not all artificial light is created equal. The type and quality of light we are exposed to can significantly impact our body’s circadian rhythm, which in turn affects our overall health and wellness.