Comes a story from the Los Angeles Times, and I just wonder. It says a study has revealed that our ancient ancestors were as sleep deprived as we are. One immediately wonders how they would ever determine such a thing.
Well, they studied three three societies alive today, three groups of people that haven't caught up with technology and still live ancient-like lives: the Hazda, San, and Tsimane societies.
I am sure I'm not the only person who wonders about that methodology. While such a study can be used to suggest the pressures of modern technology might not be limiting our sleep, it seems wrong to stretch the conclusions even further and quantify how much sleep our ancient ancestors received. For one thing, there might have been biological differences at play.
But, a second thing bothers me about this study: Who paid for it? Where did UCLA's Center for Sleep Research get the money to pay for this study?
Inasmuch as the story does not reveal who footed the bill, it is fair to wonder. And, the leading possible party would likely be Uncle Sam. I think back to my youth, when we lamented the waste of such studies when they were government-funded, and wonder whether this study drew similar response. If it was funded, even in part, with government funds, then such criticism is warranted. We are $18-plus trillion in debt, and should be looking to ax wasteful spending wherever we see it.
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