Natural light from the lab | Tomorrow Today

Researchers at Germany's Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering are working to develop the lighting systems of the future. These systems will be able to adjust themselves to people's daily rhythms -- both at home, and at the office. Light regulates our biological clock, determines when we sleep and wake up, and influences heart rate and blood pressure.Blue light is particularly important. During the day, it makes people more active because it suppresses the sleep hormone melatonin. During the evening, a reduction in the amount of blue light boosts melatonin production, which helps make us sleepy.

More from this edition of Tomorrow Today: http://www.dw.com/en/tomorrow-today-the-science-magazine-2016-03-13/e-19057584-9798