Night Creatures

Powerful new drugs that can keep us awake for 90 hours and their implications for humanity, will be discussed at Night Creatures, an event at the Science Museum’s Dana Centre - the UK’s only dedicated venue for adults to debate contemporary and controversial science - on Tuesday 12 July.

Powerful new drugs that can keep us awake for 90 hours and their implications for humanity, will be discussed at Night Creatures, an event at the Science Museum’s Dana Centre - the UK’s only dedicated venue for adults to debate contemporary and controversial science - on Tuesday 12 July.

Drugs such as Provigil - used to treat conditions including narcolepsy and shift work sleep disorder - are becoming increasingly popular, especially in America. In the UK Provigil is only available on prescription. But if you could pop a pill, skip a few hours of sleep, and function as normal should you be allowed to? Would you want to?

A 24-hour lifestyle could have profound implications on both individuals and society. What would the physiological effects be on the human body? Would we be awake but little more than zombies? Would we have more leisure time? Or would the working day increase to compensate?

Sleep is crucial for memory consolidation, creativity and problem solving and the short and long term side effects of sleep-deprivation may be greater than we imagine. Can these drugs overcome the side effects?

The winner of Channel 4’s controversial programme Shattered - Clare Southern - managed to remain awake for an incredible 178 hours. She will be joining sleep experts to share her experiences.

Director of the Surrey Sleep Research Centre, Professor Derk-Jan Dijk, and Director of the Loughborough Sleep Research Centre, Professor Jim Horne, will discuss the advent of these new drugs.

“For centuries caffeine and other pick-me-ups have been used to help stave off sleep. However drugs such as Provigil are in a different class. They can keep us awake longer, and without the jittery effects of coffee,” said Tom Ziessen, Dana Centre Programme Developer.

“This event will get to the heart of all the issues, discuss what the implications of a stay-awake society may be, and answer whether we should be losing sleep over this.”

Night Creatures is in partnership with The Times Body&Soul and Hilly Janes, Editor of Body&Soul will facilitate this event.

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