It’s a problem that has plagued travellers ever since the first long-haul flights took off – how to combat jet lag.
Everyone has their own way of trying to ward off jet lag, from staying awake during a flight to forcing yourself to go to bed when it’s dark – despite being wide awake.
Yet these dubious solutions could soon be unnecessary, as scientists in Australia claim to have created a device that cures jet lag.
Jet lag is caused by our body clock being thrown out of whack by travelling through different time zones, which can take a long time to adjust to the new daylight hours.
Scientists from Flinders University in Adelaide have come up with a pair of high-tech “sunglasses” that they claim can retime the body clock.
The high-tech specs work by emitting a soft green glow that stimulates the part of the brain that controls our body clock.
Travellers can use the Retimer in the days leading up to their flight, to slowly adjust their body clock to the time zone of their destination.
“The light from Retimer stimulates the part of the brain responsible for regulating the 24-hour body clock,” said Prof Leon Lack, the Retimer’s chief inventor.
“Using a light device allows you to transition your body clock to a new time zone in small steps. This eliminates the sudden change people experience after flying and reduces the symptoms of jet lag.”
With an estimated 94 per cent of long-haul travellers experiencing jet lag, the Retimer could prove to be a hugely popular device.
It was launched in Australia this week after 25 years of research into sleep patterns by the Aussie scientists, and can be picked up for £162 in the UK.
As well as combating jet lag, the Retimer can be used to treat insomnia, boost energy levels in the winter and manage fatigue.
“Body clocks or circadian rhythms influence the timing of all our sleeping and waking patterns, alertness, performance levels and metabolism,” added Prof Lack.
“Photoreceptors in our eyes detect sunlight, signal our brain to be awake and alert, and set our rhythms accordingly.”
