As widely shared on our social media channels, the BioClock team was present at Lowlands Science 2025 last weekend (16–18 August), where we introduced festival visitors to the fascinating world of the biological clock. The initiative was led by Maaike van der Rhee, Demy van Gilst, Ward Vleeshouwers, and Gali Albalak. Under the motto “Too tired to function? Let’s find out!” our PhD candidates explored the question: how does sleep deprivation affect reaction time, alertness, and even...

New study highlights the importance of timing in physical activity Research by BioClock scientist Gali Albalak (Leiden University Medical Center) shows that not only how much we move, but also when we move can influence our mental health. The results indicate that people who are primarily active in the morning have a significantly lower risk of depression, whereas nighttime activity is associated with a higher risk. Largest study to date Using data from the UK Biobank, the...

Biological clock & Student wellbeing Sleep problems are increasingly common among university students and are strongly linked to mood and anxiety disorders. An irregular day–night rhythm – caused by late bedtimes and social jetlag – worsens these complaints. What was studied? BioClock researcher Laura Pape (Leiden University) and her colleagues developed the digital self-help intervention ‘i-Sleep & BioClock’. This five-week program combines the proven...

The night is full of life, if you look closely. Take part and capture a striking image that puts the natural world after sunset centre stage. Send in your photo by 14 September for the Photo Challenge “The Beauty of the Night.” In a world that grows ever brighter, this contest highlights the importance of darkness. Every living being on Earth runs on a biological clock tied to the light–dark cycle. Artificial light at night can disrupt this rhythm, affecting health, behaviour,...

Artificial light at night may seem harmless. After all, it helps us see better, feel safer, and enjoy our cities after sunset. But for insects, night-time lighting can be a trap – literally. And since insects are essential for pollination and as food for birds and bats, the ripple effects are widespread. A new BioClock-study shows that both the color and intensity of artificial light influence how insects respond, offering valuable insights for how we design lighting to protect...

Night is more than just a moment on the clock – it is a rich and diverse habitat we still know surprisingly little about. But what does ‘the night’ mean for our modern cities? For the latest Roundtable by the international platform The Nature of Cities (TNOC), researchers, designers, and policymakers from around the world shared their perspectives on the night. Their goal: to shed light on the lives that unfold after sunset in cities across the globe. Mara...

Higher temperatures amplify the effects of anthropogenic light at night on bats. A recent publication by Sander Buddendorf, a researcher at the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW) within the BioClock project, shows that common pipistrelle bats (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) are more strongly attracted to streetlights on warm nights — a behavior that disrupts their foraging patterns and thereby the ecological balance in a warming climate. What was the study about? Over a...