Today in Science: Delaying gratification improves your life

Science meets inbox July 17, 2023: The benefits of delayed gratification, why our sleep patterns are so important and tips for going meat-free. Welcome to a new week! —Andrea Gawrylewski, Chief Newsletter Editor TOP STORIES Exercises in Patience In a study comparing delayed gratification in children, researchers found that Japanese kids could handily wait for up to 15 minutes before eating a treat when left unobserved. American kids waited for less than four minutes on average. In a separate test though, U.S. children could wait far longer to open gifts compared with their Japanese counterparts. Both groups of kids displayed self-control, but in completely different contexts. What to make of these differences? What this means: Previous studies have found that delayed gratification predicts better outcomes in school, relationships and health later in life. But the differences in cultural norms can strongly impact test results: Japanese culture normalizes delayed gratification around food more than it does around opening presents, for example.  What the experts say: These findings have implications for psychological research. "We may be comparing people without considering how cultural norms, years of practice and social scaffolding make a particular task significantly harder or easier for some than others," writes Yuko Munakata, professor of psychology at the University of California, Davis. Sleep Cycles Disruptions to our circadian rhythm, or body clocks, are linked to several types of cancers, including ​​breast, liver, lung and colorectal cancers, according to recent studies. Shift workers are most affected, but even waking up for two or three hours between 10 P.M. and 5 A.M. at least once a week can impact our internal clocks.  Why this matters: Our internal body clocks govern sleeping and waking, feeding and fasting, endocrine cycles, immune function, and cell growth. Circadian disruption also affects metabolic pathways, the chemical reactions that produce energy in the body. It tampers with immune function. It can compromise the fidelity of DNA repair in cells, which implicates it in the development of certain cancers. What the experts say: For those who don't work at night, changing some routines to maintain a healthy sleep cycle has many benefits. Eating habits can also play a role–regular midnight snacking can disrupt sleep cues in your body. TODAY'S NEWS • Flooding, rising seas and extreme heat from climate change threaten the nation's ability to launch some of its nuclear weapons, according to a new report. | 4 min read • Very small delays in the rhythm of swing jazz point to our evolution as a supremely auditory species. | 12 min listen • Even lawyers dislike the impenetrable language of law jargon, and they both prefer and better understand simplified texts. | 5 min read • Robotic bees could be crucial to vertical farms on Earth and raising crops in space. | 8 min read Strawberries grow at the Ferme d'Hiver vertical farm in Vaudreuil, Quebec, Canada. Credit: Graham Hughes/Bloomberg via Getty Images More News EXPERT PERSPECTIVES • Vegetarian and vegan diets promote better health, help mitigate climate change and reduce inhumane factory farming. Physicians, educators and policy makers, should consider the importance of acting as role models for meatless eating habits, writes Sarah C. Hull, an assistant professor of medicine at the Yale School of Medicine.  | 4 min read More Opinion Have you ever tried participating in Meatless Monday? It's an international campaign that encourages people to go meat-free one day a week, which can drastically reduce carbon footprints and health risks (not to mention grocery bills). If you are looking for some recipe inspiration, the New York Times has a great vegetarian recipe selection. Welcome to a new week! We've got lots of exciting science news headed your way in the coming days. Reach out any time and let me know how you're liking this newsletter: newsletters@sciam.com. See you tomorrow! —Andrea Gawrylewski, Chief Newsletter Editor Subscribe to this and all of our newsletters here. Scientific American One New York Plaza, New York, NY, 10004   Support our mission, subscribe to Scientific American here   Unsubscribe Email Preferences