Moen Probes 2-Block Sleep to Cut Health Risks for UK's 3 Million Night Workers
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 19
Moen Probes 2-Block Sleep to Cut Health Risks for UK's 3 Million Night Workers
3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 19
Summary
Dr. Line Victoria Moen is testing whether biphasic sleep—two sleep periods in 24 hours—can better protect night-shift workers than one forced daytime block.
Arctic Circle tracking with Oura Rings showed many workers naturally slept from about 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., then again later, suggesting their body clocks resisted one long post-shift sleep.
The research targets mounting evidence that disrupted sleep harms health: a Swedish study of 13,000 shift workers linked mid-life shift work to a 36% higher dementia risk, while WHO classifies night shift work as probably carcinogenic.
Moen has reviewed 11,000 paper summaries and found fragmented definitions and little rigorous evidence on split sleep, with full results due later this year.
The broader aim is clinical guidance for millions of shift workers, including whether planned 20-to-50-minute naps can improve alertness, safety and recovery without fighting the body's circadian signals.
Can mimicking ancestral sleep patterns protect millions from dementia by rebooting the brain's self-cleaning system?
Night shifts are a probable carcinogen. Why isn't this crisis treated with the urgency of other workplace toxins?
The Moen Probe (2026): Can Biphasic Sleep Transform Health Outcomes for Night Shift Workers?
Overview
Dr. Line Victoria Moen is leading 'The Moen Probe,' a new investigation exploring whether biphasic sleep—dividing sleep into two periods—can help night workers reduce health risks. This research aims to find practical solutions for people whose jobs disrupt normal sleep patterns, focusing on improving their well-being and health outcomes. The study highlights the urgent need for innovative strategies to support night shift employees, who often face serious health, social, and economic challenges. By proactively seeking evidence-based recommendations, 'The Moen Probe' could shape future workplace policies and improve the lives of night workers.