RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT

23 October 2026

Scientists tracked the changing sleep patterns of Indigenous people in Argentina who gained access to mains electricity — and smart phones.

The arrival of electricity in communities in the Argentinian countryside was followed by a decline in hours slept and a delay in sleep onset. Credit: Getty

A 12-year study of rural communities in Argentina found that residents slept an average of 35 minutes less per night after gaining access to electricity, which allowed them access to the Internet and smartphones 1 .

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