Just about <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0003347222000719" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">every animal</a> with a backbone yawns (maybe even dinosaurs), but why we do it is still something of a mystery. A SciFri listener from Texas recently spotted some <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1569904826000340" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">research that suggests</a> yawning could play a role in clearing waste products from the brain, and asked us to get to the bottom of it. Biomechanical engineer Lynne Bilston, an author on that study, joins Flora to <a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/why-we-yawn-brain-waste-cleaning?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri?" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">discuss the findings</a> and what they could mean for neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's.
Plus, about a third of Americans aren’t getting the recommended seven hours of sleep per night, according to a <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db559.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">new CDC report</a>. We check in with sleep researcher Stuti Jaiswal to break down the report and find out how to get a better night's sleep.
Check out an <a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/why-we-yawn-brain-waste-cleaning?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri?" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MRI video</a> of what yawning looks like inside the body.
Guests: 
Dr. Lynne Bilston is a biomechanical engineer at UNSW Sydney in Australia.
Dr. Stuti Jaiswal is a physician scientist and co-director, education at Scripps Research Translational Institute in San Diego, California.
Other episodes you may enjoy:
<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/mouth-taping-sleep-evidence?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri?" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Does Taping Your Mouth Shut Help You Sleep?</a></li>
 <li><a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/glial-cells-important-as-neurons?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri?" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Brain’s Glial Cells Might Be As Important As Neurons</a></li>
</ul>
Want SciFri gear? <a href="https://merch.ambientinks.com/collections/sciencefriday" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Check out our new shop!</a>
Transcripts for each episode are available within 1-3 days at <a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/why-we-yawn-brain-waste-cleaning?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri?" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sciencefriday.com</a><a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/gynecologic-health-crisis-for-black-women-improving-uterine-health/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">.</a>
<a href="https://pod.link/73329284" target="_blank">Subscribe to this podcast.</a> Follow our show on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/scifri/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@scifri" target="_blank">TikTok</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/scifri" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, and <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/scifri.bsky.social" target="_blank">Bluesky</a> @scifri and <a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/newsletters/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank">sign up for our newsletters</a>. Got a science question that’s keeping you up at night? Call us: <a href="tel:+18774724374">877-4-SCIFRI</a> Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Podurama

Home

Trending

Personal

Your Podcasts

New Episodes

My Files

Favourite Episodes

Tags (Folders)

Recently Played

Bookmarks

Followed Playlists

How yawning might help clear dirty fluid from the brain

Science Friday

AI Chapters

AI Insights

Reviews