Here's why you get jet lag - and how you can avoid it

The chances are that if you've ever flown out of Europe you've experienced jet lag either at your destination or upon your return.

The excellent Kate Mulcahy of the Royal Institution is back with another informative video about the science behind jet lag, which was first described in 1966 (in the Los Angeles Times) as where "jets travel so fast that they leave your body rhythms behind".

Mulcahy says that this description is basically true, with our bodies being regulated by 24-hour clocks and sleep hormones being released based on changes in light.

In order to avoid jet lag, if you're travelling east, go to bed one hour earlier two days before your flight and seek out bright lights in the morning. The day before your flight increase this by two hours, while if you're flying west do the opposite.

Find out more in the video below:

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