Digital Social Hour

Thaddeus Owen: Modern Humans Live Under Alien Light | DSH #1742

Jan 8, 2026
Thaddeus Owen, a biohacker and advocate for circadian wellness, dives into the surprising truth about light's impact on our health. He reveals how blue light disrupts sleep and hormones while red light therapy can aid recovery. Thaddeus discusses the effects of screens on dopamine and shares tips for better sleep, like avoiding devices before bed. He even touches on why winter sleep should be longer and the risks of modern lighting. Get ready for a mind-opening chat about the 'alien light' environment we live in!
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INSIGHT

Alien Indoor Light Harms Biology

  • Modern indoor lighting is an “alien light spectrum” dominated by blue spikes that our biology wasn't designed for.
  • Missing red and infrared indoors removes natural mitigation and increases free-radical stress from blue light.
ADVICE

Use Red/Infrared To Counter Blue Light

  • Add red or infrared exposure (red light panels or saunas) to mitigate daytime blue-light effects.
  • Use red/infrared sessions after heavy blue-light exposure to reduce oxidative stress and support repair.
INSIGHT

Melatonin Is The Master Antioxidant

  • Melatonin is not just a sleep cue but the body's master antioxidant and repair conductor.
  • Destroying melatonin with nighttime blue light reduces repair, antioxidant capacity, and cancer protection.
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