It's not rocket science...

Sometimes science brings us back to ancient wisdom, and often the wonder of being a scientist is to accept the unexpected. But when it comes to health, nuance is king.

The instagram algorithm forced me to stumble across a beautiful article today about the discovery that all of the universe is humming at the same frequency. Absolutely delighted, I shared the story to my instagram as I hummed along on the tube alongside my fellow passengers.

Photo by Arnaud Mariat

How wonderful to be part of a discovery so profound it changes the way we understand the universe. That’s the thing about astrophysics (which, by the way, I know nothing about) - it’s a discovery of unknowns within the strict bounds of physics but also the boundless mind-bending of quantum physics, all with a dusting of star magic. I digress, but the point is, rocket science involves calculations based on our precise understanding of gravity to make sure there is enough energy to move a rocket in a given direction despite said gravity trying to pull it down. You calculate the angles, the fuel needed for the amount of energy needed, the shape of the rocket for improved aerodynamics, and hey presto!

Medical and nutrition science, however, is not that relative (ha!). For every discovery of new mechanisms, novel microbes living inside us, rare genetic variants, physiological changes, and even brand new body organs discovered as recently as 2022, medical and dietary advice still requires the pretext of “it depends…”. And this is not because we love being ambiguous or mysterious, it’s because individuality is key.

This morning I sat alongside a brilliant colleague whose PhD focused on the importance of meal timings for circadian rhythms. That’s our body clock and it helps us regulate our hormones, appetite, energy, and behaviour. When we eat every day directly impacts these clocks and helps to ‘set’ the time. The audience was interested and attentive, and the evidence was powerful, compelling but the question remained:

“So what time should I eat, sleep, exercise and repeat?”