It's likely that the alarm clock has been a necessary evil in your life for as long as you can remember. Not to worry; thanks to continued advances in technology and brain science, the modern alarm clock has become more friend than foe, by utilizing light rather than sound to rouse you, among other innovations.

Along with caffeine, diet and other lifestyle factors, our demographics—like gender and age—play a huge role in our quality of sleep.

Friendships and other social relationships are great for our mood and well-being, and it turns out they’re healthy, too. Here are five reasons—that may surprise you—to nurture and treasure your friendships.

Assuming you get the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep every night, does it really matter which hours you’re sleeping? The answer seems to be yes—although more research may be needed to determine exactly why. Here’s a look at the difference between the two major sleeping patterns, the research on their health impacts, and how you can nudge your...