Health
Common sleep aid could be quietly interfering with your rest, study suggests
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Think your sound machine is helping you sleep? It might be doing the opposite.
A new study from the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine found that listening to pink noise at bedtime could disturb REM sleep (dream sleep) and sleep recovery.
The research, published in the journal Sleep, found that earplugs were significantly more effective at blocking out traffic noise during sleep.
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The researchers observed 25 healthy adults between the ages of 21 and 41, in an eight-hour, seven-night sleep lab simulation, according to a Penn Medicine press release.
The participants said they did not previously use noise to help them sleep, and did not have any sleep disorders.
Pink noise could disrupt REM sleep, according to Penn Medicine research. (iStock)
During the experiment, the participants slept under different sound exposures, including aircraft noise, pink noise, aircraft noise with pink noise, and aircraft noise with earplugs. The participants completed tests and surveys each morning to gauge sleep quality, alertness and other health effects.
Exposure to aircraft noise was associated with about 23 fewer minutes spent in the deepest stage of sleep compared to no noise, the study found.
Earplugs prevented this decline in deep sleep “to a large extent,” the release stated.
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Pink noise at 50 decibels, which sounds similar to “moderate rainfall,” was associated with almost a 19-minute decrease in REM sleep.
Aircraft noise and pink noise combined led to “significantly shorter” REM and deep sleep compared to noise-free nights. Time spent awake was also 15 minutes longer with this combination, which was not observed with solo aircraft or pink noise.
Earplugs were found to improve sleep quality among study participants. (iStock)
Participants said their sleep felt “lighter,” the overall quality was worse, and they reported waking up more frequently when exposed to aircraft or pink noise compared to no noise, unless they used earplugs.
Lead study author Mathias Basner, M.D., Ph.D., professor of sleep and chronobiology in psychiatry, noted that REM sleep is important for “memory consolidation, emotional regulation and brain development.”
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“Our findings suggest that playing pink noise and other types of broadband noise during sleep could be harmful — especially for children whose brains are still developing and who spend much more time in REM sleep than adults,” he wrote in the release.
Basner noted it’s common for parents to place sound machines near their newborns or toddlers, with a “good intention” of helping them fall and stay asleep.
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There were some positive effects of pink noise, he said, including that it mitigated some deep sleep reduction and sleep fragmentation caused by “intermittent” environmental noise.
“If low amounts of deep sleep and sleep fragmentations are someone’s main sleep issues, pink noise could be overall beneficial for them,” he said.
Importance of sound sleep
Individuals cycle through periods of deep sleep and REM sleep multiple times throughout the night, according to Penn Medicine. Deep sleep is important for physical restoration, memory consolidation and the clearing of toxins in the brain.
“Deep and REM sleep complement each other and collectively guarantee that we wake up restored in the morning, ready for the next day,” the release stated.
Pink noise introduces a “constant stimulus” for the brain to process, a sleep doctor said. (iStock)
Dr. William Lu, a San Francisco sleep expert and medical director of Dreem Health, said these findings are a “significant pivot” from the sound machine trend.
“While pink noise might mask external disruptions, it introduces a constant stimulus that the brain still has to process,” he told Fox News Digital. “The most concerning finding is that we may be unknowingly sacrificing segments of our REM sleep.”
Differences between ambient noises
Different types of noise could potentially have different impacts on sleep, Lu acknowledged.
White noise translates as “equal energy across all frequencies” and sounds like harsh radio static, the sleep expert said. Brown noise emphasizes lower frequencies, resulting in a “deep, bass-heavy rumble” like distant thunder or a heavy waterfall.
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While pink noise also has more energy at lower frequencies, but not as deep as brown, it creates a “perceptually balanced” sound like steady rainfall or wind.
“The study suggests that pink noise acts as a continuous auditory load that specifically fragments and reduces REM sleep,” Lu summarized.
Based on this type of research and data, the expert said he does not recommend using a sound machine as a “first-line” sleep aid in his own practice.
It’s common for parents to place sound machines near their newborns or toddlers while they sleep, with “good intention,” the researcher said. (iStock)
More research needed
The researchers concluded that the impact of pink noise and other audio sleep aids needs to be studied more thoroughly.
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“Overall, our results caution against the use of broadband noise, especially for newborns and toddlers, and indicate that we need more research in vulnerable populations on long-term use, on the different colors of broadband noise, and on safe broadband noise levels in relation to sleep,” Basner said.
In an interview with Fox News Digital, the researcher noted that the study, funded by the FAA, does have limitations — including that it did not investigate the effect on sleep when pink noise is used for longer periods of time.
The study was “relatively small,” and more research is necessary to weigh long-term impacts, the researchers said. (iStock)
The study was also relatively small, Basner said, and the researchers haven’t yet examined differences between individuals.
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“Until we have more research, I would recommend that if somebody wants to use pink noise, they should do it at the lowest sound level that still works for them — and if falling asleep is the main problem, put the machine/app on a timer so that it shuts off after the subject falls asleep,” he advised.
“Also, I would probably discourage general use [for] newborns and toddlers until we have more information.”
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At 93, sprightly referee Frank Foster is still brandishing red and yellow cards and running the field three times a week for his local soccer association.
Having taken charge of around 5,500 matches over a 46-year officiating career, the great-grandfather credits his longevity and match-day stamina to a lifetime of healthy habits and a foundational diet, news agency SWNS reported.
Foster puts his remarkable fitness down to the strict wartime rations he was fed as a teenager, noting that it ensured he grew up eating “healthy food” rather than “sweets and cakes.”
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Decades later, his game-day preparation is still fueled by wholesome nutrition, always starting with a morning bowl of oatmeal, cereal or marmalade on toast to give him the energy to last the full 90 minutes.
The meal keeps him active enough to referee men’s, women’s and children’s games, a hobby he jokes he will never blow the final whistle on.
Frank Foster started refereeing in 1980. Today, he still officiates men’s, women’s and children’s games around three times a week. (SWNS)
His sharp mind and authoritative presence on the field are just as strong as his physical endurance.
A military veteran who aced his referee exam in 1980 with a 98% score, Foster relies on old-school discipline to keep matches under control, SWNS reported.
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He believes modern elite officials are too “soft” and allow player antics to ruin the sport. To maintain order and keep players from acting out, he lays down strict ground rules before kickoff. He has no patience for intimidation or theatrical diving. “Those who go down like they have been shot, well, I would just book them,” he said.
He is equally uncompromising when squads try to crowd him on the field.
Frank Foster is pictured before he became a referee. (Frank Foster/SWNS)
“I wouldn’t let them surround me at all,” Foster told SWNS.
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“I would say to the players, ‘Stay where you are,’ and ‘If you move one more inch, I will give you a yellow card.’ You need to stamp your authority and let them know who is in control.”
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He also avoids the modern stress of video-reviewing plays, which he believes creates unnecessary “aggression and disappointment” over microscopic offside calls, adding, “I think it spoils the game.”
Foster credits his longevity to wartime rations, adding that he avoided sweets. (SWNS)
“Sometimes it is only the player’s toe that is offside — it is ridiculous.”
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Foster says he “never thought” he’d still be doing this at age 93, but he makes the most of that gift.
He keeps his kit freshly washed, making sure it is “neat and tidy” for when he gets on that field.
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Foster, of South Yorkshire, England, also scrubs his black Adidas boots after every game, making sure they are “nice and clean” for his next match.
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Summer fun in the sun is being taken to a new extreme.
“Tanmaxxing” is a social media trend that involves maximizing sun exposure and tanning the skin more intensely.
Popular among Gen Z, the practice combines time spent in direct sunlight with a variety of tanning products like oils, bronzers and gels.
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Creators on social media are showing off their dramatic tan lines and outdoor set-ups — some even forgoing sun protection or adding tanning bed sessions.
“Tanmaxxing” is trending on social media as a way of maximizing sun exposure. (iStock)
While spending time outdoors can help boost mood, support the body’s production of vitamin D and reduce screen time, dermatologists warn that excessive sun exposure — especially as promoted by the tanmaxxing trend — can be dangerous.
New York-based board-certified dermatologist Dr. Michael Tassavor, MD, emphasized that there is “no such thing as a safe, natural tan.”
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“Tanning is damage,” he said in an interview with Fox News Digital. “Tanfluencers sell a deep tan as a ‘wellness upgrade,’ but a tan isn’t a glow-up — it’s your skin’s visible distress signal that DNA damage has already happened.”
“As a skin cancer specialist, I’ve taken care of thousands of skin cancers on patients who ‘tanmaxxed’ before it had a name. Most regret it.”
Using a tanning bed before 35 years old can raise melanoma risk by about 75%, an expert warned. (iStock)
The World Health Organization classifies UV radiation and tanning beds as Group 1 carcinogens, which is the same category as tobacco and asbestos.
Using a tanning bed before age 35 can raise melanoma risk by about 75%, Tassavor noted.
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“The damage compounds silently and shows up years later, once the easy window to intervene has closed,” he said.
According to Tassavor, two common beliefs behind tanmaxxing are false: Skipping sunscreen does not produce a “better” tan, and a base tan does not protect the skin from future sunburns.
“Most of your vitamin D can come from diet and supplements, and your skin is efficient enough to top up what it needs from ordinary incidental exposure,” a dermatologist said. (iStock)
Sunlight “isn’t the enemy,” the dermatologist noted, but there’s no need to chase it.
“Most of your vitamin D can come from diet and supplements, and your skin is efficient enough to [get] what it needs from ordinary incidental exposure,” he said.
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“Vitamin D matters for bone density, and sun does give some people a genuine mood lift, but there’s no evidence that anyone has to go out of their way to sunbathe for it, and no evidence that diligent sunscreen use harms bone health.”
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To safely expose yourself to the sun, Tassavor recommends using SPF 30 sunscreen and reapplying every two hours. Tanning beds should be avoided “entirely,” he cautioned, because there is “no safe dose” of UV exposure and using them accelerates skin aging.
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The Great American State Fair was postponed Saturday after multiple people reportedly fainted the day before, forcing thousands of visitors to pivot during celebrations for America’s 250th anniversary.
Friday’s medical emergencies required onsite attention as crowds flocked to the nation’s capital for Independence Day.
The fair reopened later Friday evening but was postponed again Saturday.
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Fox News Digital asked attendees what it took to get to the capital and what they made of the closure.
“We are so blessed to live in the best country in the world,” Whitney Thomas, a mother from North Carolina who traveled with her family for the Great American State Fair, told Fox News Digital Friday.
An arch across the street from a 110-foot “Freedom 250” Ferris wheel during final preparations for the Great American State Fair on the National Mall June 22, 2026 in Washington, D.C. (Al Drago for The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Despite the weather closure, she said her family was able to enjoy the State Fair Thursday evening and planned to wait out the heat in nearby museums until the fair reopened.
“I wanted my kids, who are 9 and 10, to be able to experience this with us,” she said.
“You cannot tell me that America was won by shutting things down when it gets hot.”
Brad Shultis, a retired Marine who traveled from Stafford, Virginia, expressed frustration over the decision to halt festivities.
“You cannot tell me that America was won by shutting things down when it gets hot,” he told Fox News Digital.
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“It gets hot, and we shut it down because it’s hot? Who cares? If it’s too hot, stay home.”
Shultis noted that he drove to Springfield and took the Metro just to be turned away right after buying lunch. He questioned the decision to shut down the celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, arguing that if people find the weather too hot, they should simply stay home or seek medical help rather than forcing a mass evacuation for those who spent time and money to get there.
Whitney Thomas brought her children with her from North Carolina to Washington to experience the historic event as a family. (Fox News Digital)
Wendy Lamb, who traveled eight hours from Connecticut with her family to support the state’s booth, noted that organizers were likely worried about the intense conditions and simply did not want visitors to suffer.
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While disappointed that her home state did not send official representation due to budget issues, Lamb and her fellow travelers refused to let the heat ruin their first trip to Washington, D.C.
“We’ve had a really, really fun time so far,” added John, another member of the group.
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He said they plan to navigate the heat by moving from museum to museum and using the Metro system to stay cool until the gates reopen.
For these visitors, the setback was minor compared to the emotional weight of seeing the U.S. Capitol and the Rotunda.
Judy drove with her family from Connecticut to support the state after officials withdrew support prior to the fair opening. (Fox News Digital)
“I mean, we are so fortunate we are free, and yet we have people out there that hate our country. … it’s very emotional,” said Pat Lamb, who fanned her face to stop tears welling in her eyes as she described the pride she felt for the nation.
The decision to close the fairgrounds aligns with severe weather protocols designed to prevent mass casualty medical events.
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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, extreme heat can quickly impair the body’s ability to cool itself, causing internal temperatures to rise faster than they can dissipate.
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When exposure to extreme conditions triggers a heat-related illness, symptoms can escalate rapidly from heat exhaustion — marked by heavy sweating, dizziness, nausea and fainting — to a life-threatening medical emergency, according to the CDC.
Brad Shultis, a veteran, was turned away just after lunch due to extreme heat at The Great American State Fair. (Fox News Digital)
The most severe risk is heat stroke, which occurs when the body’s cooling mechanism fails entirely, potentially driving core body temperatures to 103 degrees Fahrenheit or higher within minutes.
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To prevent severe complications like permanent organ damage or death, the CDC advises that anyone exhibiting warning signs such as confusion, slurred speech or a loss of consciousness should receive immediate medical treatment.
Public health officials urge individuals in high-heat environments to seek shade, stay heavily hydrated and identify air-conditioned cooling centers.
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