Reflection on John Pollock’s guest lecture
John Pollock’s lecture on sleep, visions, and storytelling offered a unique blend of science and narrative that brought complex ideas to life. He started by taking us back to the origins of life on Earth, explaining how early organisms developed circadian rhythms to align their activities with the day-night cycle. These rhythms became essential for survival, and it’s amazing to think that they’re still guiding us today, influencing how our bodies regulate sleep, alertness, and energy.
What made Pollock’s talk so compelling was his ability to connect these biological rhythms to our everyday lives. He explained how our “internal clocks” affect not only when we sleep but also our mood, focus, and even mental health. When these rhythms get disrupted—by things like jet lag, working night shifts, or too much screen time—it’s not just our sleep that’s impacted; our emotional well-being can suffer too. It’s a reminder that our bodies are still finely tuned to the natural world, even in our modern, technology-driven lives.
Another intriguing part of Pollock’s lecture was his take on visions and dreams. He suggested that our ability to create visual experiences might have originally evolved as a survival tool, helping early humans recognize threats and navigate their environments. This idea put a whole new spin on dreams—they’re not just random images but possibly echoes of our evolutionary past, rooted in ancient survival strategies.
What resonated, though, was how Pollock used storytelling to make these ideas relatable and memorable. He showed us that science isn’t just a list of facts; it’s part of the human experience. By weaving together the origins of life, the purpose of sleep, and the mystery of dreams, Pollock reminded us that storytelling makes complex concepts feel personal and meaningful.
Walking away from his lecture, I thought about how deeply connected we are to these ancient rhythms and survival instincts. It’s easy to overlook how much our bodies are still in sync with the natural world, but Pollock’s talk brought it all back into focus in a way that was both thought-provoking and deeply human.