I’ve been studying Dr. Jack Kruse’s articles for over a year now, and I still need to run most of them through AI to give me the layman’s version so that I have at least a clue as to what he’s talking about. dives into a fascinating idea: our bodies emit tiny amounts of light, called ultraweak photon emissions (UPE), and this process is deeply tied to how we sleep, stay healthy, and even how we die. His writing is packed with complex science, but let’s break it down into simpler terms to understand what he’s saying and why it matters.
The Big Picture: Light, Sleep, and Life
Kruse argues that sunlight and sleep are critical for keeping our bodies functioning properly. Every day, our cells go through a cycle of activity (when we’re awake) and repair (when we sleep). This cycle is driven by light—specifically sunlight entering our eyes—and it helps regulate everything from our energy levels to how our cells handle damage.
When we die, our cells release a burst of this UPE light, almost like they’re “emptying out” stored energy. Kruse suggests that this light release is part of an orderly process, managed by special genes called thanatotranscriptomic genes, which stay active even after death. These genes may also play a role every day, helping our cells “reset” during sleep to keep us alive and healthy.
How Sunlight Affects Sleep
Sunlight, especially in the morning, acts like a natural alarm clock for our bodies. When light hits our eyes, it triggers cells in the retina that send signals to a part of the brain called the hypothalamus. This brain region acts like a master clock, syncing our body’s rhythms to the day-night cycle. It controls the release of melatonin, a hormone that helps us fall asleep at night.
Morning sunlight makes us alert during the day and helps us sleep better at night. It also supports repair processes in our cells, like fixing damaged DNA, by aligning our body’s clock with the natural world. Kruse emphasizes that getting sunlight from morning to evening is key to good sleep and overall health.
The Role of UPE: The Body’s Hidden Glow
Our cells constantly emit tiny amounts of light (UPE) as a byproduct of their energy-making processes. Think of it like a faint glow that happens as our cells “breathe” and produce energy. Kruse suggests that this light is more than just a byproduct—it’s part of how our cells communicate and manage energy.
When we’re alive, our cells carefully control this light to maintain balance. During sleep, this process helps repair damage from the day’s activities. When we die, this control breaks down, and the cells release all their stored light in a final burst. Kruse connects this to thanatotranscriptomic genes, which may help manage this light release, ensuring it happens in an organized way, even after death.
Sleep: A Daily “Rebirth”
Kruse has a bold idea: every night, when we sleep, our bodies go through a kind of “mini-death.” Sleep isn’t just about resting; it’s about resetting our cells to keep them healthy. During sleep, our body shifts from burning sugars (like glucose) to burning fats, which is more efficient and helps repair our mitochondria—the powerhouses of our cells.
This repair process involves clearing out damaged parts of cells, boosting energy carriers like NAD+, and rehydrating our cells to capture light energy better. Melatonin, the sleep hormone, plays a big role here by tweaking how our mitochondria work, helping them switch to fat-burning mode. This nightly reset reduces cellular chaos and prepares us for another day of life.
Why Death Genes Matter
Kruse introduces thanatotranscriptomic genes, which are active for up to 48 hours after death. These genes might help manage the chaotic breakdown of cells when we die, ensuring resources are recycled properly. But Kruse goes further, suggesting these genes are active at low levels during life, especially during sleep, to help our cells recover from daily stress.
He ties this to evolution, pointing out that these genes likely appeared billions of years ago when oxygen levels on Earth increased, causing stress for early life forms. Over time, life adapted by using these genes to handle energy and light in a way that supports survival, daily repair, and even sleep.
The Evolutionary Connection
Kruse traces this light-and-sleep system back to ancient times, around 2.4 billion years ago, during the Great Oxygenation Event (GOE). This was when oxygen levels rose, and early life forms had to adapt to new stresses. Some genes, possibly influenced by viruses, evolved to manage this chaos, helping cells use light and energy more effectively. Over millions of years, these adaptations led to the complex sleep and repair systems we see in humans today.
In essence, sleep evolved to help us “practice” recovering from stress every day, so we don’t break down completely. It’s like a daily rehearsal for staying alive, with sunlight and these special genes playing starring roles.
What This Means for You
Kruse’s key takeaway is that sunlight and sleep are deeply connected to our health. To live longer and feel better, we need to:
- Get sunlight exposure, especially in the morning, to sync our body’s clock and improve sleep.
- Prioritize sleep to allow our cells to repair and reset, reducing damage from daily life.
- Avoid artificial light at night, as it can disrupt melatonin production and throw off our rhythms.
By aligning our lives with natural light cycles, we support our body’s ability to repair itself, stay energized, and even extend our lifespan.
Final Thoughts
Kruse’s article blends cutting-edge science with big ideas about life, death, and health. His core message is that our bodies are designed to work with light—both the sunlight we absorb through our eyes and the tiny light our cells emit. By understanding and respecting these natural processes, we can improve our sleep, repair our cells, and live healthier lives. It’s a reminder that something as simple as stepping outside in the morning can have profound effects on how we feel and how long we live. Please, please get more sunlight, especially morning light and please, please supplement with red light therapy if you don’t have access to lots and lots of morning light!
