How Does 2017 Nobel Prize for Circadian Rhythm Explained Work?

The 2017 Nobel Prize was given to scientists who discovered how our bodies have a clock that tells us when to be awake and when to sleep.

Imagine you're a kid who loves playing with a toy car. You push it, and it zooms around the room, but after a while, it slows down and stops. That’s like your body's clock: it keeps going on its own, but it needs a little push now and then to stay in rhythm.

Inside our bodies are special cells that act like tiny clocks. These clocks help us know when it's time for breakfast or bedtime. Scientists found out that these clocks work together, just like how you and your friends might all have toy cars, but you all play at the same time.

Sometimes, our body’s clock needs a push, like getting up in the morning or seeing sunlight. These pushes help reset the clock so we stay awake during the day and sleepy at night, just like your toy car needing a little push to go again!