Oh, to be a Drosophila. A new study published in Science Advances reports that male Drosophila have an amazing tolerance for sleep deprivation. I wish I could say the same about humans.

Like people, sleep duration in flies varies between individuals, with some animals getting only a few minutes of sleep a day. In many other species, chronic sleep deprivation is associated with shorter lifespans. In this new study, researchers found no changes in the longevity of sleep-deprived male flies compared to their well-rested neighbors. The same cannot be said about sleep-deprived female flies, however, as they only lived an average of 37.5 days as opposed to 41 days for females that slept well. This study shows that the relationship between sleep loss and longevity is more complex than previously thought.

Geissmann Q, Beckwith EJ, Gilestro GF. Most sleep does not serve a vital function: Evidence from Drosophila melanogaster. Science Advances. 5(2):eaau9253