The penguin who sleeps only four seconds

Human parents can understand the value of a quick nap, but bearded penguins take this practice to the extreme. According to a new study, these Antarctic birds make microdreams of just four seconds while nesting. This strategy allows them to constantly monitor their vulnerable eggs and chicks, accumulating a total of 11 hours of sleep a day. “Barbian penguins always seem to be in a state of microdream,” highlights Paul-Antoine Libourel, a biologi…