Elephants Seals’ ‘Sleep Spiral’ Helps Them Recharge And Avoid Predators While at Sea : ScienceAlert

Elephant seals drift downwards into the ocean in a “sleep spiral” to catch up on sleep while on months-long foraging trips but are programmed not to drown, according to a new study.

The seals fall into sleep during deep dives of up to 377 meters, which is around 1,235 feet, to avoid predators.

They spiral downwards for about 10 minutes at a time during half-hour dives, and they sometimes even catch some sleep on the sea floor, according to new findings published in Science.

The study marks the first time scientists have studied the brain waves and recorded the sleeping habits of a…