Get eight hours of sleep in half the time

New drugs which will allow people to survive on only two hours sleep a day are being developed, scientists have said.

The drugs will allow people to cope with the pressures of 24-hour society.

The New Scientist magazine says the new 'lifestyle' pills will deliver sleep which is deeper and more refreshing than the real thing, with some giving what feels like eight hours sleep in half the time.

The pills could even allow people not to sleep for several days in a row.

Russell Foster, a circadian biologist at Imperial College London, said: "The more we understand about the body's 24-hour clock the more we will be able to override it.

"In 10 to 20 years we'll be able to pharmacologically turn sleep off. Mimicking sleep will take longer, but I can see it happening."

Neil Stanley, head of sleep research at the Human Psychopharmacology Research Unit at the University of Surrey, countered: "I think that would be the most hideous thing to happen to society."

Hell yes! I would totally be buying this stuff in bulk. I hate sleep. I’d rather be up and doing stuff rather than sleeping. Although, I’m a little weary in the fact that this probably is pretty dangerous. I’ll wait to see the results from the clinical studies… Article here.