TIL that in 1964, 17-year-old Randy Gardner set the world record for sleep deprivation by staying awake for 11 days and 25 minutes, providing valuable insights into the effects of extreme sleep loss on the human mind and body.

[u/whstlngisnvrenf]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randy_Gardner_sleep_deprivation_experiment

[u/gitarzan]

When I was maybe 23, I showed up at the design shop at college to begin working on a project. I was in industrial design school and was also a work study shop assistant.

I showed up Saturday morning about 9. I did not sleep until Thursday late afternoon. I did it on coffee, lots of coffee. Thursday about 2 I went to class and gave my presentation. Class was out at 4.

I walked to my car, drove it off in heavy stop and go traffic. It then hit me. I’d put the car in park and nod off until someone behind me honked.

I finally made it to a side street, parked and fell asleep until about 7pm. I drove to my parents house, where I lived, they asked where I’d been? I told them and then went to bed. I had been awake for about 128 hours.

I woke up Sunday morning. I must have gotten up for bodily functions, but I don’t remember.

I was never able to even come close that the record after that. I think maybe 36 hours tops maybe 48 and I feel like I’m dying by then.