As I was scrolling through (and largely ignoring) the articles on the Daily Mail Online app this morning, this one particularly caught my eye. Of course, this is by no means the first product to be launched as a 'zero calorie' alternative, but the fact that this isn't even food seems to take things one step further. 

Diet foods vs zero calorie 'foods'

The problem of obesity

Eating disorders

How bad do things have to get before we, the general public, sit up and take note? 

• Increased storm damage and more rapid coastal erosion (something the UK has already come up against this winter)
• Changes in the shoreline and loss of low-lying land such as the Maldives
• Contamination of aquifers and surface water by saltwater, resulting in a loss of valuable freshwater sources
• Rising water tables, which will increase flood-risk.

• By sleeping all morning, students will have wasted half the day.  While some may make up for this lost time by studying later at night, many will spend their evenings relaxing. I have no idea how they are expected to get all their work done if they're spending half the day in bed.  Are they meant to study through the night?  If so, they'll probably put their body-clock so out of sync that they'll be no more alert at 13.30 than they previously were at 9.00.  
• In the same way, getting up later will probably mean going to bed later, which seems to undo any positive effect of this idea.  Even taking the "delayed-phase clock" into account, if the students are sleeping for the same number of hours as before, then they are unlikely to be much 'more productive' when they do make it into lessons.
• Not everyone fits the 'lazy student' stereotype.  What about those who are naturally early risers?  Are they expected to lounge around all morning, or start their studying at 9 or 10am and carry on through until 19.00?  This seems very unfair and will just cause these students to become exhausted.
• How will students continue with a jobs or any extra-curricular activities that they do?  It seems unlikely that many clubs/music groups/societies/sports practices will take place before midday or after about eight in the evening.  As well as taking away the personal and social benefits of these things, this will also give students less to put on their personal statement or CV, meaning that they are less likely to get into university or get a job.
• The 'working day' begins at 9, or earlier.  Upon leaving school, these students will undoubtedly have some difficultly adjusting to a 9-5 job or a 9am lecture.
• The fact that many students "did not sleep sufficiently during the week" can probably be partially blamed on staying up late watching TV and checking Facebook etc, rather than the "delayed" biological clock.  Going into school later won't change this.