ScienceAugust 16, 2026
melanopsin
muh-LAN-op-sin
Definition
A light-sensitive protein found in specific retinal ganglion cells that helps the brain track light levels for circadian rhythms.
Etymology
The term is a combination of the Greek 'melanos' (black/dark) and 'opsis' (vision), reflecting its presence in pigmented cells within the retina.
In the news
The article mentions melanopsin to explain how the eyes transmit light information to the suprachiasmatic nucleus to regulate the body's internal clock.
Morning sunlight can reset the body clock surprisingly quickly because outdoor light is vastly brighter than most indoor environments — but the popular five-minute rule isn't a proven biological threshold, and window glass weakens the signal rather than blocki
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