Circadian clocks temporally coordinate physiology and align it with geophysical time, which enables diverse life-forms to anticipate daily environmental cycles. In complex organisms, clock function originates from the molecular oscillator within each cell and builds upward anatomically into an organism-wide system. Recent advances have transformed our understanding of how clocks are connected to achieve coherence across tissues. Circadian misalignment, often imposed in modern society, disrupts coordination among clocks and has been linked to diseases ranging from metabolic syndrome to cancer. Thus, uncovering the physiological circuits whereby biological clocks achieve coherence will inform on both challenges and opportunities in human health.

昼夜节律时钟在时间上协调生理并将其与地球物理时间保持一致，这使多种生命形式能够预测每日的环境周期。在复杂的有机体中，时钟功能起源于每个细胞内的分子振荡器，并在解剖学上向上构建为整个有机体系统。最近的进展改变了我们对时钟如何连接以实现组织间一致性的理解。在现代社会中经常发生的昼夜节律紊乱会破坏钟表之间的协调，并与代谢综合征到癌症等疾病有关。因此，揭示生物钟实现连贯性的生理回路将为人类健康带来挑战和机遇。