A Long Island-based entrepreneur has developed an app that leverages NASA-derived technology to combat jet lag, a tool that has seen adoption by elite athletes, including major World Cup soccer teams. Mickey Beyer-Clausen, founder of the Timeshifter app, created the program to help travelers adjust more effectively to different time zones, aiming to mitigate the physical and mental toll of frequent travel.
The app, which launched in 2018, is co-founded by Dr. Steven Lockley, a scientist with ties to Harvard Medical School and NASA. Its methodology is based on technology that previously aided astronauts in maintaining sleep cycles aboard the International Space Station. Timeshifter has garnered nearly 2 million subscribers and is reportedly the most popular application of its kind.
Beyer-Clausen explained that traditional advice for combating jet lag, such as simply sleeping it off, lacks scientific evidence. "The whole body is struggling and misaligned" when switching time zones, he stated, noting that strategies involving food, special diets, exercise, and hydration are often ineffective. Timeshifter provides personalized schedules based on a user's chronotype—their individual sleep preferences and peak energy times—guiding them on optimal times for light exposure, darkness, sleep, and caffeine consumption.
"That is the most powerful signal we can send to the body to manipulate, shift, and control adjusting quicker to the new time zone," Beyer-Clausen said, emphasizing the importance of light management. He advises travelers to carry dark sunglasses as a primary tool to create artificial darkness when needed, even in brightly lit environments such as airplanes or indoor spaces.
Timeshifter's efficacy has led to partnerships with organizations like Lufthansa, which offered the app to over 150 of its employees. Nike has also collaborated with the app, providing it to sponsored athletes on World Cup teams from France, England, Brazil, Norway, the Netherlands, and the U.S. National Team. Beyond soccer, professional tennis players, Formula 1 racers, and teams from Major League Baseball and the National Basketball Association have shown interest in Timeshifter for sports science applications.
Beyer-Clausen noted that the app can even help teams assess the potential impact of circadian rhythms on game outcomes. "We can just outline them and say, 'Here you have a 74% chance of losing or winning based on circadian rhythm,'" he commented.
The app is slated for further integration into major sporting events, including its use by Nike for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Beyer-Clausen indicated significant financial growth, stating that revenue targets for concierge services for athletes in 2026 were met by mid-January of this year, signaling strong commercial momentum in the sports sector.