Light Pollution
The sun, the moon and the stars would have disappeared long ago . . . had they happened to be within the reach of predatory human hands - Havelock Ellis, The Dance of Life, 1923
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Our nights are getting brighter, and Earth is paying the price
Electric lights have revolutionized our lives, but as illumination increases, the toll on wildlife and human health is becoming harder to ignore...
The excess light we dump into our environments is endangering ecosystems by harming animals whose life cycles depend on dark. We’re endangering ourselves by altering the biochemical rhythms that normally ebb and flow with natural light levels. And in a primal sense, we’ve lost our connection to nighttime skies, the tapestries into which our ancestors wove their star-studded stories, timed the planting and harvesting of crops, and deduced the physical laws governing the cosmos.
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How an effort to reduce fossil fuel use led to another environmental problem: light pollution
“We’ve taken a lot of the energy savings and just lit additional places,” Hartley said. It’s a classic example of the Jevons paradox, in which efficiency gains (such as better automobile gas mileage) are countered by an increase in consumption (people driving more often). In essence, Hartley and others say, we’ve traded one kind of pollution for another.
Illuminating the Effects of Light Pollution
But unlike many environmental issues, light pollution is a problem researchers say could disappear with the flick of a switch. Solutions include turning off unnecessary lights and putting shields on streetlights to direct beams downward.
Light pollution is getting worse
We're killing the night, and that's going to kill us.
The switch to LEDs in Europe is visible from space
Light pollution experts worry the bluer nights could disrupt animal and human health.
Treat artificial light like other forms of pollution, say scientists
Human illumination of the planet is growing in range and intensity by about 2% a year, creating a problem that can be compared to climate change, according to a team of biologists from the University of Exeter.
The Dark Side of Light
Beneath the surface of one of Germany’s deepest lakes, researchers are studying the hidden effects of artificial light.
What you can do to reduce light pollution
Urban light pollution is a large-scale issue, but individual households can help their communities turn down the lumens while still ensuring safety.
Artificial light pollution raises concern for human and wildlife wellbeing
Jenny Ouyang, associate professor in the College of Science’s Department of Biology grew up in Xi’an, a large, brightly lit city in China. According to Ouyang, by 2025, over 80% of the world’s population will live under light polluted skies, which raises concern for human and wildlife wellbeing. Her background and the increased light pollution around the world continue to inspire her interest in urban ecology and a desire to build greener cities.
Confirmed: Night Lights Drive Pollinators Away From Plants
A first-of-its-kind study shows that artificial lights deter nocturnal insects that flowers rely on.
Light Pollution Is Getting Worse Every Year. That's Bad For Your Health
The nighttime face of the planet is getting brighter and brighter, and that may be doing significant harm to the health of human beings, animals and the ecosystem as a whole.
Light Pollution Is Probably Responsible for Thousands of Sleep-Deprived Birds
Scientists are urging people to turn off their lights and let pigeons get some rest.
Light Pollution Is Throwing Off the Seasons
Researchers have discovered that the early bloom of some tree buds might be down to increasing amounts of light pollution.
New Maps Depict the World’s Light-Pollution Problem
Most of the world’s inhabitants live under night skies blanketed by light, blocking out the stars, according to a new study.
The Milky Way Is Disappearing
A new “dark sky atlas” suggests that light pollution is drowning out the stars faster than ever.
The unexpected brightness of new satellites could ruin the night sky
Twas quite a show: a train of illuminated dots moving across the sky, many of them as bright as Polaris, the north star. These were not new astronomical objects, however. Rather, they were the first tranche of satellites for Starlink, a project intended to provide internet access across the globe.
What is Light Pollution?
Light pollution is excessive, misdirected, or obtrusive artificial (usually outdoor) light. Too much light pollution has consequences: it washes out starlight in the night sky, interferes with astronomical research, disrupts ecosystems, has adverse health effects and wastes energy.
Why the nights grow less dark, and what to do about it
Booming businesses in low orbit will be bad for astronomy, but the outlook can be improved.
Our nights are getting brighter, and Earth is paying the price
Electric lights have revolutionized our lives, but as illumination increases, the toll on wildlife and human health is becoming harder to ignore.
Globe at Night
The Globe at Night program is an international citizen-science campaign to raise public awareness of the impact of light pollution by inviting citizen-scientists to measure their night sky brightness and submit their observations from a computer or smart phone.
International Dark-Sky Association
Less than 100 years ago, everyone could look up and see a spectacular starry night sky. Now, millions of children across the globe will never experience the Milky Way where they live. The increased and widespread use of artificial light at night is not only impairing our view of the universe, it is adversely affecting our environment, our safety, our energy consumption and our health.
National Geographic
People all over the world are living under the nighttime glow of artificial light, and it is causing big problems for humans, wildlife, and the environment. There is a global movement to reduce light pollution, and everyone can help.
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