Light Pollution News: Recent Episodes
Bill McGeeney
Each month, Bill McGeeney keeps you up to date on the fight against light pollution with news from the US and beyond! Learn more at LightPollutionNews.com or join our sub-reddit at r/LightPollutionNews.
This episode's guests:
- Tatsiana Thomson, Brome Bird Care.
- John Barentine, Dark Sky Consulting.
- Lynne Peeples, Author of the Inner Clock.
Bill's News Picks:
- Environmental Commission applauds progress on bird-safe buildings, Amy Smith, Austin Monitor.
- Great River Bridge goes dark for birds, Hawk Eye.
- Puffins, petrels, and places: Understanding human perceptions to prevent seabird mortality due to light pollution, Ornithological Applications.
- Light does not phase shift the circadian clock of subcutaneous adipose tissue in vitro, Biological Timing and Sleep.
- Brighter bedroom light at night predicts risk for earlier pubertal onset: a two-year longitudinal study, The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
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Support the show
A hearty thank you to all of our paid supporters out there. You make this show possible.
For only the cost of one coffee each month you can help us to continue to grow. That’s $3 a month. If you like what we’re doing, if you think this adds value in any way, why not say thank you by becoming a supporter!
Why Support Light Pollution News?
- Receive quarterly invite to join as live audience member for recordings with special Q&A session post recording with guests.
- Receive all of the news for that month via a special Supporter monthly mailer.
- Satisfaction that your support helps further critical discourse on this topic.
About Light Pollution News:
The path to sustainable starry night solutions begin with being a more informed you.
Light Pollution, once thought to be solely detrimental to astronomers, has proven to be an impactful issue across many disciplines of society including ecology, crime, technology, health, and much more!
But not all is lost! There are simple solutions that provide for big impacts. Each month, Bill McGeeney, is joined by upwards of three guests to help you grow your awareness and understanding of both the challenges and the road to recovering our disappearing nighttime ecosystem.
This episode's guests:
- Tatsiana Thomson, Brome Bird Care.
- John Barentine, Dark Sky Consulting.
- Lynne Peeples, Author of the Inner Clock.
Bill's News Picks:
- Spectacular drone show over Vatican recreates Michelangelo’s ‘Creation of Adam,’ Virgin Mary, Ariel Zilber, New York Post.
- As more cities get Dark Sky label, these Indigenous communities apply the same tenets, Mark Brodie, KJZZ-FM.
- The First Dark Sky Map of Thailand: International Comparisons and Factors Affecting the Rate of Change, PrePrints.org.
- Our night skies are worth fighting for: petition for national action, Mandy Ellis, Western Plains App.
- Why Sleep Tourism Is The Trend We’ve Been Dreaming About, Angelina Villa-Clarke, Forbes.
Send Feedback Text to the Show!
Support the show
A hearty thank you to all of our paid supporters out there. You make this show possible.
For only the cost of one coffee each month you can help us to continue to grow. That’s $3 a month. If you like what we’re doing, if you think this adds value in any way, why not say thank you by becoming a supporter!
Why Support Light Pollution News?
- Receive quarterly invite to join as live audience member for recordings with special Q&A session post recording with guests.
- Receive all of the news for that month via a special Supporter monthly mailer.
- Satisfaction that your support helps further critical discourse on this topic.
About Light Pollution News:
The path to sustainable starry night solutions begin with being a more informed you.
Light Pollution, once thought to be solely detrimental to astronomers, has proven to be an impactful issue across many disciplines of society including ecology, crime, technology, health, and much more!
But not all is lost! There are simple solutions that provide for big impacts. Each month, Bill McGeeney, is joined by upwards of three guests to help you grow your awareness and understanding of both the challenges and the road to recovering our disappearing nighttime ecosystem.
This episode's guests:
- Yana Yakushina, Lawyer and Researcher.
- James Lowenthal, Astronomer.
- Vicky Derksen, Night Sky Tourist.
Bill's News Picks:
- Randomised trial reveals a mismatch between preferences for and hormonal responses to anthropogenic light colour temperatures, PLOS One.
- Light Wavelength Modulates the Effects of Lighted Nights on Sleep, Metabolism and Oxidative Stress in Female Zebra Finches, Journal of Experimental Zoology Part A: Ecological and Integrative Physiology.
- The Great New Zealand Road Trip: ‘You New Zealanders take your stars for granted’ - the striking words of a tourist that helped turn this Kiwi region dark, Shayne Currie, The New Zealand Herald.
- This Chappell Roan song boosted interest in a Canadian dark sky preserve by 1,800%, Elizabeth Howell, Space.com.
- Inside New Brunswick's ambitious plan for the world's densest dark-sky corridor, Jamie Carter, Space.com.
Subscribe:
- Apple Podcast
- Spotify
- Youtube
Send Feedback Text to the Show!
Support the show
A hearty thank you to all of our paid supporters out there. You make this show possible.
For only the cost of one coffee each month you can help us to continue to grow. That’s $3 a month. If you like what we’re doing, if you think this adds value in any way, why not say thank you by becoming a supporter!
Why Support Light Pollution News?
- Receive quarterly invite to join as live audience member for recordings with special Q&A session post recording with guests.
- Receive all of the news for that month via a special Supporter monthly mailer.
- Satisfaction that your support helps further critical discourse on this topic.
About Light Pollution News:
The path to sustainable starry night solutions begin with being a more informed you.
Light Pollution, once thought to be solely detrimental to astronomers, has proven to be an impactful issue across many disciplines of society including ecology, crime, technology, health, and much more!
But not all is lost! There are simple solutions that provide for big impacts. Each month, Bill McGeeney, is joined by upwards of three guests to help you grow your awareness and understanding of both the challenges and the road to recovering our disappearing nighttime ecosystem.
This episode's guests:
- Yana Yakushina, Lawyer and Researcher.
- James Lowenthal, Astronomer.
- Vicky Derksen, Night Sky Tourist.
Bill's News Picks:
- The endangered night: the challenge of light pollution within the international environmental legal context, Journal of Environmental Law.
- On National Space Day, Fadnavis pledges India's first state Dark Sky Policy, and what it could unlock for Maharashtra, ANI, Tribune.
- Appeals court rules Florida's "Alligator Alcatraz" detention site can stay open, Joe Walsh, CBS News.
- Is Starlink Bad for the Environment? FCC Doesn’t Think It Should Weigh In, Michael Kan, PC Mag.
- Light Pollution as Antichrist, The Imaginative Conservative.
Subscribe:
- Apple Podcast
- Spotify
- Youtube
Send Feedback Text to the Show!
Support the show
A hearty thank you to all of our paid supporters out there. You make this show possible.
For only the cost of one coffee each month you can help us to continue to grow. That’s $3 a month. If you like what we’re doing, if you think this adds value in any way, why not say thank you by becoming a supporter!
Why Support Light Pollution News?
- Receive quarterly invite to join as live audience member for recordings with special Q&A session post recording with guests.
- Receive all of the news for that month via a special Supporter monthly mailer.
- Satisfaction that your support helps further critical discourse on this topic.
About Light Pollution News:
The path to sustainable starry night solutions begin with being a more informed you.
Light Pollution, once thought to be solely detrimental to astronomers, has proven to be an impactful issue across many disciplines of society including ecology, crime, technology, health, and much more!
But not all is lost! There are simple solutions that provide for big impacts. Each month, Bill McGeeney, is joined by upwards of three guests to help you grow your awareness and understanding of both the challenges and the road to recovering our disappearing nighttime ecosystem.
In this episode, Bill McGeeney interviews Vasu Menon, a NC State computer science student who created Stargazer.org - a revolutionary web app that solves every amateur astronomer's planning nightmare. Born from a frustrating full-moon stargazing trip to Virginia's Stanton River park, this tool combines dark sky locations, weather forecasts, and lunar data into one simple interface.
The Problem
- Multiple apps needed for stargazing planning
- Moon interference ruining viewing experiences
- Difficulty finding certified dark sky locations
The Solution: Stargazer.org Features
- Zip code-based dark sky location finder
- Integrated weather forecasting via OpenWeather API
- Lunar phase and brightness tracking
- Percentage-based scoring system for optimal viewing conditions
- Mobile-optimized interface
How It Works
- Enter your US zip code or use browser location
- Browse certified Dark Sky parks with distances
- View optimal dates with weather/astronomy scoring
- Plan trips based on comprehensive data
Future Development
- Community-submitted locations with reviews
- Upvoting/downvoting system for spots
- Open source GitHub repository for contributors
- Expanded Bortle scale coverage
Episode Quotes
"I realized like there has to be like a kind of like a one stop solution to like, you know, for like amateur people just to click a button and see the best times to go stargazing." - Vasu Menon
"This right here... I just punch in my zip code, it brings up some good spots, and then it tells me even better what the opportunities might be, what percentage opportunities I have at those nights." - Bill McGeeney
Send Feedback Text to the Show!
Support the show
A hearty thank you to all of our paid supporters out there. You make this show possible.
For only the cost of one coffee each month you can help us to continue to grow. That’s $3 a month. If you like what we’re doing, if you think this adds value in any way, why not say thank you by becoming a supporter!
Why Support Light Pollution News?
- Receive quarterly invite to join as live audience member for recordings with special Q&A session post recording with guests.
- Receive all of the news for that month via a special Supporter monthly mailer.
- Satisfaction that your support helps further critical discourse on this topic.
About Light Pollution News:
The path to sustainable starry night solutions begin with being a more informed you.
Light Pollution, once thought to be solely detrimental to astronomers, has proven to be an impactful issue across many disciplines of society including ecology, crime, technology, health, and much more!
But not all is lost! There are simple solutions that provide for big impacts. Each month, Bill McGeeney, is joined by upwards of three guests to help you grow your awareness and understanding of both the challenges and the road to recovering our disappearing nighttime ecosystem.
Episode Summary
Discover how one artist is tackling light pollution through whimsical street art. Berlin visual artist Alona Rodeh joins the show to discuss her viral "Nightcaps" project - 3D-printed "hats" that transform unshielded street lamps into community art while reducing light pollution.
Key Topics Covered
- The Nightcaps Project: 15 sculptural lamp covers installed throughout Berlin's Brunnenvierteljat neighborhood
- Community engagement: Workshops with local families and children incorporating cultural designs
- Environmental impact: Practical solutions for reducing artificial light at night (ALAN)
- Placemaking through art: How creative interventions build neighborhood identity
- Night walks: Guided darkness experiences as feminist environmental practice
- Future expansion: Plans for Israeli kibbutzim and sports stadium applications
Notable Quotes
"Instead of throwing away these lanterns and putting in new ones... thinking of adapting and of raising awareness"
"It does what is called in public art placemaking - it brings things out of their anonymity"
Guest Info
Alona Rodeh specializes in light-based installations at the intersection of visual, virtual, and physical space. Her work includes nocturnal walks, immersive environments, and community-driven environmental art.
Send Feedback Text to the Show!
Support the show
A hearty thank you to all of our paid supporters out there. You make this show possible.
For only the cost of one coffee each month you can help us to continue to grow. That’s $3 a month. If you like what we’re doing, if you think this adds value in any way, why not say thank you by becoming a supporter!
Why Support Light Pollution News?
- Receive quarterly invite to join as live audience member for recordings with special Q&A session post recording with guests.
- Receive all of the news for that month via a special Supporter monthly mailer.
- Satisfaction that your support helps further critical discourse on this topic.
About Light Pollution News:
The path to sustainable starry night solutions begin with being a more informed you.
Light Pollution, once thought to be solely detrimental to astronomers, has proven to be an impactful issue across many disciplines of society including ecology, crime, technology, health, and much more!
But not all is lost! There are simple solutions that provide for big impacts. Each month, Bill McGeeney, is joined by upwards of three guests to help you grow your awareness and understanding of both the challenges and the road to recovering our disappearing nighttime ecosystem.
This episode's guests:
- Steve Mariconda, MPH.
- Frank Turina, Educator / National Park Service / Night Sky Resource Center.
Bill's News Picks:
- Natural experiments from Earth Hour reveal urban night sky being drastically lit up by few decorative buildings, Scientific Reports.
- Night lights versus conservation dreams: balancing human preferences with conservation goals in protected areas for sustainable nature-based noctourism, Journal of Sustainable Tourism.
- Noise pollution and artificial light at night alter selection pressures on sexual signals in an urban adapter, Journal of Evolutionary Biology.
- Association between outdoor artificial light at night, circadian health, and LDL-C in intracranial artery atherosclerotic stenosis, Clinical Epigenetics.
- On the Use of Lights as Night Navigation Aids During Antiquity, International Journal of Nautical Archaeology.
Subscribe:
- Apple Podcast
- Spotify
- Youtube
Tag Us and Share with a Friend:
- TikTok
Connect:
- Bill@LightPollutionNews.com
- Join our Mailing List
Send Feedback Text to the Show!
Support the show
A hearty thank you to all of our paid supporters out there. You make this show possible.
For only the cost of one coffee each month you can help us to continue to grow. That’s $3 a month. If you like what we’re doing, if you think this adds value in any way, why not say thank you by becoming a supporter!
Why Support Light Pollution News?
- Receive quarterly invite to join as live audience member for recordings with special Q&A session post recording with guests.
- Receive all of the news for that month via a special Supporter monthly mailer.
- Satisfaction that your support helps further critical discourse on this topic.
About Light Pollution News:
The path to sustainable starry night solutions begin with being a more informed you.
Light Pollution, once thought to be solely detrimental to astronomers, has proven to be an impactful issue across many disciplines of society including ecology, crime, technology, health, and much more!
But not all is lost! There are simple solutions that provide for big impacts. Each month, Bill McGeeney, is joined by upwards of three guests to help you grow your awareness and understanding of both the challenges and the road to recovering our disappearing nighttime ecosystem.
This episode's guests:
- Steve Mariconda, MPH.
- Frank Turina, Educator / National Park Service / Night Sky Resource Center.
Bill's News Picks:
- ‘This is a big win’: Planning Commission embraces ‘dark skies’ for Rappahannock County, Bob Hurley, Rappahonnock News.
- A CT man claims state courts don’t comply with a certain law. Why he says it matters., Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courient.
- City denies environmentalists’ appeal, greenlights new Oaks Park ride and lights, Maddie Khaw, The Oregonian.
- Fears over impact of wind farm lights on Dark Sky Park, BBC News.
- Caring China shop owner keeps store lights on for 13 years to aid women coming home late, Fran Lu, South China Morning Post.
Subscribe:
- Apple Podcast
- Spotify
- Youtube
Tag Us and Share with a Friend:
- TikTok
Connect:
- Bill@LightPollutionNews.com
- Join our Mailing List
Send Feedback Text to the Show!
Support the show
A hearty thank you to all of our paid supporters out there. You make this show possible.
For only the cost of one coffee each month you can help us to continue to grow. That’s $3 a month. If you like what we’re doing, if you think this adds value in any way, why not say thank you by becoming a supporter!
Why Support Light Pollution News?
- Receive quarterly invite to join as live audience member for recordings with special Q&A session post recording with guests.
- Receive all of the news for that month via a special Supporter monthly mailer.
- Satisfaction that your support helps further critical discourse on this topic.
About Light Pollution News:
The path to sustainable starry night solutions begin with being a more informed you.
Light Pollution, once thought to be solely detrimental to astronomers, has proven to be an impactful issue across many disciplines of society including ecology, crime, technology, health, and much more!
But not all is lost! There are simple solutions that provide for big impacts. Each month, Bill McGeeney, is joined by upwards of three guests to help you grow your awareness and understanding of both the challenges and the road to recovering our disappearing nighttime ecosystem.
This episode's guests:
- Kelly Beatty, Sky and Telescope.
- Kerem Asfuroglu, Dark Source.
- David Smith, BugLife.
Bill's News Picks:
- Darkness is crucial to Everglades habitat: Could Alligator Alcatraz threaten it?, Max Chesnes, Phys.org.
- A183 Coast Road cycleway to get new street lighting to boost safety despite wildlife and dark skies fears, Nic Marko, Shields Gazette.
- Lunar cycle and moonlight intensity influence nocturnal migration patterns in a small songbird, Scientific Reports.
- Bogong moths use a stellar compass for long-distance navigation at night, Nature.
Subscribe:
- Apple Podcast
- Spotify
- Youtube
Tag Us and Share with a Friend:
- TikTok
Connect:
- Bill@LightPollutionNews.com
- Join our Mailing List
Send Feedback Text to the Show!
Support the show
A hearty thank you to all of our paid supporters out there. You make this show possible.
For only the cost of one coffee each month you can help us to continue to grow. That’s $3 a month. If you like what we’re doing, if you think this adds value in any way, why not say thank you by becoming a supporter!
Why Support Light Pollution News?
- Receive quarterly invite to join as live audience member for recordings with special Q&A session post recording with guests.
- Receive all of the news for that month via a special Supporter monthly mailer.
- Satisfaction that your support helps further critical discourse on this topic.
About Light Pollution News:
The path to sustainable starry night solutions begin with being a more informed you.
Light Pollution, once thought to be solely detrimental to astronomers, has proven to be an impactful issue across many disciplines of society including ecology, crime, technology, health, and much more!
But not all is lost! There are simple solutions that provide for big impacts. Each month, Bill McGeeney, is joined by upwards of three guests to help you grow your awareness and understanding of both the challenges and the road to recovering our disappearing nighttime ecosystem.
This episode's guests:
- Kelly Beatty, Sky and Telescope.
- Kerem Asfuroglu, Dark Source.
- David Smith, BugLife.
Bill's News Picks:
- Citizen science illuminates the nature of city lights, Nature Cities.
- Does darkness increase the risk of certain types of crime? A registered report article, Plos.org.
- To Determine if Changing to White Light Street Lamps Reduces Crime: A Multilevel Longitudinal Analysis of Crime Occurrence during the Relighting of Leeds, a UK City, Applied Spatial Analysis and Policy.
- Lipid metabolic adaptations during inflammation are controlled by the circadian clock and impaired by light at night, Inflammation Research.
Subscribe:
- Apple Podcast
- Spotify
- Youtube
Tag Us and Share with a Friend:
- TikTok
Connect:
- Bill@LightPollutionNews.com
- Join our Mailing List
Send Feedback Text to the Show!
Support the show
A hearty thank you to all of our paid supporters out there. You make this show possible.
For only the cost of one coffee each month you can help us to continue to grow. That’s $3 a month. If you like what we’re doing, if you think this adds value in any way, why not say thank you by becoming a supporter!
Why Support Light Pollution News?
- Receive quarterly invite to join as live audience member for recordings with special Q&A session post recording with guests.
- Receive all of the news for that month via a special Supporter monthly mailer.
- Satisfaction that your support helps further critical discourse on this topic.
About Light Pollution News:
The path to sustainable starry night solutions begin with being a more informed you.
Light Pollution, once thought to be solely detrimental to astronomers, has proven to be an impactful issue across many disciplines of society including ecology, crime, technology, health, and much more!
But not all is lost! There are simple solutions that provide for big impacts. Each month, Bill McGeeney, is joined by upwards of three guests to help you grow your awareness and understanding of both the challenges and the road to recovering our disappearing nighttime ecosystem.
In this episode of Why It’s So Bright at Night, host Bill McGeeney explores the growing movement in Norfolk, Virginia, led by Citizens for Responsible Lighting, a grassroots group advocating for smarter, healthier, and more environmentally responsible LED streetlighting.
The group formed after residents were disturbed by overly bright 3000K–4000K LEDs installed across the city starting in late 2023 as part of a $5 million retrofit project funded by a $3 million federal grant. Rather than thoughtfully implement the upgrade, Dominion Energy inserted high-CCT LEDs into existing fixtures—including decorative ones, causing excessive glare, poor light distribution, and widespread light trespass into homes and over Norfolk’s coastal waterways.
The guests—Mary Frances Bellman, Joe Reynes, and Lori Baccanari—stress that they are not anti-LED, but are pushing for thoughtful, expert-guided implementation. Their five key requests include:
- Using 2700K or lower CCT lighting (2400K in environmentally sensitive areas)
- Specifying Type II distribution
- Limiting lumens
- Applying effective shielding
- Adopting adaptive lighting controls
A thoughtful reimplementation would protect Nighttime visibility, reduce environmental harm to migratory species and amphibians, and minimize health risks like disrupted circadian rhythms, cancer, and dementia.
Despite presenting to over 40 civic leagues and briefing elected officials, the group faces institutional resistance rooted in outdated 2016–2017 lighting guidelines. Yet, they argue that their proposed approach is not only safer and healthier but cost-neutral, offering a generational opportunity to get urban lighting right from the start.
Send Feedback Text to the Show!
Support the show
A hearty thank you to all of our paid supporters out there. You make this show possible.
For only the cost of one coffee each month you can help us to continue to grow. That’s $3 a month. If you like what we’re doing, if you think this adds value in any way, why not say thank you by becoming a supporter!
Why Support Light Pollution News?
- Receive quarterly invite to join as live audience member for recordings with special Q&A session post recording with guests.
- Receive all of the news for that month via a special Supporter monthly mailer.
- Satisfaction that your support helps further critical discourse on this topic.
About Light Pollution News:
The path to sustainable starry night solutions begin with being a more informed you.
Light Pollution, once thought to be solely detrimental to astronomers, has proven to be an impactful issue across many disciplines of society including ecology, crime, technology, health, and much more!
But not all is lost! There are simple solutions that provide for big impacts. Each month, Bill McGeeney, is joined by upwards of three guests to help you grow your awareness and understanding of both the challenges and the road to recovering our disappearing nighttime ecosystem.
This episode's guests:
- Babak Tafreshi, Photojournalist for National Geographic.
- Tom Reinert, Past President of Dark Sky International.
- Jeffrey Calta, President of the Pennsylvania Firefly Festival.
Bill's News Picks:
- How Atlanta’s ‘Light Up the Night’ program is making streets safer—one LED at a time, 11Alive.
- ‘The right light:’ Pittsburgh begins installing LED streetlights, Ed Blazina, Pittsburgh Union Progress.
- Photographer captures ghostly ripples over Colorado night sky. 'It is rare to see it directly overhead and moving like that' (photo), Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com.
- Light Pollution Solutions - A Brazilian Port Uses Night-Vision Tech to Protect Wildlife, Georgia Wray Norsten, Cleanthesky.com.
Subscribe:
- Apple Podcast
- Spotify
- Youtube
Tag Us and Share with a Friend:
- TikTok
Connect:
- Bill@LightPollutionNews.com
- Join our Mailing List
Send Feedback Text to the Show!
Support the show
A hearty thank you to all of our paid supporters out there. You make this show possible.
For only the cost of one coffee each month you can help us to continue to grow. That’s $3 a month. If you like what we’re doing, if you think this adds value in any way, why not say thank you by becoming a supporter!
Why Support Light Pollution News?
- Receive quarterly invite to join as live audience member for recordings with special Q&A session post recording with guests.
- Receive all of the news for that month via a special Supporter monthly mailer.
- Satisfaction that your support helps further critical discourse on this topic.
About Light Pollution News:
The path to sustainable starry night solutions begin with being a more informed you.
Light Pollution, once thought to be solely detrimental to astronomers, has proven to be an impactful issue across many disciplines of society including ecology, crime, technology, health, and much more!
But not all is lost! There are simple solutions that provide for big impacts. Each month, Bill McGeeney, is joined by upwards of three guests to help you grow your awareness and understanding of both the challenges and the road to recovering our disappearing nighttime ecosystem.
This episode's guests:
- Tom Reinert, Past President of Dark Sky International.
- Jeffrey Calta, President of the Pennsylvania Firefly Festival.
Bill's News Picks:
- See photos of Manhattanhenge as seen from 42nd St. in Manhattan, Seth Harrison, Iohud.
- Space-time cube reveals escalating light pollution in China's national parks: impact of boundary geometry and human activities (1992–2021), Environmental Pollution.
- Streets going dark to deter mayflies, Caitlin Hunt, News5.
- Nocturnal pollinators just as important as their daytime colleagues, study finds, Phys.org.
- How LED lights can help birds avoid fatal run-ins with windows, NPR.
Subscribe:
- Apple Podcast
- Spotify
- Youtube
Tag Us and Share with a Friend:
- TikTok
Connect:
- Bill@LightPollutionNews.com
- Join our Mailing List
Send Feedback Text to the Show!
Support the show
A hearty thank you to all of our paid supporters out there. You make this show possible.
For only the cost of one coffee each month you can help us to continue to grow. That’s $3 a month. If you like what we’re doing, if you think this adds value in any way, why not say thank you by becoming a supporter!
Why Support Light Pollution News?
- Receive quarterly invite to join as live audience member for recordings with special Q&A session post recording with guests.
- Receive all of the news for that month via a special Supporter monthly mailer.
- Satisfaction that your support helps further critical discourse on this topic.
About Light Pollution News:
The path to sustainable starry night solutions begin with being a more informed you.
Light Pollution, once thought to be solely detrimental to astronomers, has proven to be an impactful issue across many disciplines of society including ecology, crime, technology, health, and much more!
But not all is lost! There are simple solutions that provide for big impacts. Each month, Bill McGeeney, is joined by upwards of three guests to help you grow your awareness and understanding of both the challenges and the road to recovering our disappearing nighttime ecosystem.
This month's guests:
- David Eicher, Editor-in-Chief of the Astronomy Magazine.
- Nancy Gonlin, Professor of Anthropology at Bellevue College.
- Michael Colligan, Host of Restoring Darkness.
Bill's News Picks:
- Light pollution’s impact on Indigenous cultures, Abbe Whitford, Astrobites.
- Perinatal Exposures to Ambient Fine Particulate Matter and Outdoor Artificial Light at Night and Risk of Pediatric Papillary Thyroid Cancer, Environmental Health Perspectives.
- Associations between light at night and mental health: A systematic review and meta-analysis, Science of The Total Environment.
- Being a parent can be dizzying. To reorient, I look to the stars, Gila Lyons, Los Angeles Times.
Subscribe:
- Apple Podcast
- Spotify
- Youtube
Tag Us and Share with a Friend:
- TikTok
Connect:
- Bill@LightPollutionNews.com
- Join our Mailing List
Send Feedback Text to the Show!
Support the show
A hearty thank you to all of our paid supporters out there. You make this show possible.
For only the cost of one coffee each month you can help us to continue to grow. That’s $3 a month. If you like what we’re doing, if you think this adds value in any way, why not say thank you by becoming a supporter!
Why Support Light Pollution News?
- Receive quarterly invite to join as live audience member for recordings with special Q&A session post recording with guests.
- Receive all of the news for that month via a special Supporter monthly mailer.
- Satisfaction that your support helps further critical discourse on this topic.
About Light Pollution News:
The path to sustainable starry night solutions begin with being a more informed you.
Light Pollution, once thought to be solely detrimental to astronomers, has proven to be an impactful issue across many disciplines of society including ecology, crime, technology, health, and much more!
But not all is lost! There are simple solutions that provide for big impacts. Each month, Bill McGeeney, is joined by upwards of three guests to help you grow your awareness and understanding of both the challenges and the road to recovering our disappearing nighttime ecosystem.
This month's guests:
- David Eicher, Editor-in-Chief of the Astronomy Magazine.
- Nancy Gonlin, Professor of Anthropology at Bellevue College.
- Michael Colligan, Host of Restoring Darkness.
Bill's News Picks:
- This is Why You’re Afraid of the Woods at Night, Blair Braverman, Outside.
- Artificial light pollution could fuel growth of toxic algal blooms, James Dinneen, New Scientist.
- Street lights to be switched off across major roads to slash pollution levels with new AI cameras, GBNews.
- The enduring glow of London's historic gas lamps, CBS Sunday Morning.
- LED Street Lights Killing Seabirds on Cape Verde, Associação Projecto Vitó, Rare Bird Alert.
Subscribe:
- Apple Podcast
- Spotify
- Youtube
Tag Us and Share with a Friend:
- TikTok
Connect:
- Bill@LightPollutionNews.com
- Join our Mailing List
Send Feedback Text to the Show!
Support the show
A hearty thank you to all of our paid supporters out there. You make this show possible.
For only the cost of one coffee each month you can help us to continue to grow. That’s $3 a month. If you like what we’re doing, if you think this adds value in any way, why not say thank you by becoming a supporter!
Why Support Light Pollution News?
- Receive quarterly invite to join as live audience member for recordings with special Q&A session post recording with guests.
- Receive all of the news for that month via a special Supporter monthly mailer.
- Satisfaction that your support helps further critical discourse on this topic.
About Light Pollution News:
The path to sustainable starry night solutions begin with being a more informed you.
Light Pollution, once thought to be solely detrimental to astronomers, has proven to be an impactful issue across many disciplines of society including ecology, crime, technology, health, and much more!
But not all is lost! There are simple solutions that provide for big impacts. Each month, Bill McGeeney, is joined by upwards of three guests to help you grow your awareness and understanding of both the challenges and the road to recovering our disappearing nighttime ecosystem.
This month's guests:
- Robert Massey, of the Royal Astronomical Society.
- Phyllis Gricus, Principal of Landscape Design Studio, LLC.
- Michael Calhoun, Conservationist and Advocate.
Bill's News Picks:
- Las Vegas sphere owners reportedly want to build "mini spheres" in other cities, Megan Townsend, MixMag.
- Blue Light Influences Negative Thoughts of Self, Sleep.
- Swarms of satellites are harming astronomy. Here’s how researchers are fighting back, Alexandra Witze, Nature.
- ‘Space Advertising’ Could Outshine the Stars—Unless It’s Banned First, Sharmila Kuthunur, Scientific American.
- Personal 24-hour light exposure pattern with obesity and adiposity-related parameters in school-aged children: a cross-sectional study based on compositional data analysis, Environmental Research.
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A hearty thank you to all of our paid supporters out there. You make this show possible.
For only the cost of one coffee each month you can help us to continue to grow. That’s $3 a month. If you like what we’re doing, if you think this adds value in any way, why not say thank you by becoming a supporter!
Why Support Light Pollution News?
- Receive quarterly invite to join as live audience member for recordings with special Q&A session post recording with guests.
- Receive all of the news for that month via a special Supporter monthly mailer.
- Satisfaction that your support helps further critical discourse on this topic.
About Light Pollution News:
The path to sustainable starry night solutions begin with being a more informed you.
Light Pollution, once thought to be solely detrimental to astronomers, has proven to be an impactful issue across many disciplines of society including ecology, crime, technology, health, and much more!
But not all is lost! There are simple solutions that provide for big impacts. Each month, Bill McGeeney, is joined by upwards of three guests to help you grow your awareness and understanding of both the challenges and the road to recovering our disappearing nighttime ecosystem.
This month's guests:
- Robert Massey, of the Royal Astronomical Society.
- Phyllis Gricus, Principal of Landscape Design Studio, LLC.
- Michael Calhoun, Conservationist and Advocate.
Bill's News Picks:
- As a lamp you wear a hat, Stefan Oberwalleney, RBB24.
- From fireflies to fish, light pollution is damaging the environment – what can we do about it?, Emma Charlton, World Economic Forum.
- How young salmon navigate a gauntlet of danger en route to the sea, Science Daily.
- This trend for lighting up gardens may seem an inviting one, but it needs to be done with care, Joanne Hunt, The Irish Times.
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Support the show
A hearty thank you to all of our paid supporters out there. You make this show possible.
For only the cost of one coffee each month you can help us to continue to grow. That’s $3 a month. If you like what we’re doing, if you think this adds value in any way, why not say thank you by becoming a supporter!
Why Support Light Pollution News?
- Receive quarterly invite to join as live audience member for recordings with special Q&A session post recording with guests.
- Receive all of the news for that month via a special Supporter monthly mailer.
- Satisfaction that your support helps further critical discourse on this topic.
About Light Pollution News:
The path to sustainable starry night solutions begin with being a more informed you.
Light Pollution, once thought to be solely detrimental to astronomers, has proven to be an impactful issue across many disciplines of society including ecology, crime, technology, health, and much more!
But not all is lost! There are simple solutions that provide for big impacts. Each month, Bill McGeeney, is joined by upwards of three guests to help you grow your awareness and understanding of both the challenges and the road to recovering our disappearing nighttime ecosystem.
Host Bill McGeeney is joined by Art Hushen, founder of the National Institute of Crime Prevention.
The seemingly harmless advice to leave all your exterior lights on overnight might not be the crime deterrent you think it is. Host, Bill McGeeney, reconnects with Art Hushin, a 30-year law enforcement veteran and founder of the National Institute of Crime Prevention, to dissect the popular #9PMRoutine campaign sweeping across police departments in the US and Canada.
What started in Florida in 2017 as a well-meaning initiative has attempted to craft people's habits into a nightly ritual: remove valuables from your car, lock all entry points, and keep exterior lights blazing until dawn. But does that last recommendation actually make us safer?
Art brings fascinating insights from his decades of experience, revealing how modern criminals have adapted to constant lighting by simply covering up – hoodies pulled low, faces obscured from cameras.
Our discussion explores more effective alternatives that balance security needs with environmental concerns. Motion-activated lighting emerges as a superior option, creating an immediate stimulus that often causes intruders to look up reflexively – "that puts that extra doubt" in their minds about being detected.
Perhaps most revealing is Art's perspective on simple solutions like actually using garages for cars instead of storage boxes, eliminating tempting targets altogether. Whether you're concerned about property crime, light pollution, or simply want to make smarter security choices, this conversation offers practical wisdom that goes beyond simplified routines and outdated assumptions about keeping the lights on.
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Support the show
A hearty thank you to all of our paid supporters out there. You make this show possible.
For only the cost of one coffee each month you can help us to continue to grow. That’s $3 a month. If you like what we’re doing, if you think this adds value in any way, why not say thank you by becoming a supporter!
Why Support Light Pollution News?
- Receive quarterly invite to join as live audience member for recordings with special Q&A session post recording with guests.
- Receive all of the news for that month via a special Supporter monthly mailer.
- Satisfaction that your support helps further critical discourse on this topic.
About Light Pollution News:
The path to sustainable starry night solutions begin with being a more informed you.
Light Pollution, once thought to be solely detrimental to astronomers, has proven to be an impactful issue across many disciplines of society including ecology, crime, technology, health, and much more!
But not all is lost! There are simple solutions that provide for big impacts. Each month, Bill McGeeney, is joined by upwards of three guests to help you grow your awareness and understanding of both the challenges and the road to recovering our disappearing nighttime ecosystem.
This month's guests:
- Stephanie Vermillion, Travel Journalist and Author.
- Traci Cardinal, President of Dark Sky Ohio.
- Shane Ludtke, host of the Actual Astronomy Podcast.
Bill's News Picks:
- World Becomes Brighter as Trump Reverses Biden’s Incandescent Light Bulb Ban, Leslie Eastman, Legal Insurrection.
- E Ink's color ePaper tech gets supersized for outdoor displays, Paul Ridden, New Atlas.
- Portsmouth Neighborhood Wins Light Pollution Battle with Tiverton Boatyard, Michael Rock, Fun107.
- It Pays to Sit Tight: Stable Night-Time Incubation Increases Hatching Success in Urban and Forest Great Tits, Parus major, Zoological Science.
- How You Can Still Stargaze Under Light Pollution, Tony Phillips, HowToGeek.
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Connect:
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Send Feedback Text to the Show!
Support the show
A hearty thank you to all of our paid supporters out there. You make this show possible.
For only the cost of one coffee each month you can help us to continue to grow. That’s $3 a month. If you like what we’re doing, if you think this adds value in any way, why not say thank you by becoming a supporter!
Why Support Light Pollution News?
- Receive quarterly invite to join as live audience member for recordings with special Q&A session post recording with guests.
- Receive all of the news for that month via a special Supporter monthly mailer.
- Satisfaction that your support helps further critical discourse on this topic.
About Light Pollution News:
The path to sustainable starry night solutions begin with being a more informed you.
Light Pollution, once thought to be solely detrimental to astronomers, has proven to be an impactful issue across many disciplines of society including ecology, crime, technology, health, and much more!
But not all is lost! There are simple solutions that provide for big impacts. Each month, Bill McGeeney, is joined by upwards of three guests to help you grow your awareness and understanding of both the challenges and the road to recovering our disappearing nighttime ecosystem.
This month's guests:
- Stephanie Vermillion, Travel Journalist and Author.
- Traci Cardinal, President of Dark Sky Ohio.
- Shane Ludtke, host of the Actual Astronomy Podcast.
Bill's News Picks:
- China: Eerie jellyfish-like streetlight spotted in China, Stingers Hub.
- Dark Sky Week deemed dangerous, fails in North Dakota Senate, Jeff Beach, North Dakota Monitor.
- This New ‘Astro Trail’ in Arizona Is Located in One of the ‘Astronomy Capitals of the World'—and Makes Stops at Observatories, State Parks, and More, Evie Charrick, Travel + Leisure.
- Inside the Private Astronomy Village Hidden in the Darkest Part of Georgia, Blake Guthrie, Matador Network.
- Commentary: A tale of two cities, Bob Yoesle, Columbia Gorge News.
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- Spotify
- Youtube
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Connect:
- Bill@LightPollutionNews.com
- Join our Mailing List
Send Feedback Text to the Show!
Support the show
A hearty thank you to all of our paid supporters out there. You make this show possible.
For only the cost of one coffee each month you can help us to continue to grow. That’s $3 a month. If you like what we’re doing, if you think this adds value in any way, why not say thank you by becoming a supporter!
Why Support Light Pollution News?
- Receive quarterly invite to join as live audience member for recordings with special Q&A session post recording with guests.
- Receive all of the news for that month via a special Supporter monthly mailer.
- Satisfaction that your support helps further critical discourse on this topic.
About Light Pollution News:
The path to sustainable starry night solutions begin with being a more informed you.
Light Pollution, once thought to be solely detrimental to astronomers, has proven to be an impactful issue across many disciplines of society including ecology, crime, technology, health, and much more!
But not all is lost! There are simple solutions that provide for big impacts. Each month, Bill McGeeney, is joined by upwards of three guests to help you grow your awareness and understanding of both the challenges and the road to recovering our disappearing nighttime ecosystem.
This month's guests:
- Art Hushen, founder of the National Institute of Crime Prevention.
- Jeff Schmalz, founder of r/DarkSky.
- Spencer SooHoo, Los Angeles Astronomical Society Secretary and Dark Sky Advocate.
Bill's News Picks:
- An Evaluation of Citywide Street Lighting Upgrades on Gun Violence, Crime Justice Lab.
- Street lighting environment and fear of crime: a simulated virtual reality experiment, Virtual Reality.
- Rural students hit jackpot in dark sky, to be trained in astronomy, New Indian Express.
- Energy megaproject in Chile threatens the world’s largest telescopes, Daniel Clery, Science.
- Jun Ong’s Illuminated Art: “HALO” and the Power of Light in Space, Jesse James, Stupid Dope.
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- Spotify
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- Bill@LightPollutionNews.com
- Join our
Send Feedback Text to the Show!
Support the show
A hearty thank you to all of our paid supporters out there. You make this show possible.
For only the cost of one coffee each month you can help us to continue to grow. That’s $3 a month. If you like what we’re doing, if you think this adds value in any way, why not say thank you by becoming a supporter!
Why Support Light Pollution News?
- Receive quarterly invite to join as live audience member for recordings with special Q&A session post recording with guests.
- Receive all of the news for that month via a special Supporter monthly mailer.
- Satisfaction that your support helps further critical discourse on this topic.
About Light Pollution News:
The path to sustainable starry night solutions begin with being a more informed you.
Light Pollution, once thought to be solely detrimental to astronomers, has proven to be an impactful issue across many disciplines of society including ecology, crime, technology, health, and much more!
But not all is lost! There are simple solutions that provide for big impacts. Each month, Bill McGeeney, is joined by upwards of three guests to help you grow your awareness and understanding of both the challenges and the road to recovering our disappearing nighttime ecosystem.
This month's guests:
- Art Hushen, founder of the National Institute of Crime Prevention.
- Jeff Schmalz, founder of r/DarkSky.
- Spencer SooHoo, Los Angeles Astronomical Society Secretary and Dark Sky Advocate.
Bill's News Picks:
- Streetlight upgrade to help protect dark skies, Richard Edwards, BBC.
- The War Against Headlight Brightness, Nate Rogers, The Ringer.
- Atlantic puffins are perilously attracted to artificial light, new study shows, Spoorthy Raman, Mongabay.
- Nocturnal camouflage through background matching against moonlight, PNAS
- National Park visitors perceive benefits for themselves and wildlife under blended red-white outdoor lighting, Scientific Reports.
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- Spotify
- Youtube
Tag Us and Share with a Friend:
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Connect:
- Bill@LightPollutionNews.com
- Join our Mailing List
Send Feedback Text to the Show!
Support the show
A hearty thank you to all of our paid supporters out there. You make this show possible.
For only the cost of one coffee each month you can help us to continue to grow. That’s $3 a month. If you like what we’re doing, if you think this adds value in any way, why not say thank you by becoming a supporter!
Why Support Light Pollution News?
- Receive quarterly invite to join as live audience member for recordings with special Q&A session post recording with guests.
- Receive all of the news for that month via a special Supporter monthly mailer.
- Satisfaction that your support helps further critical discourse on this topic.
About Light Pollution News:
The path to sustainable starry night solutions begin with being a more informed you.
Light Pollution, once thought to be solely detrimental to astronomers, has proven to be an impactful issue across many disciplines of society including ecology, crime, technology, health, and much more!
But not all is lost! There are simple solutions that provide for big impacts. Each month, Bill McGeeney, is joined by upwards of three guests to help you grow your awareness and understanding of both the challenges and the road to recovering our disappearing nighttime ecosystem.
This month's guests:
- Mark Baker, founder of the Soft Lights Foundation.
- Nick Mesler, civil engineer specializing in traffic and pedestrian safety.
- Isa Mohammed, President of the Caribbean Institute of Astronomy.
Bill's News Picks:
- This Famous designer changed the way cities think about public lighting, Diana Budds, Fast Company.
- Electric Utilities Sued Over Lighting and Wildlife Issues, Inside Lighting.
- Artificial Light Increases Nighttime Prevalence of Predatory Fishes, Altering Community Composition on Coral Reefs, Global Change Biology.
- We’re losing sight of the night sky. This First Nation is trying to protect it, Michelle Cyca, The Narwhal.
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- Spotify
- Youtube
Tag Us and Share with a Friend:
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Connect:
- Bill@LightPollutionNews.com
- Join our Mailing List
Send Feedback Text to the Show!
Support the show
A hearty thank you to all of our paid supporters out there. You make this show possible.
For only the cost of one coffee each month you can help us to continue to grow. That’s $3 a month. If you like what we’re doing, if you think this adds value in any way, why not say thank you by becoming a supporter!
Why Support Light Pollution News?
- Receive quarterly invite to join as live audience member for recordings with special Q&A session post recording with guests.
- Receive all of the news for that month via a special Supporter monthly mailer.
- Satisfaction that your support helps further critical discourse on this topic.
About Light Pollution News:
The path to sustainable starry night solutions begin with being a more informed you.
Light Pollution, once thought to be solely detrimental to astronomers, has proven to be an impactful issue across many disciplines of society including ecology, crime, technology, health, and much more!
But not all is lost! There are simple solutions that provide for big impacts. Each month, Bill McGeeney, is joined by upwards of three guests to help you grow your awareness and understanding of both the challenges and the road to recovering our disappearing nighttime ecosystem.
This month, host Bill McGeeney is joined by Mark Baker, founder of the Soft Lights Foundation, Nick Mesler, civil engineer, and, Isa Mohammed, President of the Caribbean Institute of Astronomy!
See Full Show Notes, Lighting Tips and more at LightPollutionNews.com. Like this episode, share it with a friend!
Bill's Picks:
- Why Soccer Players Are Training in the Dark, RM Clark, Wired.
- Light Pollution Control: Comparative Analysis of Regulations Across Civil and Common Law Jurisdictions, Laws.
- ‘Neurologic hazard’: Group sues over Bay Bridge lights, Phil Mayer, KRON4.
- Outdoor light at night, air pollution and risk of incident type 2 diabetes, Environmental Research.
- Cartographic Visualisation of Light Pollution Measurements, Urban Science.
Send Feedback Text to the Show!
Support the show
A hearty thank you to all of our paid supporters out there. You make this show possible.
For only the cost of one coffee each month you can help us to continue to grow. That’s $3 a month. If you like what we’re doing, if you think this adds value in any way, why not say thank you by becoming a supporter!
Why Support Light Pollution News?
- Receive quarterly invite to join as live audience member for recordings with special Q&A session post recording with guests.
- Receive all of the news for that month via a special Supporter monthly mailer.
- Satisfaction that your support helps further critical discourse on this topic.
About Light Pollution News:
The path to sustainable starry night solutions begin with being a more informed you.
Light Pollution, once thought to be solely detrimental to astronomers, has proven to be an impactful issue across many disciplines of society including ecology, crime, technology, health, and much more!
But not all is lost! There are simple solutions that provide for big impacts. Each month, Bill McGeeney, is joined by upwards of three guests to help you grow your awareness and understanding of both the challenges and the road to recovering our disappearing nighttime ecosystem.
This month, host Bill McGeeney is joined by Dr. Mario Motta, lighting designer Glenn Heinmiller, and, advocate, David Lefevre!
See Full Show Notes, Lighting Tips and more at LightPollutionNews.com. Like this episode, share it with a friend!
Bill's Picks:
- Reducing light pollution, this city 'went dark' to save birds — and it worked, Good Good Good.
- Cool' white car headlights more likely to dazzle moths, Science Daily.
- Town Pilots New Streetlights On Main Street To Combat Light Pollution, Nantucket Current.
- DarkSky International launches new lighting policy templates for municipalities and territories, Drew Reagan, Dark Sky International.
- Exposure to constant artificial light alters honey bee sleep rhythms and disrupts sleep, Scientific Reports.
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Support the show
A hearty thank you to all of our paid supporters out there. You make this show possible.
For only the cost of one coffee each month you can help us to continue to grow. That’s $3 a month. If you like what we’re doing, if you think this adds value in any way, why not say thank you by becoming a supporter!
Why Support Light Pollution News?
- Receive quarterly invite to join as live audience member for recordings with special Q&A session post recording with guests.
- Receive all of the news for that month via a special Supporter monthly mailer.
- Satisfaction that your support helps further critical discourse on this topic.
About Light Pollution News:
The path to sustainable starry night solutions begin with being a more informed you.
Light Pollution, once thought to be solely detrimental to astronomers, has proven to be an impactful issue across many disciplines of society including ecology, crime, technology, health, and much more!
But not all is lost! There are simple solutions that provide for big impacts. Each month, Bill McGeeney, is joined by upwards of three guests to help you grow your awareness and understanding of both the challenges and the road to recovering our disappearing nighttime ecosystem.
This month, host Bill McGeeney is joined by Dr. Mario Motta, lighting designer Glenn Heinmiller, and, advocate, David Lefevre!
See Full Show Notes, Lighting Tips and more at LightPollutionNews.com. Like this episode, share it with a friend!
Bill's Picks:
- Here are 5 major threats to Ireland's remaining dark skies, George McMillan, RTE.
- Young People Are Losing Their Cultural Heritage to Light Pollution, Paige Cromley, Sierra.
- Rethinking Occasional Outdoor Lighting: A Kinder, Gentler, More Nature-Friendly Glow, Kendra Wilson, Gardenista.
- Brighter nights and darker days predict higher mortality risk: A prospective analysis of personal light exposure in >88,000 individuals, PNAS.
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Support the show
A hearty thank you to all of our paid supporters out there. You make this show possible.
For only the cost of one coffee each month you can help us to continue to grow. That’s $3 a month. If you like what we’re doing, if you think this adds value in any way, why not say thank you by becoming a supporter!
Why Support Light Pollution News?
- Receive quarterly invite to join as live audience member for recordings with special Q&A session post recording with guests.
- Receive all of the news for that month via a special Supporter monthly mailer.
- Satisfaction that your support helps further critical discourse on this topic.
About Light Pollution News:
The path to sustainable starry night solutions begin with being a more informed you.
Light Pollution, once thought to be solely detrimental to astronomers, has proven to be an impactful issue across many disciplines of society including ecology, crime, technology, health, and much more!
But not all is lost! There are simple solutions that provide for big impacts. Each month, Bill McGeeney, is joined by upwards of three guests to help you grow your awareness and understanding of both the challenges and the road to recovering our disappearing nighttime ecosystem.
Find today's articles at LightPollutionNews.com
A panel of guests from 2024 reflect on their favorite news stories of 2024 They discuss significant victories, such as the community-led opposition against the MSG Sphere project and the introduction of regulations in various countries addressing light pollution.
- Community success in opposing MSG Sphere project
- United Nations addresses satellite constellations’ impact on astronomy
- New Zealand aims for dark sky continent with light pollution regulations
- Astrotourism trends and their economic potential
- Health implications of light pollution linked to mortality rates
- Increasing awareness and activism against light pollution
- Moab designates dark sky community status
- Alzheimer’s risks associated with nighttime light exposure
- Challenges and solutions for space debris and light pollution
- Importance of public engagement in legislative processes
Send Feedback Text to the Show!
Support the show
A hearty thank you to all of our paid supporters out there. You make this show possible.
For only the cost of one coffee each month you can help us to continue to grow. That’s $3 a month. If you like what we’re doing, if you think this adds value in any way, why not say thank you by becoming a supporter!
Why Support Light Pollution News?
- Receive quarterly invite to join as live audience member for recordings with special Q&A session post recording with guests.
- Receive all of the news for that month via a special Supporter monthly mailer.
- Satisfaction that your support helps further critical discourse on this topic.
About Light Pollution News:
The path to sustainable starry night solutions begin with being a more informed you.
Light Pollution, once thought to be solely detrimental to astronomers, has proven to be an impactful issue across many disciplines of society including ecology, crime, technology, health, and much more!
But not all is lost! There are simple solutions that provide for big impacts. Each month, Bill McGeeney, is joined by upwards of three guests to help you grow your awareness and understanding of both the challenges and the road to recovering our disappearing nighttime ecosystem.
This month, host Bill McGeeney is joined by Travis Longcore, Adjunct Professor and Co-Chair of the Environmental Science and Engineering Program at the UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, and Paul Bogard, author of The End of Night: Searching for Natural Darkness in an Age of Artificial Light, a finalist for the PEN/E. O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award!
See Full Show Notes, Lighting Tips and more at LightPollutionNews.com. Like this episode, share it with a friend!
Bill's Picks:
- Brightness of the Qianfan Satellites, Arxiv.
- Space Agency seeks feedback on solutions to light pollution, Adam Thorn, SpaceConnect.
- Labour councillors back residents’ campaign to stop street lighting along The Leas, Ryan Smith, The Shields Gazette.
- Why Scientists Are Linking More Diseases to Light at Night, Marta Zaraska, WebMD.
- Astro Adventurers, Skyscanner.
Send Feedback Text to the Show!
Support the show
A hearty thank you to all of our paid supporters out there. You make this show possible.
For only the cost of one coffee each month you can help us to continue to grow. That’s $3 a month. If you like what we’re doing, if you think this adds value in any way, why not say thank you by becoming a supporter!
Why Support Light Pollution News?
- Receive quarterly invite to join as live audience member for recordings with special Q&A session post recording with guests.
- Receive all of the news for that month via a special Supporter monthly mailer.
- Satisfaction that your support helps further critical discourse on this topic.
About Light Pollution News:
The path to sustainable starry night solutions begin with being a more informed you.
Light Pollution, once thought to be solely detrimental to astronomers, has proven to be an impactful issue across many disciplines of society including ecology, crime, technology, health, and much more!
But not all is lost! There are simple solutions that provide for big impacts. Each month, Bill McGeeney, is joined by upwards of three guests to help you grow your awareness and understanding of both the challenges and the road to recovering our disappearing nighttime ecosystem.
This month, host Bill McGeeney is joined by Travis Longcore, Adjunct Professor and Co-Chair of the Environmental Science and Engineering Program at the UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, and Paul Bogard, author of The End of Night: Searching for Natural Darkness in an Age of Artificial Light, a finalist for the PEN/E. O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award!
See Full Show Notes, Lighting Tips and more at LightPollutionNews.com. Like this episode, share it with a friend!
Bill's Picks:
- It’s Almost Halloween. That Means It’s Time for a Bat Beauty Contest, KQED Arts, KQED.
- The moon’s influence on the activity of tropical forest mammals, Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
- Shedding light with harmonic radar: Unveiling the hidden impacts of streetlights on moth flight behavior, PNAS.
- Archaeologists Explore Life After Dark in the Ancient Night, Nancy Gonlin and April Nowell, Atlas Obscura.
- light pollution more light FRIGHT pollution (for best effect please read this sentence on all hallow's eve), Qwantz.com.
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Support the show
A hearty thank you to all of our paid supporters out there. You make this show possible.
For only the cost of one coffee each month you can help us to continue to grow. That’s $3 a month. If you like what we’re doing, if you think this adds value in any way, why not say thank you by becoming a supporter!
Why Support Light Pollution News?
- Receive quarterly invite to join as live audience member for recordings with special Q&A session post recording with guests.
- Receive all of the news for that month via a special Supporter monthly mailer.
- Satisfaction that your support helps further critical discourse on this topic.
About Light Pollution News:
The path to sustainable starry night solutions begin with being a more informed you.
Light Pollution, once thought to be solely detrimental to astronomers, has proven to be an impactful issue across many disciplines of society including ecology, crime, technology, health, and much more!
But not all is lost! There are simple solutions that provide for big impacts. Each month, Bill McGeeney, is joined by upwards of three guests to help you grow your awareness and understanding of both the challenges and the road to recovering our disappearing nighttime ecosystem.
This month, host Bill McGeeney is joined by Kevin Beare, whom you may know better as CapeMayAstro, Michael Rymer from Dark Sky makes a return visit, and the always insightful, Frank Turina of the Night Sky Resource Center joins us once again!
See Full Show Notes, Lighting Tips and more at LightPollutionNews.com. Like this episode, share it with a friend!
Bill's Picks:
- Beaker Street Science Photography Prize, Beaker Street Science Festival.
- Lights Out Greenwich! New Town Lighting Regulations Target Light Pollution, Greenwich Free Press.
- ‘Clear message’ from community on dark skies, Sunshine Coast Council.
- Service proposes to list the Bethany Beach firefly as threatened, Jalyn Williams, US Fish & Wildlife Service.
- Foxfire Brings Magical Light to the Dark Forest, Leigh Ann Henion, Atlas Obscura.
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Support the show
A hearty thank you to all of our paid supporters out there. You make this show possible.
For only the cost of one coffee each month you can help us to continue to grow. That’s $3 a month. If you like what we’re doing, if you think this adds value in any way, why not say thank you by becoming a supporter!
Why Support Light Pollution News?
- Receive quarterly invite to join as live audience member for recordings with special Q&A session post recording with guests.
- Receive all of the news for that month via a special Supporter monthly mailer.
- Satisfaction that your support helps further critical discourse on this topic.
About Light Pollution News:
The path to sustainable starry night solutions begin with being a more informed you.
Light Pollution, once thought to be solely detrimental to astronomers, has proven to be an impactful issue across many disciplines of society including ecology, crime, technology, health, and much more!
But not all is lost! There are simple solutions that provide for big impacts. Each month, Bill McGeeney, is joined by upwards of three guests to help you grow your awareness and understanding of both the challenges and the road to recovering our disappearing nighttime ecosystem.
[Editorial Correction: AST sent up the Blue Bird satellites incorrectly noted as Blue Walker satellites]
This month, host Bill McGeeney is joined by Kevin Beare, whom you may know better as CapeMayAstro, Michael Rymer from Dark Sky makes a return visit, and the always insightful, Frank Turina of the Night Sky Resource Center joins us once again!
See Full Show Notes, Lighting Tips and more at LightPollutionNews.com. Like this episode, share it with a friend!
Bill's Picks:
- SpaceX launches 5 giant BlueBird smartphone satellites for AST SpaceMobile, lands rocket, Avery Truman, Space.com.
- An Innovative New Approach to Light Pollution Measurement by Drone, Drone.
- Hit the lights: Mets outfit Citi Field for electric light shows, Associated Press.
- Power Outages in the Southeast US Following Helene, NOAA.
- Hit the lights: Mets outfit Citi Field for electric light shows, Associated Press.
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About Light Pollution News:
The path to sustainable starry night solutions begin with being a more informed you.
Light Pollution, once thought to be solely detrimental to astronomers, has proven to be an impactful issue across many disciplines of society including ecology, crime, technology, health, and much more!
But not all is lost! There are simple solutions that provide for big impacts. Each month, Bill McGeeney, is joined by upwards of three guests to help you grow your awareness and understanding of both the challenges and the road to recovering our disappearing nighttime ecosystem.
A lot to discuss this month! Host Bill McGeeney is joined by an expert panel featuring the astronomer and artist, Dr. Tyler Nordgren, photographer and Youtuber, Nico Carver, and, thought leader and CEO of Visibility Innovations, Nancy Clanton.
See Full Show Notes, Lighting Tips and more at LightPollutionNews.com. Like this episode, share it with a friend!
Bill's Picks:
- Rehabilitation outcomes of bird-building collision victims in the Northeastern United States, PLOS ONE.
- The effects of artificial light at night on spider brains, Biology Letters.
- In Iceland, humans throwing baby puffins is a good thing, Alisha McDarris, Popular Science
- Piraeus Tower is a Greek high-rise icon revived through sustainable strategies, Ellie Stathaki, Wallpaper*
- Outdoor nighttime light exposure (light pollution) is associated with Alzheimer’s disease, Frontiers in Neuroscience.
Send Feedback Text to the Show!
Support the show
A hearty thank you to all of our paid supporters out there. You make this show possible.
For only the cost of one coffee each month you can help us to continue to grow. That’s $3 a month. If you like what we’re doing, if you think this adds value in any way, why not say thank you by becoming a supporter!
Why Support Light Pollution News?
- Receive quarterly invite to join as live audience member for recordings with special Q&A session post recording with guests.
- Receive all of the news for that month via a special Supporter monthly mailer.
- Satisfaction that your support helps further critical discourse on this topic.
About Light Pollution News:
The path to sustainable starry night solutions begin with being a more informed you.
Light Pollution, once thought to be solely detrimental to astronomers, has proven to be an impactful issue across many disciplines of society including ecology, crime, technology, health, and much more!
But not all is lost! There are simple solutions that provide for big impacts. Each month, Bill McGeeney, is joined by upwards of three guests to help you grow your awareness and understanding of both the challenges and the road to recovering our disappearing nighttime ecosystem.
Text Light Pollution News!
A lot to discuss this month! Host Bill McGeeney is joined by an expert panel featuring the astronomer and artist, Dr. Tyler Nordgren, photographer and Youtuber, Nico Carver, and, thought leader and CEO of Visibility Innovations, Nancy Clanton.
See Full Show Notes, Lighting Tips and more at LightPollutionNews.com. Like this episode, share it with a friend!
Bill's Picks:
- Teen Captures Jaw-Dropping Photo of North America Nebula From His Backyard, Lydia Patrick, Newsweek
- Turning down streetlights at night shown to reduce light pollution and carbon emissions, Victor Petrovic, ABC News (AU)
- Proposed LED streetlights are too bright, Ann Arbor dark sky proponents argue, Ryan Stanton, Mlive.
- Researchers want to build 'streetlights' on the moon — and they'd be taller than the Statue of Liberty, Brandon Specktor, Live Science.
- Perseid meteor shower seen raining over Stonehenge in stunning photo, Li Cohen, CBS News
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A lot to discuss this month! Host Bill McGeeney is joined by an expert panel featuring the equitable conservationist, Shelana deSilva, lawyer and satellite researcher, Yana Yakushina, and, consultant, John Barentine.
See Full Show Notes, Lighting Tips and more at LightPollutionNews.com. Like this episode, share it with a friend!
Bill's Picks:
- It’s always sunny in space: Michigan startup hopes to beam solar power to Earth, Lucas Smoicic Larson, MLive.
- Spatiotemporal Analysis of Nighttime Crimes in Vienna, Austria, ISPRS Int J. Geo-Inf.
- Artificial Light at Night Increases Growth and Impairs Reproductive Success in Budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) in a Duration Dose-Dependent Manner, Birds.
- The Dark Side Of Reflecting Sunlight To Solar Farms At Night, Jennifer Sensiba, Clean Technica.
- How legendary dark-sky advocate David Crawford sparked the fight against light pollution, Mark Zastrow, Astronomy Magazine.
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A lot to discuss this month! Host Bill McGeeney is joined by an expert panel featuring the equitable conservationist, Shelana deSilva, lawyer and satellite researcher, Yana Yakushina, and, consultant, John Barentine.
See Full Show Notes, Lighting Tips and more at LightPollutionNews.com. Like this episode, share it with a friend!
Bill's Picks:
- Environmental impact (light pollution and energy wastage) of artificial grow lighting to replenish grass pitches in sports stadiums, World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews.
- Court Upholds FCC Approval of Starlink’s LEO Launch License, Ted Hearn, Broadband Breakfast.
- Elaborate light show projected from Eiffel Tower, NBC News.
- Hickenlooper, Crapo Introduce Bill to Preserve Night Sky from Interference, Aid Research, US Senator Hickenlooper for Colorado.
- Coloring Pages for Summer Travel, Natasha Chortos, Dark Sky International.
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Host Bill McGeeney is joined by Betty Buckley who made this great film, the Stars at Night and by Leo Smith, who is now starting up a new Coalition to Reduce Light Pollution!
See Full Show Notes, Lighting Tips and more at LightPollutionNews.com. Like this episode, share it with a friend!
Bill's Picks:
- 'Security' lights intrude on dark skies, Trisha Hussey, Santa Fe New Mexican.
- Feelings of safety for visitors recreating outdoors at night in different artificial lighting conditions, Journal of Environmental Psychology.
- Personal light exposure patterns and incidence of type 2 diabetes: analysis of 13 million hours of light sensor data and 670,000 person-years of prospective observation, The Lancet Regional Health Europe.
- Bring Back the Light: The mission to save the fireflies in Bali, Obamate Briggs, NewScientist.
- Dutch astrocartographer Wil Tirion will be remembered as the creator of the most beautiful star maps and atlases of our time, Govert Shilling, Sky and Telescope.
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Host Bill McGeeney is joined by Betty Buckley who made this great film, the Stars at Night and by Leo Smith, who is now starting up a new Coalition to Reduce Light Pollution!
See Full Show Notes, Lighting Tips and more at LightPollutionNews.com. Like this episode, share it with a friend!
Bill's Picks:
- Will a former landfill become PA's next stargazing mecca?, Tanisha Thomas, Spotlight PA.
- Astronomy tourism business ready to fight Hydrostor's billion-dollar Broken Hill renewable energy project, Grace Atta, Oliver Brown and Andrew Schmidt, Australian Broadcasting Network.
- Where can I place outdoor lights? The laws you need to know to avoid 'light trespass', Alex David, Homes and Gardens.
- Important garden light rules that should not be ignored but are often overlooked, Jayne Thomson, Birmingham Live.
- Palm Beach Headland Has Been Officially Named Australia's First Urban Dark Sky Place, Maxim Boon, Concrete Playground.
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How can one county lead the charge against light pollution while balancing development and environmental preservation? Second District New Castle County, Delaware Councilmember Dee Durham joins host Bill McGeeney to discuss the successful passage of Lighting Ordinance 23-122, aimed at reducing light pollution through smart lighting regulations.
Councilmember Durham explains the regulations on specific lighting types such as spotlights and floodlights, and the importance of shielding to reduce glare and enhance energy efficiency. We'll highlight the challenges of implementing Ordinance 23-122 and how the county plans to enforce this ordinance.
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Host Bill McGeeney is joined by Ken Walczak of Dark Sky International, Lya Osborn of Light Justice, and the award winning landscape astrophotographer, Josh Dury.
See Full Show Notes, Lighting Tips and more at LightPollutionNews.com. Like this episode, share it with a friend!
Bill's Picks:
- Let there be Skyglow—light pollution from a large outdoor music festival (Lollapalooza Berlin 2016), Scientific Reports.
- Artificial Light at Night: State of the Science 2024, Drew Reagan, Dark Sky International.
- Saudi Arabia to build world's largest dark sky reserve for stargazing, The News.
- Astronomers versus activists: the battle over San Diego’s streetlights, Robert P Crease, Physics World.
- ‘Cosmic Baseball’ to illuminate the game like never before, Jason Foster, MLB.com.
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Host Bill McGeeney is joined by Ken Walczak of Dark Sky International, Lya Osborn of Light Justice, and the award winning landscape astrophotographer, Josh Dury.
See Full Show Notes, Lighting Tips and more at LightPollutionNews.com. Like this episode, share it with a friend!
Bill's Picks:
- Florida won't light bridges in rainbow colors. So Jacksonville's LGBTQ community did., David Bauerlein, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union.
- Giant, mysterious laser beam appears over San Francisco, Ariana Bindman, SFGate.
- Scientists Say Light Pollution Could Interfere with Coral Spawning, TaiwanPlus News.
- Diurnal predators in dim light: the ability of mantids to prey for supper, Environmental Entomology.
- A LIGHT FOR TOMORROW, Chris Herring, Portland Winter Light Festival.
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Host Bill McGeeney is joined by David Smith of Buglife, lawyer and policy researcher, Yana Yakushina, and Dark Skies Officer for Cumbria, Jack Ellerby.
See Full Show Notes, Lighting Tips and more at LightPollutionNews.com. Like this episode, share it with a friend!
Bill's Picks:
- Why some animals become agitated during solar eclipse, Basel Hindeleh, ABC News.
- Global study finds there really are more insects out after dark, Mark Wong and Raphael Didham, Phys.org.
- MHM WANTS TO FIGHT LIGHT POLLUTION, Emmanual Delacour, Est Media Montreal.
- Episode #7: Dark Sky Tourism, Avery Morgan, Andrew Galster, and Greg Egbert, The Reflection.
- Jasper’s dark sky tourism could help combat light pollution: researchers, Local Journalism Initiative.
- Mirrors in space could boost solar power production on Earth. Here's how.,Tereza Pultarova, Space.com.
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Host Bill McGeeney is joined by Shane Ludtke of the Actual Astronomy Podcast, Jeff Buler of the Aeroecology Lab at the University of Delaware, and Matthias Schmitt of Cedar Breaks National Monument.
See Full Show Notes, Lighting Tips and more at LightPollutionNews.com. Like this episode, share it with a friend!
Bill's Picks:
- City moths may have evolved smaller wings due to light pollution, James Dinnean, NewScientist.
- Artificial light at night (ALAN) pollution alters bat lunar chronobiology: insights from broad-scale long-term acoustic monitoring, Ecological Processes.
- In the Spotlight: Bat Activity Shifts in Response to Intense Lighting of a Large Railway Construction Site, Sustainability.
- Dark Sky Month declared in Utah as state aims to foster ‘astrotourism’, Jonathon Sharp, ABC4.
- Wind farm radar system reduces nighttime light pollution in Iowa, YYC Team, Yale Climate Connections.
- Light Pollution and Oxidative Stress: Effects on Retina and Human Health, Environmental Pollution and Oxidative Stress.
- More exposure to artificial, bright, outdoor nighttime light linked to higher stroke risk, American Heart Association.
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Host Bill McGeeney is joined by Isa Mohammed of the Caribbean Institute of Astronomy, Frank Turina of the Night Sky Resource Center, and the Director of Dark Sky International's Engagement, Bettymaya Foott.
See Full Show Notes, Lighting Tips and more at LightPollutionNews.com. Like this episode, share it with a friend!
Bill's Picks:
- Blue lights for Benny: Delco lights up to honor 2-year-old who unexpectedly died, Leland Pinder and Katherine Scott, 6ABC.
- Some Entergy customers could see increase in bills because of new bulbs used in street lights, WAFB9.
- LED Color Temperature Selection Process, the City of Grand Rapids.
- Architectural Review Board Staff Report, City of Palo Alto.
- A night in England’s darkest village, Helen Pickles, The Telegraph.
- UWS State Senator Renames Bird-Safety Bill FLACO Act: ‘Feathered Lives Also Count’, Gus Saltonstall, West Side Rag.
- MEANS AND WATERWAYS: LIGHTING A FERRY TERMINAL, Randall Whitehead, Furniture, Lighting & Décor.
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Host Bill McGeeney is joined by storyteller Mary Stewart Adams, author of the new book - All Along the Night, Dani Robertson, and dark sky consultant, John Barentine.
See Full Show Notes, Lighting Tips and more at LightPollutionNews.com. Like this episode, share it with a friend!
Please be sure to check out Dani Robertson's Book: All Through the Night.
Bill's Picks:
- Why flying insects gather at artificial light, Nature.
- Artificial light at night reduces earthworm activity but increases growth of invasive ragweed, BMC Ecology and Evolution.
- Artificial light at night affects the timing of roosting by Chimney Swifts, International Journal of Avian Science.
- David Duchovny tries to avoid 'electric light', BANG Showbiz.
- The majority of streets turned off at night in Bordeaux: what results after a year?, Jean Cittone, Le Figaro.
- Dark Skies: Watch as Powys lights go off for dark sky, BBC.
- Nocturnal Seafaring: the Reduction of Visibility at Night and its Impact on Ancient Mediterranean Seafaring. A Study Based on 8–4th Centuries BC Evidence, Journal of Maritime Archaeology.
- Orion and the Dark, Netflix.
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'Why It's So Bright at Night' is a periodic episode of Light Pollution News, where host Bill McGeeney sits down and chats to understand the positions of people who advocate for light. The show's intent is to spur conversation and understanding, helping all of us work together to a common unified goal of a better tomorrow for people, plants and animals.
This episode, mentioned in the Feb 2024: A Space for Celebration episode, Jennifer Huygen started a petition in Stevenage, England to add lighting to a park. We explore why the lighting is needed, what types of lighting would be deemed acceptable, and seek to understand the cultural issues that are driving the need behind the lights.
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Host Bill McGeeney is joined by freelance writer, Lauren Collee, astronomer, Tim Brothers, and film maker, Tara Roberts Zabriski.
See Full Show Notes, Lighting Tips and more at LightPollutionNews.com. Like this episode, share it with a friend!
Bill's Picks:
- It’s autumn everywhere except under this streetlight, Be Smart.
- The Small Town That Turned Christmas Lights Into an Economic Miracle, Ruth Simon and Dave Cole, The Wall Street Journal.
- City of Davis looking for better ideas to light up streets, James Yalor, CBS News Sacramento.
- Streetlight Color Temperatures our Community Cares About, City of Boulder.
- Power outage and environmental justice in Winter Storm Uri: an analytical workflow based on nighttime light remote sensing, International Journal of Digital Earth.
- An inventory of human light exposure behaviour, Scientific Reports.
- In rural California, bright Santa Tracker spotlight divides a community, Clare Fonstein, San Francisco Chronicle.
- Maine’s Penobscot Watershed Is Too Important to Allow Mining, Linda Coutant, National Parks Conservation Association.
- Influence of COVID-19 on night-time lights in Czechia, Journal of Maps.
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Host Bill McGeeney is joined by AstroBackyard's Ashley Northcotte, lighting designer and founder of Dark Source, Kerem Asfuroglu, and educator and advocate, Diane Turnshek.
See Full Show Notes, Lighting Tips and more at LightPollutionNews.com. Like this episode, share it with a friend!
Bill's Picks:
- God’s Promises Are Clearest When We Turn Out the Lights, Cort Gatliff, Christianity Today.
- Stays in Vegas: London mayor rejects plan for Stratford Sphere venue, Robert Booth, The Guardian.
- Heber Valley Utah Temple approved. See why the church agreed to dim the lighting, Tad Walch, Dessert News.
- Trains, stargazing put Ely on the map. Critics fear clean energy project could undo that., Wyaat Myskow, The Nevada Independent.
- Energy efficiency indicators in road lighting: critical evaluation in a case study, Bulletin of the Polish Academy of Sciences Technical Sciences.
- Shining a light on duckweed: exploring the effects of artificial light at night (ALAN) on growth and pigmentation, Plant Biology.
- Giant lasers to light up San Francisco for APEC, Amy Larson, KRON 4.
- Why can’t I wish upon a star in Boston?, Meg Richards, Berkeley Beacon.
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Happy Holidays from Light Pollution News! Here's a special gift episode as a thank you for your continued support in 2023!
In this special mini-episode, host Bill McGeeney shares seven articles left out of the normal month to month cycle! Stay tuned to for a post-show wrap up montage!
See Full Show Notes, Lighting Tips and more at LightPollutionNews.com. Like this episode, share it with a friend!
Bill's Picks:
- Bored Ape creator says UV lights at ApeFest burned attendees’ eyes and skin, Beth mole, Ars Technica.
- Lighting up rural Zimbabwe with upcycled plastic and LEDs, Privilege Musvanhiri, Deutsche Welle.
- The night sky is always getting faked, Emma Roth, the Verge.
- Illuminating investments: capitalising on the battle against light pollution, Lombard Odier.
- 12 News Investigates: Hidden neighborhood danger -- street lights shocking dogs, killing one, Hillary Mintz, WISN.
- LED lightbulbs may be hazardous to your health, Katherine Drabiak, The Hill.
- Q&A: Why Do Humans Need Dark Skies?, Anya Petrone Slepyan, Daily Yonder.
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Last Episode of 2023! Host Bill McGeeney is joined by 2023 Dark Sky Int'l Rising Star Award Recipient, Bonnie Peng, photographer of the new book, Spirits Dancing, Travis Novitsky, and Dark Skies Initiative Coordinator for the McDonald Observatory, Stephen Hummel.
See Full Show Notes, Lighting Tips and more at LightPollutionNews.com. Like this episode, share it with a friend!
Bill's Picks:
- F1 bans three key colours from Sphere during Vegas GP action, Adam Cooper, Autosport.
- Artificial light at night: a global disruptor of the night-time environment, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B.
- Nighttime drone shows gaining more popularity, WVLT News.
- 5 Things You Can Do to Reduce Light Pollution, Madeleine Burry, AAA.
- SIU student’s campaign illuminates light pollution and its impact on wildlife, Carly Gist, Daily Egyptian.
- DARK SKIES: Students invited to count stars to pinpoint areas of light pollution in southwestern N.S., Tina Comeau, Saltwire.
- Low-cost air, noise, and light pollution measuring station with wireless communication and tinyML, Hardware X.
- Livin’ the Dream: Stars in a dark night sky, Mountain Times.
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This month, host Bill McGeeney is joined by Ben Chappell, of the Narrowband Channel, Matthias Schmitt, Cedar Breaks National Monument Night Sky Program Manager, and environmental educator / blogger, Frank Turina.
See Full Show Notes at LightPollutionNews.com.
- While Las Vegas inaugurates its Sphere, London residents push back on plans for replica venue, Duarte Dias, CBS News.
- L.A. planning commission backs plan for 80 digital billboards on Metro sites, David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times.
- Astronomers sound alarm over light pollution from huge new satellite, Nicola Davis, The Guardian.
- Little-known medical condition that only reveals itself at night could affect millions, Antony Thrower, The Mirror.
- Pennsylvania Knights Build Observatory at VA Hospital, Knights of Columbus Supreme Council.
- Birders’ Joy Turns to Shock as Massive Migratory Wave Leads to Mass Mortality Due to Collisions With Chicago Buildings, Patty Wetli, WTTW.
- NEXT BIG STEPS FOR LIGHTS OUT LEGISLATION IN NEW YORK CITY, Suzanne Charle, NYC Audubon.
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This month, host Bill McGeeney is joined by Ziz Knight, cofounder of the newly formed, Dark Skies Los Angeles, and Drew Evans, of the Flagstaff Dark Skies Coalition / Astrophotographer.
See Full Show Notes at LightPollutionNews.com.
- Perma-noon: On Light Pollution and the Way We Talk About the Natural World, Lauren Collee, LARB.
- This Incredible Glamping Site in Utah Is the First Resort to Become Dark Sky Certified, Stefanie Waldek, Travel & Leisure.
- How New ‘Dark Sky Resorts’ Will Help The Growing Astro-Tourism Market, James Carter, Forbes.
- Dark skies & Wild roars: Astrotourism in Safari destinations, Tsoko Maela, Getaway.
- Kayaking, night swims and stargazing: embracing adventure in Alentejo, Portugal, Orla Thomas, National Geographic.
- Three high-profile bills the California legislature will hear before session ends, Edan Villavolas, Washington Examiner.
- Cape May Introduces Light Pollution Ordinance, Vince Conti, Cape May County Herald.
- You can see the Milky Way from Nantucket. Residents want to keep it that way, Paula Moura, WBUR.
- Saving the Night Sky, Josh Riedel, Esquire.
- Should Greenwich ban night-time 'landscape lighting?'' It may protect migrating birds, experts say., Robert Marchant, Greenwich Time.
- Drivers’ Experiences and Informed Opinions of Presence Sensitive Lighting Point towards the Feasibility of Introducing Adaptive Lighting in Roadway Contexts, Smart Cities.
- Sleeping on the ISS isn't easy. This lamp for astronauts could help, Monisha Ravisetti, Space.com
- Lights Out, Texas! is helping keep the stars at night big and bright, Cole Baerlocher, Agrilife.
- Arch to dim lights for birds in September, Daniel Newman, STL Today.
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This month, host Bill McGeeney is joined by Frank Turina, an astrophotographer, night sky advocate, and environmental educator with more than 15 years of working with the United States National Park Service Night Skies Program. You can learn more about his examinations of the ecological and cultural effects of light pollution from his website, at Darkskyastrophoto.
And Ken Walczak, Senior Manager of the Far Horizons program at the Adler Planetarium, Co-Author of numerous papers on design and use of innovating instrumentation for light pollution research, and co-lead in the successful designation of the world's largest Urban Night Sky Place, the Palos Preserves. Walczak is also a board member with Dark Sky International.
See Full Show Notes at LightPollutionNews.com.
- With inspiration from Indianapolis, Destination Cleveland plans major downtown lighting installation, Susan Glaser, The Plain Dealer Cleveland.
- LED billboards could buy their way to Miami streets via campaign donations, Ladra, Political Cortadito.
- 150% increase in light pollution in three years may lead to loss of dark sky status for park, Catherine Hubbard, Stuff.co
- City of London Corporation Adopts New Net-Zero Light Pollution Guidance, Ella Tansley, This Week in FM.
- Environmental organization files 106 page report over light pollution on Palm Beach, threatens lawsuit, Caleb Califano, WPBF.
- Powys stargazers hit as £3,000 of telescopes stolen from observatory, Matt Jones, POWS Country Times.
- West Texas Oil Country Is Revealing a Sky Full of Stars, Sam Karas, Reasons to be Cheerful.
- Sphere lights up Las Vegas skyline with massive LED display, ABC News
- Artificial Light at Night: state of the science 2023 report released, John Barentine, Dark Sky Int’l.
- The Best No-Crowd Places to Go Stargazing, Emma Veidt, Backpacker.
- LED lights are meant to save energy. They’re creating glaring problems, Kasha Patel, Kati Perry, Daniel Wolfe, and Emily Sabens, Washington Post.
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This month, host Bill McGeeney is joined by Jared Flesher, director of Dark Sacred Night, and Bill Green of the Philadelphia Moon Men and Brussels Lunatics. Learn more at LightPollutionNews.com.
Articles:
- U.S. Bans Incandescent Light Bulbs
- The Next Pandemic Might Occur Because It’s Too Bright Out
- Across China: Dark Sky Industry delivers bright future for village
- Sheffield Conservation Area in Ontario has Gorgious Panomamic View
- Under a sea of stars
- These National Parks Are Hosting Stargazing Festivals in 2023
- Why you should stop painting with light when photographing at night
- Unistellar Says its New Astro Photo Tech Totally Eliminates Light Pollution
- Charted: Distance to dark skies
- Smart lighting to minimise light pollution and protect biodiversity
- Low estrogen may worsen the circadian effects of light pollution
- Dim artificial light at night alters gene expression rhythms and growth in a key seagrass species
- Light pollution is taking the sparkle out of glow-worm mating
- Light pollution confuses a color-changing coastal woodlouse, new research shows
- Regulating light pollution
- Groveland is 1st city in Florida certified as Dark Sky Community
- New Jersey Town Takes Stand Against Outdoor Lighting
- THE FEDS HAVE THOUSANDS OF STADIUM LIGHTS ON THE BORDER. SWITCHING THEM ON WOULD DEVASTATE DESERT ECOSYSTEMS
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This month, host Bill McGeeney is joined by Scott Morgan, Assistant Park Manager of the Hills Creek Park Complex - part of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and Daylon Burt of the Astro Escape. Learn more at LightPollutionNews.com.
Articles:
- Survey finds increase in first-time Big Bend visitors, with most now staying outside the park
- A day in space: Look no further than Flagstaff for your cosmos-themed day trip
- 11 Dark Sky Airbnbs in Utah Perfect for Stargazing
- How to Find the Best Campsite for Stargazing This Summer
- 2 million acres, 8 forests. It's all in the Pennsylvania Wilds.
- Northern Nights, Starry Skies
- Light pollution and creation care
- New Study Shows Urban Lighting Disrupts Rural Insects
- Global disruption of coral broadcast spawning associated with artificial light at night
- Sustainable Landscapes Sustainable Places Dark Skies Project
- There are two places in the world you can see a moonbow and this KY state park is one
- Bridging the gap between astronomy and the space industry
- Villagers in Rennington call for removal of streetlights to preserve dark sky views
- City of South Lake Tahoe begins work making lights “dark sky compliant”
- New Zealanders to Celebrate Maori New Year in July
- French towns introduce ‘smart’ street lights which locals can turn on
- VIDEO: New project lights up WWU campus
- THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL DOESN’T WORK: INVESTIGATING ANU’S STREET LIGHTING
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This month, host Bill McGeeney is joined by astronomer, historian, author, science communicator, and dark-sky consultant, John Barentine of the Dark Sky Consulting LLC and Conservationist, Kaitlyn Evans. Learn more at LightPollutionNews.com.
Articles:
- I was busted by the light police. They had a point
- The forgotten medieval habit of 'two sleeps'
- Want to Learn About Light Pollution? There’s a mini-course for that!
- Star bathing is the new outdoor travel trend we should all be trying for Summer 2023
- Industry Must Face an Inconvenient Truth -- Most LED Lights at Night are Unhealthy
- Unpacking the Wallpack
- Songbirds, dusk and clear skies: Scientists explore migratory flights
- ‘Lights Out’ initiative appears to be saving birds from crashing into Philly buildings
- Knoxville, TN Zoo is offering up what they call “Twilight Tours” per WVLT 8
- Flashlights posing major threat to nesting sea turtles
- Capture the Dark 2023 officially is under way
- Why the Greatest Threat to Star-Gazing Isn’t Light Pollution
- Smart Street Lights Market is Expected to Hit USD 14,751.1 million at a 23.4% CAGR by 2030
- LDS Church will get to light up its Heber Valley Temple after all, but the faith didn’t get everything it wanted
- A World Without Darkness Could Be a Reality within a Few Years
- Aussie region determined to keep its darkness is a stargazer’s dream
Afraid of the Dark:
- Hilton Head’s dark roads and pedestrians are deadly combo. What the town is doing about it
Research Article of the Month:
- Manipulating spectra of artificial light affects movements patterns of bats along ecological corridors
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This Month, host Bill McGeeney is joined by Michael Rymer of the Dark Sky (formerly International Dark Sky Association) and Youth Advocate, Bonnie Peng. Learn more at LightPollutionNews.com.
Articles:
- Is light pollution making darkness a luxury?
- Here Come the Lumens
- The New Light Is Bad There’s something off about LED bulbs — which will soon be, thanks to a federal ban, the only kind you can buy.
- "Mysterious spiral" that looks like hazy, glowing galaxy seen hovering in Alaska's northern lights
- Why It’s Time for a Worldwide Lights-Out Program
- The Consequences of Light Pollution
- Light Pollution Disrupts Seasonal Differences in the Daily Activity and Metabolic Profiles of the Northern House Mosquito, Culex pipiens
- Blue Vigil developed a high intensity tethered LED array to a drone
- You're Definitely Suffering the Effects of Light Pollution—But We're Here to Help
- $3M in federal money coming to Norfolk for streetlight upgrades
- Mayor Gloria highlights federal funding for streetlight repairs in multiple areas of San Diego
- Frederick, Md plans to update its street lighting
Afraid of the Dark:
- The Safety of Light: A Short History of Light in Public Spaces
- Camden Working to Fix Street Light Outages to Help Make Community Safer
- Natural Surveillance for Crime and Traffic Accidents: Simulating Improvements of Street Lighting in an Older Community
Research Article of the Month: Impact of Solid State Roadway Lighting on Melatonin in Humans
Like what we're doing? For the cost of coffee, you can become a Monthly Supporter? Your assistance will help cover server and production costs.
This month, LPN is joined by Brandon Happe of the Philly Moon Men and Daylon Burt of Astro Escape. Learn more at LightPollutionNews.com.
Articles:
- Residents’ petition forces city to revise “monster” street lighting upgrades
- LED streetlights are energy efficient, but are they environmentally friendly? It's complicated
- WA House votes 94-1 to limit light pollution from wind energy farms
- Pregnant women advised to dim lights before bed to reduce diabetes risk
- I spent a weekend in the darkest part of England and it changed me
- Lights Out Across the Country
- Animal astronomers: A bird’s eye view of the night sky
- Dazzling lights are causing ecological chaos, disrupting plants' seasonal rhythms and their fragile relationship with pollinators
- Lights off, danger on: What to know about the latest dangerous driving trend
- Astronomers stumble in diplomatic push to protect the night sky
- Smithsonian Exhibition Invites Visitors To Help Recover Their Fading Night Sky
- To Protect Wildlife from Artificial Light, Look to the Moon
- Turn up the lights: What to do in dark sky destinations during the day
- Ramadan: UAE Moon-sighting committee to search the skies on Tuesday
Afraid of the Dark: ‘We Want Them Fixed': Group Calls Attention to Streetlight Outages in Northwest DC
Research Article of the Month: Effects of light and noise pollution on avian communities of European cities are correlated with the species’ diet
Share with a friend! Find this podcast, show notes with news articles, and much more over at our website: LightPollutionNews.com. Be sure to check us out on Reddit at r/LightPollutionNews
This month, I’m joined by youth advocate, Bonnie Peng, and, conservationist and avid bird enthusiast, Kaitlyn Evans.
We take a look at some of the most interesting articles to grace the topic of light pollution! Today, learn about the first African American astronomer. Take a ride on the Stargazer train, complete with a glass of wine and a heated flatbed railcar! And, MSG wants to build a giant glowing orb…maybe in your neighborhood.
Share with a friend! find this podcast, show notes with news articles, and much more over at our website: LightPollutionNews.com. Be sure to check us out on Reddit at r/LightPollutionNews
In today’s episode, I’m joined by conservationist and avid bird watcher, Kaitlyn Evans.
We take a look at some of the most interesting news articles to grace the topic of light pollution each month. This month, ‘Why Falling Asleep with the Lights on is bad for your health,’ How ‘Red Lighting could rewild night skies plagued by light pollution,’ ‘Urban light pollution could be a threat to marine ecosystems,’ ‘How Pollution is rising faster than anyone predicted!’ and much more!
As a reminder, find this podcast, show notes with news articles, and much more over at our website: LightPollutionNews.com.
Share with a friend! find this podcast, show notes with news articles, and much more over at our website: LightPollutionNews.com.
In this episode, California Governor Gavin Newsome says light must shine on! Vetoes responsible lighting bill for gov’t buildings. Plus, Automatic measurement of LP, Spooky Street Lights, and a VA town struggling to protect its skies!
Please listen and leave a review. Reviews help the show become noticed. Please join in the conversation and more via Reddit at r/LightPollutionNews and see LightPollutionNews.com for show notes!
Share with a friend! find this podcast, show notes with news articles, and much more over at our website: LightPollutionNews.com.
Welcome to the Light Pollution News Podcast, your bimonthly source for all news light pollution with your host Bill McGeeney. Please listen and leave a review. Reviews help the show become noticed. Please join in the conversation and more via Reddit at r/LightPollutionNews and see LightPollutionNews.com for show notes!
Share with a friend! find this podcast, show notes with news articles, and much more over at our website: LightPollutionNews.com.