New paper shows that moth numbers are reduced in areas with higher levels of #skyglow compared to areas with lower levels of skyglow, regardless of whether one is near streetlights or not: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126068
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#lightpollution
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It's worse than previously thought. "INNA would increase light pollution above the Very Large Telescope (VLT) by at least 35% and by more than 50% above the south site of the Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory."
www.eso.orgNew ESO analysis confirms severe damage from industrial complex planned near ParanalAn in-depth technical analysis by the European Southern Observatory (ESO) has evaluated the impact of the INNA megaproject on the facilities at the Paranal Observatory, Chile — and the results are alarming. The analysis reveals that INNA would increase light pollution above the Very Large Telescope (VLT) by at least 35% and by more than 50% above the south site of the Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory (CTAO-South). INNA would also increase air turbulence in the area, further degrading conditions for astronomical observations, while vibrations from the project could seriously impair the functioning of some of the astronomical facilities, like the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), at the Paranal Observatory.
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Finally, in "Insect communities under skyglow: diffuse nighttime illuminance induces spatio-temporal shifts in movement and predation", Dyer et al. show that the movement of insects shifts from day to night when #LightPollution is present, and again it seems that the effect begins at skyglow-like light levels.
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The first is "Artificial light at night decreases plant diversity and performance in experimental grassland communities" by Bucher et al.: https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2022.0358
Here they showed that both growth and species diversity was negatively affected by the addition of #LightPollution, and that the impact starts at skyglow-like light levels.
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Incidentally, the same approach was used by German U-Boats during #WorldWar2, which prompted the US military to undertake what is likely the largest #LightPollution study ever conducted: https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/citations/ADA954894
apps.dtic.milDefense Technical Information Center
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Plants and animals are different [citation needed], but we've both evolved on the same Earth. So the physiology of animals is also affected by exposure to #LightPollution, and this extends to humans and #HumanHealth.
We have the problem that we spend most of the day indoors under artificial lights (much darker than natural day), and then spend the evening indoors under artificial lights (much brighter than natural night). Especially for night owls, this lack of a clear day/night signal screws up our internal #Circadian clocks. These clocks control things like metabolism, so messing with them causes #health problems: https://doi.org/10.1177/23727322231193967
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This is my favorite photo for demonstrating the impact of #LightPollution on physiology. The image was taken by shows a soybean field illuminated by a badly directed streetlight.
What's happening here is that soybeans are supposed to grow leaves in the early part of summer, and as nights get longer, they should make #soybeans and turn brown. In the green area, the plants don't understand what time of year it is, and it's therefore a complete loss for the farmer.
The reason I love the photo so much is because you can see the shadow of the light mast on the field.
The photo was taken by Dwaine Eddie McGriff & Ben Tankersley, and originally posted to Xitter (the post no longer exists).
The problem could be entirely solved by using a streetlight with strong backlight shielding (i.e. shining the light only on the roadway).
We know that when artificial light shines directly from a light source onto living things at night, it affects their behavior and physiology. But what about the diffuse glow of the night sky, does that affect the environment?
Turns out it does. Read more in this brief thread 
#Skyglow image by @andreas_jechow
Diolch, Cymru! 
"#Wales will this week become the first #UK nation to introduce national good practice guidance to help protect its dark skies."
https://www.gov.wales/stars-align-wales-leads-uk-dark-skies-protection
GOV.WALESStars align as Wales leads the UK in dark skies protection | GOV.WALESWales will this week become the first UK nation to introduce national good practice guidance to help protect its dark skies.
"Light pollution is easily preventable: turn off unnecessary lights and the problem disappears. Unlike other pollutants, there is no need for a challenging cleanup operation.
"While artificial light is sometimes necessary for safety, we should prioritise lighting methods that minimise light pollution, reducing harm to the natural world while continuing to meet societal needs."
The Guardian · Dark side of bright nights taking toll on forgotten invertebrates
New #Introduction at Fediscience:
I'm an environmental scientist with an interest in the night, and how we change it with artificial light.
I am Canadian and live in Germany. I most frequently post about science and #LightPollution.
In the photo below, the light was installed backwards, so that it shone on the flowers instead of the stairs for a decade 
On 30 January 2025, the Royal Astronomical Society will hold a free one-day conference on Light Pollution and its Impacts at our offices in Burlington House, London.
It's a hybrid meeting, you can sign up to join here: https://ras.ac.uk/events-and-meetings/ras-public-events/save-date-light-pollution-and-its-impacts
After two happy years on the Fediverse (and many more to come as I feel so at home here), time for an updated #introduction post!
You will find me sharing mostly #LandscapePhotography, #NightPhotography, #MacroPhotography and #BirdPhotography.
I am also interested in #astronomy and #LightPollution.
Looking forward to continuing to have a great time on this platform.
Below are a few of my landscape photos.
It's paper day! 
In this @ucdavis Environmental Law and Policy Journal review with my colleagues Profs. Dana Zartner and Aparna Venkatesan (University of San Francisco), we propose new strategies that "use domestic legal mechanisms, supported by international law, to protect the darkness."
A study from the Berlin Senate showed that highway lights have no measurable influence on collision statistics. After this result, and further improvement of retroreflectors and other markings, the Berlin highway lighting wil be almost entirely extinguished step-by-step during 2025: https://viz.berlin.de/aktuelle-meldungen/beleuchtung-auf-den-stadtautobahnen-wird-abgeschaltet/
Belgium also turned off a huge fraction of its highway lighting two years ago without incident.
Some serious #LightPollution here in #Limerick.
Half eleven in mid winter should not be so bright. I guess the #sneachta bears some of the blame, but not most of it.
I was lucky enough to grow up in remote places with few anthropogenic sounds. In other words, there weren't any sounds of cars, machines, electrical transformers, airplanes, etc. I grew up in dark sky zones where I could readily identify all sorts of constellations and see the glaucous spray of the Milky Way. I didn't realize what I had until I no longer had it.
The last time I had an incredible view of the Milky Way was when I was in the Amazon jungle about ten years ago. It was glorious.
Where I live now is in the most densely-populated region of Canada, and I'm lucky if I can make out the stars of the Big Dipper or the belt of Orion, and even then, I can't see them from my yard. I have to walk out into the woods, and the light pollution still makes it a challenge.
There aren't many places in the region where I can be free of anthropogenic sound. I found a couple of hiking trails where, if I'm lucky, I might not hear it for a few minutes at best.
I feel sorry for the birds who get lost because of light pollution while migrating. I feel the stress of the constant racket of humans. In a few mythologies, the reason there was a great flood was because god couldn't stand all the racket people were making. I kinda get it.
#AnthropogenicSound #NoisePollution #LightPollution #Habitat #stars #MilkyWay #DarkSky
I live in a part of the city that used to be dark in the night and recently got 24/7 light on the street installed. I miss the dark and have to go far into the countryside to escape the pollution. We could save a lot of energy by switching off the lights at night. But mostly I just miss real darkness. #lightpollution #overdevelopment #degrowth
For 12 months last year, my colleagues and I worked on a Mission Description Document for a hypothetical future nighttime lights satellite mission. We were funded by #ESA as part of the #NEOMI program.
We've just now published the document, as well as our three Task Reports that provide the justification for the numbers in the MDD. Check it out! https://doi.org/10.48440/GFZ.B103-24052
Big thanks to ESA for the opportunity and letting us publish it openly.
Uncertainties over the effects of a second Trump term in the U.S. abound. How the incoming Administration's choices will affect dark skies is for now unknown. Read more about how looking back at first-term policies and 2024 campaign issues helps gauge what's next and even offers glimmers of hope.
https://www.darkskyconsulting.com/blog/dark-skies-and-the-second-trump-administration
DARK SKY CONSULTING, LLCDark skies and the Second Trump AdministrationChanges to federal land management policy in a second Donald Trump presidency mean both challenge and opportunity for dark-sky conservation efforts