Episode 102 – News - Darkness News Update with Scott Wachter May 9, 2024


The Darkness News Update is a biweekly series that explores current events in light at night – be it biological research, new developments in lamps, actions by advocates, and changes in policy.

Highlights from this episode:

  • Self Drive
  • Bike Trails
  • Beer Run
  • Moth Traps

Sponsored by Evluma

https://evluma.com/dark-sky-friendly-lighting/

 

Intro and outro music by Doctor Turtle 

 

Headlines and Sources:

Do people perceive watts or photons?

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/14771535241246060

Modulated Light Temp and Brightness During the Day Does Change Melatonin Levels in Humans

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360132323010521#sec3

Circadian Rhythm Linked with Gut Microbiome

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphot.2024.1404905/abstract

Better Sleep Associated with Mental Health Under Pressure

https://www.mdpi.com/2624-5175/6/2/17

DST Mixed for Safety Outcomes

https://www.carriermanagement.com/news/2024/04/24/261479.htm

US NHTSA Probes Ford’s Hands-Free Driving Tech over Night Time Lighting Collisions

https://freeread.causeaction.com/2024/04/30/u-s-opens-probe-into-130000-ford-vehicles-over-hands-free-tech/

Conservationists Call For the End of US-Mex Border Lighting

https://www.tpr.org/podcast/the-source/2024-04-30/proposed-stadium-lights-endanger-border-wildlife

Upper Nidderdale, Yorkshire Expands Lighting Regulations 

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/dark-skies-over-beauty-spot-065629087.html

CO Expanding Dark Sky Programs

https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/colorado-mountain-communities-invest-dark-skies/

Weber County, UT Port Project Prompts Protests

https://www.sltrib.com/news/environment/2024/04/30/great-salt-lake-wetlands/

Shutesbury, MA to Vote on Lighting Bylaws

https://www.recorder.com/Shutesbury-voters-to-decide-on-battery-storage-lighting-bylaws-54866459

Traverse City, MI Elementary School Denied Outdoor Lighting

https://www.yahoo.com/news/appeal-denied-catholic-schools-outdoor-123300704.html

UK Woman Gets Barnet to Dim Street Lighting

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13324045/woman-light-sensitivity-council-dim-LED-streetlights.html

Insect Activity Increases by 31% at Night

https://www.earth.com/news/nighttime-buzz-insect-activity-increases-by-31-4-at-night/

Moths Are Getting Better at Avoiding Light Traps

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10841-024-00588-x

Sleep Deprived Zebrafish Suffer Synapse Damage

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07367-3#Sec5

Munster, Germany’s Motion-Activated Bike Lighting Needs to be Adjusted for Bats

https://conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/csp2.13116

Cornell Releases Animated Short for Lights Out for the Bird

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQ_OuaU2kh0

Lights Out Campaign Picks up for Wyoming

https://buckrail.com/dim-lights-at-night-to-help-migrating-birds/

And in Indiana

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/protect-migrating-birds-indiana-steps-090256178.html

And in CT

https://danburycountry.com/turn-off-those-lights-connecticut-lots-of-birds-are-migrating/

Washington U in St Louis MO Starts dimming campus
https://source.wustl.edu/2024/04/washu-works-to-protect-migrating-birds/

Light Pollution Blamed For Deaths of Flamingos in Mumbai

https://www.deccanherald.com/india/maharashtra/light-pollution-to-blame-for-flamingo-deaths-in-navi-mumbai-2996748

Seabirds Are Avoiding Well-LIt Areas as They Age

https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.03.01.582998v1

Sea Turtle Lighting Resumes in Daytona Beach, FL

https://www.daytonatimes.com/community/annual-sea-turtle-lighting-regulations-resumes/article_d3e2f70a-0916-11ef-8425-7b18dc110d86.html

Clearwater Aquarium, FL Works with Residents on Turtle Nesting Season 

https://www.tbnweekly.com/clearwater_beacon/article_ad4ad03c-00c3-11ef-be06-a3a3db98f84f.html

Android 15 to Force Dark Mode and Dim Screens to Lowest Levels
https://oltnews.com/android-15-could-take-your-screen-to-new-lows-android-central/

Cyclone Lighting Creates Fixture for Crosswalks

https://www.lightingdesignandspecification.ca/new-products/crosswalkoptics/

Voice Over Actor, Roger Craig Smith Raises Funds for DSI at Huntsville Comic and Pop Culture Expo (also fanexpo Philly)

https://twitter.com/RogerCraigSmith/status/1783114316302205296

Heineken UK Raises Awareness of Dark Skies 

https://twitter.com/DandADNewBlood/status/1783543696807313608