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
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
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 Birds
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
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
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