Episode News – 1225 - The Darkness News Update for December 25, 2025


Highlights from this episode:

  • Human Rights
  • Toads
  • Orbital Debris
  • Chronomedicine

Intro and outro music by Doctor Turtle 

 

Sponsored by The National Association of Innovative Lighting Distributors visit https://naild.org/

Headlines and Sources:

Moderate Amounts of Time Outdoors Reduces All-Cause Mortality Risks

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12122178/

 

Circadian Rhythm Linked with Prostate Cancer

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S246805402500099X?via%3Dihub

 

Dim Morning Light Linked with Depression

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022395625007034?via%3Dihub=

 

LAN Exposure Linked with Obesity

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-025-25883-3

 

Dim Light at Night Has Implications for ASD and Epilepsy

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13229-025-00689-7

 

Screen Time Linked with Migraines in Teens

https://www.cureus.com/articles/447563-the-cognitive-toll-of-digital-overuse-on-migraine-in-young-adults

 

New Circadian Tracking Method from Université Paris Cité

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-66407-2

 

Light Pollution Harms Toad Immune Systems

https://fesummaries.wordpress.com/2025/10/22/does-nocturnal-light-pollution-impair-immune-function-in-a-wild-living-amphibian/

 

Reducing Windmill Lighting Reduces Bat Strikes

https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2664.70226

 

Turn Off Your Garden Lights to Stop Skunks Digging them Up

https://vancouversun.com/news/why-more-metro-vancouver-lawns-torn-up-grubs-chafer-beetle

 

Peru Bans LED Billboards

https://www.greenmemag.com/environment/peru-bans-led-billboards-to-tackle-light-pollution-and-safeguard-wildlife/

 

US National Fish and Wildlife Has $57M in Grants for Gulf Coast Restoration Projects

https://www.nfwf.org/media-center/press-releases/nfwf-announces-more-57-million-new-awards-restoration-projects-gulf

 

Petoskey, MI Debates New Lighting Rules

https://www.petoskeynews.com/story/news/local/2025/12/10/proposed-outdoor-lighting-rules-under-consideration-in-petoskey/87678042007/

 

Dillon, CO Begins Dark Sky Cert Project

https://www.su mmitdaily.com/news/dillon-takes-first-steps-toward-darksky-certification/

 

Exmoor, UK Rated Best for Stargazing

https://www.midweekherald.co.uk/news/25698348.exmoor-rated-one-best-dark-sky-sites-stargazing/?ref=rss

 

Winnipeg, MB Debates Ending Bird Safety Rules

https://www.ctvnews.ca/winnipeg/article/city-council-to-consider-removing-bird-friendly-window-requirements-for-some-developments/

 

Calgary, AB is Back on Nature Canada’s Bird-Friendly Cities List

https://calgaryherald.com/news/calgary-recertified-as-bird-friendly-city

 

Saudi Arabia Begins New Darkness Tourism Campaign

https://www.travelandtourworld.com.tr/news/article/alula-and-saudi-arabia-lead-the-way-in-astrotourism-unveiling-the-magic-of-stargazing-and-ancient-astronomy/

 

DSI Recognizes New Largest Dark Sky Park in Saudi Arabia

https://de signinglighting.com/2025/12/16/saudi-arabia-announces-new-dark-sky-park-in-mena-region/

 

Amnesty International Condemns Interior Lighting of DHS Facility in FL

https://nativenewsonline.net/currents/new-amnesty-international-report-details-torture-overcrowding-at-krome-and-alligator-alcatraz 

 

US DHS Declares Itself Above Environmental Law

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/12/16/2025-22842/determination-pursuant-to-section-102-of-the-illegal-immigration-reform-and-immigrant-responsibility

 

US DHS Awards $1.5B in Contacts on AZ Border

https://tucson.com/news/local/border/article_51dc87cd-1fbc-40a0-a34f-835278c2b0e7.html

 

US DHS Plans $8B in Construction on TX Border

https://timesnewsnetworks.com/trump-admin-ramps-up-key-border-security-move-that-is-expected-to-run-over-1400-miles-important-tool/

 

US DHS Plans More Security Infrastructure in Laredo County, TX

https://www.star-telegram.com/news/state/texas/article313697885.html

 

Tucker County, WV Doesn’t Know How to Deal with Data Center Complaints

https://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/despite-community-opposition-to-data-centers-lawmakers-offer-no-clear-plan-for-addressing-local-concerns/article_457766fe-3549-489e-847f-e404efad9894.html

 

Chandler, AZ Rejects Data Center

https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/chandler-city-council-unanimously-kills-sinema-backed-data-center-40628102/

 

Wasatch Back, UT LDS Seeks To End Construction Injunction During Appeal

https://www.deseret.com/faith/2025/12/08/heber-valley-temple-utah-supreme-court-oral-arguments/

 

New Crash Clock for Orbit

https://outerspaceinstitute.ca/crashclock/

 

Starlink Satellite Fails, Spreads Debris

https://www.pcmag.com/news/stvarlink-satellite-malfunctions-ejects-debris-fragments

 

New Quiet Skies Report

https://arxiv.org/abs/2512.00941

 

Scientific American Article Slowly Admits Data Centers in Orbit Aren’t Feasible

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/data-centers-in-space/

 

ESO Partners with IAU on Dark and Quiet Skies

https://www.eso.org/public/announcements/ann25010/

 

Not Sponsored: Stanpro Shows off DSI Certified Lighting

https://www.lightingdesignandspecification.ca/latest-news/light-pollution/

 

Dark Skies is a New Documentary on CBC Gem

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/dark-skies-documentary-light-pollution-preserve-9.6984858?ref=ecofriendlywest.ca