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The path to neighborhood friendly starry night solutions begin with being a more informed you!
Ever wish you could see the stars at night? Well, here's your chance to join the conversation around how we can create a sustainable and equitable night that benefits people as much as it does ecology.
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!
Each month, Bill McGeeney is joined by upwards of three guests to help walk you through the news around this broad topic of light pollution/the sustainable night.
Interested in learning more? Check out resources and more at LightPollutionNews.com. Light Pollution News also maintains a running ecology news list. Find us on social media (Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and Facebook).
57 Episodes
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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...
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 planningMoon interference ruining viewing exper...
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 neighborhoodCommunity engagement: Workshops with local families and children incorp...
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 n...
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...
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. ...
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...
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 tha...
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 r...
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. Noctu...
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...
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...
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 Advertis...
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 li...
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 ...
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 Si...
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...
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 Expre...
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 ba...
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 Co...
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