Light Pollution News

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This episode's guests:

• Megan Eaves-Egenes, Author of Nightfaring - In Search of the Disappearing Darkness.
• Barrington Russell, founder of DarkSkySites.com.
• Paul Marchant, Statistician.

Bill's News Picks: 

• My Favorite Dark Sky Running in the U.S., Andy Cochrane, Run. 
• Bali becomes a ghost town for new year. Here's why, Gillian Aeria, ABC News. 
• Is urban part-time lighting a mitigation measure for a common amphibian? A case study on Bufo spinosus, Biodiversity and Conservation. 
• Satellite imagery reveals increasing volatility in human night-time activity, Nature. 

Support the show

A hearty thank you to all of our paid supporters out there. You make this show possible.

For only the cost of one coffee each month you can help us to continue to grow. That’s $3 a month. If you like what we’re doing, if you think this adds value in any way, why not say thank you by becoming a supporter!

Why Support Light Pollution News?

• Receive quarterly invite to join as live audience member for recordings with special Q&A session post recording with guests.
• Receive all of the news for that month via a special Supporter monthly mailer.
• Satisfaction that your support helps further critical discourse on this topic.

About Light Pollution News:

Ever wonder why migrating birds crash into buildings? Or why you can't sleep at night? What about where you can still see the Milky Way?

Light Pollution News explores how our 24/7 lit world affects everything from wildlife and human health to our understanding of the stars, travel, and the future of our cities. Host Bill McGeeney brings on rotating guests to help dig into the latest research, policy activity, and real-world solutions - from how irresponsible lighting degrades our health to the best dark sky destinations for your next trip. Whether you're a birder, conservationist, astrophotographer, or just someone who misses sleeping in darkness, this is the show that connects the dots between your disappear...

Submit Voicemail!

This episode's guests:

• Johan Eklöf, Author of Darkness Manifesto.
• Chetna Misra, Lightbahn.
• Leo Smith, ReduceLP.com

Bill's News Picks: 

• Residents, feeling shut out, boo city over lighting plans at Waveland, Virginia Barreda, Des Moines Register.
• Spokane homeowners can get a free motion sensor light through new city program, Shannon Moudy, KREM
• Glynn County’s new zoning draft fails to update light protections for sea turtles, Jabari Gibbs, The Current GA.
• Light pollution in the wild affects adult reef fish and has intergenerational and direct impacts on offspring, Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 
• Istanbul's Ramadan Lights: The Vanishing Art of Mahya, DW News. 

Support the show

A hearty thank you to all of our paid supporters out there. You make this show possible.

For only the cost of one coffee each month you can help us to continue to grow. That’s $3 a month. If you like what we’re doing, if you think this adds value in any way, why not say thank you by becoming a supporter!

Why Support Light Pollution News?

• Receive quarterly invite to join as live audience member for recordings with special Q&A session post recording with guests.
• Receive all of the news for that month via a special Supporter monthly mailer.
• Satisfaction that your support helps further critical discourse on this topic.

About Light Pollution News:

Ever wonder why migrating birds crash into buildings? Or why you can't sleep at night? What about where you can still see the Milky Way?

Light Pollution News explores how our 24/7 lit world affects everything from wildlife and human health to our understanding of the stars, travel, and the future of our cities. Host Bill McGeeney brings on rotating guests to help dig into the latest research, policy activity, and real-world solutions - from how irresponsible lighting degrades our health to the best dark sky destinations for your next trip. Whether you're a birder, conservationist, astrophotographer, or just someone who misses sleeping in darkness, this is the show that connects the dots between your disappear...

Submit Voicemail!

 This episode's guests:

• Johan Eklöf, Author of Darkness Manifesto.
• Chetna Misra, Lightbahn.
• Leo Smith, ReduceLP.com

Bill's News Picks: 

•  SMITH, LEO F v. MULLINS, RAHEEM L Et Al, State of Connecticut Judicial Branch. 
•  The border wall is closing in on Big Bend, sparking opposition by locals, Martha Psowski, Inside Climate News. 
•  New planning rules threaten Kaikōura's dark sky status – council, 1 News. 
•  ‘The normal should be darkness’: why one Belgian national park is turning off ‘pointless’ streetlights, Phoebe Weston, The Guardian. 
•  Blue light filters don't work, Patrick Mineault, Neuroai.science. 

Support the show

A hearty thank you to all of our paid supporters out there. You make this show possible.

For only the cost of one coffee each month you can help us to continue to grow. That’s $3 a month. If you like what we’re doing, if you think this adds value in any way, why not say thank you by becoming a supporter!

Why Support Light Pollution News?

• Receive quarterly invite to join as live audience member for recordings with special Q&A session post recording with guests.
• Receive all of the news for that month via a special Supporter monthly mailer.
• Satisfaction that your support helps further critical discourse on this topic.

About Light Pollution News:

Ever wonder why migrating birds crash into buildings? Or why you can't sleep at night? What about where you can still see the Milky Way?

Light Pollution News explores how our 24/7 lit world affects everything from wildlife and human health to our understanding of the stars, travel, and the future of our cities. Host Bill McGeeney brings on rotating guests to help dig into the latest research, policy activity, and real-world solutions - from how irresponsible lighting degrades our health to the best dark sky destinations for your next trip. Whether you're a birder, conservationist, astrophotographer, or just someone who misses sleeping in darkness, this is the show that connects the dots between your disappear...

Submit Voicemail!

In this episode, Bill McGeeney interviews Chris Beckett of the Actual Astronomy Podcast. One day, he discovered a new sun glaring directly toward his observatory. This is the story of how he worked to bring sanity back to his nighttime environment. 

THE PROBLEM
Chris Beckett discovered an exceptionally bright light only about 2km from his Saskatchewan observatory. It was orders of magnitude brighter than typical outdoor lighting and nearly rendered his observatory unusable.
 
THE SOLUTION
Chris worked with municipal bylaw enforcement. Officials investigated and confirmed it violated bylaws. The neighbor appears to have kept the light off.
 
THE OUTCOME
A rare success story. Chris's documentation and persistence through proper channels created meaningful change, proving individuals can combat light pollution effectively.
 

"This, this was such an order of magnitude different from anything we ever saw before, Bill. Like even the photo doesn't do it justice!" - Chris Beckett

"Well, this has been a great story, a great tale, great success. Congratulations Chris, on actually being able to score a win." - Bill McGeeney 

Support the show

A hearty thank you to all of our paid supporters out there. You make this show possible.

For only the cost of one coffee each month you can help us to continue to grow. That’s $3 a month. If you like what we’re doing, if you think this adds value in any way, why not say thank you by becoming a supporter!

Why Support Light Pollution News?

• Receive quarterly invite to join as live audience member for recordings with special Q&A session post recording with guests.
• Receive all of the news for that month via a special Supporter monthly mailer.
• Satisfaction that your support helps further critical discourse on this topic.

About Light Pollution News:

Ever wonder why migrating birds crash into buildings? Or why you can't sleep at night? What about where you can still see the Milky Way?

Light Pollution News explores how our 24/7 lit world affects everything from wildlife and human health to our understanding of the stars, travel, and the future of our cities. Host Bill McGeeney brings on rotating guests to help dig into the latest research, policy activity, and real-world solutions - from how irresponsible lighting degrades our health to the best dark sky destinations for your next trip. Whether you're a birder, conservationist, astrophotographer, or just someone who misses sleeping in darkness, this is the show that connects the dots between your disappear...

Submit Voicemail!

 This episode's guests:

• Remi Bouche, Science Coordinator at Mont-Megantic.
• Jeremey Evans, Photographer - Filmmaker.
• Dashiell Leeds, Conservation Coordinator for the Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter.

Bill's News Picks:

• “The Most Challenging Argument to Make”: Feelings of Safety in Dark Sky Advocacy, Environmental Communication. 
• Denmark Is Switching to Red Streetlights, and It Could Revolutionize Urban Lighting Around the World, Arezki Amiri, Daily Galaxy. 
• A Methodological Proposal for Implementing Dark Infrastructure Within the Ecological Network of an Urban Forest, Land. 
• Light pollution: Should twilight be the focus of mitigations for biodiversity?, Current Biology
• Like a starry sky under the roof – Sanctuary of St. John Bosco, Szymon Biedronka, Mad White. 

Support the show

A hearty thank you to all of our paid supporters out there. You make this show possible.

For only the cost of one coffee each month you can help us to continue to grow. That’s $3 a month. If you like what we’re doing, if you think this adds value in any way, why not say thank you by becoming a supporter!

Why Support Light Pollution News?

• Receive quarterly invite to join as live audience member for recordings with special Q&A session post recording with guests.
• Receive all of the news for that month via a special Supporter monthly mailer.
• Satisfaction that your support helps further critical discourse on this topic.

About Light Pollution News:

Ever wonder why migrating birds crash into buildings? Or why you can't sleep at night? What about where you can still see the Milky Way?

Light Pollution News explores how our 24/7 lit world affects everything from wildlife and human health to our understanding of the stars, travel, and the future of our cities. Host Bill McGeeney brings on rotating guests to help dig into the latest research, policy activity, and real-world solutions - from how irresponsible lighting degrades our health to the best dark sky destinations for your next trip. Whether you're a birder, conservationist, astrophotographer, or just someone who misses sleeping in darkness, this is the show that connects the dots between your disappear...

Submit Voicemail!

 This episode's guests:

• Remi Bouche, Science Coordinator at Mont-Megantic.
• Jeremey Evans, Photographer - Filmmaker.
• Dashiell Leeds, Conservation Coordinator for the Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter.

Bill's News Picks:

• Let there be light — but not in Maine, GREG WALCHER, The Daily Sentinel.
• Our state is the best place in the country to bring dreams to life: A second Sphere venue is coming to the US, Fraser Lewry, Louder.
• LED lighting undermines visual performance unless supplemented by wider spectra, Nature. 
• Exposure to outdoor artificial light at night is associated with a higher risk of ulcerative colitis: a prospective cohort study from the UK Biobank, Frontiers in Public Health.
• Are You Afraid of the Dark? This Oregon Retreat Locks You in Total Darkness. For Days. On Purpose, Danielle Denham, That Oregon Life. 

Support the show

A hearty thank you to all of our paid supporters out there. You make this show possible.

For only the cost of one coffee each month you can help us to continue to grow. That’s $3 a month. If you like what we’re doing, if you think this adds value in any way, why not say thank you by becoming a supporter!

Why Support Light Pollution News?

• Receive quarterly invite to join as live audience member for recordings with special Q&A session post recording with guests.
• Receive all of the news for that month via a special Supporter monthly mailer.
• Satisfaction that your support helps further critical discourse on this topic.

About Light Pollution News:

Ever wonder why migrating birds crash into buildings? Or why you can't sleep at night? What about where you can still see the Milky Way?

Light Pollution News explores how our 24/7 lit world affects everything from wildlife and human health to our understanding of the stars, travel, and the future of our cities. Host Bill McGeeney brings on rotating guests to help dig into the latest research, policy activity, and real-world solutions - from how irresponsible lighting degrades our health to the best dark sky destinations for your next trip. Whether you're a birder, conservationist, astrophotographer, or just someone who misses sleeping in darkness, this is the show that connects the dots between your disappear...

Submit Voicemail!

 This episode's guests:

• Shweta Kulkarni, AstronEra.
• Josh Dury, Award Winning Photographer.
• Jim Webster, Advocate.

Bill's News Picks:

• Explore NASA’s most detailed map of the night sky yet, Andrew Paul, Popular Science. 
• Satellite megaconstellations will threaten space-based astronomy, Nature. 
• Minimizing aviation lighting duration reduces bat attraction to wind turbines, Journal of Applied Ecology. 
• Tawny owls are turning to street lighting to help them hunt, British Ecological Society. 
• Impact of artificial light at night on obesity and overweight: a systematic review and meta-analysis, BMC Public Health. 

Support the show

A hearty thank you to all of our paid supporters out there. You make this show possible.

For only the cost of one coffee each month you can help us to continue to grow. That’s $3 a month. If you like what we’re doing, if you think this adds value in any way, why not say thank you by becoming a supporter!

Why Support Light Pollution News?

• Receive quarterly invite to join as live audience member for recordings with special Q&A session post recording with guests.
• Receive all of the news for that month via a special Supporter monthly mailer.
• Satisfaction that your support helps further critical discourse on this topic.

About Light Pollution News:

Ever wonder why migrating birds crash into buildings? Or why you can't sleep at night? What about where you can still see the Milky Way?

Light Pollution News explores how our 24/7 lit world affects everything from wildlife and human health to our understanding of the stars, travel, and the future of our cities. Host Bill McGeeney brings on rotating guests to help dig into the latest research, policy activity, and real-world solutions - from how irresponsible lighting degrades our health to the best dark sky destinations for your next trip. Whether you're a birder, conservationist, astrophotographer, or just someone who misses sleeping in darkness, this is the show that connects the dots between your disappear...

Submit Voicemail!

 This episode's guests:

• Shweta Kulkarni, AstronEra.
• Josh Dury, Award Winning Photographer.
• Jim Webster, Advocate.

Bill's News Picks:

• DarkSky One supercar lurks in the dark like a ninja with its sensible lighting, Gaurav Sood, Yanko Design. 
• Colored light changes how music makes us feel, Eric Ralls, Earth.com. 
• Bright needs, dark desires: Public preferences and balancing the benefits of artificial light and natural darkness at night in Aotearoa New Zealand, People and Nature. 
• Illuminating Inequality: Public Lighting Energy Consumption and Light Pollution in Urban and Rural Contexts, Chemical Engineering Transactions. 
• Evaluation of Urban Nighttime Light Environment Safety Using Integrated Remote Sensing and Perception Modeling, Remote Sensing 

Support the show

A hearty thank you to all of our paid supporters out there. You make this show possible.

For only the cost of one coffee each month you can help us to continue to grow. That’s $3 a month. If you like what we’re doing, if you think this adds value in any way, why not say thank you by becoming a supporter!

Why Support Light Pollution News?

• Receive quarterly invite to join as live audience member for recordings with special Q&A session post recording with guests.
• Receive all of the news for that month via a special Supporter monthly mailer.
• Satisfaction that your support helps further critical discourse on this topic.

About Light Pollution News:

Ever wonder why migrating birds crash into buildings? Or why you can't sleep at night? What about where you can still see the Milky Way?

Light Pollution News explores how our 24/7 lit world affects everything from wildlife and human health to our understanding of the stars, travel, and the future of our cities. Host Bill McGeeney brings on rotating guests to help dig into the latest research, policy activity, and real-world solutions - from how irresponsible lighting degrades our health to the best dark sky destinations for your next trip. Whether you're a birder, conservationist, astrophotographer, or just someone who misses sleeping in darkness, this is the show that connects the dots between your disappear...

Submit Voicemail!

  This episode's guests:

• Randy Nelson, PhD, Circadian Rhythm Researcher.
• Scott Lind, Electrical Engineer, CEO Redshift Lighting.
• Rushil Kukreja, Founder of Princia.

Bill's News Picks:

• Space Modernization for the 21st Century NPRM, FCC. 
• Palo Alto approves dark sky ordinance, sets earlier curfew, Riley Cooke, Palo Alto Online. 
• Widespread influence of artificial light at night on ecosystem metabolism, Nature. 
• Midnight darkness and evening melatonin pre-treatment reverse night-light-induced neurobehavioural disruptions in a diurnal corvid, Scientific Reports. 
• The night feels different when you’re out there', Dr. Jon Sutton, The British Psychological Society.

Support the show

A hearty thank you to all of our paid supporters out there. You make this show possible.

For only the cost of one coffee each month you can help us to continue to grow. That’s $3 a month. If you like what we’re doing, if you think this adds value in any way, why not say thank you by becoming a supporter!

Why Support Light Pollution News?

• Receive quarterly invite to join as live audience member for recordings with special Q&A session post recording with guests.
• Receive all of the news for that month via a special Supporter monthly mailer.
• Satisfaction that your support helps further critical discourse on this topic.

About Light Pollution News:

Ever wonder why migrating birds crash into buildings? Or why you can't sleep at night? What about where you can still see the Milky Way?

Light Pollution News explores how our 24/7 lit world affects everything from wildlife and human health to our understanding of the stars, travel, and the future of our cities. Host Bill McGeeney brings on rotating guests to help dig into the latest research, policy activity, and real-world solutions - from how irresponsible lighting degrades our health to the best dark sky destinations for your next trip. Whether you're a birder, conservationist, astrophotographer, or just someone who misses sleeping in darkness, this is the show that connects the dots between your disappear...

Submit Voicemail!

  This episode's guests:

• Randy Nelson, PhD, Circadian Rhythm Researcher.
• Scott Lind, Electrical Engineer, CEO Redshift Lighting.
• Rushil Kukreja, Founder of Princia.

Bill's News Picks:

• New York’s Skyline Has a Bold New Look, Nicholas Mancall-Bitel, New York Times.
• Switching off public lighting: a study on local authority practices, Samuel Busson, Cerema.
• Exposure to more artificial light at night may raise heart disease risk, American Heart Association. 
• ‘My Neighbor’s Christmas Lights Shine into My Bedroom, What Should I Do?, Philadelphia Inquirer. 
• Reaffirming sensory ethnography: sensing regenerative tourist practices in dark-sky protected zones, Journal of Sustainable Tourism. 

Support the show

A hearty thank you to all of our paid supporters out there. You make this show possible.

For only the cost of one coffee each month you can help us to continue to grow. That’s $3 a month. If you like what we’re doing, if you think this adds value in any way, why not say thank you by becoming a supporter!

Why Support Light Pollution News?

• Receive quarterly invite to join as live audience member for recordings with special Q&A session post recording with guests.
• Receive all of the news for that month via a special Supporter monthly mailer.
• Satisfaction that your support helps further critical discourse on this topic.

About Light Pollution News:

Ever wonder why migrating birds crash into buildings? Or why you can't sleep at night? What about where you can still see the Milky Way?

Light Pollution News explores how our 24/7 lit world affects everything from wildlife and human health to our understanding of the stars, travel, and the future of our cities. Host Bill McGeeney brings on rotating guests to help dig into the latest research, policy activity, and real-world solutions - from how irresponsible lighting degrades our health to the best dark sky destinations for your next trip. Whether you're a birder, conservationist, astrophotographer, or just someone who misses sleeping in darkness, this is the show that connects the dots between your disappear...