Through Right Light: Exploring The Unexplored Menace of Light Pollution

Cast your mind back to the night sky, where mesmerizing city lights gave you a sight to remember. While this visual looks dreamy to us, it's a nightmare for birds, bees, turtles, and other creatures just trying to live their lives.

Light pollution- the lesser-known devil - is quietly stealing natural darkness and painting the world with artificial light. It might sound strange – can light be a pollutant? But when humans tamper with the natural order of things, it can throw the environment out of whack. That's light pollution, a not-so-friendly twist on how things are supposed to be.

Now, let's break down the problem with lighting. There are four main culprits: Glare (too much brightness that hurts our eyes), Skyglow (brightening the night sky over cities), Light trespass (light going where it shouldn't), and Clutter (too many confusing lights all bunched up). Light pollution comes from things like building lights, ads, offices, and even streetlights.

While the global spotlight often centers on climate change, the insidious impact of light pollution takes a close second place. With a significant portion of the world's population living beneath light-polluted skies, the excess illumination is a cause for international concern.

Light pollution is wreaking havoc on the natural world. Plants and animals depend on the regular rhythm of day and night for reproduction, nourishment, sleep, and protection from predators. Compelling scientific evidence underscores the lethal consequences of artificial light on a myriad of creatures, from amphibians and birds to mammals, insects, and plants. Nocturnal species, relying on the cover of darkness, find themselves navigating through a disrupted world where nights turn into unsettling days.

And here's a surprise: while we focus on saving turtles from plastic, light pollution is a big danger to them too. Baby turtles hatch on the beach at night and use the natural light to find the ocean. But artificial lights confuse them, leading to many little turtles losing their way, and their lives.?

The repercussions extend beyond wildlife; humans, too, are affected by the adverse effects of light pollution. Research suggests that artificial night-time illumination is linked to a slew of health issues, including obesity, depression, sleep disorders, diabetes, and breast cancer.

The good news is, unlike some other types of pollution, we can fix light pollution. Numerous scientists, homeowners, and thought leaders are teaming up to bring back the beauty of the natural night. The best part? Each one of us can play a part in making a positive change.?

Now that we know, it's time to turn awareness into action!