Look at any photo of earth’s night sight, and you see the planet lit up like a Christmas decoration. As the glowing lights of bustling cities expand, the serenity of natural darkness wanes. But the repercussions are not just the loss of the starry night sky. Light pollution also affects animals who depend on a night time environment to survive. Many bird species use the stars to navigate at night. Baby sea turtles use moonlight reflected off the ocean to guide them back to the water. City lights can confuse them, and fear them off course. Humans are not immune, either. Excessive exposure to artificial light at night can increase the risk of sleep disorders and it’s also been linked to obesity, depression, diabetes and even cancer.
As the glowing lights of bustling cities expand, the serenity of natural darkness wanes. Light pollution affects animals including bird species and baby sea turtles that depend on a night time environment to survive. Humans are not immune either, excessive exposure to artificial light at night can increase the risk of sleep disorders and it’s also been linked to obesity, depression, diabetes and even cancer.
