Describes the scientific and cultural value of the sky

Illustrates the environmental damage of excess light

Explains the relationship between astronomy and space technology

Introduction

This book takes a close look at our relationship with the sky, the stars, light and darkness. In particular, it examines how light pollution has interfered with the culture of astronomy and our ability to appreciate this essential facet of our natural world.

The sky has always held significance for humanity, in both cultural and scientific terms. And yet we persistently pollute it with (sometimes unnecessary) light in our obsessive desire to chase away the darkness. This effectively switches off the stars, hampering our ability to enjoy one of the most inspiring sights nature has to offer to humankind. In addition, too much light is hazardous to both our health and that of the fauna and flora of this planet.This book also features a comprehensive look at the current controversy regarding efforts to expand internet access through the launch into low Earth orbits of thousands of new satellites, which will pollute the night with moving lights while filling to saturation the capability of the circumterrestrial space. This conflict does not mean that the interests of astronomy and those of space technology have to be at odds, and potential compromises are explored between the satellite initiative and the desire to maintain a dark, radio silent sky.

Bibliographic information

Book Title Saving the Starry Night

Book Subtitle Light Pollution and Its Effects on Science, Culture and Nature

Authors Patrizia Caraveo

DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-85064-7

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New research may provide answers as to why some people tolerate being awake at night better than others.

Ida Kvittingen JOURNALIST

PUBLISHED Friday 18. september 2020 – 10:58

Staying awake at night and being able to sleep during the day goes against our natural circadian rhythm, but some people cope better than others.

Recently, researchers have found evidence that biological differences between the sexes can affect the circadian rhythm of both humans and mice.

There are many indications that women and men have internal clocks that are set a little differently, according to a background article in the journal Science about some of the more recent research in the field.

“It’s exciting and quite new that we can say something more about the mechanisms behind the differences in circadian rhythms,” says Andrea Rørvik Marti, a PhD candidate in psychology at the University of Bergen (UiB).

But she’s quick to add that while gender can affect circadian rhythms, a lot of other things may do so too. There are many more similarities than differences between the sexes.

Your biological clock is found throughout the body

Nobel laureates Michael Rosbach, Jeffrey C. Hall and Michael W. Young found that genes control our inner clock, which ticks away depending on light and darkness.

This clock is found throughout the body, Marti says, but the brain is in the driver’s seat.

“The brain is the conductor of an orchestra. Every single cell in our body contains genes that control that clock. They are the musicians,” she says.

“When you have to be awake and active at an unexpected time, you confuse these clocks. The big question is why some people have problems as a result, and why others deal with it quite well,” she says.

While some people think night shifts are fine, other people never get used to them.

Read more at: https://sciencenorway.no/biology-gender-and-society-sleep/do-men-and-women-have-different-circadian-rhythms/1742390

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University of Groningen

This video paints the life and scientific contributions of Professor Serge Daan (1940-2018). Daan was an inspiring biologist with a broad interest in science. He started as professor at the University of Groningen in 1975. His publications were cited over 17,000 times and include seminal work in chronobiology, sleep research, psychiatry, physiology, ecology and behavioural biology. The ‘Two Process Model’ of human sleep regulation he developed with Alex Borbély and Domien Beersma, still inspires many sleep researchers all over the world. He was awarded several prizes and awards, including the prestigious International Prize for Biology, which he received from the Emperor of Japan.

Production: University of Groningen, Heddema Communications

For more about the life and work of Professor Serge Daan:

https://www.rug.nl/fse/research/daan_-prof.-serge

Prof Daan:

“In physics you ask how come?, in biology you ask how, but also why.”

“Biologists have the real experimental and analytical approaches.”

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Campaigners want government agencies and companies to turn off the lights so citizens can rediscover the beauty of darkness.

SOPHIE KNIGHT NOVEMBER 18, 2019

AMSTERDAM—As winter creeps across the Northern Hemisphere and daylight hours dwindle, it can be hard to appreciate the long, dark nights. But in the Netherlands, there’s a national campaign to embrace the darkness.

Nacht van de Nacht (Night of the Night) culminates in an annual event—this year, it was on October 26—during which local governments and companies turn off their lights and people gather in towns and woods to savor the absence of artificial light.

Earth Hour, a worldwide event to turn off the lights for one hour in March, is aimed at raising environmental awareness, but the goal of Nacht van de Nacht is to change lighting habits permanently, so that we can see the stars again.

This year, around 45,000 people took part in some 550 activities, including night walks in forests, star viewings, and candlelit dinners. The organization also holds workshops year-round and advises the government, municipalities, and companies to dim or turn off lights, and to adopt a policy of “Dark where possible, light where necessary.”

Excerpts:

Read the full article at:

https://www.citylab.com/life/2019/11/dark-sky-night-stars-netherlands-light-pollution-map-nacht/601846/?fbclid=IwAR0iykJlcWMe24n1bRZexY9j61Qvcs8LntAOsfOYPQkKu070D77kzbebcE0

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