If this result holds up, it’s potentially big: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-025-02481-0

In short, it implies that #LightPollution is decreasing the efficiency with which #plants remove carbon from the atmosphere. It concludes that artificial light at night increases “ #ecosystem respiration” (plants, microbes, and animals releasing carbon dioxide through their activity and growth), but there is no corresponding increase in #photosynthesis.

The result is that plants exposed to ALAN emit more #carbon than they absorb from the #atmosphere. The authors write: “Our findings show that ALAN disrupts the fundamental energetic constraints on ecosystem metabolism, warranting the inclusion of light pollution in global change and carbon–climate feedback assessments.”

#ALAN

If this result holds up, it’s potentially big: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-025-02481-0

In short, it implies that #LightPollution is decreasing the efficiency with which #plants remove carbon from the atmosphere. It concludes that artificial light at night increases “ #ecosystem respiration” (plants, microbes, and animals releasing carbon dioxide through their activity and growth), but there is no corresponding increase in #photosynthesis.

The result is that plants exposed to ALAN emit more #carbon than they absorb from the #atmosphere. The authors write: “Our findings show that ALAN disrupts the fundamental energetic constraints on ecosystem metabolism, warranting the inclusion of light pollution in global change and carbon–climate feedback assessments.”

#ALAN

If this result holds up, it’s potentially big: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-025-02481-0

In short, it implies that #LightPollution is decreasing the efficiency with which #plants remove carbon from the atmosphere. It concludes that artificial light at night increases “ #ecosystem respiration” (plants, microbes, and animals releasing carbon dioxide through their activity and growth), but there is no corresponding increase in #photosynthesis.

The result is that plants exposed to ALAN emit more #carbon than they absorb from the #atmosphere. The authors write: “Our findings show that ALAN disrupts the fundamental energetic constraints on ecosystem metabolism, warranting the inclusion of light pollution in global change and carbon–climate feedback assessments.”

#ALAN

A colleague of mine is offering a funded PhD position (4 years) in #Metrology of #Skyglow in Switzerland: https://live.solique.ch/metas/de/internet/jobs/PhD-Position-in-Metrology-for-Skyglow-Measurement-and-Monitoring-(4-years-%E2%80%93-100-)--3891747/

And at the same time I'm offering a PhD on #RemoteSensing using nighttime lights: https://jobs.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/jobposting/62065e5be70a916f65edd647cd1b1740b04cd72e0

It's great to see #LightPollution and #Night research being taken seriously by funding agencies!

#AcademicJobs #PhysicsJobs #GeographyJobs #fedihired #getFedihired

A colleague of mine is offering a funded PhD position (4 years) in #Metrology of #Skyglow in Switzerland: https://live.solique.ch/metas/de/internet/jobs/PhD-Position-in-Metrology-for-Skyglow-Measurement-and-Monitoring-(4-years-%E2%80%93-100-)--3891747/

And at the same time I'm offering a PhD on #RemoteSensing using nighttime lights: https://jobs.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/jobposting/62065e5be70a916f65edd647cd1b1740b04cd72e0

It's great to see #LightPollution and #Night research being taken seriously by funding agencies!

#AcademicJobs #PhysicsJobs #GeographyJobs #fedihired #getFedihired

Solo para decir que si les parecía bajo el nivel actual de distopia en el que vivimos hay una astrónoma canadiense @sundogplanets que esta muy metida con este tema de Reflecting Orbital, una empresa que pretende poner espejos gigantes en el espacio para puedas contratar luz solar de noche, ignorando todos los desastres a varios niveles que esta supone. Esto deberia estar en la agenda y ser objeto de debate --› https://mastodon.social/@sundogplanets/115345346648445621 #ciencia #astronomia #astronomy #lightpollution #contaminacionluminica #gestionambiental #satellite

Solo para decir que si les parecía bajo el nivel actual de distopia en el que vivimos hay una astrónoma canadiense @sundogplanets que esta muy metida con este tema de Reflecting Orbital, una empresa que pretende poner espejos gigantes en el espacio para puedas contratar luz solar de noche, ignorando todos los desastres a varios niveles que esta supone. Esto deberia estar en la agenda y ser objeto de debate --› https://mastodon.social/@sundogplanets/115345346648445621 #ciencia #astronomia #astronomy #lightpollution #contaminacionluminica #gestionambiental #satellite

If you live in #oregon please consider leaving your porch light off tonight, to help migrating #birds #nature #conservation #lightpollution https://www.oregonlive.com/environment/2025/09/55-million-birds-expected-to-fly-over-oregon-on-monday-night-heres-how-to-help-them.html

If you live in #oregon please consider leaving your porch light off tonight, to help migrating #birds #nature #conservation #lightpollution https://www.oregonlive.com/environment/2025/09/55-million-birds-expected-to-fly-over-oregon-on-monday-night-heres-how-to-help-them.html

“If we lose these skies, we’re not just losing them for ourselves, all of humanity loses them. There’s no replacement site. That’s why it should matter so much — not just to me, to #Chile or the astronomical community, but to everyone.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/12/world/americas/chile-astronomer-atacama-light-pollution.html

#Astronomy#DarkSkies#LightPollution

“If we lose these skies, we’re not just losing them for ourselves, all of humanity loses them. There’s no replacement site. That’s why it should matter so much — not just to me, to #Chile or the astronomical community, but to everyone.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/12/world/americas/chile-astronomer-atacama-light-pollution.html

#Astronomy#DarkSkies#LightPollution

Just found out about this space polution startup - "Reflect Orbital is delivering sunlight by building a constellation of in-space mirrors"

https://www.reflectorbital.com/

#spacejunk #lightpollution

Pittsburgh "plans to dim the new lights between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m., which will save energy and money, and, according to the city, cause less harm to migratory birds, urban wildlife and humans."

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/22/climate/pennsylvania-pittsburgh-light-pollution.html

#DarkSkies#Cities#Sustainability

„When millions of people turn off their lights for Earth Hour each year, something remarkable happens in the night sky above cities. New research from Hong Kong published in Scientific Reports shows that just a small number of decorative buildings and advertising boards can dramatically brighten the entire urban night sky and when they go dark, the sky becomes up to 50% darker.“

https://phys.org/news/2025-07-bright-entire-night-sky.html

#lightpollution #skyglow #facadelighting #darksky #sciencenews