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Light pollution is taking away night's darkness

Light Pollution - Level 4

Bright light from cities around the world is reducing the darkness of night. Years ago, when night-time fell, the dark arrived. Not today. A new study says artificial light at night grew in most countries by 2.2 per cent a year between 2012 and 2016. This is causing us many problems. The International Dark-Sky Association says it, "is not only [reducing] our view of the universe, it is [badly] affecting our environment, our safety, energy consumption and health".

Artificial light is a threat to our natural environment. A scientist called it a "pollutant that threatens nocturnal animals and affects plants and microorganisms". It is affecting bacteria, mammals, and humans. It is reshaping "entire social ecological systems". Environmentalists thought LED lights would help. However, cities are using more of these because they are cheaper. This is adding to the light pollution. Night-time light decreased in 16 countries.

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Light Pollution - Level 5

The brightness of light from our cities has reached such high levels that it is reducing the darkness of night. A century ago, when night-time fell, the dark of night arrived. Things are different today. A new study reports that artificial light at night is increasing around the world. Scientists say it grew by 2.2 per cent a year between 2012 and 2016. This intrusion of artificial light is causing us many problems. The International Dark-Sky Association says it, "is not only impairing our view of the universe, it is adversely affecting our environment, our safety, our energy consumption and our health".

Dr Franz Holker said artificial light is a threat to our natural environment. He called it a "pollutant that threatens nocturnal animals and affects plants and microorganisms". He added that it is affecting everything from bacteria to mammals, including humans. He said it is reshaping "entire social ecological systems". Environmentalists thought LED lights would help. However, cities are using more LED lights because they are cheaper. This is adding to the light pollution. Night-time light decreased in 16 countries, including nations at war, like Yemen and Syria.

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Light Pollution - Level 6

The amount and brightness of light from towns and cities around the world is at such a high level that it is reducing the darkness of night. Once upon a time, when night-time fell, we were plunged into darkness. Things are different, and brighter today. A study published in the journal Science Advances reports that artificial light at night is increasing in most countries worldwide. Scientists say it grew by 2.2 per cent a year between 2012 and 2016. The intrusion of artificial light into our night-time is causing us many problems. The International Dark-Sky Association says it, "is not only impairing our view of the universe, it is adversely affecting our environment, our safety, our energy consumption and our health".

Study co-author Franz Holker said artificial light is a threat to our natural environment. He said: "Artificial light is an environmental pollutant that threatens nocturnal animals and affects plants and microorganisms." He added: "[It] has ecological and evolutionary implications for many organisms from bacteria to mammals, including us humans, and may reshape entire social ecological systems." Many environmentalists thought the introduction of LED lights would help the planet. However, cities are using more LED lights because they are cheaper, which is adding to the light pollution. Night-time light decreased in 16 countries, including war-torn nations such as Yemen and Syria.

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25 online activities    |    27-page printable    |    2-page mini-lesson