The loss of darkness has far-reaching impacts. Under starlight, the world can feel old and gentle. To sit under the stars is to feel a sense of place, space, and landscape in a manner similar to philosophers, astronomers, artists, and lovers across time.

Coming to our Senses

On land, more than 80 percent of the planet’s population lives under light-polluted skies. More than a third of the world, around 2.5 billion people, can no longer see the Milky Way.  That pollution has far-reaching consequences that threaten all our senses: from the loss of familiar creatures that live for the night, to unique interpretations of our position in the world. 

Coming to our Senses

Newly hatched sea turtles navigate by the moon, and artificial light can confuse hatchlings, drawing them toward land where they can be eaten by predators or die from exhaustion and dehydration.

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In Australia, only 2 to 5 percent of the population can see the Milky Way from their backyards due to urban and industrial light pollution.  For Aboriginal people living in large, urban areas like Sydney or Melbourne who carry knowledge about the night sky, a loss of access to the stars can have devastating long-term effects.

Coming to our Senses

Ambient light pollution can cause chronodisruption — the disruption of circadian rhythms, which can impact brain wave patterns, hormone secretion, and neuronal activities. Humans have adapted to day and night, and without extended periods of darkness, sleep-wake patterns can impact the production of melatonin in the body. Reduced melatonin levels have been linked to higher rates of diabetes, obesity, anxiety, and depression. 

Coming to our Senses

But unlike finding answers to dealing with microplastics in the ocean, or perfecting carbon capture before the planet crosses critical temperature thresholds, restoring the night sky is fairly easy. 

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