We’re All Healthier Under a Starry Sky

Abstract

A star-filled sky has long been a source of awe and inspiration, and its loss adversely affects human, nonhuman, and environmental health. In one generation, this majestic nighttime overstory has been lost due to national and international overuse of light-emitting diodes lighting. This article canvasses ill health effects of excessive light at night. Blue wavelengths of light are damaging to many forms of life, and glare from unshielded light compromises road safety and infiltrates bedrooms, suppressing melatonin production, undermining sleep quality and duration, and exacerbating susceptibility to many kinds of illness.