What is light pollution?

Natural darkness and human well-being

Effects of light pollution

With the rise of artificial light at night, our natural rhythms are being disrupted—while more research is needed, these …

November 17, 2025

Light pollution reduces our night sky heritage

Effects of light pollution

The nighttime environment is a precious natural resource for all life on Earth, but the glow of uncontrolled outdoor …

October 17, 2023

Outdoor lighting at night doesn’t do what you think it does to reduce crime and increase safety

Effects of light pollution

There is no clear scientific evidence that increased outdoor lighting deters crimes. It may make us feel safer, but …

October 17, 2023

Light pollution wastes energy and money and damages the climate

Effects of light pollution

Lighting levels that are higher than necessary and light that shines when and where it’s not needed is wasteful. …

October 17, 2023

Light pollution harms wildlife and ecosystems

Causes of light pollution

For billions of years, all life has relied on Earth’s predictable rhythm of day and night. It’s encoded in …

November 13, 2023