About this episode
Megan Eaves-Egenes discusses the impact of light pollution on the night sky and its consequences for wildlife and human life.
Megan Eaves-Egenes grew up under the very starry skies of rural New Mexico. During those years, she developed a deep appreciation for astronomy. The fascination is, of course, not hers alone. But, a starry sky requires one pretty important ingredient: darkness. One study recently reported that since 2011, the night sky has gotten brighter at about 10% per year. All that light pollution has brought dire consequences to life on planet earth. Crickets can’t tell whether it’s day or night, bird migrations have gone haywire, and our own natural alarm clocks are constantly confused. In a world where switching on a lamp during evening hours is, as Megan writes, “almost as basic as breathing” is there hope for our night skies? Or have we illuminated our way to a point of no return? Featuring Megan Eaves-Egenes. SUPPORT To share your questions and feedback with Outside/In, call the show’s hotline and leave us a voicemail. The number is 1-844-GO-OTTER. No question is too serious or too silly. Outside/In is made possible with listener support. Click here to become a sustaining member of Outside/In. Follow Outside/In on Instagram and BlueSky, or join our private discussion group on Facebook…
People in this episode
Guest: Megan Eaves-Egenes
Topics covered
- light pollution
- astronomy
- dark skies
- environmental impact
- nature
- wildlife
Keywords
- light pollution
- night sky
- astronomy
- environment
- wildlife
- darkness
- New Mexico
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Outside/In, Dark Sky International
Books & works: Nightfaring: In Search of the Disappearing Darkness
Places: New Mexico
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