This episode's guests: Johan Eklöf, Author of Darkness Manifesto. Chetna Misra , Lightbahn. Leo Smith , ReduceLP.com Bill's News Picks: Residents, feeling shut out, boo city over lighting plans at Waveland , Virginia Barreda, Des Moines Register . Spokane homeowners can get a free motion sensor light through new city program , Shannon Moudy, KREM Glynn County’s new zoning draft fails to update light protections for sea turtles , Jabari Gibbs, The Current GA . Light pollution in the wild affects ...
Apr 20, 2026•48 min•Season 4Ep. 9
This episode's guests: Johan Eklöf, Author of Darkness Manifesto. Chetna Misra , Lightbahn. Leo Smith , ReduceLP.com Bill's News Picks: SMITH, LEO F v. MULLINS, RAHEEM L Et Al , State of Connecticut Judicial Branch . The border wall is closing in on Big Bend, sparking opposition by locals , Martha Psowski, Inside Climate News . New planning rules threaten Kaikōura's dark sky status – council , 1 News . ‘The normal should be darkness’: why one Belgian national park is turning off ‘pointless’ stre...
Apr 06, 2026•1 hr 4 min•Season 4Ep. 8
In this episode, Bill McGeeney interviews Chris Beckett of the Actual Astronomy Podcast . One day, he discovered a new sun glaring directly toward his observatory. This is the story of how he worked to bring sanity back to his nighttime environment. THE PROBLEM Chris Beckett discovered an exceptionally bright light only about 2km from his Saskatchewan observatory. It was orders of magnitude brighter than typical outdoor lighting and nearly rendered his observatory unusable. THE SOLUTION Chris wo...
Mar 30, 2026•47 min•Season 4Ep. 7
This episode's guests: Remi Bouche, Science Coordinator at Mont-Megantic. Jeremey Evans , Photographer - Filmmaker. Dashiell Leeds , Conservation Coordinator for the Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter. Bill's News Picks: “The Most Challenging Argument to Make”: Feelings of Safety in Dark Sky Advocacy , Environmental Communication . Denmark Is Switching to Red Streetlights, and It Could Revolutionize Urban Lighting Around the World , Arezki Amiri, Daily Galaxy . A Methodological Proposal for Impleme...
Mar 16, 2026•1 hr 13 min•Season 4Ep. 6
This episode's guests: Remi Bouche, Science Coordinator at Mont-Megantic. Jeremey Evans , Photographer - Filmmaker. Dashiell Leeds , Conservation Coordinator for the Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter. Bill's News Picks: Let there be light — but not in Maine , GREG WALCHER, The Daily Sentinel. Our state is the best place in the country to bring dreams to life: A second Sphere venue is coming to the US , Fraser Lewry, Louder . LED lighting undermines visual performance unless supplemented by wider s...
Mar 02, 2026•1 hr 6 min•Season 4Ep. 5
This episode's guests: Shweta Kulkarni, AstronEra. Josh Dury , Award Winning Photographer. Jim Webster , Advocate. Bill's News Picks: Explore NASA’s most detailed map of the night sky yet , Andrew Paul, Popular Science . Satellite megaconstellations will threaten space-based astronomy , Nature . Minimizing aviation lighting duration reduces bat attraction to wind turbines , Journal of Applied Ecology . Tawny owls are turning to street lighting to help them hunt , British Ecological Society . Imp...
Feb 16, 2026•1 hr 7 min•Season 4Ep. 4
This episode's guests: Shweta Kulkarni, AstronEra. Josh Dury , Award Winning Photographer. Jim Webster , Advocate. Bill's News Picks: DarkSky One supercar lurks in the dark like a ninja with its sensible lighting , Gaurav Sood, Yanko Design . Colored light changes how music makes us feel , Eric Ralls , Earth.com. Bright needs, dark desires: Public preferences and balancing the benefits of artificial light and natural darkness at night in Aotearoa New Zealand , People and Nature. Illuminating Ine...
Feb 02, 2026•57 min•Season 4Ep. 3
This episode's guests: Randy Nelson, PhD, Circadian Rhythm Researcher. Scott Lind , Electrical Engineer, CEO Redshift Lighting. Rushil Kukreja , Founder of Princia . Bill's News Picks: Space Modernization for the 21st Century NPRM , FCC . Palo Alto approves dark sky ordinance, sets earlier curfew , Riley Cooke, Palo Alto Online . Widespread influence of artificial light at night on ecosystem metabolism , Nature . Midnight darkness and evening melatonin pre-treatment reverse night-light-induced n...
Jan 19, 2026•52 min•Season 4Ep. 2
This episode's guests: Randy Nelson, PhD, Circadian Rhythm Researcher. Scott Lind , Electrical Engineer, CEO Redshift Lighting. Rushil Kukreja , Founder of Princia . Bill's News Picks: New York’s Skyline Has a Bold New Look , Nicholas Mancall-Bitel, New York Times . Switching off public lighting: a study on local authority practices , Samuel Busson, Cerema . Exposure to more artificial light at night may raise heart disease risk , American Heart Association . ‘My Neighbor’s Christmas Lights Shin...
Jan 05, 2026•58 min•Season 4Ep. 1
Find today's articles at LightPollutionNews.com. Happy Holidays friends! It's our annual Holiday Potluck show! This is the show where guests return to discuss their favorite stories of 2025! We welcome back to the show: John Barentine, Dark Sky Consulting Yana Yakushina, Lawyer Dr. Mario Motta ( absentia ) Michael Calhoun Steve Mariconda Patrick Sommer Article List: Citizen science illuminates the nature of city lights , Nature Cities . Personal night light exposure predicts incidence of cardiov...
Dec 29, 2025•49 min•Season 3Ep. 27
This episode's guests: Dr. Amardeep Dugar , Lighting Designer. Dani Robertson , Author / Dark Sky Officer. Stephane Picard , CEO of Cliff Valley Astronomy. Bill's News Picks: Remote Welsh island with population of three people searching for new tenant family , BBC News . Headlight complaints abound, but glare-related crashes haven’t increased , Joe Young, IIHS . Spatio-Temporal Variation in Aerial Arthropod AbundanceRevealed by Weather Radars , Global Change Biology . Nocturnal flight call monit...
Dec 15, 2025•58 min•Season 3Ep. 26
This episode's guests: Dr. Amardeep Dugar , Lighting Designer. Dani Robertson , Author / Dark Sky Officer. Stephane Picard , CEO of Cliff Valley Astronomy. Bill's News Picks: Ikea just made a mini bed for your phone , Grace Snelling, Fast Company . Individual-Level Exposure to Light at Night and Sleep Health: A Comparison between Real-Time Mobility-Based Measurements and Indoor Residence-Based Measurements , Environmental Science & Technology . We’ve Lit Our Way Into a Complex Problem , Insi...
Dec 01, 2025•1 hr 12 min•Season 3Ep. 25
This episode's guests: Tatsiana Thomson , Brome Bird Care. John Barentine , Dark Sky Consulting. Lynne Peeples , Author of the Inner Clock. Bill's News Picks: Environmental Commission applauds progress on bird-safe buildings , Amy Smith, Austin Monitor . Great River Bridge goes dark for birds , Hawk Eye . Puffins, petrels, and places: Understanding human perceptions to prevent seabird mortality due to light pollution , Ornithological Applications . Light does not phase shift the circadian clock ...
Nov 17, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Season 3Ep. 24
This episode's guests: Tatsiana Thomson , Brome Bird Care. John Barentine , Dark Sky Consulting. Lynne Peeples , Author of the Inner Clock. Bill's News Picks: Spectacular drone show over Vatican recreates Michelangelo’s ‘Creation of Adam,’ Virgin Mary , Ariel Zilber, New York Post . As more cities get Dark Sky label, these Indigenous communities apply the same tenets , Mark Brodie, KJZZ-FM . The First Dark Sky Map of Thailand: International Comparisons and Factors Affecting the Rate of Change , ...
Nov 03, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Season 3Ep. 23
This episode's guests: Yana Yakushina , Lawyer and Researcher. James Lowenthal , Astronomer. Vicky Derksen , Night Sky Tourist. Bill's News Picks: Randomised trial reveals a mismatch between preferences for and hormonal responses to anthropogenic light colour temperatures , PLOS One . Light Wavelength Modulates the Effects of Lighted Nights on Sleep, Metabolism and Oxidative Stress in Female Zebra Finches , Journal of Experimental Zoology Part A: Ecological and Integrative Physiology . The Great...
Oct 20, 2025•1 hr 12 min•Season 3Ep. 22
This episode's guests: Yana Yakushina , Lawyer and Researcher. James Lowenthal , Astronomer. Vicky Derksen , Night Sky Tourist. Bill's News Picks: The endangered night: the challenge of light pollution within the international environmental legal context , Journal of Environmental Law . On National Space Day, Fadnavis pledges India's first state Dark Sky Policy, and what it could unlock for Maharashtra , ANI, Tribune . Appeals court rules Florida's "Alligator Alcatraz" detention site can stay op...
Oct 06, 2025•56 min•Season 3Ep. 21
In this episode, Bill McGeeney interviews Vasu Menon, a NC State computer science student who created Stargazer.org - a revolutionary web app that solves every amateur astronomer's planning nightmare. Born from a frustrating full-moon stargazing trip to Virginia's Stanton River park, this tool combines dark sky locations, weather forecasts, and lunar data into one simple interface. The Problem Multiple apps needed for stargazing planning Moon interference ruining viewing experiences Difficulty f...
Sep 29, 2025•10 min•Season 3Ep. 20
Episode Summary Discover how one artist is tackling light pollution through whimsical street art. Berlin visual artist Alona Rodeh joins the show to discuss her viral "Nightcaps" project - 3D-printed "hats" that transform unshielded street lamps into community art while reducing light pollution. Key Topics Covered The Nightcaps Project : 15 sculptural lamp covers installed throughout Berlin's Brunnenvierteljat neighborhood Community engagement : Workshops with local families and children incorpo...
Sep 29, 2025•34 min•Season 3Ep. 19
This episode's guests: Steve Mariconda , MPH. Frank Turina , Educator / National Park Service / Night Sky Resource Center. Bill's News Picks: Natural experiments from Earth Hour reveal urban night sky being drastically lit up by few decorative buildings , Scientific Reports . Night lights versus conservation dreams: balancing human preferences with conservation goals in protected areas for sustainable nature-based noctourism , Journal of Sustainable Tourism . Noise pollution and artificial light...
Sep 15, 2025•47 min•Season 3Ep. 18
This episode's guests: Steve Mariconda , MPH. Frank Turina , Educator / National Park Service / Night Sky Resource Center. Bill's News Picks: ‘This is a big win’: Planning Commission embraces ‘dark skies’ for Rappahannock County , Bob Hurley, Rappahonnock News . A CT man claims state courts don’t comply with a certain law. Why he says it matters. , Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courient . City denies environmentalists’ appeal, greenlights new Oaks Park ride and lights , Maddie Khaw, The Oregonian . Fe...
Sep 03, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Season 3Ep. 17
This episode's guests: Kelly Beatty , Sky and Telescope . Kerem Asfuroglu , Dark Source . David Smith, BugLife . Bill's News Picks: Darkness is crucial to Everglades habitat: Could Alligator Alcatraz threaten it? , Max Chesnes, Phys.org . A183 Coast Road cycleway to get new street lighting to boost safety despite wildlife and dark skies fears , Nic Marko, Shields Gazette . Lunar cycle and moonlight intensity influence nocturnal migration patterns in a small songbird , Scientific Reports . Bogong...
Aug 18, 2025•53 min•Season 3Ep. 16
This episode's guests: Kelly Beatty , Sky and Telescope . Kerem Asfuroglu , Dark Source . David Smith, BugLife . Bill's News Picks: Citizen science illuminates the nature of city lights , Nature Cities . Does darkness increase the risk of certain types of crime? A registered report article , Plos.org . To Determine if Changing to White Light Street Lamps Reduces Crime: A Multilevel Longitudinal Analysis of Crime Occurrence during the Relighting of Leeds, a UK City, Applied Spatial Analysis and P...
Aug 04, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Season 3Ep. 15
In this episode of Why It’s So Bright at Night , host Bill McGeeney explores the growing movement in Norfolk, Virginia, led by Citizens for Responsible Lighting , a grassroots group advocating for smarter, healthier, and more environmentally responsible LED streetlighting. The group formed after residents were disturbed by overly bright 3000K–4000K LEDs installed across the city starting in late 2023 as part of a $5 million retrofit project funded by a $3 million federal grant. Rather than thoug...
Jul 28, 2025•28 min•Season 3Ep. 14
This episode's guests: Babak Tafreshi , Photojournalist for National Geographic . Tom Reinert , Past President of Dark Sky International . Jeffrey Calta, President of the Pennsylvania Firefly Festival . Bill's News Picks: How Atlanta’s ‘Light Up the Night’ program is making streets safer—one LED at a time , 11Alive . ‘The right light:’ Pittsburgh begins installing LED streetlights , Ed Blazina, Pittsburgh Union Progress. Photographer captures ghostly ripples over Colorado night sky. 'It is rare ...
Jul 14, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Season 3Ep. 13
This episode's guests: Tom Reinert , Past President of Dark Sky International . Jeffrey Calta, President of the Pennsylvania Firefly Festival . Bill's News Picks: See photos of Manhattanhenge as seen from 42nd St. in Manhattan , Seth Harrison, Iohud . Space-time cube reveals escalating light pollution in China's national parks: impact of boundary geometry and human activities (1992–2021) , Environmental Pollution . Streets going dark to deter mayflies , Caitlin Hunt, News5 . Nocturnal pollinator...
Jun 30, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Season 3Ep. 12
This month's guests: David Eicher , Editor-in-Chief of the Astronomy Magazine . Nancy Gonlin, Professor of Anthropology at Bellevue College . Michael Colligan , Host of Restoring Darkness . Bill's News Picks: Light pollution’s impact on Indigenous cultures , Abbe Whitford, Astrobites . Perinatal Exposures to Ambient Fine Particulate Matter and Outdoor Artificial Light at Night and Risk of Pediatric Papillary Thyroid Cancer , Environmental Health Perspectives . Associations between light at night...
Jun 16, 2025•1 hr 10 min•Season 3Ep. 11
This month's guests: David Eicher , Editor-in-Chief of the Astronomy Magazine . Nancy Gonlin, Professor of Anthropology at Bellevue College . Michael Colligan , Host of Restoring Darkness . Bill's News Picks: This is Why You’re Afraid of the Woods at Night , Blair Braverman, Outside . Artificial light pollution could fuel growth of toxic algal blooms , James Dinneen, New Scientist . Street lights to be switched off across major roads to slash pollution levels with new AI cameras , GBNews . The e...
Jun 02, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Season 3Ep. 11
This month's guests: Robert Massey , of the Royal Astronomical Society . Phyllis Gricus, Principal of Landscape Design Studio, LLC . Michael Calhoun , Conservationist and Advocate. Bill's News Picks: Las Vegas sphere owners reportedly want to build "mini spheres" in other cities , Megan Townsend, MixMag . Blue Light Influences Negative Thoughts of Self , Sleep . Swarms of satellites are harming astronomy. Here’s how researchers are fighting back , Alexandra Witze, Nature . ‘Space Advertising’ Co...
May 19, 2025•54 min•Season 3Ep. 10
This month's guests: Robert Massey , of the Royal Astronomical Society . Phyllis Gricus, Principal of Landscape Design Studio, LLC . Michael Calhoun , Conservationist and Advocate. Bill's News Picks: As a lamp you wear a hat , Stefan Oberwalleney, RBB24 . From fireflies to fish, light pollution is damaging the environment – what can we do about it? , Emma Charlton, World Economic Forum . How young salmon navigate a gauntlet of danger en route to the sea , Science Daily . This trend for lighting ...
May 05, 2025•49 min•Season 3Ep. 10
Host Bill McGeeney is joined by Art Hushen , founder of the National Institute of Crime Prevention . The seemingly harmless advice to leave all your exterior lights on overnight might not be the crime deterrent you think it is. Host, Bill McGeeney, reconnects with Art Hushin, a 30-year law enforcement veteran and founder of the National Institute of Crime Prevention, to dissect the popular #9PMRoutine campaign sweeping across police departments in the US and Canada. What started in Florida in 20...
Apr 28, 2025•13 min•Season 3Ep. 9
