I’ve been absorbed with light lately. The story of our species in many ways can be traced through the quest for light. In Medieval Europe, curfew meant the covering of the fire within homes following dusk. Candles had to be constantly watched for fear of igniting infernos. Light governed freedom. Nightfall covered the streets in a cloak of darkness that would only recede with the rays that announced dawn. Kerosene and the gaslight brought a degree of illumination to the streets, beyond the flicker of single wick candles.
And then there was Edison with his new, brilliant promise of the eternal light. This new source of illumination first brought freedom to the wealthy, and of course fuelled countless factories. Soon, being a master of the night was no longer a luxury for most. By the 20th century, electric light defined what it meant to be modern. Our cities became a jungle of power grids that allowed us to leave our homes long after the sun had set. We powered televisions, restaurants, movie theatres. This light however, chased away the darkness of the night sky, one that had been observed since before antiquity. There are now few places in North America where the Milky Way can be seen clearly at night. Light pollution continues to be an ever growing concern. This constant blanketing of artificial light has disturbed the migration patterns of birds and has changed the ecology of entire regions.
Changes in the behaviour and hunting patterns of nocturnal animals have had cascading effects on food webs. A recent study found that the number of successful clownfish hatchings greatly decreased in the presence of prolonged artificial light exposure.Artificial lights at night have caused dramatic changes to the Earth. The Anthropocene has brought with it our collective ability to control and mold our environment. Light has brought us freedom, but like many things, it has come at a steep cost for the planet. Light is our sheer brilliance and our utter arrogance.
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