How artificial light threatens nature | DW Documentary
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- Опубліковано 5 жов 2024
- Light can be deadly. Many animals and plants are threatened by artificial light. Numerous organisms have found their evolutionary niche in the dark of night, and now have to adapt to bright nights. Not all of them succeed.
More than half of all animals are nocturnal. Their sensory organs, their behavior, their orientation and their metabolism are adapted to darkness, moonlight and starlight. But in today’s modern world, countless artificial light sources create something called light smog. This light pollution is generated in cities, villages and industrial areas. It comes from advertising billboards, roads and paths - and even from space.
Artificial light disturbs the natural way of life of animals and plants, destroys biotopes and, not least, eliminates biodiversity. Indeed, light pollution has recently been recognized by experts as a possible main cause of global species extinction.
However, the urgency of the issue is still underestimated by the general public and politicians. As part of a citizen science project, people all over Germany are helping to catch, identify and count aquatic insects in the country’s largest light pollution field experiment.
Franz Hölker, ecologist at the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries in Berlin and his research team want to find out how many insects end up in the street lamp death trap. Peter Südbeck, head of the Wadden Sea National Park in Germany, still one of the darkest regions in Europe, has been observing a worrying change in the behavior of migratory birds for some time.
The Wadden Sea is a global transportation hub for shipping traffic, but also a resting and feeding place for millions of birds. Drilling platforms, ships and light smog cause the birds to stray from their route. More and more become so exhausted they can no longer make it to their vital resting place. The film is a night-time journey through the work of scientists who have set themselves the task of bringing darkness back to nature - and to us humans.
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It's really sad. When I was a little girl, I remember looking up and I saw a sky full of stars. Now, my daughter looks up and she sees nothing but haze.
Meh it's not that important, cities that lack artificial lights have higher crime rates.
National lights out day?
It does make it all the more magical when we manage to get away from the pollution. I was able to read a newspaper from moonlight as a boy. No more 😢
Starlink satelites!
Even Roosters confused about day and night nowadays, unlike before Roosters crowing start from 3am but nowadays they crowing too early as 11pm at midnight.
as an astrophotographer, i would like to say thank you for bringing this global epidemic the attention it needs. not only are we losing sight of the heavens above, were affecting our health and migratory animals are suffering because of this. this is so important.
Congratulations to DW for their remarkable work in producing these thought-provoking documentaries. May they continue to inspire and educate people around the world, fostering a collective effort to protect and preserve our precious ecosystem for generations to come.
I remember driving through the country and seeing fireflies everywhere, now... it's really hard. You have to go to a tucked away spot...😢
I don't use any lawn chemicals on my yard but my next door neighbor does. I have noticed that i have a lot of lightning bugs in my yard but just across the fence there's none. I think that the lawn chemicals must be killing the larva's. That might be why your not seeing them anymore.
Thanx DW for your continuous amazing documentaries! 👍
They make the best documentaries ❤
Very informative. I did too notice that the chestnuts below my balcony didn't shed their leaves until mid December and some even after that. They all have streetlights between them. Now I know why. Thank you DW! Very good documentary!
To be honest, I never really took much notice, but now I think about it, there have been many occasions where some of the leaves in one patch remain on the tree. DW is a very good channel! :) Cheers!
Thanks for watching and sharing your experience! We're glad you found the documentary informative.
I miss seeing the milky way in my town, the light pollution took away the prettiest sight
I can't stop thanking this channel and the translators who educate us with the interesting stories with a nice and calm voice clear pic. Thanks.
Dw has the best narrators.
Thanks so much for shining a light (or maybe just a red filter lens) on this extremely undercovered topic for all of us. This provides great insight into field scientists performing real time monitoring of changes in our environment and byproxy, ecosystem services. Such a valuable service to world citizens, educating all of us on the unseen systems we depend upon and so frequently take for granted. Thanks much!
Do you guys remember maybe 20, 30 years ago, there were a lot of bugs. Everytime we get home, the car's front would be full of dead bugs. Now there isnt any bugs I can see. Guess their population has truly dwindled
I was just about to write something similar..
So true.
So there is a bright spot in all of this after all.
Turn the lights off at 10 PM.. Do away with 90% of the street lights in the country side. What the purpose of a cars headlights if your competing against a Light post. I drive about 60 to 80 000 km a year and I can't stand country road Street light in random places. The LED lights are the WORST!!! Your eyes can't Adjust fast enough.
I lived in Berlin in 1981. It was so different than the way it is today. I used to love all the flowers on balconies. It was an unusual climate compared to where I came from but I really enjoyed it. Everything is different now.
DW we always appreciate your effort to produce amazing documentaries. We support your work 100%
Yeah, they offer a glimmer of darkness in a world of light. lol
I’m convinced at this point if we had an international night of lights out, we’d have a massive flux of people moving out of cities so they could see it up to 365 nights a year instead of 1 night a year.
As someone with light sensitivity, the harsh blue lights directed at eyeline make it almost unbearable to be outside in the evening or night. Let alone enjoy the outdoors or drive..
Can't imagine how many views from properties have been destroyed by this practice..
I wish my city would embrace these ideas but this city seems to pride itself on bright lighting everywhere.
these types of shows online are worth watching , not only does it fascinates us but we learn something and is an eye opener to many. I personally like these types of documentaries as it feels like you take us to different parts of the world and its real situation(s) particularly in the society and the environment. THANKS DW DOC.. looking forward to more documentaries like this!!
Thank you for watching and taking the time to comment! We’re glad you like our content. 😊
I’d like to thank DW for televising the ICJ trial today. Good job. I knew you are on the good side of history. As always
You should put a sensor of movement on lights , that they don't glow all the time.
👍
Next best thing after turning lights off at night.
Us humans are also part of nature. I find these new bright white LEDs incredibly irritating, and detrimental to our urban environments.
High crime rates are even more irritating. Urban areas thrive on light, it's simply a fact.
😂😂😂
The narrator is phenomenal
It makes sense to have lights where there are people for safety but other than that … i dont think they are needed. I see schools, libraries, office buildings and their surrounding massive parking lots all lit up all night. So wasteful
I read an article in like 2009 that there would be urban illumination technologies that would adapt based on available atmospheric light (moon, stars, reflected city lights from haze and clouds, etc.), and LED lighting that would be warmer so so as to not freak birds out or mess with peoples circadian rhythms. What happened? I can get a dimmable, warm-light, 3-pack of LEDs at the store for like $11…
When seen from 400 kilometers
Above in space , north korea
Appears dark at night
I’ve just realized how those damn street lights will actually make the night darker. In winter, the nights are much brighter because snow reflects starlight. This year, there hasn’t been snow, which is not normal. I suspect it will eventually become a relic of the past. And more people will become nocturnal to avoid the heat of day.
In terms in things that no longer exist, anywhere near cities or even slight urban areas: Silence. True silence. Not the far away hum of some city or industrial complex. Nature is excluded from this measure - this is what *should* be considered the baseline for human nature.
Electric hums, some vehicle on a far away road, some far away intermittent sound of alarms, or whatever other loud human noises... We should consider the impact this has on nature too.
And of course this is hyperbole - I know many remote areas exist. But for the overwhelming majority of people, this is the truth.
(And on the noise angle, god knows how much we torture the sea life with sonar.)
I live in Zürich Switzerland
and the light pollution is
horrible. I almost don't have to
turn on the lights in my appartment.
I actually find it interesting and disturbing that some species will literally not move when there are light. they will not survive urban areas.
Very interesting, engaging and beautifully shot
The condominium where I live replaced normal light bulbs with extremely bright LED panels. I have curtains on the bedroom window and on the balcony door, but the light became so intense that it invaded my room and I didn't sleep for a few days. I complained and the LED panels were pointed towards the street and even so my room was still fully lit at night. I had to buy a thick, dark-colored lining to put between the curtain and the balcony door. Only then did darkness return to my room. Having to pay for more darkness is the new normal, but animals and insects can't do that. It took them thousands of years to adapt to natural cycles, but they certainly will not be able to adapt to the reality created by modern society. Not even we humans can do that anymore.
Same here. Place looks like a prison compound.
That is terrible! My area isn't very bright but I still use a sleep mask. I am convinced excessive light is compromising human health. What we are doing to nature is atrocious. But this documentary gives me some hope. Thank you, DW! Always ahead of the curve. 🙂
Fascinating & educational … thank u
I think about this often.
DWI is the best documentary channel
Thank you so much DW. I always look forward to your documentaries.,
Love from the Philippines 🇵🇭
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Very informative documentary 👍.
Thanks for watching and for the feedback!
Excellent, this broadens perspectives!
Turn that switch off
DW, thanks for serving us! Your all works deserve an award❤
The United States needs to watch this video 💡
Light pollution, pesticides, micro plastics & forever chemicals. We're doing just fine 😢
Add to your list all the food chemicals like dyes and preservatives, all pharmaceuticals, all the oil and liquid gas spills in the oceans, all noise pollution, all chemicals used in agriculture, war industries etc. And the list goes on ...
Would be nice if we had a national lights out day
In my village we used to see the milky way galaxy so clear at night but in the city, no way.
Thank you for this video
Very important question. I think danger for health is even more important
Unfortunately or fortunately, most civilizations do not make it through technological transition.
Technology without wisdom, is a death sentence for that world.
Enjoy this world while you still can...
😢
One problem with this solution is dodgy areas and cities. Lack of illumination increases crime.
Motion sensor lights that go from 30% to 100% when movement is detected should solve the problem
@@Kaienhere yeah, i was thinking of the same thing too.
The point is not to reduce Illumination but to use it effectively. This even increases safety!
Thank you for your work 🙏
Thankyou for this docu
Do we do anything that isn't somehow harming the environment?
Yes Pray.....The human species is flawed.
Even for the Bees the street lights cause harm
We need more darkness than light.
Amazing documentary channel.
00:04 Artificial light is threatening nature and impacting human health.
03:28 Artificial light affects darkness in nature
10:53 Artificial light is diverting and harming migratory birds.
14:23 Artificial light affects the behavior of nightjars.
21:30 Artificial light poses a threat to biodiversity and ecological processes.
25:12 Artificial light disrupts nocturnal insect populations.
31:12 Artificial lights disrupt nature's nocturnal animals.
34:12 Artificial light affects different species and ecosystems in various ways.
39:33 Artificial light affects plant cycles and causes damage.
Another amazing documentary shared by an amazing ( DW) channel .documentary showed artificial night's light influence on human life and nature...considering as pollution figures beneath entire ecosystem...thank you 🙏 ( DW) channel
Thanks for watching!
we use yellow led at night since last 2 years
Just a heads up, a GMU professor is assigning your documentary as lecture material without any crediting or permission.
DW is a puplic broadcaster and the original documentary is also public
Lights out, indeed! 😥
There are many artificial things we haven't had a chance to catch up with.
Bortle dark sky scale ranges from 1 (darkest) to 9 (brightest). There are only two areas on earth that are a class 1 (total darkness), the Australian outback and the mountains of peru. There are no locations in the US below a class 2.
0:53 nice title, dark side of bright night
Wait the guy said the led puts out 9 lux. Well yeah. Led isn't measured in lux. It's measured in ppfd or photosynthetic photon Flux density.
I'm fascinated by the lens tool at 36 minutes to show the spectrum of a light source. Does anyone know what that is exactly and where to get one?
Diffraction Grating.
Linear diffraction grating. It is available on ebay.
I wish my country Philippines will start the lights off project soon.
21:12 resembles our relationship with social media/ the internet.
Overused LEDs are blinding in parking lots, etc, to Some
Osomtimes it becoumes so bright becouse of the articial lights the only way you know its night is becouse the sky is black
The second man used the torches to make his way through. Why? Couldn't he see in the darkness?
haven't seen the milkyway in a good 40 years
So, financially, about ten years ago, my rent was $300 / month [utilities included], I lived in a trailer home, in a rural area, I saw stars and heard crickets for the first time. Now I live in a suburban area, my mortgage is $1,700 / month [utilities excluded], and polluted with lights. Forget the crickets, haha.
Well, you have made a choice of getting more comfort based on an increased influx of cash. Right ? Not necessarily à bad choice. But life is easier when it is simpler. Easier does not equal more comfortable ....
I didn't choose to pay more for less, if that's what you're getting at [yes, I do consider $1700 light pollution sans cricket, less]. Life dealt me these cards, and I'm playing my hand. Just stating my situation.@@constanzza777
Light pollution is real and profound.
people will watch this and completely forget about it an hour later and go about their day💔
This is the reason DW is the ONLY documentary channel for me.
I have yet to not like one.
I moved to a rural area and the night sky is much more beautiful. But it's a shame that even here people are obsessed with strong lights, some farmers use crazy strong spotlights in their houses the entire night, while I think I'm blessed I don't have to tolerate street lamps anymore.
It's just a novelty to you. Farmers who lived there all their lives does not feel anything special about darkened areas.
@@VirusTree1000. Why do they use spotlights? Are they afraid of the dark?
Do researchers of different species do studies about this problem of artificial light. In the U.S. for example, the Monarch butterfly populations has dwindled significantly over the last two decades. Many culprits. But has anyone done a study on light pollution causing them problems too?
When ever happened of this responsible human being
All of this should be taught in school!
Learned some new things.
Let it be lights
I thought sleeping with the TV and lights on was good for humans.
usually really like those documentarry but in my opinion this was alot of drama around the insects... way to much... but to the other thinhs i agree !
Mercury lightbulbs the size of floodlights used in recess ceilings are horrible!
🤬😎
I am gonna watch this, and then will add some comments, but before that I should say that I have evidence that artificial lights have bad impact on nature. some artificial lights are hurting my eyes and I am part of the nature. Does it count?
Much more needs to be said about this. Also how does constant artificial light exposure affect our very own eyes? Yes reducing the brightness of the city lights can save the city tons of money per year and also save their ecology, but also let us consider setting our browsers to default all webpages to dark mode. And let us also look into e-ink technology for our Internet usage which is a screen that does not emit light at all. This very well may be a healthy avenue of technology for those of us who are significant Internet consumers. Cheers from Oregon USA. Viva dark sky communities!
Dose birds fly/migrate at night?
Thanks DW for tackling this important issue. I wish that cities would care about light pollution and use only as much as is needed, not more. It would benefit everyone. People would not need to escape to mountains or villages to enjoy night sky with stars.
Not in my province. We use solar powered lights.
my goodness, do you really think catching birds in a net, putting them in a bag, attaching a gps scanner to their body is normal? do you think that these birds will just act normal again after this procedure? we are not saving animals with this behaviour, we are looking for being praised, because we find out 'amazing' things
It's harmless. If it effects them negative they wouldn't fly thousands of kilometres with it on their body.
Blinding lights ......
But if we turn off the lights people die , right?
No not really
@@definitlynotbenlente7671 I'm from south africa. Crime is really high and we are also facing power cuts, and crime is even higher during those times
@@PM2-4-7 you do not need 1200wstt fludlights to light a psrking lot furthermore the crime level in south africa is not compareble to the netherlands having every light on at 01:00 hours at night when almost no one is out and i am not saying to cut of electricity just turn off unesecairy lights
I watch this documentary to learn english language I wann to be fluent in it
It's sad I can't sleep anywhere is the world I hate lights at night but I'm a conspirator😅😅😅😅
Cap... Humans have always had overwhelming night light and life since the day we figured out how to make fire.
Our ancestors kept bonfires all night to stay warm, stay safe and gather for night life...
What changed? The bonfires gave us massive survival advantage. Our population exploded. In fact, the more lights we can make, the more our population grew, and our productivity. We live longer and healthier...
You are playing with scales there.
It is all about balance and it should be. An "explosion " of anything does not necessarily bring a positive outcome
New data, Birds migrate with the help of a certain light that they can only see. When there's too much light, it disrupts those light waves that it can only see causing a lose in sense of direction.
The next documentary should be about roads and how bad they are for nature, especially animals. Animals get hurt all the time trying to cross roads and without roads we could plant trees and flowers for bees to thrive. It would give the good message of how important it is to remove roads from our society because nature will benefit so much. You could even put in a piece about a guy who thinks dirt roads would be a better compromise. Vehicles would have to drive slower which would be safer for animals and maybe a few tufts of grass could grow on the sides. Please make this documentary because it is very important for us to learn as a society how we can help nature and not the other way around.
Light is everywhere and its too much.I think too much light has changed meaning of darkness for humans.Humans must understand darkness has its place in our evolution and development too.Who thinks they are missing darkness.I enjoyed candle lights in my childhood and welcomed light when electricity returned.
bravo
Save the night!
Is anyone looking up why we invented street lighting in the first place? We did it to solve a problem. We've had artificial light in our streets now for nearly a hundred years in western countries. So far, any detrimental effects would have been outweighed by the benefit of getting rid of the problem street lighting solved, or we would have noticed by now. Is anyone wondering if that problem will return and how to tackle that problem without street lighting if we decide to get alter it?
This is a very poorly thought out piece. Very disappointed in DW. 😔👎👎👎
@@fspg3207 your comment is nonsensical!!!
@@fspg3207😂 What are you talking about?
These people have an ideology that welcomes sacrificing the well being of other (poorer) people for the sake of helping plants, animals, whatever. They accept this because the solutions do not affect them negatively and they are well off enough in life to think that lights are a nuisance instead of a benefit for their safety. It is the definition of creating a third world problem out of a first world problem.
But zombies spawn in the dark, they have no alternative.
Your typical warm/dim (under 100 lumens) solar led lights for garden don't really affect animals, let alone pollute. Just dont point the lights directly to trees!
But do you really need your garden lights to be on if you are in bed sleeping or away from home? They are pointless things.
It’s pathetic people in buildings all day with lights on all just because a little man came up with an idea he thought so fkn great merely to shine a light on himself