Why we need darkness to survive | Diane Knutson | TEDxRapidCity
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- čas přidán 23. 08. 2016
- Former park ranger Diane Knutson has studied the night skies and the city lights aren’t just ruining stargazing. Light pollution continues to grow, affecting our entire eco-system. Diane shares why light pollution needs to be reduce and some surprisingly simply ways we can all take action.
Originally from Nebraska, Diane Knutson grew up in Dakota City and graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Community Health Education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She then earned a Master’s in Recreational Sports Administration at the University of Iowa and worked for the Iowa Athletic Department, before moving to Rapid City.
Diane owns the fitness-training studio Koko FitClub and is a graduate of Leadership Rapid City. Recently crowned Mrs. Rapid City Corporate America, Diane competed at the national pageant in Orlando where she combined her experience in business, and passion for wildlife, into a platform about how corporate meets conservation.
Diane is the creator of the Lights Out Movement in Rapid City. As a National Park Ranger at Wind Cave, Diane conducted research about how artificial lighting affects nocturnal habitats. This year she founded the inaugural Rapid City Dark Earth Hour in conjunction with the globally celebrated event
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx
Light pollution is no joke. I had to drive 5 hours away from my home then up to the top of a mountain to see the milky way for the first time. Fuck.
I feel like I need to clarify the issue of light pollution for anyone who might watch this video. First of all, light is important for safety and security at night, and if someone talks about reducing light pollution, they are NOT suggesting that we go without light at night. That's a common misconception about dark sky advocates. What they want (mainly) is for light fixtures to be properly shielded so that their light only shines down at the ground. This modification has many benefits:
- Because the light of properly-shielded fixtures is focused on the ground instead of shining everywhere, dimmer bulbs that use less energy can be used, which saves money on electricity.
- The light doesn't go to waste shining up, where it bounces off the atmosphere, making the night sky brighter than stars, nebulae, and galaxies. That's why urban night skies are largely devoid of any trace of the cosmos, and it has a name: "sky glow".
- The light doesn't travel directly from the light source (usually a bulb) to your eyes, but instead bounces off of things underneath the light fixture into your eyes. Indirect, reflected light makes up most of what we see, so there's just no reason why we should be able to see the light source in addition to what it's illuminating. Not only do bare light sources leave spots in your field of vision, but they force your eyes to adjust to them instead of to the much dimmer light of nearby shadowy areas and of stars, nebulae, and galaxies. Sideways light from bare light sources is called "glare", and it's also responsible for "light trespass", which is light shining where it's not welcome, like a dark bedroom for example.
- Light isn't allowed to shine hundreds of miles outward from cities, where it can spoil previously untouched dark skies in the wilderness as cities grow and multiply. This one is crucial, because if you think the wilderness will forever be a safe haven for stargazers, even without us doing anything to reduce light pollution in cities, you're wrong.
There are some other things that can be done to reduce light pollution. The speaker in the video already mentioned turning off interior lights when you don't need them and using motion sensors, but there are more. Timers can be used, lights can be removed where they're unnecessary or excessive, businesses can shut off their lights when they close for the night (particularly signs and empty parking lots), interior light can be bottled in with closed curtains/shades/blinds, lone streetlights can be set up to dim/shut off in the absence of people and brighten/turn on in their presence, etc.
- Jake Self
Personally my yard and house is PITCH DARK at night. Wouldn't bother me but I also don't live in Compton
Light shedding speech ... Great
Her jokes gave me goosebumps
Diane Knutson does a great job of explaining the issues of light pollution. One addition note. Science tells us we ought to eliminate or minimize blue-rich light at night for permanent outdoor installations. Speak up in your neighborhood. No bright white blue-rich streetlights. Candle-like color is much healthier and safer for humans, environments and ecosystems.
Merritt reservoir in Nebraska is one of the darkest places in the country also it’s unbelievable what you can see
People should watch this👀😐
WarmLight LED's below 2700k would be better with bettewr shielding, dimming and no light tresspass across the world . Asia needs Warmlight LEd's like the western countries.
Less than 4,000 views...
Calvin??? . . . There is no 'A' in the word Kelvin. . . . just sayin'.
SunstateUS ....who is Calvin and Kelvin?
Indeed John Calvin was an early Protestant reformer born in Paris and as far as I know had no interest in temperature scales!Lord Kelvin was an Irish scientist was developed the Kelvin temperature scale.
sayin'? there is no ' in 'saying' just SAYING
Need a cause to do a groundbreaking Ted talk on huh? U sure enjoyed that bright light when its shining on you. Very generic!