Look at the stars, in 20 years they won't be there

Over the next 20 years, most of the stars we see now may become invisible, according to astronomers. 

This information is reported by The Guardian. 

The increase in light pollution can significantly hinder observations of the stars in our galaxy and have a negative impact on human health and the state of nature. 

Scientists say that the world is increasingly using LED and other forms of lighting. This, in turn, leads to an annual increase in light pollution on the planet by about 10%. For illustration, a child born today in a place where 250 stars were visible in the night sky will only see 100 of them by the time they come of age. 

Back in 2016, astronomers reported that one-third of humanity could no longer see the Milky Way due to light pollution. And the situation has significantly worsened in the past 7 years. 

Light pollution of the night sky is still not perceived by society as a threat, scientists note. They insist on taking urgent measures because, in addition to the astronomical and cultural impact, "light pollution" has serious ecological consequences: marine turtles and migratory birds that rely on moonlight get off course and perish. 

Artificial lighting sources also attract insects, which serve as food for birds and animals. Scientists have called for directing street lighting downwards, using red and orange hues, and avoiding cold blue-white light. 

Moreover, scientists also believe that the lack of warm tones in the spectrum affects human health. For example, Professor Robert Fosbury from the Institute of Ophthalmology at University College London (UCL) noted that blue light from LEDs is almost completely devoid of any red or near-infrared light. 

"We lack red and infrared light, and this has serious consequences," he said. "When reddish light shines on our body, it stimulates mechanisms, including those that break down high blood sugar levels or stimulate the production of melatonin. Since the advent of fluorescent lighting, and later LEDs, this part of the spectrum has been eliminated from artificial light, and I believe it plays a role in the waves of obesity and the increase in diabetes cases that we observe today." 

Researchers at UCL are preparing to install additional infrared lamps in hospitals and intensive care units to see if they will have an impact on the recovery of patients who would otherwise lack light from this part of the spectrum.