CAMBRIDGE – UNIT 1

LISTENING

Host: Good afternoon and welcome to today’s show.

This week we’re celebrating International Dark Sky week. So what
is International Dark Sky Week? It was first established in 2003 by
high school student Jennifer Barlow, and has since become an
annual global event that takes place every April. It’s goal? To help
draw attention to the problem of light pollution and promote ways
to combat it.
So what exactly is light pollution? Light pollution is the brightening
of the night sky caused by man-made lights, such as street and
building lights. Large cities obviously produce the most light
pollution, but with increased development, this problem is
accelerating and now affects 80 percent of the world’s population.
Here to tell us more is astronomer Melanie Turow. Welcome.
Guest: Thanks for having me.
Host: Astronomers study stars and deep space. Why are you
interested in light pollution here on Earth?
Guest: Because of light pollution, astronomers are finding it
increasingly difficult to see and study objects in the night sky. But
light pollution actually affects all of us. Think about it. When was
the last time you looked up and saw a sky full of stars? Well,
fewer than a hundred years ago, everyone could look up and see
a starry night sky. But now, many people around the world never
have that experience.
Host: Yeah, you’re right. Most of us who live in the city probably
never think about it, but I can remember as a kid being able to
look up and see lots of stars, even the Milky Way.
Guest: Right, and now millions of children will never see the Milky
Way. It’s shameful, really. We’re losing an important experience
as human beings on this planet.
Host: So, are there other negative effects of light pollution?
Guest: Yes, actually there are many ways that light pollution
harms both humans and the environment. First of all, most lighting
is just wasteful and uses too much energy.
Host: But aren’t lights necessary for safety, especially in cities?
Guest: I’m glad you brought that up. Actually, there’s no evidence
that increased lighting reduces crime in cities. In fact, too much
lighting can cause problems because lights that are too bright can
shine in our eyes making it even more difficult to see. And artificial
light can interfere with our natural ability to sleep at night. Loss of
sleep is a big public health problem.
Host: Hmmm…good point. And what about environmental
problems caused by light pollution?
Guest: Unfortunately, wildlife and ecosystems also suffer from
light pollution. Plants and animals depend on the daily cycle of
light and darkness, and artificial light at night can have serious –
even deadly – effects. For example, animals that rely on darkness
to hide are now more vulnerable to predators and accidental
death.
Host: Are there any particular species of animals that are
threatened by light pollution?
Guest: Sure. Sea turtles. Nearly all species of sea turtles are
endangered, and artificial lights are contributing to this problem.
Host: How’s that?
Guest: Baby sea turtles hatch from their eggs on beaches and
usually leave their nests at night. They are naturally drawn to light
– it’s the light of the moon reflecting on the ocean that leads them
from the beach into the ocean, which is their natural habitat. But
artificial lights, from homes and hotels, confuse them and can lead
them in the wrong direction. As a result, they become more
vulnerable to exhaustion and hungry predators, and most of them
die before ever making it into the water.
Host: Wow. That is a problem.
Guest: Right. And sea turtles aren’t alone. Many other animal and
bird species are affected by light pollution. Migratory birds that
travel long distances are another good example. In North America
alone, somewhere between 100 million and 1 billion birds crash
into artificially lit buildings every year. And many of these birds are
endangered species. So these losses can be devastating to their
survival. And light pollution is totally preventable. Why not do what
we can to combat it?