In this episode, we welcome back Yana Yakushina, a legal expert and researcher tackling light pollution from a policy and environmental law perspective. We dive into the latest regulatory frameworks, legal victories, and the fight to recognize artificial light at night as a serious environmental issue like Germany has. Mark Baker shares real-world legal battles, including lawsuits against excessive blue LED lights and landmark cases pushing for stricter light trespass regulations. Yana unpacks international laws, EU policies, and groundbreaking studies linking light pollution to biodiversity and public health risks.

🔦 What you'll learn:

- How legal systems are evolving to combat light pollution

- The latest breakthroughs in environmental and space law

- Real-life lawsuits shaping the future of lighting regulations

- The science behind artificial light’s impact on ecosystems

Join us as we explore the intersection of law, science, and activism in the fight to preserve the night!

Yana is a lawyer, researcher, and dark sky protection educator currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Ghent under the Horizon EU PLAN-B project, where she also serves as one of the scientific coordinators. Yana specializes in light pollution regulations and space law, leading and contributing to international projects on the development of the protection of the nocturnal environment, and collaborating with various organizations, including the Space Court Foundation Inc., the EU Commission, DarkSky International, Starlight Foundation, the International Astronomical Union, and UNOOSA. In 2023, she co-founded the Belgian dark sky organization Living Night (DarkSky Chapter).

Want to know more about the protection of the night from a regulatory perspective? Read my recent article, which classified various approaches to light pollution mitigation.

#LightPollution #DarkSky #EnvironmentalLaw #RestoringDarkness

Connect with Yana:

https://youtu.be/H3yA8n_jkVE

https://www.spacecourtfoundation.org/

https://eng.levendenacht.be/

https://darksky.org/get-involved/the-european-light-pollution-manifesto/

Highlights from this episode:

• Health Updates
• Nesting
• Migrations
• Geopolitics

Intro and outro music by Doctor Turtle

Sponsored by The National Association of Innovative Lighting Distributors visit https://naild.org/

Headlines and Sources can be found at www.restoringdarkness.com

Join hosts Mark and Michael as they sit down with Larry Boxer, an optical engineer with over 30 years of experience in lighting innovation. This episode dives deep into the science behind lighting design, discussing its impact on human health, night environments, and the evolving challenges brought on by LEDs. Larry offers an insider’s perspective on optical engineering and shares groundbreaking insights into creating illumination that's effective and people-friendly. 💡✨ Perfect for professionals in lighting, design, sustainability, or anyone curious about how light shapes our world.

Connect with Larry: https://www.linkedin.com/in/larry-b-6117b67

Highlights from this episode:
- Dark Sky Week!
- Hospital Design
- Migration Season
- Policy Engagement

Intro and outro music by Doctor Turtle

Sponsored by The National Association of Innovative Lighting Distributors visit https://naild.org/

Headlines and Sources can be found at www.RestoringDarkness.com

In a thought-provoking episode of Restoring Darkness, Michael Colligan, Mark Baker, and Dr. Amardeep Dugar rethink lighting design, challenging outdated metrics and advocating for life-centric lighting—an approach that considers the broader ecological impact of artificial light.

🌍 Key Takeaways:

• Outdated Efficiency Metrics – The industry’s continued reliance on lumens per watt is hindering progress in sustainable lighting design.
• Beyond Human-Centric Lighting – Dr. Dugar highlights that lighting decisions should take into account all life forms, not just human needs.
• Darkness as a Resource – Instead of treating darkness as an absence, it should be recognized as an essential environmental necessity for biological and ecological balance.
• Cultural Perspectives – Ancient civilizations revered darkness, but modern society has vilified it—it's time to shift the narrative.
• Advocacy for Change – Lighting designers and professionals have a responsibility to redefine lighting standards that preserve natural darkness rather than disrupt it.

🔥 It’s time to move beyond “brighter is better” and embrace sustainable, thoughtful lighting that respects all species. What’s your take on life-centric lighting? Let’s spark the conversation! 🚀 #LightingDesign #DarknessMatters #SustainableLighting #RestoringDarkness

Connect with Dr. Dugar:

Facebook - @lightingrnd / Amardeep Dugar

Instagram - @lightingrnd / @amardeeppm

Sponsor: Tesla Induction Lighting Company www.TeslaInductionLightingCompany.com

Highlights from this episode:
- 3-Way Conflicts
- Alignments
- Dark Sky Week
- Lawsuits

Intro and outro music by Doctor Turtle

Sponsored by The National Association of Innovative Lighting Distributors visit https://naild.org/

Headlines and Sources can be found at www.RestoringDarkness.com

In this episode of Restoring Darkness, Michael Colligan, Mark Baker, and Scott Wachter unpack the hidden dangers of light pollution, from LED-induced migraines to its role in societal chaos. They expose how the lighting industry’s shift from bulbs to LEDs dodged accountability, while personal responsibility narratives shield systemic failures. With the NHTSA banning flashing LED vehicle lights and lawsuits looming, the trio challenges the myth that brighter nights mean safer streets, revealing a world where light might just be the spark for unrest—and a call for industry reckoning grows louder.

Key Takeaways

1. Health Hazards Emerge: LEDs are linked to migraines, seizures, and chronic issues like cancer and sleep loss, a stark shift from the industry’s early focus on dark sky preservation.
2. Systemic vs. Personal: The narrative of “turn off your phone” dodges broader accountability—lighting firms, regulators, and utilities push personal fixes over systemic solutions, burdening the sensitive.
3. Industry Accountability: Extended producer responsibility could force manufacturers, distributors, and installers to curb light pollution, with legal parallels to glyphosate lawsuits targeting firms like Acuity Brands.
4. Safety Myth Debunked: Bright lights don’t deter crime universally—car break-ins and porch piracy thrive under illumination—while 5000K LEDs may escalate tension in riots, not calm it.
5. Energy Efficiency Fallacy: LED mandates prioritize lumens-per-watt over total energy use or human comfort, leaving utilities off the hook and society over-lit without real gains.

Highlights from this episode:

• New Metric
• Apps
• Bird Safety
• Millinery

Intro and outro music by Doctor Turtle

Sponsored by The National Association of Innovative Lighting Distributors visit https://naild.org/

Headlines and Sources can be found at www.RestoringDarkness.com