Abstract. Entomologists monitor insect population trends by surveying individuals attracted to artificial lights at night with the assumption that flight-t

A DarkSky certification mentor spoke to the Dillon Town Council at a Dec. 16 work session about what it would take for the town to become DarkSky certified.  Mark Laurin, also known as Astro Mark,...

Molecular Autism - Epilepsy is a common comorbidity in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Many patients with epilepsy as well as ASD experience disruptions in their sleep-wake cycle...

Background Global obesity rates are rising sharply, prompting interest in environmental drivers beyond diet and activity. Widespread artificial light at night disrupts circadian rhythms and metabolism. potentially elevating obesity risk, but evidence syntheses are outdated and limited. Methods We conducted a systematic search of databases including PubMed, EMbase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. Eligible observational studies (cohort or cross-sectional) were required to report adjusted risk estimates (odds ratio [OR], relative risk [RR], or hazard ratio [HR] with 95% confidence intervals [95% CI]) for obesity or overweight, with quantifiable LAN exposure. Study quality was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) for cohort studies and the AHRQ criteria for cross-sectional studies. A random-effects model was applied for effect size pooling, alongside subgroup analyses stratified by geographic region, age, and sex, supported by sensitivity analyses and Egger’s test for publication bias assessment. Results Our analysis included 13 studies involving 867,647 participants (9 cross-sectional and 4 cohort studies). A significant 14% increased risk of obesity was observed in the highest LAN exposure group compared to the lowest (OR = 1.14, 95% CI: 1.07–1.22; I² = 92.5%, P < 0.001). For overweight risk, a 7% increase was noted (OR = 1.07, 95% CI: 1.00–1.15; I² = 92.5%, P < 0.001). Regionally, the strongest association was in North America (OR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.10–1.32; I² = 46.6%, P = 0.132) and significant in Asia (OR = 1.14, 95% CI: 1.06–1.21; I² = 85.5%, P < 0.001), but not in Europe. Age-wise, both adults (OR = 1.16) and adolescents (OR = 1.17) exhibited significant associations (P < 0.05), with no notable differences between sexes. All studies were deemed high quality (mean NOS score: 7.50; mean AHRQ score: 7.56), and sensitivity analyses confirmed the findings with no evidence of publication bias (P > 0.05). Conclusions Exposure to LAN significantly correlates with increased obesity and overweight risks, influenced by geographic and age-specific factors. These results highlight LAN as a noteworthy environmental risk factor for metabolic health, advocating for informed public health strategies, including region-specific lighting regulations and “screen curfews” for adolescents.

The Department of Homeland Security has designated the Laredo Sector as an area of "high illegal ent...

The tradition of handing lights and setting up inflatables in the yard has become an annual competition in the Leeds community. The idea for this came from a popular Christmas movie, and typically see...

Peru's government approved regulations to protect the night sky, our health, and the environment from light pollution.

The painting that introduced the movie “Star Wars” to the world nearly 50 years ago sold at auction for $3.875 million.

NASA's Orion will be a floating testbed for anti-radiation tech.

Ypsilanti is beginning the process of transitioning to dark sky compliant lighting around the city with its new ordinance. WEMU’s Ana Longoria has the details.

Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology - Physiologically-relevant light exposure and light behaviour in Switzerland and Malaysia