Living And Light

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The early looks bright... acknowledgment to rising artificial ray pollution. Our towns and cities are much illuminated than they person ever been. And this ray mightiness beryllium spilling complete into our lives and impacting our health. Recent headlines person linked vulnerability to artificial ray astatine nighttime pinch Alzheimer’s disease, capturing nan attraction of broadcaster and neuroscientist, Julia Ravey. While this investigation section is successful its infancy, Julia wondered conscionable really overmuch has been uncovered astir nan quality wellness implications of this inconspicuous pollutant. Over millennia, nan exertion of ray – from occurrence to state lamps to LEDs – has been basal for facilitating leaps guardant successful our advancement. Nick Dunn, Professor of Urban Design astatine nan University of Lancaster, explores really this intertwined history betwixt humans and artificial light, and really our deep-seated feelings astir nan dark, whitethorn person contributed towards our over-illuminated cities. Russell Foster, Professor of Circadian Neuroscience astatine nan University of Oxford, explains really this artificial ray astatine nighttime has allowed america to defy our biologic rhythms - and nan wellness consequences this has ensued. But a mobility remains - could simply surviving successful our ever brightening municipality environments erode our health? Early studies are opening to springiness america clues. While investigation progresses, night-time ray levels proceed to increase. But immoderate are hoping to subordinate nan trend. In Sedbergh, Julia meets Janey and Jack, who show her immoderate recently fitted “dark skies friendly” streetlamps, redeeming some connected bills and entity glow. And astatine York St John University, she joins a squad of academics, property managers and experts connected a field tour, exploring a task augmenting nan assemblage lights - which they dream whitethorn enactment arsenic a template for York to go UK’s first “dark skies friendly” city. But changing nan ray scapes of our cities must beryllium balanced pinch citizens cognition of safety. Anna Barker, Associate Professor successful Criminal Justice and Criminology astatine nan University of Leeds, discusses her investigation connected making municipality parks safer spaces for women and girls, and nan domiciled lighting has been recovered to play successful making these areas much accessible. Presenter and producer: Julia Ravey Editor: Martin Smith Assistant producer: Sam Nixon Production coordinator: Elliott Prince Studio manager: Jackie Margerum A BBC Audio West and Wales accumulation for BBC Radio 4.