Research

A 2017 German study found an alarming reduction in flying insect populations, attributing it partially to changes of climate and habitat. More recently, scientists from the Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries have discovered that regions that have experienced a sharp decline in flying insects also have high levels of light pollution.

Researchers at Michigan State University studied the brains of rodents after exposing them to dim and bright light for a month. They found that consistent exposure to dim or bright light affected their brains differently.

The University of Toledo recently published the results of a study finding that blue light transforms vital molecules in the eye’s retina into cell killers, which can accelerate age-related macular degeneration. After substantial media coverage, the study’s senior author issued a clarification indicating that while certain wavelengths of light induces cell death, blue light from computer devices was not specifically studied.

Blue light may transform vital molecules in the eye’s retina into cell killers, accelerating the process of macular degeneration, according to new research at The University of Toledo.

In May 2018, the Lighting Research Center (LRC) released a cautionary report evaluating potential energy savings for LED horticultural lighting. The LRC found that energy savings is possible with LED, but one should evaluate products based on application efficiency rather than simple luminaire efficacy. In short, rather than generalizing about energy efficiency, the lesson seems to be that some LED products save energy compared to some traditional products, depending on the product and the application.

The 2015 Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS), produced by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), was recently updated to include additional energy end uses to include lighting and other equipment commonly found in homes.

In 2017, the Lighting Research Center (LRC) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute published a study showing that office workers who receive a robust dose of circadian-effective light experience better sleep, and lower levels of depression and stress, than those who spend their days in dim or low light levels.

A new LRC study investigated the effectiveness of Apple’s Night Shift screen setting for lessening the impacts of nighttime iPad use on melatonin suppression, a marker of the circadian system. The study found changing screen color alone is insufficient for limiting the impact of portable electronic devices used at night, and that screen brightness should also be reduced.

The Illuminating Engineering Society’s (IES) 2018 Research Symposium, themed, “Light and Human Health,” will be held April 8-10, 2018 at the Crowne Plaza Atlanta and SimTigrate Design Lab in Atlanta, GA. Registration is now open.